Meeting your Candidates for the 2025-2026 Election

Thank you for voting

Thank you for participating in the election of Board Members to complete the business year of 2024.  We appreciate your patience and acceptance of our untimely schedule.  Even though the timing is off schedule, the need to complete the election and begin a new year still sets the tone for the important work of CCC Legacy.  

 

There are seven (7) candidates who have expressed their interest in being on the ballot.  In this election, there are six (6) board positions that are open for election.  Four (4) are two-year terms for the years of 2025 and 2026. Two (2) slots are one year in length and complete the terms of members who did not finish their term.  

 

On the page below, you will find information on all of the candidates.  They are very qualified and will bring good experience and creativity to the operation of CCC Legacy.  

 

 

Special Thanks

Special thanks to member volunteers who have served on the Nominating Committee.  Their focus is to identify members in good standing who want to serve on the Board of Directors.

Our broad-based national membership adds challenges to this process because it is difficult to get to know members who might want to serve.  For this reason, the election process asks that potential candidates for the board submit a Letter of Intent to help introduce themselves.  The Letter of Intent expresses their desire to serve on the board and offers a brief resume on their experience with non-profits organizations and knowledge of the CCC.  It is the hope that the process will give everyone an equal chance of being involved with developing CCC Legacy. 

 

Thanks to Terri Altman, Arkansas, Cheryl Dellinger, Virginia, and Lynanne Lawhead, Florida for serving and a special thanks to Cheryl Dellinger for fulfilling the role of Committee Chair.  

Board Election Ballot - 2025 - 2026

MEET YOUR CANDIDATES


Joan Comanor, Woodstock, Virginia

  • An active retiree, where her interest and experience continue in conservation. She is a dedicated and enthusiastic member when it comes to her volunteer work, giving much of her time to those organizations.
  • Through her involvement with a group encouraging the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors, she learned much about the accomplishments of the CCC and the museum in Edinburg, VA.
  • In December 2024, she participated in requesting a tribute to the CCC of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors by considering a project to designate Route 675 as a Memorial Byway for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Much of the effort centered around giving further recognition for the Wolf Gap camp, a recently rediscovered African Ameri can CCC camp. Joan states, “it is exciting to play a small part in increasing interest and awareness of local history AND a major part of history in the conservation movement in the US”. Expenses are to be paid through grant funds. The Board appeared supportive and is scheduled to hold a vote January 2025.
  • Retired from the Federal Government and has a 30 year plus career in natural resource management.
  • Worked with the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service in improving the protection and management of both public and private lands. She has held positions from field work to holding senior executive leadership positions.
  • Relocated to Shenandoah County full time in 2003, she has been an active volunteer and board member with the Woodstock Enhancement Committee, Woodstock Tree Board as ongoing chairwoman, Shenandoah Forum, as well as serving as a Director on the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District as current chairwoman.
  • In the course of her education and work, she has long appreciated the history of leaders advocating for stewardship of our natural resources from the earliest days of this nation. Joan says she would be delighted to serve on the CCC Legacy board to promote, contribute and learn more about the incredible role of CCC in the more ‘recent’ times of our country’s conservation movement.


Lynanne Lawhead, Florida

Daughter of CCC Boy – Ernest P. Raulerson. Influenced by his stories of the positive impact the CCC had on his life. She has a strong desire to make sure the CCC boys and their work is remembered.

Held positions of:

  • Co-founder/Executive Director of American Alligator Cycle of Protection (501 (c) 3 nonprofit) organization for 12 years,
  • Executive Director of Cypress Initiative (501 (c) 3 nonprofit) organization for 3 years,
  • COO of Center for Sustainable Change (501(c)3 nonprofit) organization for 4 years
  • Began volunteer work at age 14, and over the years was hired by 13 of the companies she volunteered for.
  • Has worked in administration positions for 2 different hospices, a domestic violence shelter and a local County Fair
  • Is known for making things happen and being a connector of people and needs for an organization.

Now retired, but has held several titles that include case manager in the Eldercare industry, executive director, coordinator and other titles that indicate her successful level of management and being able to work in the team as well as be a team leader. 



Colette Sylvestri, Enola, Pennsylvania

· Daughter of CCC Boy Benjamin Silvestri who served at the Shenandoah National Park. 

