1000 Friends of Iowa’s Board of Directors is comprised of citizens representing a wide array of backgrounds. The size of the Board varies from five to fifteen members. Board members serve three-year terms, and may be re-appointed. During our Annual meeting we will elect several new members. If you would like to be considered, or know someone who might be, please apply for the board using this form!
Laura Belin, Chair (Windsor Heights)
Laura grew up in Windsor Heights and moved back to her family home in 2002 after living out of state for 15 years. “Buy Local” was the 1000 Friends of Iowa program that first caught her attention, even before she moved back to Iowa. Her grandfathers owned small businesses, and she strongly supports locally owned “main street” businesses. Other area of interests include educating citizens on the impact of current economic, transportation, and tax policies, as well as advocating for changes that would better serve our communities and protect our natural resources.. Laura joined the 1000 Friends of Iowa board in 2002 and served as board president in 2005. She also serves as the1000 Friends of Iowa representative on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Environmental Council.
Mike Carberry, Vice Chair (Iowa City)
Mike is a native Iowan who grew up in Newell in Benton County. He moved to the Iowa City area in the late 70’s and went to the University of Iowa in Business Administration. He also has a certificate in non-profit management from Iowa State University. He is a former campaign manager, advocate, and elected official specializing in sustainability, renewable energy and climate change issues. Now, he works with Bright Future Iowa as its outreach director and is dedicated to letting Iowans know about the local benefits of solar and expanding solar projects statewide. For over two decades, Mike has been an advocate for solving environmental issues. He has been actively involved in a number of environmental organizations
Margaret Vernon, Secretary (Indianola, IA)
Margaret lives in Indianola, IA with her husband Jon. As a founding member of the Indianola Sustainability Committee and leader in the Indianola Green Team, Margaret is no stranger to working towards real change. As part of the Sustainability Committee, She has help to lead the annual Indianola Sustainabiloity Fair and has help to drive numerous efforts in the area, including leading efforts for a solar group buy and educational workshops on solar. Margaret and her husband Jon are know for spreading the word about sustainability – from articles in the paper about how to dispose of fall leaves to coordinating workshops and panel discussions.
Carolyn Uhlenhake-Walker, Treasurer (Des Moines)
Carolyn is a long time Des Moines resident and a retired school teacher. Carolyn still volunteers to work with students and is a mentor and tutor. A life-long activist, Carolyn is active in a number of organizations and is the Co-Chair of the Des Moines Citizens Taskforce on Sustainability. Carolyn was also part of the After the Flood committee that helped the City of Des Moines create a plan to reduce flooding and better address flooding issues when they happen. Carolyn’s work with the task force has resulted in numerous policies adopted by the city to drive sustainability, including the new ADAPT DSM climate action plan.
Mathew Pierce (Des Moines, IA)
Originally from Lincoln Nebraska, Matthew moved to Iowa to go to college and has never left. He studied urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa. It is that interest in urban planning that drew him to 1000 friends of Iowa. With a passion for social justice and the environment, Matthew has been actively involved in a number of organizations, including the Des Moines Task Force on Sustainability.
We Need You! 1000 Friends of Iowa relies on a strong Board of Directors and we would love your expertise and skills. Consider applying today!