"Though not a native of of the Crystal Coast I feel a particular kinship to this wonderful part of our fabulous country and have lived here for almost 30 years. As a person who enjoys a wide range of waterborne activites I became acutely aware of the many impacts upon our water quality. Over the years I have addressed the ever increasing pollution of our public waters locally, at the state level and even in the halls of US House and Senate. I fully enjoy every opportunity to be on the water, whether fishing or paddling with my wife and friends and will do everything I can to see such activities are not stolen from us and future generations as a result of unchecked pollution."
brian@wonriverkeeper.org
Jim is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. He learned to love the water while visiting local lakes and streams for fishing, water skiing, horseback riding and camping excursions. Upon relocating to Onslow County in 1989 Jim’s love of the water was renewed by all the water access available in this area. Jim is an avid fisherman and loves to spend his free time fishing, canoeing and boating in the New River and surrounding waters. Jim lives just off the water near Jacksonville’s Wilson Bay, an area that is being restored after years of disregard. Jim is an active duty Marine who has spent the majority of his career on bases in Onslow County. He is a 2000 graduate of Campbell University with a BS in History, and a 2006 graduate of Webster University with an MA in Human Resource Management. Jim has used his positions as teacher, trainer and mentor of Marines to introduce many others to the joys to be had on the waters of Onslow County. He has been married for over 17 years and he and his wife Elizabeth have two daughters who have grown up playing in the waters of Onslow County.
jim@wonriverkeeper.org
Elizabeth was born in Washington, D.C. and spent the early years of her life moving around the world with her family experiencing the cultures of Europe, South America and the Middle East. Elizabeth has always enjoyed the water and likes nothing more than to pack up a bag and head out on a boat or to the beach to spend the day basking in the sun. She moved to Onslow County in 1985 and has been active in the community since then. Elizabeth has served on the board of directors with a local nonprofit, and as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She graduated from Campbell University with a BS in Economics in 1992. Spending time on the beaches and waterways of the area has provided a backdrop for her life with her husband Jim and two daughters. Visiting friends and family members have come to expect trips to the water as part of their stays in the Simpson household.
elizabeth@wonriverkeeper.org
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Mary Ann Harrison has been an active volunteer in the environmental community in North Carolina since 1993. She has served the Neuse River Foundation in many capacities including President from 1994 to 1999, Interim Executive Director from July 2006 to January 2008, and currently serves as Vice President.
Mary Ann is a founding Board Member of the North Carolina Conservation Network and she currently serves on their Board of Directors. She also served as Vice President of EarthShare of North Carolina ( formerly the Environmental Federation of North Carolina ) for whom she continues to volunteer on the Participating Organizations Committee.
maryann@wonriverkeeper.org
Dale grew up in northeastern Ohio. Experiences at the family cottage on a lake in the Portage Lakes provided a close bond with water and nature and formed his first memories. He learned stewardship from church and family. Caring for God’s creation and loving neighbors remain important values learned early. Concerning water, first he rowed a little boat. Then he mowed grass and bought a 7 and a half horsepower Mercury motor. More grass got mowed and the boats got faster if not bigger. He worked at a boat store in high school and has remained an active boater and sailor ever since. After graduation from Otterbein College and earning a graduate degree at the University of Michigan he entered the Air Force where he served permanent duty stations in 5 states and 3 foreign countries. At his first duty station, Patrick AFB, FL, he met his wife Kathy and they have three grown children. The Westons arrived in Onslow County to begin teaching careers in 1986. Dale taught in the public school system and Kathy at St Francis of Assisi Catholic School. Dale joined with other citizens following the 1995 Oceanview Farm hog waste spill to work to stop pollution of the New River. He hasn’t stopped. He has noticed that those who pollute the New River do so for one of two reasons: greed or ignorance. Greedy commercial interests (mainly consolidated animal feeding operations and developers) short circuit the free market by avoiding the true cost of their products. These intentional polluters use polluting as a profit builder by achieving lax policy, legislation, and enforcement to avoid costs. Ignorance of the effects of misusing fertilizers, pesticides, and septic systems by citizens accounts for much damage that can be stopped by education. Finally stormwater runoff introduces both contaminants and sediments which damage water quality. Preventing runoff requires investment by municipal and county authorities supported by citizens.Dale works throughout the White Oak River basin with Elmer Eddy and the Stewards of the White Oak to paddle every river and creek in the watershed, clear all trash, clear blow downs, and report problems to authorities. He volunteers with various water quality and paddling programs with Sturgeon City, Keep Onslow Beautiful, and New River Roundtable. He maintains membership in The Coastal Federation, North Carolina Conservation Network, and The Sierra Club. He is also a founding board member of Onslow Caregiver’s, Inc., the sponsors of the annual Festival of Trees which supports Onslow Home Health and Hospice patients.
dale@wonriverkeeper.org
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