Friends of the Carrizo Plain Officers
Ray Hatch
Former Mayor City of Taft, Retired Professor Math Science, Taft College
Ray grew up in Taft and is retired now, but has been a Professor at Taft College teaching Math, Chemistry, and Physics. Ray was held public office on the Board of Trustees of Taft College and the Taft City Council for several years and was Mayor of the City of Taft for two year. Ray is currently on the West Side Health Care District board and was just elected to a new 4 year term starting January 2014.
David Chipping
Professor of Geology (Emeritus), Cal Poly State University
David Chipping was educated at Cambridge, England and Stanford, California. His doctoral thesis addressed the displacements of rocks along the San Andreas fault and the configuration of ocean basins in to which the rocks were deposited. He is active on the Board of the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and has served as the statewide Conservation Director for that organization. David is currently leading a join project between CNPS-SLO and Friends of the Carrizo Plain to develop a photographic collection of the entire flora within the Monument.
Steve Czapla
FOTCP Officer
Steve came to the Carrizo Plain National Monument from Joshua Tree NP as staff with the Bureau of Land Management in 1995. He retired in 2011, but continues to volunteer on the CPMN in many varied capacities. Steve also volunteers with the San luis Obispo County sheriffʼs Dept., and has spent 19 summers working on wildland fires throughout the country.
Friends of the Carrizo Plain Directors
Jackie Czapla
Jackie is a native Californian, born and raised in the Sacramento area. She came to the Carrisa Plains in 1995 as the wife of one of the BLM staff. She came as devoted volunteer, and continues to put many volunteer hours in each year. Jackie is an artist and stays busy in many creative activities.
Roger Gambs, Ph.D.
Founding Director, FOTCP
Professor (emeritus), Biological Sciences, Cal Poly; Certified Wildlife Biologist (emeritus), The Wildlife Society
Lodema Hatch
Community Leader
Lodema Hatch is a long time resident of Taft and graduate of all the local schools. Former Registrar at Taft Union High School, Ledema retired in 2000. She joined the Friends of the Carrizo Plain about 8 years ago and became a board member 3 years ago. Her board charge is the membership committee and Lodema also coordinates the Carrizo Plain Visitor’s Guide that is printed by Michael Long publisher of the Taft Independent Newspaper. Lodema is a member of the local Community Garden, Soroptimist International of Taft, and strong supporter of The Historical Fort Preservation Society, and the West Kern Oil Museum.
In Memoriam
Kirk Brettschneider
Founding Board Member and Friend of the Carrizo Plain
Ann Chadwick
Goodwin Education Center Coordinator and Carrizo resident and Founding Director
Jon Cooper
Geologist, 2nd generation farmer and Carrizo resident, Founding Board Member and Friend of the Carrizo Plain
About
Find out about Friends of the Carrizo Plain history, vision, mission, and values.
Help
In addition to the hundreds of individual members of the Friends that make contributions of time and money to further our mission, we encourage you to support the groups and organizations that are helping us achieve our Mission.
Volunteer
Individuals who can commit for return visits can provide a great range of service: monitoring roads, installing signs, leading hikes, removing weeds, assisting visitors.
Donate
In addition to the hundreds of individual members of the Friends that make contributions of time and money to further our mission, we encourage you to support the groups and organizations that are helping us achieve our Mission.
Don't Be Shy. Get In Touch.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Send us an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you.