Steering Committee Members

When our Now From Here (NFH) membership exceeded 150 members, an all-volunteer steering committee was formed and is now responsible for working together to coordinate and communicate an annual calendar with a wide variety of events. The committee is also responsible for creating and maintaining guidelines, accountability, and momentum for NFH activities to ensure the group’s ongoing success. Our Policies & Procedures guide our work. We coordinate a variety of activities and Special Interest Groups.

Current steering committee members are listed below. Recent past members can be found here. 

Michele Bassi 

Here since 1994. Community Business Banker and actively volunteering for numerous nonprofits in our amazing county.

Elena (Nini) Cohen 

Here since 2009. A retired attorney specializing in health law and policy, Nini moved to Santa Cruz with her husband and two sons after living in the DC Metro area and New York City.

Kathy Doctor 

Here since 2010. Returned with her husband after 40 years away (UCSC grads).  Retired RN. Volunteers now with WomenCARE, docent at Seymour Center.  Kathy loves the ocean, hiking, seeing, reading, travel, and making new friends.

Peggy Flynn 

Here since 1997. Community networker & fund developer, Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana 2013-2017), auctioneer for community organizations.

Karen Jackson

Here since 2016, recently retired from her non-profit event business, Envision This! Productions. Serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of SC County, Non Profit Connection committee member & a Teen Kitchen Project Delivery Angel. Active golfer. Mother of 2 sons. Grandmother to 4 grand kiddos. She & her husband live in Mid Town.

Kate Lehr

Here since 2018. A 1985 UCSC graduate who finally made it back after raising a family “over the hill,” and careers in tech and education. She is recently retired and lives in Aptos with her cat.

Cindy Rubin 

Here since 2006, having moved from Los Altos. Retired tech Public Affairs and Privacy Manager.  Volunteer for over 40 years with environmental organizations.  Lives in Aptos with husband, Brian.  Grandmother of two, soon to be three.

Diane Zipursky 

Here since 2023.  Moved to Aptos with her husband and dog after living in DC area since 1979.  Retired attorney and co-founder of Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, a national patient-centered non-profit where she is still active on the Board.  Volunteer tutor with the Literacy Program of the Volunteer Center of SC.  Diane loves walking on the beach and spending time with her daughters and their families in San Jose.