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Rita Harden
Philo Board of Directors: 2024/2025
President: Ruth Swanty
Originally from Arizona, Ruth moved to Loveland with her husband and three children in 1994. She is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After working with her husband to start an insurance business for 2 years, she began to look for local teaching jobs along with substitute teaching only to discover she was going to have another child, who was born in 1997. Later, Ruth volunteered with another daughter's non-profit Animal Friends Alliance, for over 10 years where Ruth headed up fundraising activities. After a short break she began looking for volunteer work that focused on people and the community. Philo stood out and she joined in 2018. "I'm glad to be part of this caring and community engaged group of wonderful women."
Vice - President: Lorie Smith
I joined Philo in 1990 and served for about 5 years before deciding my 2 young daughters and graduate school was about all I could handle. I came back to Philo in 2019. I had retired and was ready for something fulfilling and community connected. Philo has certainly been that for me. I have served on the scholarship, golf, and ATV committees most recently. I am currently chair of ATV. We have lived in Northern Colorado since 1973 and Loveland since 1976. My husband, Mark, worked for HP for 30+ years. I have worked in private and public institutions as well as owning my own consulting business. I retired from CSU where I was the Director of Training and Organizational Development and faculty member in the School of Education teaching graduate
students. I enjoy watercolor painting, knitting, weaving, and golf – and I have plenty of opportunity for
improvement in all of them.
Recording Secretary: Eileen Huddle
I moved to Loveland in 1978 with my husband Larry and our two children, Todd and Stephanie from Aims Iowa. Hach Company transferred 100 families to Loveland to start a branch of their business which is how we came to be part of the community. We totally enjoy the area and love the beautiful mountains for hiking and camping. I worked as secretary at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Loveland for 5 years and then was hired at Monroe Elementary School as secretary in 1983 enjoying all 21 years at the school until retiring in 2005. Retirement has been great giving us a chance to travel to Alaska and to see our kids each year and also pending time with out 3 grandchildren who live in Colorado Springs. I noticed Philo members doing many service-oriented activities in the community and when my friend Trudy invited me to join, I decided it would be a worthy organization to give back to my community. During my 16 years as a member of Philo I have chaired the Rotary Duck Race Committee, Co-chaired and Chaired the Canned Food Drive, served on Spring Appreciation Social, Integrated Early Childhood, Alternatives to Violence, and the Golf Tournament Committees. I look forward to being part of the many ways Philo reaches out and serves the Loveland community for many more years.
Corresponding Secretary - Amy Black
I grew up in Loveland and witnessed my mom, Debbie Boose’s, involvement with Philo throughout my childhood. A fond memory I have is attending Philo’s Holiday Mart and helping my mom shop for our “adopted” family for the Christmas food baskets. After graduating from Loveland High, I went to Santa Clara University in the Bay Area. I stayed in California for about 10 years where I met and married my husband and began a career as a 3rd grade teacher. We moved back to Northern Colorado in 2000 to be closer to family and to start our own family. I volunteered in our children’s classrooms for many years and served on the planning committee for the Debbie Boose Memorial Tennis Tournament which benefited Pathways Hospice’s inpatient care center. After the final tennis tournament, I wanted another way to serve our community and Philo seemed like a natural fit. I have been a member of the Integrated Early Childhood, Sunshine, and Holiday Giving committees as well as the creator of the monthly newsletter for four years. I am also an active member at Zion Lutheran Church where I’ve served in a variety of positions, and I volunteer regularly at the Food Bank of Larimer County. It is an honor to serve on the Philo board as the communications secretary. I enjoy working with a group of caring women who want to better our community.
Treasurer: Peggy Pellizzari
As a 16-year member, I recently volunteered to be the Philo Treasurer for the 2nd time during my membership. (I was treasurer from 2010 – 2014) I’m happy to be back on the board where I stay up to date on all the upcoming events and inner workings for Philo. I have also served as chair of the Canned Food Drive and was the Web Administrator for Philo for the past 8+ years. Prior to joining Philo, I worked for Hewlett Packard for 32 years, retiring in 2005. I now manage my daughter’s on-line Costa Rican coffee business in between traveling, golf, bowling and spending time with my family and friends.
Past President: Carol Rieser
Carol moved to Loveland in 2007. Prior to moving to Loveland, she lived in Longmont for over twenty years. She recently retired from a lengthy career in nursing and hospital administration. Between she and her husband, they have four sons, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Carol enjoys baking cookies for the grandchildren, reading, golfing, and knitting. Carol has been a member of Philo since 2019, serving as chair of the Rotary Duck Race Ticket committee, and most recently as President of Philo.
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