PRESIDENT

Bio & photo coming soon!

TREASURER

Ralph Hitz teaches earth sciences, including oceanography, at Tacoma Community College. Although he has lived and worked in Tacoma for twenty-five years, and raised a family here, he grew up in coastal southern California, where he developed a strong connection to the ocean through sailing, surfing and other water activities.

This interest led him to enroll one of his sons as a crew member of Sea Scouts Ship 190 Odyssey. This co-ed youth program has encouraged a phenomenal amount of inner growth and interpersonal maturity in his son. The adventure, the responsibility, the pride, the skills, the camaraderie, all blend in a unique way to create an incomparable experience. Ralph is now a big fan of this program and is committed to help make it sustainable, to benefit future participants.

SECRETARY

Margaret Mason is an Application Analyst for a local School District. A Chicago area native, she did not realize her love of sailing until she moved to Seattle as an adult. Taking sailing lessons in small boats led to the purchase of a larger vessel and a 2-year adventure in Mexico.

Margaret is the proud parent of an Odyssey Alumni whose own experience as a Sea Scout and love of the water led to an education at Cal Maritime - California State University Maritime Academy, and a career in the maritime industry.
She looks forward to her volunteer time with the Odyssey program and is honored to use her skills to help with their operations. She is continually amazed at the experiences, responsibilities and knowledge that the Odyssey program teaches the Scouts, Captains and Volunteers and in particular her own Alumni Scout!

In her free time, she loves to hike, sail and garden.

BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE

Christopher Dutt graduated California Maritime Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a USCG license. Moving back to his home of Puget Sound he has  worked in several local shipyards. Volunteered as Skipper of Odyssey Program for several years, the same program that he had participated in as a youth. As a board member of Friends of Odyssey he is excited to ensure a platform for that program to continue growing on.

BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE

Photo & bio coming soon!

VOLUNTEER

As an Odyssey Alumni, Natasha has the first hand experience to say that the Odyssey program is a truly life changing opportunity. After joining Odyssey in 2011, Natasha embraced the program with zeal and earned her Quartermaster Award in 2015. After graduating high school and obtaining her Associate’s degree, Natasha worked with the Los Angeles Maritime Institute as a deckhand/educator teaching sailing to under-served Los Angeles youth and for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a mechanic.

As an occasional first mate, teacher, and web designer Natasha’s involvement with the Odyssey program has continued. As part of her determination to help the Odyssey program and continue its legacy for future generations, Natasha is our first volunteer. She has volunteered her time, experience in sailing and amateur web design services to Friends of Odyssey.