Member Spotlight: Bob Ness
In our latest Member Spotlight feature, we heard from longtime member Bob Ness.
How did you first hear about / get involved with Pangea?
After 9/11, a few friends of mine invited a group of people together to consider the question: “Where does the US fit in the world right now and how do we deal with the crisis in relationships we have with people around the world?” Allan Paulson, Linda Mason and others had the idea of forming Pangea.
My wife, Maryann, wanted to get involved from the beginning and pulled me in. I participated in a formational meeting with Linda and Allan back in the very early days. I was asked to help create the first Pangea strategic plan.
How have you participated in Pangea as a member?
After planning discussions with Allan Paulson, my wife and I worked with Wendo Sahar Aszed and Rafael Okumu to co-facilitate the first East Africa Leadership Forum (EALF) in Kenya, with leaders from five African countries present. It’s gratifying to see that the EALF has continued without us having to be there to organize and support. I think these kinds of opportunities to bring people together to collaborate are work we could do more frequently.
I’ve participated in site visits to Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. I also visited Vietnam to do some research on how we could support organizations addressing trafficking of women – that would have been a really interesting project but for internal Vietnam political reasons it didn’t pan out.
Why are you a Pangea member?
First, I continue to deepen my knowledge of Southeast Asia and East Africa, both through the specific projects Pangea supports and more generally on the regions.
Second, I am developing relationships. This includes the long-standing friendships I’ve formed through travel, especially site visits. It also includes developing trusting relationships with people in country. When I hear news about a situation happening in one of the countries we work in, Kenya for example, I’m able to visualize what is going on there on the ground; how it impacts the people. For example, with Dandelion Africa, I’ve met people there and their families and I have a much deeper understanding of how current events in the country affect our friends currently.
At present, Myanmar is a hot spot where pro-democracy forces are being shot in the streets. I’m very engaged here and contributing as much as I can. Pangea has been really effective in building a network of nonprofits to communicate about what’s happening and to support the people there.
What is something interesting about you that other Pangea members might like to know?
My first significant international experience was going to college in Japan at age 17. It broadened my life and gave me a special appreciation for Japan and East Asian cultures.
Now in my “almost retirement,” I find myself in Mount Vernon with Maryann on a farm taking care of 150 fruit trees and a ¾ acre of garden. We just painted the barn and put up three owls on the side of it. Our farm is called “Owl Haven/Ness Family Farm.” We have solar power sufficient to cover electrical needs, including an electric car.
Something is also happening in my life around writing and poetry right now. It’s a long story, but I was involved in creating the National Arts Council of Mongolia about 20 years ago. I’m friends with the National Poet of Mongolia, and I am working on writing projects with some writers in the Skagit Valley and beyond.
