Community Network for Appropriate Technologies
Overview
The Community Network for Appropriate Technologies was incorporated in 1978 as a federally recognized nonprofit, tax-exempt educational and charitable organization. Susan Keller, Executive Director and Principal Planner, founded the Community Network based on principles which she developed and employed in the Midwest while facilitating creation of a nationally prominent library council.
The general focus of our work is the development of cooperative working relationships within individual organizations, and across organizational and political boundaries. Our overall goal is the development of programs, services, and organizations that are socially, economically, and ecologically sound.
Together with clients, we work to structure change, helping existing organizations adapt and creating new organizations as necessary. We routinely explore a multititude of new possibilities, uncover and overcome barriers, and develop strategies for achieving desired goals and objectives. A partial listing of clients includes:
- Partnership HealthPlan of California
- Kasier Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
- Sonoma County In Home Supportive Services Public Authority
- Senior Residential Care Council of Sonoma County
- Wisconsin Hospice Organization & Palliative Experts (HOPE)
- Sonoma County Conservation Council & Environmental Center
Board of Directors and Staff
Ortencia Angotti, Vice-President came to US in late teens from Mexico and worked her way up from caregiver to Director of Adult Day Care Services and now Director of Residential Services at Primrose Residential Care for those with dementia. She attended the 2004 Journey Project Latino Caregiver 4 hour training done with IHSS at a time when her little girl Bianca was battling leukemia and has been working with us ever since. Ortencia is a Co-Director and a trainer for our Latino Caregiver Program and recently completed her 3rd 24 mile run as a fundraiser for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Bianca is now 11 and in the 4th grade doing great.
Carolyn DeTierra has 20 years experience doing case management. Her focus is on assisting people with physical and mental disabilities to get help they need. She is a Licensed Marriage Family Counselor, has passion for the outdoors, and facilitates Grief groups for Hospice of Petaluma.
Great Grandmother 50% Cherokee, given discrimination declared self “American” in 1911 census. Carolyn would like to help us with the teaching aspect of the various projects.
Oscar Hernandez is a pharmacy tech student at Santa Rosa Junior College, has an extensive background in music and was a music major while at the university in Mexico. As a young man, he came to the US with his family and worked driving truck, doing maintenance work, construction and handyman work he does presently. He has great clarity and passion about the difficulties encountered by people with English as their second language in terms educational barriers, lack of opportunities for children and families, etc. He is interested to see the Latino community better integrated into the mainstream so they feel more a part of community life. Oscar has special interest in kids, the arts, environment and elder care. Oscar and his wife Teresa Fernandez have a toddler Ian and son Alan who goes to the Charter School for the Arts in Santa Rosa. His mom and sister live with them and help care for the children.
Sara (Lavayen) Katra, Secretary, was born in Panama and has extensive background as a family caregiver caring for parents now deceased. Sara joined the Board in Winter, 2010 and helped with translation work for the Latino Caregiver Training completed in April. She has Masters Degree in Bilingual Education-English and Spanish-and a background in teaching English as Second Language.
Kathy Rueve, Treasurer has a 30 year career as full charge bookkeeper/controller, fiction writer/playwright and is facilitator of the Oakmont Writers Group. Kathy is bookkeeper for the Community Network and interested to do theater arts and programming for kids at risk and the elderly
Terry Popp, Ph.D., President. Ph.D., Creative Writing. Co-Founder/Director, Conversations Project 2005/06. Fiction/nonfiction writer; editor; writing teacher/facilitator using Jungian mythology/psychology, films, autobiography. Producer, Death: The Last Seminar of Life, video of 90-year-old Louise Aldrich focusing on her life philosophy and work with the dying using Tibetan Bells. 27 year varied business career. Community service: workshops on child abuse and multiplicity. Training: Hospice Volunteer; Family Service Agency, Senior Peer Counseling.
Sharon Ziff, RN, Hospice Nurse with Memorial Hospice and member of the Sonoma County Coalition for Compassionate Care (SCCCC), brings great passion and commitment to improving quality of care for the frail and dying. Twenty years ago in Culver City (LA) Sharon began a nonprofit to do murals on flood controls channels using the Judy Bacca model via a public private partnership. Sharon is assisting us with data base development and fundraising to further the work of the SCCCC, a program of the Community Network focused primarily on implementation of the POLST Paradigm
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Past-President, Nancy Unger, M.A. member of the Sonoma County Coalition for Compassionate Care Leadership Council;
certified RCFE Administrator; General Manager, Merril Gardens of Sonoma, a 150 apartment independent senior living complex.
