- Annual Report
- Financial Report
- Committee Reports
- Election of new Board of Director Members
Meet the Candidates
Lesley Ashworth
Lesley has many years of experience in animal welfare and support. She moved to this mountain community in 2013.
Her experience in animal safety began in 2005, as Executive Director for SAFE (Safety for Animals and Families in Emergencies) in NE Ohio. In 2011, she was hired as a consultant to Gigi’s Animal Shelter in Canal Winchester, OH, to support their development and grant writing capabilities. These opportunities gave her an understanding of the many issues involved in shelter management.
She has extensive experience with program development, fundraising and grant writing. She is also experienced with legislative issues including following, drafting, and lobbying.
She would like to opportunity to offer Watauga Humane Society her services and time. Based on her experience, she believes she can provide valuable resources to the continued support of domestic animals in our community.
Kristan Cockerill*
Kristan currently serves as Vice President of the WHS Board of Directors. She is a lifelong animal lover and advocate for animal welfare. She has been a WHS volunteer since 2015 and served on the Board of Directors 2015-2018 and again beginning in 2020. During her time as a volunteer, Kristan has assisted with grant writing and has been instrumental in drafting a long and short term strategic plan. Kristan is a professor at Appalachian State University and has lived in Boone since 2005.
Kristan currently serves as Vice President of the WHS Board of Directors and is seeking re-election.
Eleanor Cook
I was an academic librarian for 40 years before retiring in 2021. During this time, I was active with the WHS but also with numerous academic library associations at state, national and international levels. I have served in leadership positions in several state and national non-profits. I have a great deal of experience with non-profit organizations including the NC Library Association, The American Library Association, the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), and as well as WHS and others. As for advocacy efforts for domestic animals, I have been a steadfast, life member of the WHS for over 30 years and still participated in local advocacy events when I lived in eastern NC. From the early 1990’s until 2019 (the last year held) I was a volunteer with the WHS Rummage Sale. I would take the week off from work to spend it working the sale. I did this even when I lived away. I never missed a single rummage sale after I started volunteering! I grew up loving animals and have had pets my entire life. I have been active in the WHS for over 30 years and was even so when I lived out of town for 13 years. I am so proud of what this organization has accomplished over time, and I would be pleased to assist in continuing these efforts.
Carole Cheek
I was born and raised in Atlantic City NJ, before it became a casino town. I left at 18 for college (Rowan University, formerly Glassboro State College) majoring in music and English. Taught High School English in a variety of places and then began graduate work at Appalachian State University, majoring again in English. Continued study at Texas A&M finishing a Ph.D. in English. Taught English at an American school in Augsburg Germany and then in New Jersey. Retired to Boone in 2014.
Also, throughout these many years we have loved a succession of rescued dogs, the loss of which can still bring me to tears. Currently we live with Ralphie, a rescued Bichon, Otis, a rescued mixture of who knows, and Apple, a puppy mill momma who will never ever have another litter or live in a cage.
Kathryn Douthit
A current resident of Blowing Rock, NC, I have lived in Watauga County for approximately 6 years with my husband, James, and my rescued beagle mix, Bader. For the past 22 years, I have been employed as a Professor of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY (I currently do online teaching) where I also served as the Chair of Counseling and Human Development for 12 years. In my position at the University of Rochester, I developed an interest in later life consequences of early childhood trauma and have since become quite interested in knowing more about how this human research applies to the physical and psychological challenges of traumatized domestic animals. Prior to my university position, I worked in for a non-Profit company providing research reports for various drug prevention organizations in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. In addition to my professional roles, I have also served in numerous volunteer positions, including several in leadership. Some of these roles included president of the Master Chorale of Western New York, both president and secretary of a counselor educator organization covering the Northeastern region of the United States, and fundraising Chair for a private school in Charlestown, West Virginia.
Paula Katers*
In 2019, Paula was elected as a member of the Board of Directors, to fill a vacancy with one year left in the term. In 2020, Paula was reelected, by a vote of the membership, to serve another three years on the Board.
Since becoming a Board member, Paula has been involved in fundraising events, served on numerous committees, and worked as the Vice President for the years 20-22. In August 2022, the Board elected Paula to serve as President.
Paula is married to Nick Katers, who retired after almost 30 years in the US Army. After enjoying their vacation cabin for several years, they bought their forever home and moved permanently to Blowing Rock. Paula and Nick have fostered several WHS dogs, to include a litter of 7 puppies, with their mama, in 2022. The Katers have always adopted their dogs from shelters or rescues. They currently have two dachshunds. The most recent adoptee is a beautiful dapple boy named Tank, the Doxie formerly known as Hank, who was adopted from WHS. Paula currently serves as President of the WHS Board of Directors and is seeking re-election.