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Download this Guide: Potential Board Member Info_2026

The Executive Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom. If you wish to attend contact us. If you wish to attend a Board meeting, contact us for a Zoom link.

Guests may speak (3 min. max) during the public comment period, but this is not an opportunity to ask questions or interact with the board. If neighbors wish to present ideas, ask questions, or engage with the board they can be added to the agenda prior to a meeting. Contact us at jwneugene@gmail.com at least 5 days prior to a board meeting to be added to the agenda (always on the third Tuesday unless rescheduled or cancelled) Guests may observe the meeting but must refrain from asking questions or joining discussion. This also means turning off video and not posting in the chat. 

All JWN Executive Board positions are up for election every April for one year terms. The Executive Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom. Board Positions:

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• At-Large Position #1
• At-Large Position #2
• At-Large Position #3
• At-Large Position #4
• At-Large Position #5
• Secretary and Treasurer positions are decided by the board.

Anyone who lives (including renters) in the JWN, owns property, owns or manages a business, or is the director of a nonprofit can run for a board seat.

If you are considering running for the board, submit your full name, eligibility, and the position you are standing for no later than March 9 to the Nominating Committee via jwneugene@gmail.com. All eligible candidates are accepted. Candidates must submit a short biography and answer a few basic questions for the voter guide by March 18 to be on the ballot.

At a minimum, Board members are expected to attend the monthly Executive Board meetings and all general meetings. Complete rules and procedures are in the JWN Bylaws, available at jwneugene.org/about/bylaws.

2026-2027 Executive Board

• Chair: Ted M. Coopman
• Vice Chair: Sandra Bishop
• At-Large Position #1: Stephanie Coopman
• At-Large Position #2: Sue Cummings
• At-Large Position #3: Mary Maude
• At-Large Position #4: Eric Noon
• At-Large Position #5: Amy Ruben

Meet Your Executive Board

Sandra Bishop

Eugene has been my home since I came to study Eastern history and languages at the University of Oregon. My husband and I lived at 10^th & Jefferson for several decades, in a historic multi-unit building that we own and maintain as reasonable cost rental apartments. We now live in the south part of town. I have a deep and abiding concern for maintaining the livability of the JWN and other near-downtown neighborhoods. In 2019 after more than 30 years of running my own business as a government relations practitioner and lobbyist in the Oregon Legislature I closed the business. I currently work under contract as a writer/editor and researcher. Singing and dancing Argentine Tango keep me energized. Teaching and studying Tibetan Buddhism keeps me sane.

Serving as Vice-Chair for the past three years has given me a good grounding in how to address neighborhood challenges and concerns. I continue to serve as the board appointed liaison to the Neighborhood Leaders Council (NLC); attending a monthly meeting with representatives from each of the neighborhood associations in the city. Participating at the NLC level I’m proud to say, JWN is one of the most active and effective neighborhood groups in the city. I have found ways to share information and network with other neighborhoods to strengthen resources and participation in JWN. My previous work in government relations representing businesses, professional associations, non-profits and public interest advocacy groups has given me valuable experience working with individuals, groups and coalitions; helping to navigate through state, county and city bureaucracies.

Stephanie Coopman

Ted, our dog River, and I moved to Eugene and the JWN at the start of 2016 after visiting for many years. When we bought our house here in 2012 we’d planned on splitting our time between Eugene and Santa Cruz, CA. Then in 2015, with the Bay Area and Santa Cruz getting more crowded and more expensive, we decided to leave our townhouse near the beach for a saner and mellower life in Eugene. Happily, we’ve found a home in the JWN.

I’m a professor at San Jose State University where I teach online courses in communication, primarily in the areas of applied communication and game studies. I started teaching online in 1999. For a few years, I taught a mix of in person and online classes. Then I moved to all online about 15 years ago. In addition to teaching, I served as chair of my department for five years. I’ve also chaired and served on numerous committees and task forces for SJSU and a number of professional organizations.