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Monte Gregg Steadman, MD, F.A.C.S served as President from 2001 until his retirement from the Board in 2006. For more than a decade Dr. Steadman helped the Community Network advocate for community-based long term care, and the development/ utilization of palliative care and good end of life care planning. He died peacefully at home May 26, 2010 at the age of 89.
Dr. Steadman will be remembered as a renowned surgeon, an excellent teacher, and a dedicated advocate for peace and social justice. His voyage on Everyman II sailing into the US nuclear testing zone in the South Pacific called global attention to the dangers of nuclear fallout. This protest has often been cited as responsible for ending atmospheric nuclear testing in the early 1960s. Work Gregg and his wife Frances did with the Civil Rights movement was also extremely courageous and commendable.
His volunteer work with community clinics and Kaiser well into his 80s is legend. We mourn his death as we celebrate his life. Rest in peace dear friend.
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Executive Director
Susan Keller. M.A. Library and Information Science; M.A. Management. Executive Director/Principal Planner, Community Network for Appropriate Technologies, 1978 to present; Author, Journey to Life’s End: A Traveler’s Guide; Steering Committee Member, Sonoma Health Access Coalition 2006-2008; Member, CA Coalition for Compassionate Care 2000-present; Member, California statewide POLST Task Force 2008 - present; Chair, Sonoma County Conservation Council; Member, Bioethics Committee, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center 2004 -present; Member, Sonoma County Health Action Primary Care Work Group; Clinical Instructor, Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program.
Latino Caregiver Training Program Co-Directors
Ortencia Angotti (see bio above).
Teresa Fernandez has worked with Susan ongoing since 2002 helping to plan, develop, produce and expand Latino Caregiver Training efforts and assist with translation work as needed. Teresa is the Office Manager for Memorial Hospice responsible for special events including Day of the Dead celebration; formerly Administrative Assistant, Ca Human Development Corporation.
Sara Katra (see bio above).
Website Consultant:
Bo Laurent Mathias Technology
Bo combines 25 years experience in software development with an equally impressive career working in the nonprofit sector. As a leader in a nationally prominent healthcare reform organization, Bo received numerous awards for her humanitarian work and recently was recognized by resolution of the CA State legislature. Bo built our website and provides ongoing oversight and consultation as needed to help adapt the site as our programs evolve.
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What People are Saying About Us
The principles employed by Community Network revolutionized interinstitutional cooperation in the greater metropolitan Milwaukee region, and that sharing of resources has continued with vigor for nearly two decades. William C. Roselle, Former Director University of Pittsburgh Library System
In this complex society we need to shape change rather than have change shape us. Community Network has the talent and skill to assist us in analyzing the issues that come before us and assist us with resolutions that use our skills, enhance our education, and appreciate our values. Helen Rudee, Member (1976-88) Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
The Community Network has worked ably and creatively—as a catalyst and active focus—assisting our Council with efforts to encourage quality residential care and supportive services for low income elderly. Pat Eliot, Past President, Senior Residential Care Council of Sonoma County
As a business executive and community organizer, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Community Network. Their ability to effectively structure and manage change, create new directions, and build consensus withing the strategic planning process is most impressive and of value to all types of organizations public and private. Drake Sadler, President, Traditional Medicinals, Inc.
Awards
CA Senate Resolution authored by all elected Assembly and Senate members acknowledging consumer advocacy and planning accomplishments of Susan Keller (2001)
Sonoma County Community Foundation Shining Star Award for creation of Journey Project and _Journey to Life’s End: A Traveler’s Guide (1997)
Distinguished Service Award from the Sonoma County Council for Community Services (1994)
Award for Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy, Secretary of Energy (1986)
Award for Energy Innovation, State of California, George Deukmejian, Governor (1986)
Fees
Community Network’s fees for services are negotiable and assessed on a sliding scale depending on client need and ability to pay. Pro bono work is done as time and resources allow. Fees generated from professional contracts help sustain Network services.
Contact Us
Community Network for Appropriate Technologies
PO Box 2331
Santa Rosa CA 95405
Telephone: (707) 539-2364
