Jack London District Association - Board of Directors

About the Board

The Jack London District Association Board of Directors has 11 seats of which 10 are currently filled, all positions have a one year term. As JLDA is not a membership corporation, in accordance with the bylaws new board members are elected on an annual basis by the current board. The four officers of the board (President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary) are then elected by the new board and also serve a one year term. Vacant positions can be filled at any time by resolution of the board.

Serving on the Board

Board members are expected to attend the monthly board meetings which are usually held at 229 Harrison Street. Attendance of these meetings is very important therefore those who are not able to attend meetings on a regular basis should instead volunteer for an advisory committee role. We also request that board members be available for contact via email in between board meetings. Board members may also be members of or lead our advisory committees, although board membership and board meeting attendance is not a requirement to be a member of any of our advisory committees.

Our community is still a relatively small one and has yet to establish a large body of regular volunteers. Therefore a great deal of the JLDA work in the community is done through the volunteer efforts of its current board of directors and advisory committee members. This includes: attending and speaking at City meetings on our behalf, writing and circulating letters, researching issues, posting notices in the neighborhood, community outreach activities, and organizing and helping out at social events. Directors also typically make a financial contribution above and beyond our standard community supporters.

Candidates wishing to serve on our Board of Directors are invited to submit a statement of their interest in serving on the board outlining any relevant experience you have, in particular with non-profits, and their current participation in the Jack London District community. Please indicate if you would be willing to serve as an officer of the board either now or at a future date, and which, if any of the advisory committees you have an interest in. Statements should be submitted to info@jlda.org or in writing to our mailing address (see contact information to the left).

For reference the statements submitted by the current board members are provided in the Board member list below.

The Current Board of Directors

The current Board of Directors was elected at the March 2009 JLDA board meeting and will serve until the March 2010 board meeting when all positions will be up for election. There is currently one vacant position on the board, also anyone can make a contribution by joining or leading one of our advisory committees that reports to to the board.

President - Bernice Straub

Bernice was born and raised in North-west Oakland, and moved to Portobello in 1980s as it was being converted to condos, she adores the Jack London District. Bernice served for 6 years on the San Mateo Drug and Alcohol Advisory board including 4 years as Chair. She has also served for 3 years on Portobello's Home Owner's Association including 2 years as Vice President, and also was Secretary of Portobello's Community Association for two years.

Bernice has been a member of the board since March 2008

Vice President - Steve Lowe

Steve Lowe came to Oakland in 1973 as part of the Old Oakland development team, eventually settling here in 1990 after purchasing a building in Oakland's historic (c. 1916) Produce Market. With partner Alexandra Smith, he formed Urbanspace Development with the intent of preserving the Market by converting it to retail, just as had happened in Seattle with Pike Place Market. In the process, he's become deeply involved with West Oakland / Jack London matters, with particular attention to the pollution generated at the Port of Oakland.

Steve has been a board member since March 2007

Treasurer - Diahann Parker

As a resident of the Landing at Jack London Square since March 2006, I would like to offer my services to the board. I am the Controller for a nonprofit organization located in downtown Oakland, thus I have a vital interest not only in the Jack London district but in the vitality, growth, and safety of the entire downtown Oakland area. Due to my absolute enchantment with the Jack London area, I decided to make Jack London my home and thus am particularly desirous of doing my part to ensure the verve and expansion, while maintaining the allure and charm of present-day Jack London Square.

Diahann joined the board in October 2007.

Secretary - Alex Eagle

I work for a Real Estate Development Services and Construction Company that specializes in Retail Development. Prior to purchasing a home in Jack London, I have experienced living in similar Warehouse communities in New Orleans and Washington DC. My primary interest for the Jack London area is to increase the amount of Retail Development in the area which will ensure Jack London's place as one of Oakland's most dynamic communities.

Ben Delaney

Ben Delaney has lived in the Bay Area for over 35 years and in the JLD since 2003. Since 2008, he has served as CEO of ReliaTech, the San Pablo-based nonprofit computer repair and service company. Prior to that, Ben was Director of Marketing and Communications at Springboard Schools. A resident and business owner, he has operated his own marketing and market research business from his home on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. He believes strongly in the attractiveness, vitality, and under-realized value of our neighborhood, and is eager to help JLDA continue its work as a representative organization for the residents and businesses of the Jack London district. He has been a vocal booster and strong representative for the district at city and other meetings. Ben believes that our neighborhood is a great place to live and work and is excited about helping to make it even better.

