Barbara Seeley, Board Member
When I was 7 years old [see photo], my mother said that I would see my “clients” for psychotherapy sessions in my “office” in our laundry room. It is no surprise then that I was eventually able to hang out my legitimate therapist shingle in Santa Fe, but only after many years as a Montessori teacher in Washington state, Wisconsin, and then Santa Fe. There were other passions along the way like goldsmith and EMT. After a few years flipping houses during The Railyard boom in Santa Fe, Ted and I settled down to farming in a beautiful river valley northeast of Tesuque, called Chupadero. Here we are content and confident that this life among bees and veggies is enough.
I have lived in Santa Fe since 1980 and raised my two boys as a single mother. My involvements with the community included teaching at Little Earth School, volunteer and board membership with FolkMads [the NM Folk Music And Dance Society], and Oddfellowship. Many years ago, the Oddfellows approached our contra dance community to become members in order to preserve our dance hall, which has a sprung wood floor for excellent dancing.
As an Oddfellow, I served a term as the Nobel Grand and other offices. I was president of our home owner’s association when living in Santa Fe. For many years, Ted and I have been avid volunteers and chairs of committees at the International Folk Art Market, as well as for our Traditional Music Festival which we help produce each August. I created and managed our merchandise tent at this festival for five years.
It was through our mutual involvement with IFAM, that Ginger and Connie invited me to consider becoming active with Girls Inc. I am grateful to be a board member with this most healthy group of women and girls. I have so much to learn and am already a smarter, stronger, and bolder woman for being included with this empowered organization.