· Assisted her father in organizing the local annual alumni reunion. 

· Served as a gifted and enrichment mentor in Pennyslvania public education.

· Legislative Research Analyst for the Senate of Pennsylvania and House of Representatives in Harrisburg, PA.

· National Center on Education and Employment: Compiled and maintained national database of education and business.  Organized meetings and coordinated Workforce transition grants.

· Education:  Duquesne University, Bachalor of Arts.  Penn State Master of Arts, Seton Hill University, Education Certification. Columbia Teachers College, NY, and Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

· Served in many different capacities related to community activities.  Pennsylvania Citizens for the Arts, Grant Recipient of the National Lin right Award, State Public Policy Chair, Junior Lages of PA. Lobbied for the creation of National Publics Lands Day

 


Larka Tetens, Arlington, Texas

  • Daughter of a CCC Boy who worked at two camps:  Shady Lake near Mena, Arkansas and the camp in Monticello, Arkansas.
  • Served on the CCC Legacy Board 2021 – 2024 and was treasurer in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
  • Started work on a Scholarship Program to encourage youth in their endeavors to promote the memories and work of the CCC and to encourage youth to improve the economy and environment in the U.S. 
  • 34 years with the Texas Public Schools as a classroom teacher, counselor and administrator. 
  • Has second master’s degree in counseling and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the private practice.  
  • Other community experience includes being Founder and Chairman of the Board of a non-profit promoting literacy among Spanish speakers, called Bibleoteca En El Sole.
  •  President of Arlington Sunset Rotary Club for two terms. 
  • Worked with foster children, foster parents, biological parents, attorneys, judges, teachers, and medical personnel as a C.A.S.A (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children in the foster care system.  
  • Enjoys visiting state parks with her grandchildren to search for CCC structures and feels we must keep the memories of their work and be sure out youth can continue to pass down the stories.  


Rosemary Wallinger, Mt. Jackson, VA

Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and raised by parents interested in the country’s history. Her mother was a self-described secret admirer of FDR and the New Deal policies he crafted, secret because her father was not a fan.  Her father, a WWII veteran, often spoke of the CCC and all it accomplished, noting that Camp Roosevelt was the first in the country.

    • Privileged to know an enrollee who often told stories of his experience and was fascinated by them.
    • While researching local history she stumbled over stories from a local resident, she learned some information about Camp Wolf Gap, an African American camp. She believes this is an important piece of our history to restore to public awareness, and gathered a group of friends to formed The Wolf Gap Project.
    • Her son-in-law, Andrew Morris, is chair of the history department at Union College in Schenectady NY and a recognized authority on the Roosevelt era. He has given her important insight into the history and importance of the CCC. They share a desire to see the local CCC exhibit completed.
    • Co-founder of Shenandoah Forum, an organization dedicated to wise land use in Shenandoah County, now the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley. She also has a background in non-profit organizational management.
    • Has enthusiasm and momentum for the work of the Legacy and doesn’t want to lose it. She believes that as a board member she can work with our local community and across the country to ensure that we don’t forget.

 Education

  • BA Psychology 1970 Mary Baldwin College
  • Graduate work, UVA 1970 to achieve teaching certificate
  • Trained, Certified Mediator for the Supreme Court of Virginia – Community Mediation Center, Harrisonburg, VA
  • Mediation and Negotiation on Environmental Issues, Institute for Environmental Negotiation, UVA
  • Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute, Class of 2003 (UVA/VPI/VDoF Partnership) Received a scholarship for this in response to a recommendation by her UVA professor, Frank Dukes
  • Virginia Master Naturalist, Shenandoah Chapter, 2023.
  • Member of the CCC Legacy since 2022.


