First Board Members Ethica - 2003
Who We Are
Ethica's Board of Directors consists of persons who have an interest in ethical adoption practices, but are not currently affiliated with agencies or other entities that place children for adoption. Directors were specifically chosen to represent the many different viewpoints which contribute to the adoption community; for their specific business and managerial skills; and, most importantly, for their interest in education and advocacy efforts that seek to further the cause of ethical adoption.
Trish Maskew, President
Trish was previously employed as an international program coordinator for an adoption agency, and served as administrator for a large membership organization consisting of adoption agencies, advocacy groups and medical professionals. Trish is the author of "Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child", and has a special interest in the adoption of older and special needs children. She currently serves on the Board of the Joint Council on International Children's Services as one of two non-agency representatives. Trish and her husband are the parents of children who joined their family through birth, foster care, and adoption.
Kay Carnley (?Kitty?) Vickers, Vice President
Kitty is an attorney practicing commercial litigation in private practice. She has a J.D. from the University of Texas and also has a masters degree in social work from the University of Houston. Kitty sees adoption from a special perspective, being both a domestic adult adoptee and an adoptive parent. Kitty has long been interested in the furtherance of adoptee rights and in ensuring that adoption practices first protect the life-long interests of the children involved. She and her husband are the parents of a birth child and two children adopted internationally.
Melissa Barrigar, Secretary
Melissa Barrigar is the mother of two boys, both adopted through domestic, transracial adoptions. She enjoys open adoptions with both sons' birth families. Melissa has a strong interest in the ethics of domestic adoption, and a special interest in the issues that effect transracial adoptees and their families. Melissa serves on the Foster Care Review Board for Pima County, Arizona and moderates two adoption forums that address domestic adoption issues. Melissa has also worked professionally in the insurance industry for much of the past 17 years. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and children.
Jonathan Pennington, Treasurer
As a professional financial trustee for 17 years, Jon brings extensive fiduciary experience to the Board. As an entrepreneur and business owner, he also has working knowledge of the challenges of "start-ups" and small business management, and an extensive knowledge of the world of international finance. Although having a long standing interest in children's issues, Jon has not previously been involved in the adoption community, and thus serves the critical function of providing an objective community view to the Board.
Virginia Van Vynckt, Vice President, Public Relations
Virginia is an editor and writer with more than 25 years of experience, including 17 years as an editor and reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times. She has written and edited in various media, including books, newsletters, and Website copy, and is currently a Website designer and publisher. Mother to two children adopted internationally, Virginia has served as a volunteer for several adoption support groups, including Colorado Heritage Camps and Colorado Families with Children from Vietnam. She is especially interested in the issues surrounding international adoption and the adoption of older children.
Ethica's Board of Directors is supported by advisory boards consisting of adult adoptees, adoptive parents, adoption professionals, medical professionals, and other parties with an interest in adoption. The Ethica advisory boards serve as a source of information and insight which may contribute to the Board of Directors' understanding of a situation. Advisory boards will not, however, promulgate or vote on Ethica policy and may not serve as spokespersons for the organization without the express permission of the Board of Directors.