Seven friends of similar heart, mind, and spirit have come together to begin creating an Intentional Community, a Land Trust, and nonprofit Respite Retreat Center.              "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens      can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."                                     Margaret Mead - Anthropologist     Raised in Issaquah Washington, fifty-four year old Matthew Hobbs began working as a tree planter for Weyerhaeuser Corporation in the 1970's; his first experience with reforestation, and logging practices. For the following thirty years he was employed in the wood products industry; from working in a lumber sort yard, to hauling, and from 1982-2001, he worked as a lumber wholesaler for Oregon Washington Forest Products.    In the 1960's Matt's parents bought a riverfront parcel in Pend Oreille County, and from the time Matt was age ten, the river valley was a home away from home. A love of the outdoors came naturally to Matt, handed down from his parents who spent close to a decade in the Arctic.    In 1990, Matt harvested 100 trees from his parent's property, trucked the logs to Monroe Washington, and for the ensuing ten years, he built a 2400 s.f. custom log home.  It was during this period that he married, and that both his mother, June Hobbs, and father Philip, and brother Samuel Hobbs suffered health decline and passed. The property so beloved by his family, was placed in Matt's care.   Since 2001, Matt has been self-employed as a full time environmental steward on the family owned parcel in northeastern Washington State. Using Scandinavian forestry equipment, an articulating tractor, and forwarding trailer, Matt works to make a healthier forest on his certified sustainable yield parcel.  His efforts have earned him accolades from industry peers in the WFFA (Washington Farm Forestry Association). In August of 2005 the WFFA had a field day tour of the Hobbs's forest, and held their annual meeting on the property. Matt was named 2006 Tree Farmer of the Year in Pend Oreille County.   In 2003-05, Matt, wife Susan, and several friends planted over 9,000 conifers.  Those trees the deer, elk, and voles haven't discovered continue to flourish.                                        ~   Shannon Willett, LPN     Fifty one year-old Shannon is a mother of two adult children, Shauna & Cameron,  a  homemaker, an aspiring gourmet chef, and for the past twenty-four years, a devoted wife to Marc. Shannon enjoys gardening and landscaping, is an insatiable reader, and in September '05, tried her hand at straw bale building at a S.B. building workshop offered by The Ironstraw Group.  The knowledge she gained will prove useful when we begin building the To Honor Intentional Community structures.   From the time she was in high school, Shannon has given herself to the work of caregiving. Employed as a nurse's aide while taking her own nurse's training, Shannon has worked in the field for over thirty years. For the last nineteen years, she's been in Monroe, Washington at Regency Care Center.      Shannon is committed to providing the very finest standards for care, and quality of life possible for her patients. She draws great satisfaction from her work, and her positive attitude makes being in Shannon's company a true pleasure.     Shannon epitomizes the kind of individual we hope to celebrate at To Honor.                                                                                              ~                                                                                                                  Marc Willett - Musician, sound engineer, singer/songwriter, author, craftsman, builder and more...   Raised in Brier Washington, at age twelve Marc realized that music had become "the motivating force" in his life. When asked at what point that spark ignited, he answered, "Easy. Seeing the Beatles in Seattle August the 25th, 1966".     Marc, 55, has been playing bass guitar, guitar, piano, and harmonizing with friends and fellow band members for nearly forty years. Currently, Marc is a member of Blues legend Alice Stuart's band, The Formerlys.   Renowned for his bass playing, Marc has been a member of The Kingsmen (1984-92 plus on occasion still), Stolen Ogre, Grown Men, and has had the pleasure of performing with Dan Aykroid, Hoyt Axton, Dave Stewart (of The Eurythmics), Lou Reed, and others during the course of his musical career.   Marc's ear for music, and innate understanding of sound, make his recording studio "Falcon Audio" a natural extension of his craft. The studio will relocate to the To Honor Intentional Community when Marc and Shannon move east to Pend Oreille County in 2010. This Summer the foundation footing and stem walls for their dwelling were poured.   Marc's ready humor, creative vision, intelligence, wit, gentleness, and incredible generosity represent 'the bar' for us - our community.  His devotion to family, and to his friends is the stuff of local legend.

                                               ~

Ellen is known by many in the Seattle area for her expansive knowledge of motorcycles/motorcycling, and her tenure at Ride West BMW. Her intelligence & curiosity are evidenced by being a clearly 'interested' listener. When she speaks, it's with a gentle, yet authoritative voice. Ellen is easily recognized by a waist-length braid of shining brown hair.   

Ellen enjoys bicycling, hiking, camping, and fishing, and has a valuable understanding of the diverse plant life in the Pend Oreille River Valley.

                                                                             ~

Susan Swan Hobbs, 56, is a Washington native, a columnist, and feature writer for national motorcycle publication, Thunder Press, mother of two adult children,  grandmother to six year-old Alex, and wife to Matthew.

As a result of witnessing the normal process of Susan & Matt's parents aging and death, and having played a major role in caring for, and advocating on their behalf, Susan and Matt's eyes were opened to the role caregivers play in our lives.  

It was that exposure, and the loss of family and friends since, that has inspired the couple to dedicate their collective assets to To Honor. They are grateful to have such a fine circle of capable friends to join in the endeavor and would like to acknowledge that, were it not for the the donated labor that will erect all community buildings, and staff the Caregiver Retreat, this project would be far more difficult to realize. 

With a background that includes community activism, city and county government, Susan has firsthand knowledge of the strides attainable when personal drive, a clearly defined mission, and a troop of spirited folks unite. 

"To Honor is about building responsible community, and it will take a responsive community to make it a reality."