Laura Fogle, Fort Valley, Virginia

  •  Recently retired from a 43 year career as a physical therapist and for the past 25 years worked for Valley Health at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.   In addition to treating patients, she headed up several education projects for the rehab department and regularly visited the local elementary schools to educate students regarding health and wellness.  
  • Currently serving as the president/chairperson of the board of directors of the Woodstock Clothes Closet and has held this position for quite a few years overseeing the work of this local non-profit.
  • Served for many years on the Adult Committee of the Shenandoah County Young Life ministry assisting with fundraising and operational of the non-denominational youth ministry and serving as chairperson of the annual fundraising banquet.  
  • She is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist and has volunteered at the Seven Bends State Park and also9 at the Byrd Visitor Center in Shenandoah National Park speaking to visitors about the park trails, CCC history of the Shenandoah National Park, etc. 
  • Working with a group of local Shenandoah County citizens on a project aimed at getting USFS recognition and enhancement, including interpretive signage, at the site of the Wolf Gap CCC Camp. 
  • In the process of presenting a request to the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors to designate Route 675 as the Shenandoah County CCC Memorial Byway since that road connects the two camps (Wolf Gap and Camp Roosevelt in our county.  Working on this project has enlightened me about the work of the CCC Legacy, including the exhibit at the USFS that has yet to be fully completed.
  • She grew up in Shenandoah County and have lived just 1 mile from Camp Roosevelt in Fort Valley since 1982.  She is aware, many of the younger generation have absolutely no clue as to the existence and work of the CCC which she feels is so important to preserve.  Her interest in joining the Board of Directors of CCC Legacy is to continue to utilize her energy and organizational skills to assist in progressing the goals of the Legacy to preserve and promote the history of the CCC.  
  • She would find it a pleasure to work with the CCC Legacy and to also serve on its Board of Directors.   


Joan Sharpe, Edinburg, Virginia

As a military family, my personal adult life was to serve and help support my family as we moved around the world at the behest of Uncle Sam.  This continual movement and job seeking left me with a long trail of varied employment.  Through my many years of working and community experience, I accumulated experience in customer service/telephone, administrative tasks, bookkeeping, personnel and recruiting, and real estate sales. All of these tasks molded me to be qualified as the manager of a Legislative Affairs Office in Washington DC.   It was quite an adventure.  The work history demonstrates the value of carrying your experiences forward.   In my private life, I also served as the treasurer of a family for-profit corporation.   This combined experience gave me the tools to nurture the creation of CCC Legacy in 2002.  

 

Organizational experience:  I created the Virginia non-profit corporation Camp Roosevelt CCC Legacy Foundation. (CRCCCLF).  I helped to guide the application and implementation of the non-profit (501c3) organizational status with the IRS, developed and monitored the corporate merger of CCC Legacy with the National Association of CCC Alumni (NACCCA) both of which were non-profit organizations.  These tasks included: 

Collaborating with accountants, 

  • Following IRS guidelines and filing for federal tax
  • Collaborating with the Virginia State Corporation 
  • Create the bylaws and other governing documents.
  • Collaborate with attorney and accountant. 

In an administration capacity: 

  • Understand bookkeeping and the QuickBooks accounting programs that are being used by CCC Legacy and have a knowledge of budgets and money management.
  • Have a strong working knowledge of computer software and systems that CCC Legacy depends on for its daily operation and performing in a virtual office environment.
  • Develop interpretive displays for public events and libraries.
  • Manage the CCC Legacy website.
  • Editor of the CCC Legacy Journal
  • Publicly speaks at many events and serves as an ambassador to the CCC in many different capacities.
  • Educates America’s citizens to the history and culture of the CCC is our mission and is what provides us with our non-profit status
  • Liaison person with the USDA Forest Service Lee District office, I serve to keep the Forest Service informed about the CCC Legacy progress in fundraising to build interpretive displays for the new CCC Interpretive Center and negotiate agreements with the Forest Service. Monitor the government contracting program, Sam.Gov, as required by the Forest Service. I have a strong desire to serve through education of conservation heritage.

Other Community and Business Experience: 

  • Chambers of Commerce in Clarksville, TN, Tacoma, WA and Edinburg, VA
  • President of Edinburg Chamber. Community building.  Organized the annual Christmas Parade the annual fundraising silent auction,  
  • Created and organized the local election Candidates Form to introduce citizens to those running for political office.
  • CCC Legacy was born out of an idea sparked by a conversation between the Forest Ranger and me as President of the local Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. Since the creation of the corporation, I have been involved in all aspects of the management of the Board of Directors and the corporation and have served as the President for 20 years. 

 Personal history:

I grew up in a South Dakota farming community and witnessed that service to community was the glue that turned isolated poor communities into vibrant healthy participants in education, social programs, religious training, and political facets of a growing community.