Who We Are
ACS is a volunteer based, soon to be non-profit organization, commited to providing an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to individual car ownership.
Our History
It all began in the summer of 2007, when Becky decided to sell her car. Fed up with the costs of owning and maintaining her own personal vehicle, she knew there had to be a better way. As she and her children slowly weaned themselves of their car and relied on pedal power and public transportation to get around, Becky began researching carsharing in North America and found some very groovy folks willing to share their experience and expertise.
Ashland CarShare began holding regular meetings that fall, and a grass roots organization was born. By November, Becky sold her car and became even more motivated to bring carsharing to Ashland, OR.
Our Board Members
Becky Brown, Acting Executive Director is the founder of Ashland CarShare. She made the decision to live car-free in September of 2007 and has been working to make carsharing a reality in Ashland ever since. Becky is a single mom and has three children (ages 12, 10 and 7) who live life without school. Becky was an elementary school teacher in California for 9 years and prior to contracting with ACS was self-employed, providing shipping and fulfillment services for internet based businesses. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation as secretary. Becky is a homeschooling activist and speaks annually at homeschool conferences and workshops. She writes about her adventures at http://lifewithoutschool.blogspot.com/ .
Holly Christiansen has been car-free for 15 years and is very passionate and active in social and environmental issues. She holds a B.S. in Biology from San Diego State University and spent 2 1/2 years in Senegal, serving in the Peace Corps in a sustainable agriculture program. She has lived in Ashland for 8 years and currently does volunteer work for Thrive (dedicated to promoting slow food and eating local), the Klamath Sisikiyou Wildlands Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Bike Swap, and Ashland CarShare. Living a simple life, in a work-trade situation for the past 3 years, has enabled her to have more time to follow personal pursuits and goals as well as dedicate time for community improvement. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Midwives on Missions of Service. Her work experience includes organic farming and gardening, retail, and experience in small business. Her interests are knitting, crocheting, embroidering, reading, hiking, food preservation, permaculture, edible and medicinal wild plants, and midwifery.
Vicki Bamman, J.D. began her service career more than 30 years ago. While attending evening classes at Monterey College of Law, she served as Assistant Director with Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula and she was subsequently affiliated with Legal Services for Seniors. After completing her studies, Vicki became the Assistant Director/Development Director with the Alliance on Aging; Executive Director with Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (8 years); and, in semi-retirement, she was Development Director with CASA in Medford, Oregon.
Ms. Bamman served on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley and was a Supervisorial appointee to the Monterey County Older Americans Advisory Council. From 1999-2003, Vicki volunteered her services coordinating the Special Assistance section of the California International Airshow, hosting more than 700 special-needs guests each year. Most recently, she served on the Rogue Valley Council of Governments/Senior Advisory Council.
Ms. Bamman has continued to maintain an active interest in community affairs over the years, including volunteer work with the Monterey County AIDS Project, the Mental Health Advisory Board, the Bach Festival, and Best Buddies (serving developmentally disabled adults). She has been tapped to “present” at numerous conventions and annual meetings. Presentations for the American Society on Aging and for the California Association of Homes and Services for the Aging have included her training package entitled “Sex, Drugs, and Glenn Miller: Approaching geriatric sexuality with sensitivity and dignity.” Ms. Bamman has been honored for her geriatric service by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Resolution; California State Assembly, Recognition; Governor Gray Davis, Commendation; and U.S. Congressional Recognition, June 2000.
In 2008, Vicki recognized that semi-retirement was not for her…and she launched Ashland’s first and only commercial dog daycare. Her creative imagination resulted in a popular Ashland attraction, Miss Molly’s Pet Taxi, and the “Miss Molly’s” business offers a variety of pet services (Miss Molly is her dog).
Prior to her move to Southern Oregon in 2004, Vicki resided in Monterey County, California, for more than 35 years. She now makes her home in Ashland. She earned a J.D. from Monterey College of Law and attended Miami University (OH) as an undergraduate.
Shawn Salter is the father of three beautiful children ages 10, 5 and 3 and the partner of an equally beautiful, amazing and passionate woman, Wendy. Shawn and his family relocated to Ashland from Madison, WI in 2006. Shawn has been an alternative transportation advocate and practitioner for 9 years primarily cycling, busing or walking as a means to commute to his place of work. He has worked for the past 8 years in the field of computer software development where he has worked for governmental and non-profit organizations that purport to serve individuals and families with low income. He is currently tele-working 4 out of 5 days from his home office where he enjoys taking breaks to engage in the family’s homeschooling endeavors, whatever that may be. Shawn is a devoted meditation practitioner and is also a certified meditation instructor who has facilitated meditation classes on a volunteer basis at various organizations around the Rogue Valley.
Michael Sheats has lived in the Rouge Valley for ten years. He lives in Talent with his wife and two kids. They get around the valley using, one car, bikes and their feet. Michael traveled for years hiking, biking, skiing and snowboarding his way around the county. He currently works part-time as a skills trainer for Jackson County. He and his wife were foster parents for 5 years, working closely with the Department of Human Services and Community Works.
Jennifer Gannett is a committed environmental and animal advocate who moved to Ashland in 2007 when her partner began working for the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. A graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School, she has worked as an attorney in Manhattan and as a litigation fellow for the Animal Protection Litigation Section of The Humane Society of the United States. Jennifer has lived car free in Washington D.C., San Francisco and Manhattan and car “lite” in may other places. Jennifer has previous volunteer experience with numerous nonprofits, including Shelter Legal Services, the Women’s Center (Cambridge, MA), the San Francisco SPCA, the Oregon Humane Society, NY SAVE and Jackson County’s Friends of the Animal Shelter and was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of the newly formed environmental group Rogue Riverkeeper. She lives with three rescued cats, her partner and their young son, who can often be heard chatting away in his bike trailer as he is towed around town. Her interests include knitting and other crafty endeavors, animal welfare issues, women’s issues, politics, vegetarian cooking, socializing, nature walks, reading, yoga and travel.
James Dills grew up in the North West without a car for most of his life. In 1995, at 17 years old, he hitchhiked from Eugene, Oregon, to Costa Rica to find himself. He is passionate about music, art, volunteerism, writing and acting. Currently, he is a Supplements Buyer at the Ashland Food Cooperative. In October 2008, he finished building his first home with his neighbors.
Our WebMaster
Alejandro Acosta
