Kamala Bremer

FROM CHICKEN TO EAGLE was not only the river adventure the seven of us took in 1979 – it was also the adventure of our lives! In our seven memoir chapters, we write about applying the lessons we learned on the river as we moved into new and unknown territory, whether outdoors, in our careers, or in our personal lives. As women nationwide were expanding their roles in society, we grew stronger and more capable. If we had let society keep us confined to the roles of our mothers' generation, we would not have this book today.

Undertaking the writing of this memoir was another grand adventure for all seven of us!

Contributing Authors:

Kamala Bremer: Kamala was region manager for a state agency that pioneered changes to eldercare, and later was a consultant to human service and community organizations on program development and planning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Administration. Living in Portland, Oregon, Kamala writes about and volunteers for nature with her husband Les, monitoring wildlife for Portland Audubon and for state and federal parks.

Deb Jackson Brewer: Deb was head of strategic management for a mid-sized utility, and opened a child-development center at the utility that is still operating today. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. An active member of the Ambassadors ski patrol at Mt Bachelor, Deb hikes, backpacks and rafts with friends, and spends time with her grandchildren.

Maradel Krummel Gale: Maradel was a founder and the first President of the Oregon Environmental Council and an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon. She established the Micronesia and South Pacific Program which matched graduate students with island agencies’ projects. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, Maradel, earned a Master’s degree in College Personnel and Guidance, and a Juris Doctor. From her home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Maradel advocates for and monitors the health of the Puget Sound environment and supports community emergency preparedness.

Saro Hendrickson: Saro (Sarah) was a family practice physician, director of a county public health department, and gubernatorial appointment to the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a Doctor of Medicine. Living in Eugene with spouse Gretchen, Saro enjoys time with grandchildren and travel to the family’s Sierra cabin.

Rosalyn McKeown-Ice: Rosalyn directed a research center at the University of Tennessee and was a program specialist at UNESCO, where she led development in the field of education for sustainable development. She holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Geography and a Master’s in Education. Living in Salem Oregon, and near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Rosalyn canoes and rides a tandem bicycle with her husband Gene, anchors a prison ministry and babysits grandchildren.

Jesse Reeder: Jesse was the first female general manager of an electric utility with both generation and distribution, and later taught communication and management skills, including for the Oregon Health Sciences University. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Residing during the winter at their home in Loreto, Mexico, where she paddleboards and kayaks, Jesse spends summers in Bend, Oregon with her husband Dirk.

Sally Sharrard: Sally was a long-range planner for waste management for a county in the state of Washington, and led development of a successful and innovative county-wide recycling program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Master’s degree in Geography. Living along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, Sally volunteers with her senior community’s disaster preparedness group, paddles dragonboat and kayak, and sails or rows an 8’ Eastport Nesting Pram.