First District County Supervisor Valerie Brown recently appointed Karen Collins to the Sonoma County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

Karen is a former Deputy Director of the California State Parks, where she created and implemented the acclaimed, hands-on educational program, "Women in the Outdoors". A Sonoma resident, she has long been active in civic and community affairs. Karen served on the City's Environmental Advisory Commission and the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission where she co-chaired its trails taskforce. She is currently on the boards of the Yosemite National Institutes, the Headlands Institute and the Sonoma Ecology Center. She is also the past Chair of the California Recreational Trails Commission.

The Sonoma County Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission acts as an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department. The Commission studies and advises the Board and the Department on issues related to parks and recreation by hearing presentations from private individuals, special interest groups and staff members. Commission members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors by district and volunteer their time.

The public meetings are usually held on the third Monday of each month from 5-7 p.m., but may vary due to holidays. Meeting dates and locations are subject to change. For further information call (707) 565-2041 or visit www.sonoma-county.org/parks.