Texas Conference of Churches

Marianne Lawson is the VISTA Leader for the project. She accepted this position after serving a year as a VISTA Member on the same project, working at Texas Interagency/Interfaith Disaster Response (TIDR) in Austin. While at TIDR, Marianne developed a Volunteer Recruitment and Retention training and reference for her organization and fellow VISTA Members. In addition, she coordinated volunteers to serve in Travis County and also in Burnet County when floods occurred there.

As VISTA Leader, Marianne is developing innovative recruiting methods and materials targeted toward new VISTAs for the project. She joined the project in August 2006 after graduating from The University of Texas with a Plan II Honors Degree.

Colin Reynolds, Liberty County Long-Term Recovery Committee, began in July 2007 with community organizing and volunteer recruitment. Having joined us from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, he is happy to say he has already been invited to go hunting and fishing in Liberty County. Colin is now working on bringing more groups into his organization and fund raising.

Lauren Karp also joined us in July 2007, and she has gone to work in community development and volunteer recruitment at Mid-Texas VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) in Temple. Lauren came to us from State University of New York at Geneseo.

Amanda Boone joined the project in August 2007 after graduating with a B.A. in Culture and Communication from Ithaca College. Amanda is serving as a Volunteer Organizer and Fund Raiser for Texas Interagency/Interfaith Disaster Response in Austin.

Karen Baptiste is working in volunteer coordination, fund raising and education for the Highland Lakes/Hill Country Long-Term Recovery Committee serving Burnet and Llano Counties. Karen is a Hurricane Katrina Survivor who migrated to Marble Falls with other members of her church. She brings a heart for helping those still suffering from Katrina, Rita and the Llano and Burnet County floods.

Adam Walke, our newest Member, joined the project in July 2008. He is serving as a Grantwriter and Volunteer Coordinator for the El Paso Long Term Recovery Committee. Adam has a Masters Degree in Border Studies from The University of Texas at El Paso.