Board of Directors

BARBARA OLTON, President
From embryologist in the laboratory of a Nobel Laureate to the Manager of International Marketing at the Port Authority of New York, overseeing seven overseas offices — Barbara Olton has worn many hats.  She (and husband Chuck, as well as their two children) have also moved around quite a bit: from Berkeley CA to Schenectedy and Buffalo New York and finally New York City.  They built their original small summer house on Shelter Island in 1980, and have added to it over the years, now considering it their primary residence.It’s hard to know how Barbara finds the time for her life: children and grandchildren, reading, golfing, gardening and sailing on a 12 1/2 foot sailboat.  And now The Retreat!  Barbara is soft-spoken but clear-headed:  she has a strong vision for The Retreat:  she plans to continue developing our constituency, enhance our financial stability and solidify the relationship between the staff and the Board.  She is already thinking about an all-day retreat for the Board, to get down to the business of where we’re going and how we’ll get there. 

Shelter Island plays a big role in Barbara’s plans:  last fall, she heard from concerned islanders that there was a need to do something about domestic violence on Shelter Island.  A satellite Retreat was established, and a group (SOS–Support our Shelter) was formed;  their first fundraising activity, a garage sale, earned $1500.   SOS also formed a team for the Shelter Island 10K race on June 19.  These grassroots activities are helping to raise awareness and funds for The Retreat.  Barbara, the inveterate gardener, describes this as spreading the word like underground mushrooms!   

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Vice President  Nina Gillman
Vice President of Development  Richard Demato
Treasurer Nicole Behrens
Secretary  Joy Bunson

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Directors
Helen Barer,  Ann Chwatsky,?Richard Demato, Eileen Ekstract, Cindy Feinberg, ?Hon. Bruce M. Kaplan, ?Betsy Nichol, Katherine Ryden,  Bethany Shene, Arlene Slavin, Kathleen Tait

Honorary Directors
Judith* & Leonard Ackerman, ?Lynn* & Stuart Epstein, ?Dottie Herman, ?Robert Kyle (1930-2003)*, ?Karen & Harvey Silverman

*Emeritus

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