Friends’ Past, Present, and Future
As we welcome a new chapter at Friends of the San Juans, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ken Carrasco for his leadership and dedication as Board President. His passion and commitment have strengthened our work protecting the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. Now, we’re thrilled to introduce John Pierre van Dongen, who stepped into the role this January. An Orcas Islander, green boater, and advocate for the health of our island communities and Salish Sea, John Pierre brings his experience as a family physician and a deep commitment to our mission.
Recently, Ken and John Pierre sat down at the Orcas Library to reflect on Friends’ past, present, and future. Their conversation highlights the shared values that guide our work and the exciting path ahead. Check out our blog for their thoughtful insights and vision for the future of Friends of the San Juans.
Question: What initially drew you to Friends of the San Juans, and what inspires you to serve as President?
John Pierre van Dongen: My wife and I chose to move our family to the San Juan Islands for their beauty, nature, rural character, and the nurturing community that cares. Having lived in other beautiful places that lost their character through uncontrolled development, I feel a strong desire to protect what remains of this paradise. Friends of the San Juans is our community—working to protect the islands and the Salish Sea.
Drawing from my sailing days, I tend to lean into the wind when it blows, and given the current political climate threatening environmental issues, it felt natural to step up. When I was asked to serve as Board President, it was an easy decision, knowing I have the full support of an incredible team. I’m also grateful to leaders like Ken, who have built Friends into a powerful voice over the past 46 years.
Ken Carrasco: When I first heard about Friends of the San Juans, I immediately saw that this organization was “home” for my passion for the environment. My wife and I have been here on the islands for over a decade now, but I still remember that initial feeling. I had just retired from a career in science and environmental education, and recognized that Friends takes a parallel approach—grounding advocacy in science.
We live in a hugely pivotal time for our environment, both locally and globally. This is a time for action, and Friends fills that role. Organizations like Friends play a crucial role as a credible, loud voice. I’ve seen firsthand the impact that a lack of advocacy can have. I worked as a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in the late 1970s and witnessed an oil tanker’s near-disastrous grounding. A few individuals sounded the alarm that a spill could happen, but they were ignored—and, as history showed, their warnings were tragically accurate. Friends plays a critical role in ensuring that our concerns as a community are heard, and that’s why I got involved.
What do you hope the community understands about Friends and its impact?
John Pierre: Friends is your neighbor—we are all part of this community, working to protect what we love. We support mindful, careful changes that ensure a sustainable future. We rely on science, policy, education, and advocacy to guide our work and believe in partnering with everyone who cares for this place.
Ken: Friends is a thoughtful advocacy organization. We carefully direct our resources and efforts where they will have the most benefit. Science is our constant touchstone, and we take a measured approach to our work. Friends does not do advocacy just for the sake of advocacy—we stay true to our mission and strategic plan, ensuring our efforts are well-placed. There are always complexities and conflicts, but we rely on a healthy discourse and clear priorities to guide us.
What are you looking forward to with your new role?
John Pierre: I’m excited to work with a great team, build relationships, and connect with both like-minded people and those with differing perspectives.
How do you see Friends responding to the biggest challenges facing the islands and the Salish Sea?
John Pierre: The biggest challenge is deciding which battles to take on. Our team of science, policy, education, and advocacy experts helps guide that process. Collaboration is key—we need to work as a community to make a difference.
What were some highlights from your time as President? What are you most proud of?
Ken: I very much enjoyed serving as a board member and President of Friends. My tenure occurred during a period of great change in the organization, and I’m proud that we didn’t yield to the “mission creep” that sometimes happens to organizations in transition. At my last board meeting, a very senior board member told us that the core values he held most dear in Friends had remained unchanged over the years, and that was a deeply meaningful affirmation. We have successfully stayed true to our course.
This was not my doing, but I’m very proud of the staff here at Friends – we have a wonderful group of competent, capable, and tireless employees and volunteers; the membership – many of whom are passionate in their support; our amazing Board of Directors; and in Friends’ approach to the very serious issues the Salish Sea is faced with today.
How do you hope to engage with members and the broader community?
John Pierre: My background as a family physician has taught me the importance of listening. It’s crucial to engage with people who disagree with us to find balanced, sustainable solutions. We also need community participation in projects like the Green Boater Program. I encourage everyone to sign up for our newsletter, High Water Marks, at sanjuans.org.
Where do you see Friends headed next, and how will you stay involved?
Ken: I’m so glad that John Pierre is stepping into this role, and I know he’ll be leading an incredibly capable board, thanks in large part to the work of Ron Zee, our former Vice President and Chair of the Board Recruitment Committee. Ron has done an outstanding job of gathering a diverse and talented group of people.
With John Pierre as President and our outstanding Executive Director, Eva Schulte, at the helm, I’m excited to see how Friends evolves. While my time on the board has ended, I look forward to continuing as a dedicated volunteer, community scientist, and member—doing my part to protect this place!