I attended my first JWN general meeting in February 2016 and soon joined the JWN Outreach Committee. I designed and launched the most recent version of the JWN website that year as well. I’ve written articles for the JWN newsletter and for the past two years edited the newsletter’s paper version. I’m especially interested in getting neighbors involved in the neighborhood and matching up neighbors’ interests and passions with work that needs to be done. I’m here to listen to my neighbors and look forward to hearing from you.

Ted M. Coopman

My spouse, dog and I just moved into the neighborhood in February 2016 although we have owned a home here since 2012. My association with Eugene goes back 20 years with yearly visits with our best friends. I am a college professor by-trade and teach online for San José State University and the University of Louisville where I am an adjunct faculty member. My areas of study are media law and policy and activists use of media and technology. We always knew that Jefferson-Westside is where we wanted to live and are so happy and excited to be here. Eugene is a dog and bike paradise! I have spent the last 25 years working with community and activist groups and look forward to putting my time, energy and expertise to work for our hood. Look for me in the mornings at Monroe Park throwing the ball for the dog (and picking up trash) and say hello.

Sue Cummings

Sue has been on the JWN Board for about eight years and has lived in the neighborhood for somewhere around 15 years. She moved to Eugene with Tommy, her husband, in 1991. She would like to encourage everyone in the neighborhood, homeowners, renters, businesses and property owners, to attend JWN events. She feels that having a strong neighborhood association is important for keeping the JWN the beautiful, unique, livable, walkable, vibrant place we call home. She also hopes that everyone will support our special neighborhood businesses and artists, Cesar Chavez School, The Lane Events Center and groups like Friends of Trees and the OSU Extension Service. She really appreciates that so many people in our neighborhood like to walk, bike and garden.

Mary Maude

I moved to Eugene to attend the University and fell in love with the city. I have lived in JWN for the last 16 years where I have furthered my appreciation for the culture and natural environment of Eugene. I chose this neighborhood because of the historic architecture and walkability. My family and I have labored over the restoration of our current home, happily bringing it back to its original intention.

I have been in leadership positions for over 35 years. My favorite part of leadership is helping others grow and develop their potential. I enjoy listening to a variety of viewpoints, finding shared perspectives, problem solving, and looking for the win-win solution to issues.

My current position as a quality analyst at a local substance abuse clinic keeps me in tune to social issues affecting our neighborhood and focused on data regarding positive quality outcomes; improving the lives of our neighbors.

I am most proud of my two amazing twenty-something daughters. I am an avid gardener and most content with my hands in the dirt or while turning compost.

I look forward to getting to know more neighbors and joining the effort to strengthen the JWN community.

Eric Noon

I have been a resident of the correct coast for my entire life. My childhood was served in the eastern and southern portions of the San Francisco Bay Area and along the shores and islands of the Puget Sound. On every trip to and from we would stop in Eugene to visit my fathers’ best friend from when they grew up in Bellingham, Washington. I grew up with memories of Eugene. One of my greatest thrills was to give my father’s childhood friend a tour of my house and see him revel in an environment that was his past. For me, it closed a circle of life. John moved on last year having passed the century mark.  There are historical roots that run through Eugene. My great grandfather was an immigrant and found himself in the Northwest. He became a lumber jack. He built up a small private logging company. In many ways you can call me a Stamper. The family company logged around Eugene during the Depression (circa 1935-1938). I moved to Eugene on Halloween 2018.

I have degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. I have studied pomology, horticulture, and range management. I have dabbled in forestry. I am an ecologist. I am a conservationist. I been a cattle rancher. I have been involved with local associations of ranchers, homeowners, scouts and other groups. I have worked on land use regulation. I am self-taught in computer science and have worked professionally in programming, system design, and project management. My current extracurricular activity is working on understanding how to use Large Language Model technology.

Amy Rubens

I moved here from Austin with my husband in 2024, and we purchased our home on 11th Ave soon after. I have been looking for opportunities to get more involved with my community and meet my neighbors as well. I feel I am in a good position to be a part of the JNW board; I enjoy the meetings and would like to get to know it better! I enjoy gardening, hiking, travel, various volunteering, and am working on starting a local tour business.