Ben is a founder of JLDA, has been a board member since March 2005 and served as President from 2006 to 2009.

Gary Knecht

Gary Knecht has worked and lived in the Jack London District since 1982. From 1982 until his retirement in 1999, he worked in the City of Oakland's historic preservation program. For 15 of those years he coordinated the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey, an ongoing survey of architecturally and historically important buildings and districts. From 1981 until 2005 Gary owned his own historic preservation consulting firm, Knecht & Knecht, with offices in the Egghouse, his work/live building located at 3rd & Harrison in the National Register-listed Oakland Waterfront Warehouse District. Gary received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to serving as a founding member of JLDA's Board of Directors, Gary has served as a director of the Artists' Legacy Foundation, Oakland Fund for the Arts, South of the Nimitz Improvement Council, and Oakland Heritage Alliance. His public service includes terms on the Oakland Cultural Affairs Commission and the Alameda Historical Advisory Commission. Since 1987 he has served as a volunteer guide for the Oakland Tours Program, leading walking tours of the Jack London District and Jack London Square. He has a strong belief in giving back to the community in which he lives and works.

Gary is a founder of JLDA and has been a board member since March 2005

Michael Goldberg

From Plainfield, Vermont. BA in Economics from the University of California Santa Cruz; M.Ed in Adult/International Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Michael was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand 1989-91 and taught at Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1991-93. He directed education programs for five years at Asian Neighborhood Design and Lao Family Community Development in Oakland. He is currently associate director for operations at the English Center, a community based non-profit organization. He served on the board of Sentinel Fair Housing 2006-2008; currently is on the board of Vietnamese Community Development Inc.; and has lived in Oakland for 10 years.

The English Center recently moved to the Jack London District after 31 years at Mills College. I have a strong interest in community development and understand the important role that JLDA plays in giving voice to district residents, companies, and organizations. I have an interest in reuse of historical buildings and own two properties, a former general store built in the 1890’s and a one room school house built in 1927, in Vermont. I am interested in assisting with special events / community outreach efforts and raising the visibility of non-profit organizations and small businesses in the District.

Norman Bahr

I seek to join your board in order to contribute my energy and efforts to those who also wish to see this area grow into a district of Oakland that better serves the needs of the areas residents, business owners and visitors. I feel my business experiences; Midwest values and technical expertise will make me a valued asset to the Jack London District Association and look forward to the opportunity to work with you in that effort. Thank you for your consideration.

Joshua Gangshorn

I take great pride in being a resident, and value the wonderful offerings of the neighborhood. I am a customer of nearly every retail business in the area. I am interested in joining the JLDA in order to become further involved in the growth of my community and maintaining its inherent historical character. I have a vision for the future of the Jack London District that includes: maintaining safety, and improving safety around the railroad tracks, increasing retail traffic, continuing improvements to the streets, sidewalks, and landscaping, continue efforts to transform the Jack London District into a family destination to visitors from other areas.

Robert Wells

I am the Co-Owner of the New Community Store, located at 100 Broadway, and also the Founder of my own non-profit organization. As I've seen the Jack London area develop over the past several years, I have seen it grow into a less friendly environment, for the tourist and the youth (young adults). I would like to help build Jack London, into a more beautiful area socially, and not only environmentally. I would like to see Jack London District become a major stop, for visitors from everywhere, as well as, a fun and safe place, for the people who live here in our part of town, and the rest of the city too.

Previous board members

JLDA would like to thank the following people who have served the Jack London District community by volunteering as a member of the JLDA Board of Directors in previous years:

  • Simon Waddington - resident, founder and board member 2005-2009
  • Barry Pilger - business owner, board member 2006-2009
  • Winnie Anderson - resident, board member 2006-2008
  • Jim Louie - resident, board member 2006-2008
  • Andrej Oslica - resident, manager of World Ground Cafe, board member 2008
  • Steve Jimenez - resident, board member 2006-2007
  • Karl Augenstein - resident, board member 2005-2007
  • Joanna Adler - owner of Jack London Mail, resident, founder and board member 2005-2007
  • Steve Sacks - owner of Prime Smoked Meats, founder & board member 2005-2006
  • Bach Nguyen - owner of Jack London Realty, founder & board member 2005-2006
  • Wendy Tinsley - resident, founder and board member 2005-2006
  • Adeeba Detervile - resident, board member 2006

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Posted 3/20/2008