News Releases
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL
ON FAMILIES
Flathead County District Judge KATHERINE CURTIS lives in
Columbia Falls. She was formerly an attorney in a family law
practice, and is a parent. Gov. Racicot has named her as Chair
of the Governor's Council
on Families.
KIM VISSER of Missoula is active with the Camp Mak-a-Dream
Board and the Montana Eye Bank board. She has been a foster parent,
is the parent of four children and is living in an extended family
situation.
KIRK ASTROTH is an Extension Specialist in 4-H Youth Development
at Montana State University in Bozeman. He also chairs the Children's
Trust Fund and is past president of the Montana Council for Families.
Kirk and his wife are currently in the process of adopting a
baby from China.
M.J. FORS operates a retirement community in Great Falls
where she fosters her "PAGE"
(People Against Growing Empty) philosophy. She has two daughters
and two grandchildren.
As Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for the Seventeenth Judicial
District, WADE RIDEN serves Blaine, Phillips, and Valley
Counties. He and his wife are both parents and foster parents.
Wade is also involved in local and state family advisory groups
and was elected to the District IV Human Resources Development
Council Board of Directors by the low-income people of Blaine
County and Fort Belknap.
JANI McCALL of Billings is the Executive Director of Youth
Dynamics, a community and family-based youth services organization
across Montana. She is the president of the Montana Association
of Homes and Services for Children, and has served on several
human services advisory groups.
State Representative BETTY LOU KASTEN from Brockway has
served on the statewide Family Services Advisory Council and the
Department of Public Health and Human Services Reorganization
Advisory Council. She has also served on the Appropriations Subcommittee
on Human Services.
BONNIE BOWMAN McGOWAN is a registered nurse at Montana Deaconess Medical Center in Great Falls. Formerly a teacher, she and her husband have lived in Highwood for the past 24 years, where they raised their family and were active in church, school, and community groups.
KATHY PEOPLES of Butte has spent her life working with
families as a teacher and preschool director. She has also served
on the board of the Butte Community Day Care for the last five
years. She has four children and three grandchildren.
BILL PENA is the manager of Legendary Lodge, a family-oriented
camp operated by the Catholic Church, on Salmon Lake. He and
his family live near Seeley Lake.
KATHLEEN JENSEN and her husband farm in the Redstone area.
Kathleen has ten years of experience as Religious Education Director
for St. Joseph's Church
in Plentywood and St. Elizabeth's
in Westby. She has been involved with the Big Sky Chapter of
the American Red Cross for 18 years. Kathleen and her husband
have two children.
Teacher JOHN VINCENT is a former mayor and city commissioner
of Bozeman. He served in the Montana House of Representatives
for 16 years, and as Speaker for two sessions. John is also a
grandparent.
PETE BRUNO of Glendive is a minister in the Evangelical
Church, and is also a certified clinical mental health counselor.
He has an extensive background in counseling individuals and
families, and has been an active community service volunteer.
GARY ACEVEDO of Ronan is a tribal judge for the Flathead
Reservation and has been actively involved with family services
issues. He and his wife are foster parents. Gary enjoys giving
presentations to Native American children on cultural issues.
Helenan MIKE McCARVEL will be a junior this fall at Capitol
High. He is an honor student, is active in basketball, and has
lettered in soccer both years of high school. He is also active
in his church youth group.
STAN RATHMAN of Choteau is a retired elementary school
principal. He has served as president of the local Lion's
Club and the Teton County Food Pantry, as well as chairing the
Teton County Alcohol and Drug Board.
STEVE DUNCAN is the Family and Human Development Specialist
with the Montana State University Extension Service in Bozeman.
He earned a Ph.D. in family studies and is the author of various
publications and programs designed to strengthen families. He
is the father of five children.
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