DDWS board elects new board and emeritus members, officers
At its recent remote annual meeting, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge’s board of directors welcomed Sanibel resident Mark Heiman for a three-year term and past President Mike Baldwin as a member of the emeritus board.
The DDWS also re-elected Board Members Phyllis Gresham, Bill Harkey, Robin Kirk and Bill Valerian. The board later elected the following officers for 2023: Wendy Kindig as president, Harkey as vice president, Heiman as secretary and Valerian as treasurer.
Heiman moved to Sanibel three years ago from Ohio with his wife. He retired from a career in textiles and clothing that has taken him around the world. In Ohio, Heiman served on a number of boards representing the Jewish community and education. He began volunteering in the Refuge Nature Store this past year.
“I was raised with the philosophy of leaving the world a better place and to do my part in repairing the world,” Heiman, who studied forest management at Oregon State University and once worked for the Oregon State Department of Forestry, said. “The refuge and sanctuary status of Sanibel is a big part of what attracted us to live here, and I frequently walk and bike the ‘Ding’ Darling properties. Since moving here, I have become an avid photographer of the refuge and all of the flora and fauna of the island. My background in forestry has given me a heightened interest and curiosity of everything here.”
Baldwin has served on the DDWS board for over nine years, heavily involved with land acquisition, the National Wildlife Refuge Federation, and advocacy. He served as president from 2018-20.
“We welcome Mark into the fold, confident he will bring his passion for nature and energy for volunteering to help move the board into a new year of challenges and support for the refuge,” Kindig said. “We are so pleased to keep Mike with us in the capacity of emeritus to take advantage of his gentle but firm wisdom.”