Join a Committee!
If you are a houseboat owner or renter you are eligible to join a committee! Please email the chair of the committee you are interested in joining or email contact@seattlefloatinghomes.org
The Seattle FHA Board welcomes the suggestions of its members. If you have an idea or concern that you’d like us to address, please send an email to the appropriate standing committee chair noted above or send an email to contact@seattlefloatinghomes.org
The Office Manager’s mission is to maintain the FHA website, manage the membership database, and compile electronic newsletters. The office manager is a member of the Communications Committee and focuses on building and sustaining our sense of community by disseminating news, information, and resources to members through the website, e-alerts, Facebook, and a network of dock representatives. The priorities for this year are to streamline the membership and advertisers database and improve & document operations.
Chair: Members:
Development
The mission of the Development Committee is to produce the 2025 FHA Tour. The focus of the 2025 tour will be to share the FHA history & stories with local and statewide audiences. Also, to raise enough money to support the mission of the FHA through the next two years.
Chair: Melissa Ahlers Members:
Environment
Environmental Stewardship Programs
The mission of the FHA Environmental Committee is to safeguard and enhance our water environment through education, proactive initiatives, and activities that encourage environmental stewardship. We liaise with local environmental organizations and focus on advocacy and communication efforts. Our goal is to protect the ecological integrity of Lake Union through proactive cleanups, spill reporting, water quality testing, and wildlife monitoring while fostering collaboration with local stakeholders. This year’s objectives include:
-
- Exploring the feasibility and process of adding Lake Union to King County’s bacterial beach testing program.
- Actively promoting scheduled cleanup events in partnership with local environmental groups.
- Reporting on the diversity and migration patterns of local wildlife.
Chair: John Giaever Members:
Finance and Membership
The mission of the finance committee is to ensure the financial health and stability of the Floating Homes Association by ensuring financial integrity and strategic foresight, upholding transparency and accountability, and providing financial statements and budgets to the board for planning and management. My goals for the next twelve months are to assist with the transition to the new Office Manager and President and to streamline operations and improve workflows, as possible, between the Treasurer and Office Manager.
Chair: Megan Sutherland Members: Sarah Morlidge
Historical Preservation & Design
Our mission is to preserve the floating home community’s history and provide digital platforms and physical spaces, like the Keasler Cottage, to support researchers and storytellers. The objectives this year are to (1) Scan all content at risk of deterioration in Keasler Cottage (2) Repair/fix up Keasler Cottage (3) Provide the Development team with entertaining, historical stories for the Sept. tour.
Chair: Stafford Green Members: Megan Arrivey Hall, Catherine Major, Jeff Seery Supplemental Team: Larry Logue, Steve Andreason, Adam Lyon (Library Associate MOHAI), Eugenia Woo (Director of Seattle Historical Society, Preservation Services)
Legal and Compliance
Our mission is to assemble a compendium of links to the City of Seattle’s Shoreline (SMP) exemptions, its rules and regulations regulating properties within 200 feet of the shoreline, and the City of Seattle’s building codes, ordinances, regulations, and director’s rules regulating land use, construction, housing, and other relevant codes administered by the City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. The compendium will be published on the FHA’s website and will be updated periodically as necessary. Its sole purpose is to provide information for people buying, renovating, adding to or building new floating homes on Lakes Union and Washington. The compendium is not intended to provide legal or other advice of any kind.
Chair: Heidi Eagleton Members:
Relations
Our mission is to monitor legislative actions, both on the State and City levels, that could potentially affect the floating homes community. Our goals this year are to complete the DNR lease process and monitor any upcoming revisions to the Seattle Shoreline Master Plan. We also want to establish relationships with our State legislators and the Seattle City Council, as well as with neighborhood groups, such as the Lake Union District Council and Eastlake Community Council.
Chair: Sheri Greaves Members:
Safety and Security
Our mission is to boost safety and community awareness, with our main goals for the next 12 months being to enhance safety measures, increase community engagement, and promote open communication about safety practices. We’re also aiming to create a handy resource list and include a dedicated safety section in future newsletters.
Chair: Jason Rungsigul Members: