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2023 WinDART Board/Team Meeting Dates
Virtual meetings are held from 6-7 pm and the team organizes in-person trainings and community events throughout the year
Monday, March 13th
Monday, June 12th
Monday, September 11th
Monday, December 11th.
For more information email team chair Joanne at jbourbeau@humanesociety.org.
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WinDART EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Joanne Bourbeau (Chair)
Joanne Bourbeau lives in Whitingham and has chaired the WinDART board since its inception in 2015 as a regional team of the statewide Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART). Joanne also serves as VDART’s board chair, and was a founding member of the organization. For the past 27 years, she has worked for the Humane Society of the United States as their Northeast Regional Director, and has participated in several national animal response efforts with the HSUS’s Animal Rescue Team. She regularly trains emergency, municipal, and sheltering personnel in emergency animal sheltering issues.
Melissa “Missi” Duff (Vice Chair)
Melissa (Missi) Duff lives in Newfane and is one of WinDART’s founding board members (and board vice chair). She became interested in animal rescue work when she was doing a concentration in Animal Assisted Therapy for her psychology degree. She has been involved with the Windham County Humane Society for many years as a long-term volunteer and two-time former member of the Board of Directors. “I find so much joy and satisfaction being around animals it seemed like a natural progression to further my involvement with animals and animal welfare by joining the WinDART team,” says Missi.
George Adair (Secretary)
George Adair is a local musician from Whitingham who also happens to love animals! He has been volunteering with the Humane Society of the United States for over 20 years, and joined the board of WinDART in 2015. George provides logistical support to the team, and also uses his performing arts background to double as WinDART’s team mascot (a 6-foot tall cat) during tabling events!
Dan Hollister (Treasurer)
Dan Hollister lives in Searsburg and has been on the WinDART board since 2015, serving as Treasurer of the organization. Dan is an animal control officer for the towns of Searsburg and Whitingham, and provides logistical support for the team’s volunteers and equipment. He enjoys participating in community outreach and training events—and the occasional cat cuddle.
Board Members
Dr. Sue Kelly
A veterinarian for over 30 years, Dr. Sue Kelly has a special interest in shelter medicine and animal welfare issues. She is also trained in veterinary acupuncture and enjoys combining Eastern and Western modalities in helping animals achieve optimal health.
Lisa Jablow
Lisa Jablow lives in Brattleboro and traverses the Northeast as a freelance musician and supertitle operator. She has had a lifelong passion for animals that has taken her on many adventures and made her late for many commitments. In addition to serving as a WinDART board member since 2015, she is also on the board of Protect Our Wildlife Vermont and a volunteer at the Windham County Humane Society, where she offers Reiki to the animals and the occasional human
Lesley Pollitt
Lesley Pollitt is recently retired, having worked primarily in the field of coaching and education. She joined the board in 2020, and is now happy to be putting her time toward serving animals. “WinDART has an important purpose to help educate people with animals on how to prepare for emergencies and disasters and to help make sure people don’t have to choose between their safety and leaving their pets behind,” says Lesley. She and her partner live on a farm in Halifax with horses, dogs, chickens, cats and sometimes cows.