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December 2007
Dear Members and Friends of GHI,
With a New Year fast approaching, I am reflecting on GHI's accomplishments during 2007
and looking forward to new opportunities awaiting us in 2008.
I particularly appreciate two additions this year to GHI's Board of Trustees:
George Mader and Humphrey Polanen. George was a key participant in GHI's very first
project, in Ecuador, and has served on our Board of Advisors for over fifteen years.
He brings to the Board extraordinary expertise in urban planning and broad experience
in natural hazards mitigation strategy. George was a member of the California Seismic
Safety Commission from 1975 to 1984 and its chairman from 1979 to 1981. Humphrey's career
includes roles as entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive of leading technology
companies and international corporate lawyer. He has served on a number of non-profit boards,
including Homebase/Center for Common Concerns, the Millennium Institute, and the Museum
of the African Diaspora. I am grateful for the many years of service by Haresh Shah,
a founding Board member, and congratulate him on becoming our first emeritus Board member.
GHI has significantly increased its capacity over the last year. We have a new, highly
competent administrator, Kristen Yawitz, and a new Financial Officer, Juan Esquivel, who is
also a CPA. Tsering Dhundup, our Community Officer working in Dharamsala, has become GHI's
second employee in India. As of April 2007 we have occupied newly renovated and seismically
retrofitted offices in Palo Alto, California, which you are most welcome to visit.
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