Anne Kirchhoff, Volunteer • Seattle

“It is nice to be involved with a group that sees the broad picture and the impacts people are having on Puget Sound, a group that is actually making a change that people see regionally and has had a sustainable impact.  I have been so impressed with the depth of the people involved and surprised by the amount of restoration work that is being done.”

 Al Bergstein, Board  Member • Port Townsend

"I'm a member of People For Puget Sound because it's the key  environmental organization that is working to protect the 'whole' Sound. There are  many great organizations out there, and  I belong to a couple of these too. But there is only one  choice if you want to see the Sound saved, if you want to put your  money and effort into making the hard changes needed with an eye on  the whole ecosystem. That's People For Puget Sound."

 Bruce Clifton, Sound Steward • Seattle

“Personally, I really enjoy the hands-on aspect.  I don’t think I would be involved in the organization if it was just working with the legislature and trying to educate people.  I’d much rather be outdoors actually doing something to increase habitat.  It’s really been inspiring because these sites grow like crazy.  It’s thrilling to see how quickly it can happen if given a chance.”

 Steve Bailey, Activist • Bellingham

“Being an activist hasn’t worked out to be holding up placards or marching or chanting.  For me, it means to be a conscious or concerned citizen.  People For Puget Sound gives me the avenue in the direction of political action.”

 Matt Maria, Volunteer • Seattle

“People for Puget Sound is an active participant in many important fields of Northwest conservation. Their restoration activities are comprehensive and they have created a family of energized volunteers that work to improve land for habitat preservation. I have seen them stir a crowd of volunteers into enlivened and educated advocates before a peaceable barrage on the offices of legislators in Olympia.”

 Susan Newbold, Volunteer • Seattle

“As a restoration worker, I find a tremendous sense of satisfaction in having helped restore my own corner of the Puget Sound.  I also have the pleasure of returning to the same site periodically to see just what kind of impact my contribution is having.  I feel that People For Puget Sound is a vital player and much needed community voice in expressing the current state of the Puget Sound.”

 Christine Mead, Board Member • Woodinville

"The natural beauty of the Puget Sound inspires me to help protect and restore this area.  I’m very impressed by the dedication and expertise of the PFPS organization and their broad range of effective actions—from bringing focus on scientific credibility, to involvement in the political process, to hands-on work restoring habitat."

 Jenelle Burns, Volunteer • Seattle

“I came out to Seattle to do an internship, and it was through the internship that I learned about People for Puget Sound. I love the work that they are involved in and wanted to learn more, so I decided to volunteer. My time volunteering for People for Puget Sound has been great, I treasure the experience I've gained and the people I've met who have had an impact on my professional life and personal life forever.”

 Jill Ryan, Everett • Sound Steward

“People For Puget Sound and the Sound Stewards program is valuable because it educates people not only with the annual training, but in the field.  I’ve met so many volunteers young and not so young, from various backgrounds and every one of them wants to help our environment and they can see a difference when they join a Sound Stewards project.  I’ve been involved in many volunteer organizations, but Sound Stewards is one that I get the most personal satisfaction out of.” 

 Bill Wright, San Juan Island • Board Member

“I see People For Puget Sound as a leader among peers.  It actually gets physical things done, like salmon restoration projects that affect Puget Sound in a positive way.  That’s why they are certainly the people I spend the most time with.  They are fair to all parties and have a very good record of listening.  People for Puget Sound is a model of how environmental groups can work for common good and be a positive force for restoration and improvement of the environment.”

 Jim Syck, Bellingham & Johns Island • Board Member

“I have a lifelong interest in the Puget Sound area and over the years I have watched with dismay as beaches are closed and fishing has declined. I decided to join People for Puget Sound to do something about it. We are taking action to clean up and restore the sound. We conduct education and outreach to get the public involved. We hold governments’ feet to the fire to provide funding and regulatory frameworks to clean things up. We work with other likeminded organizations toward the common purpose of bettering this place we love so much.”

 Laura Ingham Lundgren, Bainbridge & Orcas Islands • Board Member

“I've lived in the Puget Sound area for 70 years. Witnessing the steady and now accelerating decline of sealife, birdlife and aquatic plants is like watching a beloved child slowly die. Morally I cannot do nothing. While state government seems to be taking a stronger role in moving toward solutions, real action comes as a result of citizen action. That's why working with and financially supporting organizations like People for Puget Sound is so important.”

 Scott Rankin, West Seattle • Sound Steward at Hamm Creek

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed helping People For Puget Sound due to the knowledge and passion of its people.  I’ve learned about the history of the Sound and the Duwamish, about the issues we face, and about how we can make a difference [both individually and collectively].  It makes me happy to know that a dedicated group like People For Puget Sound is working to make life better for all of us who love it here, to bridge gaps between people, and to improve habitat for the creatures we share this beautiful place with.”

 Paul Allen, Olympia • Board Member

“The people who are involved with People For Puget Sound really care about what they are doing.  It’s the high level of dedication of the people involved, and their high caliber.  I feel privileged to be associated with such a great group.”

 Jack Lockhart, Everett • Sound Steward

“I’ve always been interested in environmental restoration, doing follow-up work and seeing results.  In the Sound Stewards program, there is dedication and enthusiasm from people with very different backgrounds.  It’s great to be around people who are leading Puget Sound with that enthusiasm and are not just paid employees.  But someone has got to be a leader.  Once you have the idea to work at the site spots, then you have to start thinking about the community and then the region as a whole.  People For Puget Sound thinks about all those aspects.”

 Howard Garrett, Greenbank • Orca Network

"We're involved because People For Puget Sound makes the case for caring and acting to bring back the Puget Sound's vitality and diversity with well-informed, unambiguous voices in all realms of discourse, including public outreach, legislative venues, the scientific community, through arduous meetings and conferences and by personal lobbying. People For Puget Sound informs and inspires young people, influential people and the constituency needed to make sure the lawmakers and enforcers do the right thing for the natural foundations of our lives."

 Melissa Mager, Seattle • Board Member

“I feel People For Puget Sound has the highest reputation, the most credibility and gets the most work done on all fronts of any organization.  We are the well-recognized leader.  Our mission is huge, our responsibility is huge, but it is just that.  We do have a constituency of one Sound.  We are recognized as being narrowly focused from that respect.”