Officers and Board of the Friends of the Assabet River NWR

Betsy Griffin (President, Co-Chair of the Nature Store Committee) is a resident of Maynard. Betsy joined the board in 2008 and has been a member since 2002. She is also a member of the outreach committee. She is a trainer for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts Council and a former School Committee Member in Maynard. She is a member of OAR (Organization for the Assabet River) and SVT (Sudbury Valley Trustees). She is an avid camper, kayaker, and runs a sewing and quilting business.

Alan Orth (Treasurer) is a resident of Wayland. Alan is a Charter member of Friends and has been the organization's Treasurer and maintains the membership database since it's inception in 2000. He is also a member of the Nature Store Committee. Alan came to the public hearings and responded to an appeal to form a citizen’s group to help with the transfer of the property and clean up. A retired electrical engineer, Alan enjoys flying light aircraft.

Neela de Zoysa (Clerk, Chair of the Outreach Committee) is a resident of Sudbury. Neela is a board member since 2008. She is member of the outreach committee. She is a trained biologist and forester with research experience in plant identification and ecology. She is helping with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Environmental Education programs to be offered at the new Visitor Center. She has worked with similar organizations in Asia.

Frank Laak (Chair of the Trails Committee) is a resident of Marlborough. Frank joined the board in 2003 and has been a member since 2002. He is a member of the Nature Store Committee. An avid birder and hiker he frequented the south section of the property before its transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has helped with the clean up effort to open the refuge to the public and often helps the maintenance staff when needed. He leads the trail maintenance work parties and is active with invasives plant removal efforts on the refuge.

Dave Lange (Co-Chair of the Nature Store Committee) is a resident of Concord. Dave joined the board in 2004 and has been a member since 2001. He is an expert birder, leads birding walks, and is an active member of the Trails committee. He is a member of the Assabet Keep Track team.

Hank Norwood Resident of Wayland, Hank is a board member since June 2009 and a member since 2001. He has been leading the Friends strategic planning effort in the past few months. Hank was influential in lobbying for the US Army property to be transferred to the FWS as ARNWR. He is a veteran birder and conservationist and is the Coordinator of the Concord Christmas Bird Count.

Dave Williams A resident of Marlborough, Dave joined the board in 2004 and has been a member since 2000. He was on the Desert Conservation Land Committee south of the refuge in Marlborough at the time the property was transferred from the Army to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which motivated him to join Friends. Subsequently, he was involved in the effort to get the refuge open to the public. Dave is currently a member of the Marlborough Conservation Commission, Open Space and Storm Water task forces, Chairman of the Middlesex Conservation District, a board member of OAR and board member of SuAsCo Watershed Community Council.