|
| |
Board of Directors
Michael Lynch –
President
 Mike grew up in Brewster, New York, a small town about fifty miles north of New York City. He entered the U. S. Naval Academy directly from John F. Kennedy HS in Somers, N. Y. and graduated with a BS Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Mike served in the Navy for over 23 years, rising to command of an ammunition ship and completing his career by Serving as the Director of Navy Sailing. After retiring from the US Navy, Mike worked for a technology consulting firm for four years. Mike worked for UPM Blandin Paper as a Senior HR Specialist for 10 years in Grand Rapids, MN. Currently Mike is the Facilities Planner for the Dorchester County Board of Education in Cambridge, MD.
Mike served three years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U. S. Naval Sailing Foundation a 501©3 and two years as the Chairman of the Grand Rapids area Linking Learning to Life Group. Currently Mike is completing his Applied Project for Master of Arts in Management from the College of St. Scholastica, was a member of the Executive Council of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Work Force Development Committee, member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the vestry at Christ Episcopal Church.
Mike and his wife, Susan live in Easton, Maryland along with their 2 shelties, Hannah & Shadow and their cat, Tiny, who is now 17 years old.
Peter Christman –
Vice President
 Peter received his education in Michigan and graduated from Wayne State University with an MSW degree. He has worked as a mental health therapist for over 21 years now specializing in areas of addictions, bereavement, and crisis intervention. He has lived and worked in Tucson, Arizona now for over 11 years. It wasn't until his beloved dalmatian,Hayley, died in 2000 that he recognized the need for pet bereavement services. He attended a pet bereavement conference in New York where he met Medea Berkman. He has since volunteered as a chatroom host for the ALLN, provided talks and lectures on pet bereavement for vet tech interns, and offered individual counselling and pet bereavement support groups in the Tucson community. He is currently the proud father of Bailey, a Brittany spaniel, and Jet, a rescue greyhoundTreasurer/Secretary – Susan Lynch
 Susan Lynch: is one of the founding members of the Animal Love & Loss Network. Susan brings over 28 years of business and financial experience to ALLN. She has worked in the accounting field and as the Assistant Director of a Non-Profit Counseling Center in Maryland. There Susan trained as a hotline counselor and brings those skills to the ALLN Chat rooms as a chat host. Susan works closely with the volunteers of ALLN to improve the site and services.
As a Navy wife she was active in the wives groups and served as President of the Service Group Two Officers’ Wives Club and Editor of The Replenisher, a monthly newsletter. Susan worked closely with the US Naval Sailing Foundation in their business and finance operations.
An ardent lover of animals, Susan shares her home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband Mike, two Shelties: Hannah and Shadow and Tiny the Great their orange tabby cat.
|
Board Members
Medea Dawn Berkman, M.S.
 Medea
has always been a strong and passionate voice for the animals.
As a child she preferred stuffed animals over dolls, and would
play for hours with her huge collection of plastic farm animals.
College found her pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian,
when a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to work
with animals in Alaska diverted those plans. Many years later
she returned to New York and worked as a veterinary technician
and pet sitter. Later she entered her 'second' career in the
field of psychology. She presently works as a Mental Health
Counselor, certified in HIV counseling and grief and bereavement.
She is highly skilled in the practice of 'guided imagery,'
and incorporates these exercises into her support group sessions.
She is a certified Adult Continuing Education Teacher, and
designed and taught a course on "Coping and Communicating
During Times Of Loss." Medea is a founding member of
The Animal Love & Loss Network, serving as a Board member,
Chat Host, Chat Host Committee Chair, and Support Group Committee
Chair.Medea was also a founding member and original Vice President
of The Association For Pet Loss and Bereavement, and presented
an interactiveworkshop on "Support Group Counseling Techniques"
at the first National Conference on Pet Loss and Bereavement,
in New York City in June of 2001.She is a the President of
The Long Island Coalition For Animals, and writes an animal
loss column for the 'LICA' newsletter. She contributes articles
to other animal related publications upon request. Medea implemented
'The Paw To Heart Animal Bereavement Support Services' in
1992, following the loss of her cherished feline soul mate,
'Shasta.' "Paw To Heart" offered the first ongoing
animal bereavement support group on Long Island at that time.
Medea spends many hours between group meetings providing telephone
and e-mail support to those in mourning. Medea is often invited
to speak in her community on all aspects of animal loss, and
conducts a yearly workshop for veterinary science students
at a local college. She is active in numerous grass roots
animal advocacy groups, and spends most weekends educating
the public on "puppy mills" by leafletting outside
of pet shops. Medea practices cruelty free living on a daily
basis, and extends her compassion not only to cats and dogs,
but to all animals who are exploited and abused. While volunteering
at a local shelter, Medea met her most recent felinefamily
member "Princess Kashmir;" and until Kashmir's untimely
death inAugust 2004, they shared a home on Long Island, NY.
"Princess Kashmir" will continue to live on in Medea's
heart.
Holly Melton
 Holly resides in Denton, Texas and has been an active supporter of ALLN. Last year she completed a dog grooming course and is now a certified pet groomer at Petsmart. Holly shares her home with fiancee, Kyle, and her dog and cat furkids.
|
|
|
|
|
|
