Current board members
Sarah Gardner, she/her (president): I lived in Whatcom County in the ‘90s and 2000s “homesteading” on 20 acres and commuting to Bellingham. Life brought me to Puget Sound where I raised my 2 children and worked for Washington State facilitating and lending support to low income individuals from diverse backgrounds at North Seattle College. In 2020, I moved back to Bellingham, settling in Birchwood, the most fantastic neighborhood imho, and feel grateful for all of the amazing neighbors who also advocate for Birchwood. I enjoy creating and spending time in wild places out of cell phone range.
Sarah has been a huge part of Save the Waterfront Foundation. She also serves on the Storybrook Park committee, is a Greenways committee member, has her eye on environmental issues, and contributes to the neighborhood newsletter. Her board term is 2025-2028.
Joy Patterson, she/her (vice president): I’ve lived in Birchwood for two decades. I’m a newly retired teacher, an avid gardener, lover of dogs, cooking, good food, wild places, trails, parks, and beaches. I want to help our neighborhood become a more resilient, well-connected community in terms of affordability, accessibility, walkability, livability, and wellbeing. I believe Birchwood needs more affordable housing, a community center, and a vibrant business core with grocery and pharmacy access.
Joy has secured $15,000 in grants – for neighborhood and parks/trails signage, Birchwood Bash community gathering, and the Birchwood Tree Giveaway. She also serves on the Storybrook Park committee, is a steward of the Rainbow Bridge, and works on the website, newsletter, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor outreach. Her board term is 2025-2028.
Jeannie Gilbert, she/her (treasurer): I moved to Bellingham in 1998 and moved into my current house on Maplewood Ave in 2000. I have been active in the association for more than a decade. I host a petstop and a neighborhood kiosk at my home. I run a non profit radio station and a craft business in my “free time”. The Birchwood International Market is my passion project. I serve on the Parks Board to be an advocate for green spaces in Birchwood and for care of the spaces we have. Graduate of WWU in Marine Science back in 2003, worked at WWU for 13 years, retired now.
Jeannie has written several grants to help fund neighborhood initiatives and spearheads the BIM summer celebration. She is our official record keeper who steps in whenever needed to help our organization run smoothly. She serves on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Her board term is 2025-2028.
Grant McMeekin, he/him (co-secretary): I first came to Bellingham in 2013 to attend WWU and fell in love with the natural beauty, unparalleled access to the outdoors, and the strong sense of community. I am passionate about giving back, whether it’s helping restore natural habitat with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), building trails with the Bellingham Parks Department, fighting hunger in food deserts as board treasurer for Twin Sisters Mobile Market, or uplifting individuals in their darkest times as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. I pride myself on acting through my values. As a current graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Antioch University, I hope to turn my love of service from a hobby into a career.
Grant is our resident designer, has designed our new logo, and helps BNA with all things tech. He is also an impassioned volunteer for various causes. His board term is 2024-2027.
Katie Horvath, she/her (co-secretary): I moved to Birchwood with my husband in 2023 and am planning to be here for many years to come. I love so many things about our neighborhood - the friendly neighbors, the diversity of people, homes, and businesses, the scrappy DIY attitude, the beautiful trees, and the trails and access to the bay. I joined the BNA board in 2024 because I believe that everyone in our neighborhood deserves community, resources, and inclusion in decision-making about the place we all live, and I believe the neighborhood association has an important role to play in making this a reality. In 2025, I helped start Solidarity Birchwood, a group dedicated to building community and connecting neighbors. I bring skills in outreach and engagement, community organizing, technology, and project management. In my free time, I like to knit, run, and spend time with our baby daughter Rosie.
Katie serves as our neighborhood representative on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Her board term is 2024-2027.
Nat Cohen, they/them: Originally from Southern California, I moved to Bellingham in 2021 and to Birchwood only recently! I love improv, ceramics, and community organizing. My past organizing has mostly focused on mutual aid projects like clinic escorting and food distribution; lately, I've been involved in building community with Solidarity Birchwood. My work experience includes psychotherapy, project management, and storytelling/babysitting, and I'm excited to bring my varied skills to the board.
Their board term is 2025-2028.
Mason Herson-Horvath, he/him: Born and raised in Oregon and have lived in Birchwood since 2023. I am part of a developing housing cooperative on Birchwood Avenue, where multiple families share cooking, childcare, and common space. Although previously I worked professionally as a community organizer, today I work in political education, as the program director of the radical popular education organization the Institute for Social Ecology, whose focus is on building participatory democracy from the neighborhood level. I love gardening, public transit, and dense affordable housing, and am dedicated to bringing neighbors together!
His board term is 2025-2028.
Alex Miller, she/her: I’ve lived in Bellingham through many seasons of life, each time learning and growing where the mountains meet the sea. For the past five years, I’ve called Birchwood home, and I’m grateful for this welcoming and connected community. I find joy in plants, particularly native species, alpine environments, and artistic endeavors. As I serve my first term, I look forward to helping build an informed, connected, and resilient community because together we can accomplish great things.
Her board term is 2025-2028.
Joli Holmes, she/her: I have lived in Bellingham’s Birchwood neighborhood since 2023. One of the aspects I appreciate most about this community is the walkability, access to public green space, and connection to my neighbors. I work in healthcare as a UX designer and hope to put some of my design skills to use on the board!
Her board term is 2025-2028.
Kelsey Klevenberg, he/him: Birchwood is the place for me. I live in a 1920’s craftsman with my wife, kids, and dog near the mill. I like being near the mill and Little Squalicum Park, and I appreciate the working class look and feel of our neighborhood. I want to keep it walkable, and help develop commerce responsibly on the outer edges of our neighborhood. See you in the neighborhood!
His board term is 2025-2028.
Nick McLeod, he/him: I've lived in B'ham for about 27 years, and in Birchwood for the past 17. I'm an overeducated, well-meaning, amiable zany who's trying to do his part to forestall idiocracy. I value justice (social & otherwise), environmentalism, honesty, sustainability, and stickin' it to the man. In my Copious Free Time™, I tend to get way too involved in little creative projects designed to please fellow geeks. I know that with a tiny amount of power comes a tiny amount of responsibility, and I'd like to use both of mine to help the disadvantaged.
His board term is 2025-2028.
Would you like to bring your vision to the BNA? Consider becoming a future board member. Each October, we hold elections for any open board seats. Please email birchwoodboardmember@gmail.com if you are interested in helping our neighborhood, can attend Tuesday evening meetings, can work on Google platform, are energized to serve on teams/committees, and able to serve a three-year term. Ideally, we would like to include team members with interest/experience in finance, organizational and facilitation skills, and event coordinating. Explain why you’re interested and what skills you bring that would help our organization. To qualify, you must have paid current member dues and be one of the following:
1. Resident: An individual whose primary residence is within the neighborhood, whether owned or rented.
2. Property owner: An individual who owns real property in the neighborhood.
3. Business owner: An individual who owns a licensed business operating within the neighborhood.
4. Business operator: An individual who is the on-site manager of a business operating within the neighborhood.