Paul Gore
Paul Gore is another of God’s pilgrims putting one foot in front of another on his quest to “fight the good fight, run the good race.” He first experienced the Yellowstone Environ in 1963 on his too brief honeymoon to the area. Paul, and his new bride Colleen, vowed to return to the area. Like all vows it was tested by time and circumstances Finally, in 2014, they began their pilgrimage to Bozeman.
Paul holds degrees in law, business, tax law, and theology. He is a student of nature and an aspiring naturalist. He has immersed himself in the Yellowstone area since 1983 and has led tours to the area for over 30 years. His study of theology took him to the spirit world of the Native American Indians and he graduated from the St. Vincent DePaul Major Seminary with his Master of Theology. For over forty years he worked within various ministries of the Archdiocese of Miami in Marriage Encounter, Adult Education, Lay ministry, Tribunal Advocate, Catholic Community Service, Lector, Bereavement Group leader, and many other associated areas.
Just prior to moving to Bozeman, Paul served as Administrative Assistant to the pastor of Mary Help of Christians parish in Parkland Florida and was appointed by the pastor to be the supervisor of the development of the land, a parish hall and school. The parish site was 24 acres of original native vegetation and offered a unique opportunity to develop a parish centered on the land stewardship concept in close association with liturgy and church function. The parish received wide recognition and acclaim for the effort as well as awards and a grant from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He believes that it can be done again at Resurrection University Catholic Parish.
Carol Zeglen
Carol Zeglen, a resident of South Florida, has been involved in the land stewardship movement for over 25 years. She was involved in the Land Stewardship Committee at Mary Help of Christians, Parkland Florida She served as a chairman of the committee, wrote for the Green Leaf newsletter and participated in the bi-weekly work days in the parish’s twenty-four acre piece of property called the Garden.
Over the years of her participation on the Committee, she developed a love for the environment and attempted to “preach” the need for all to respect the environment through her photographs. She has brought her concern for the environment to her new parish in Palm City, Florida with a few words at the monthly women’s guild meetings and the newsletter sent to its members. Carol is delighted to be part of the Land Stewardship Committee at Resurrection University Catholic Parish and looks forward to meeting the parishioners on her frequent visits to Bozeman.
Carmen Newstreet
Carmen Newstreet is a resident of Dallas, Texas, and is an assistant professor at the University of Dallas in the Education Department. She is familiar with the land stewardship movement for over 25 years. She was involved in Land Stewardship at Mary Help of Christians, Parkland, Florida through her children, three of whom worked bi-weekly in the Garden at the church. Her son William earned his Eagle Scout with his Garden project. Her family attended masses held in the Garden and frequently enjoyed its natural surroundings for quiet walks and prayer time. Carmen is happy to provide support to the Land Stewardship Committee at Resurrection University Catholic Parish and welcomes the opportunity to meet new folks in Bozeman! Carmen is a frequent visitor to Bozeman and will be assisting in an editorial position for the Green Leaf.
Sandra Bass
Sandra Bass is a retired educator who specialized in teaching early childhood and reading, with a dedicated belief that the foundation of a good education begins with the child. In following that commitment, she strived to develop curriculum that incorporated all the basics while exposing the children to the arts and the natural world around them. Although, she has been retired for many years she continues to learn and teach. “Once a teacher always a teacher”!
Sonny Bass
Oron “Sonny” Bass became interested in the natural world at a young age, spending much of that time roaming and camping the wild places of his South Florida home. Feeling most at home surrounded by nature it was logical that he would chose a career in the biological sciences. After graduation with degrees focusing on wildlife ecology he began a thirty-six year career as a wildlife biologist at Everglades National Park. During course of his career he worked on everything from Florida tree snails to the Florida Panther with primary research on federally listed endangered species. After retirement, he continues his collaborations with colleagues and students working on wildlife conservation projects around the world. !
His first visit to the Yellowstone area was 1966 and he continues scientific and pleasure visits as often as possible. In his words “my childhood dream came true.”
AJ Metz
A.J. Metz is resident of Salt Lake City, UT, and is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. Trained as a counseling psychologist, she studies the strengths that enable people and communities to thrive. She believes that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play. One strand of her work in positive psychology is to understand the relationship between human beings and the natural world. She and her doctoral students are interested in how having (and nurturing) an emotional and physical connection to the natural world can promote mental health and well-being; improve interpersonal relationships; and motivate sustainable lifestyles. Ecopsychology can inform environmental or land stewardship – which refers to the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. A.J. has experienced a spiritual connection to the natural world in many places – from fishing and camping in Northern Wisconsin, to hiking and biking in the State and National parks in Utah, to visiting the natural wonders of the world in Central America, Europe, and Asia. She enjoys her visits to Bozeman – although slightly more so in the summer months – and looks forward to providing support to the Green Leaf Newsletter and land stewardship in Montana and other places near and dear to her heart.
Ellie Weber
Ellie is a registered nurse who decided after her first vacation in Montana to make Montana her home after retirement. She realized her dream in August of 2018 with her move to Belgrade.
Land stewardship and ecology has been a concern for her for over 25 years. At her previous parish, Mary Help of Christians in Parkland, Florida she became “hooked” with the Land Stewardship Committee and its philosophy after meeting and talking with members at a ministry fair.
During her involvement with the Land Stewardship Committee at her Florida parish, Ellie wrote for the Green Leaf, participated in ecology events sponsored by the parish and the Land Stewardship Committee, served as the chairperson for the committee, and created bulletin board displays centered around the committee’s philosophy and the teachings of the church on the environment. She also was the Director of Land Stewardship for the parish where she was responsible for the maintenance for the 24 area grounds of the church.
Ellie is excited about living in Montana and continuing the work of the Land Stewardship program.
Linda Weinland
Linda is a retired Professor who taught Biology and Environmental Science at the Naples Campus of Florida Southwestern State College (once called Edison College). She has been active in the Florida Native Plant Society and helped establish the Friends of Rookery Bay when that National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated. Linda is currently working with the Cypress Cove Conservancy to preserve natural habitat and to educate residents new to south Florida about native plants and wildlife.
For many years Linda has been interested in the connection between the arts and science. She attended a Wildbranch Workshop on Environmental Writing in Vermont some years ago and has written poetry inspired by the cypress/mixed hardwood forest in which she resides. Recently she has experimented with nature journaling and painting with watercolors. On her last trip to Montana, she was inspired by the landscape and amazing animals of Yellowstone environ and is interpreting some of her photographs as paintings. Linda hopes to continue visiting Bozeman and studying the diverse ecosystems in the area. She is eager to work with members of the Land Stewardship Committee at Resurrection University Catholic Parish.
Rocio Munoz
Born and raised in Mexico, Rocio now lives in Florida. She is the Assistant to the pastor
at Mary Help of Christians in Parkland. Although she has always admired and loves reflecting on God’s creation, she kills all the plants she touches. Believing in Land Stewardship, she has decided to help from behind a computer.
Rocio is only allowed around plants to take out the weeds.
We all have a gift for something!