About the Whiteaker Community Council

Read more about Margaret

In 1984 Margaret packed up, moved to the great Northwest, never looking back. She’s lived in the Whiteaker since about 2008. Margaret values being part of the community and loves the diversity and artistic nature of the “Whit” neighborhood. Initially, she was drawn to the hands-on, grass roots approach of the WCC. This is her second term as an at-Large Board Member. She has been actively attending meetings for a few years. Margaret serves on the Public Health and Safety Committee and oversaw procurement of supplies to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. She plays an active role in developing and maintaining the hand sanitizer station program at local businesses throughout the community. If you ever walked past her house during the Whiteaker Block Party you likely didn’t get past without a plate of BBQ and a cold beverage. Margaret is very excited to be a part of the growth of the WCC in these changing times.

Read more about Saoirse

Saoirse is the co-owner and Market Director of the Whiteaker Community Market. She moved to Oregon form North Carolina in 2020 and has found her community in the Whiteaker. In my free time, you can find me at the bouldering gym, adventuring outside, doing garden and yard work, or working on one of my many half-finished home and art projects.

Read more about Claire

Claire Roth has served as an at-large board member since 2021, and also serves on the WCC Transportation Committee, which she co-founded. Her favorite thing about the neighborhood is how walkable and bikeable it is. The Whiteaker is a 20-minute neighborhood, a place where residents have easy, convenient access to many of the locations and services they use daily, including grocery stores, restaurants, schools and parks, without relying heavily on a car. Claire's second favorite thing about the neighborhood is the Whiteaker Kitakers or Whit Kits, for short. Third is Izakaya Meiji's miso eggs, and fourth is Nelson's chile relleno burrito. Her hobbies include taking care of her jungle of houseplants, hanging out with her cats, Lavender and Zoë, bicycling, hiking, and thrifting. Claire's favorite Whit memory is when she won at both regular bingo and blackout bingo, both in the same night, at Sam Bond's Garage.

Read more about Andrew

Andrew Martin is passionate about transportation and land-use planning, especially how those processes impact our quality of life. As an at-large board member, he works to ensure neighbors are aware of how they can impact our local government and create the kind of neighborhood they want to see. Andrew gardens at the Whiteaker Community Garden with his partner, Sarah. He appreciates the unique local restaurants and shops within walking distance. Andrew serves on the WCC Transportation Committee, which he co-founded, and also on the City of Eugene’s Active Transportation Committee.

Read more about Marcus

Read more about Gail

Gail Caru-Vetter has lived in Eugene since 1998 and in the Whiteaker neighborhood for the last 14 years. If you’ve been around for a while, she’s probably made you a cup of coffee or a bottle of fresh juice at either Out of the Fog or the Red Barn Natural Grocery. More recently, she’s known for her skills as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT #20429), Energetic Bodyworker, and Clinical Herbalist at Kare Massage Therapy (formerly The Karuna). With time spent as a renter, an employee, a property owner, a business owner, and even a van dweller, Gail has seen many sides of what it means to live in our complex and vibrant neighborhood. In her role as Vice-Chair of the Whiteaker Community Council, Gail is excited to support the WCC in its ongoing efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our entire community.