SIERRA PACIFIC REGION 2006–2008
TECHNOLOGY TEAM
Marcia Pothast, Chris Husing, Donna Swedberg

Our mission… Teach Every Club How Through Education And Motivation!

The SPR Tech Team is here to help you. We have provided every club in our region its own club website, or “clubsite.” It is the responsibility of each club, through its Tech Link, to provide content to the Tech Team, who will then format and upload the pages to your club’s site. Other sites include all region board members, region committees and many upcoming events.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Tech Team to assist you in updating and maintaining your clubsite.

Your 2006–2008 Biennium Tech Team includes: Marcia Pothast, SI Lodi Sunrise; Chris Husing, SI Silicon Valley and Donna Swedberg, SI Santa Cruz.

Marcia Pothast, Soroptimist International of Lodi Sunrise

I was born in Iowa and grew up on a farm. I have an older sister and a younger brother and three nephews, two nieces, 1 great niece and 1 great nephew. My 88 year old mother lives in a retirement home back in Iowa where she recently purchased a new computer.

I graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Child Development in 1969. Following graduation, I spent seven years working in a children's nursing home with handicapped children.

In 1977, I came to California and learned to program on a micro processor that my brother–in–law had built from a kit. I thought it was great fun, so I found a technical school in San Jose and took a nine month course in computer programming. In January 1978, I began working for Sun–Maid Growers in their Menlo Park office as a programmer–trainee.

It is now almost thirty years later and I am still working for Sun–Maid Growers (now in Stockton). I have gained a wealth of experience in different aspects of Information Technology over the years. I still think programming in great fun, and love dabbling in web programming.

In the spring of 1994, a friend invited me to attend a meeting of Soroptimist International of Lodi Sunrise. The rest is history. I served in several offices including Treasurer and President. I was District III Director during the 2002–2004 biennium and Region Secretary during the 2004–2006 biennium.

I now have the challenge of keeping the SPR web site up–to–date. I intend to enjoy every minute of it. I am grateful to the original Tech Team that designed and implemented this great site and I intend to maintain the high standards set by them.

Chris Husing, Soroptimist International of Silicon Valley

I am a native of Santa Clara, California. I attended high school there and graduated with a BA in history from Santa Clara University in 1994.

In 1995, the Department of the Air Force selected me to work in the US Air Force history program. My first posting was Headquarters Air Force Reserve at Robins AFB, Georgia. I later transferred to the military space program at Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, California. During my time in the history program, I completed the USAF Archives course, Oral History course, History of US Airpower seminar at Bolling AFB and the Pentagon, and the USAF Business of Space course. I contributed writing to the Air Force Reserve history Citizen Airman and wrote several base newspaper articles and much web content. I received two commendations, one of which came from the base commander at Los Angeles AFB for having found a mock terrorist during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

With the history program shrinking due to budget cuts, I left the government in 1998 and went back to school to pursue a certificate in technical writing. I have worked as a technical writer for various Silicon Valley companies since that time. I have specialized in writing online documentation in HTML Help or WebHelp formats.

I was a member of "S" Club in my junior and senior years at Santa Clara High School. In September 2002, I learned that Santa Clara's "S" Club was defunct. I worked with others to restore it and became an advisor. Through my work with the "S" Club, SI Santa Clara (SISC) invited me to join their club in September 2003. I remain the SISC liaison to Santa Clara's "S" Club, and I am very proud of my work in that regard. I was also elected Vice President of SISC for the 2006–2007 club year. I am honored that Governor Lauren has selected me to serve as the SPR Directory Editor and Email Administrator

Donna Swedberg, Soroptimist International of Santa Cruz

I was born and raised in Burbank, California. I have an older sister in Colorado, a younger sister in Arkansas, three nephews, two nieces and two grand–nephews.

After graduating from Burbank High School, I attended college in Northridge for a couple of years before transferring to San Diego State from which I graduated with a BA in English. I earned my master's degree in library science at San Jose State.

I started working for the Santa Cruz Public Library in August 1976 as a children's librarian at the Branciforte branch. After a few years, I transferred to the Central branch to work in the adult reference department where I've been supervisor for the past 19 years.

The branch manager where I was children's librarian was a member of SI Santa Cruz (SISC) and she invited me to join the group. I became a member in 1988 and over the years have served on the Board in a variety of capacities including Treasurer and President (2002–2003). I have edited our club newsletter off and on for many years. In 2004–2005, I was the region's Big Basin Chairman and now I'm on the Tech Team.

I love being a Soroptimist. I enjoy the members of my club and all of the friends I've made there and at conferences and meetings around the region. I am very proud of the work that Soroptimist does at every level and delighted to be a part of it.

I am thrilled to be serving on the 2006–2008 Tech Team as Webmaster. I enjoy working with computers. I've been teaching Internet classes to new staff members for years and I relish the challenge of learning new things.

Revised August 25, 2007