Barbara Kossy of Moss Beach, California, will chair her first meeting as President of the San Mateo RCD on February 20. Kossy has served on the board of the RCD for more than 11 years and is the first woman to chair the district in its 80+ year history.

“I’m committed to supporting environmental restoration and preservation that improves the quality of life. The RCD works with the community, agriculture and both private and public landowners. I’m proud to say we get stuff done. I’m looking forward to the next decade where we can take our expertise and apply it to water quality, healthy forests and fire prevention, and whatever comes our way to protect our area’s amazing people and resources.”

Ms. Kossy is a devoted conservationist. With a career in visual art and technical writing, Kossy has served on a variety of boards and is currently a board member of Sequoia Audubon Society. She served more than 15 years on the San Mateo County Weed Management Area, including five recent years as Chair, working to protect habitats by preventing the spread of noxious weeds. She also created the California Invasive Plant page on Facebook that includes 3,500 members. Previously, she volunteered and served with organizations such as Friends of the River, the Northern California Recyclers Association, the committee to oversee the cleanup of Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot in Richmand, the city’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Recycling.  Ms. Kossy is also an avid sea kayaker and regularly leads international kayaking tours.