Who is Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk?
On August 15, 1992, three birdwatching buddies sat in a canoe on North Stone Lake watching a Swainson’s Hawk soar overhead. They talked about the wave of urbanization poised to pave over the Sacramento farmlands. They wondered how long the Swainson’s Hawk would survive with its habitat being paved over. So was born Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk, a grassroots non-profit organization. FOSH has taken on the challenge of protecting Swainson’s Hawk habitat in the range of the California Swainson’s Hawk.
Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk
Scoreboard
FOSH Scoreboard Since 1994, FOSH has focused on enforcing laws and implementing policies that protect Swainson’s Hawk. The result has been achievements in Sacramento, Yolo and San Joaquin Counties. When we started, governments were holding on to funds that had been collected for mitigation fees and not buying the land intended to be purchased with the fees. Now, thousands of acres have been permanently protected and managed for Swainson’s Hawk because of the watchdog efforts of grassroots advocacy.
FOUNDERS
Judith Lamare, Ph.D. Co-founder
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Dr. Lamare is a retired consulting political scientist (Ph.D., UCLA, 1973). Her consulting practice specialized in air quality policy and coalition building. She was the founding manager and managed the Cleaner Air Partnership of Sacramento from 1986 to 2005. Her career also included university teaching, and staff to the California Senate (Office of Research). She is the executive officer for Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk, and manages all grant activities and public comment for the organization.
James P. Pachl, JD. Co-founder
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Mr. Pachl has retired from legal practice (J.D., 1969, Boalt Hall Law School, University of California). He is the Legal Chair for Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter and a member of the Conservation Committee. He has served also as Northern California Conservation Chair (1988-90); and on the Executive Committee of Sierra Club California (1986-91). He served 12 years (1987-1995) as a Board Member of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). Mr. Pachl is a co-founder of FOSH and has been responsible for managing all legal activities of the organization.
Vicki Lee, Activist and Advocate
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Vicki Lee co-founded FOSH in 1994. She is an award winning environmental activist and advocate best known for her extensive contributions to the Sierra Club and the Environmental Council of Sacramento as a volunteer. She is retired from state service and makes her home in the Bay Area.