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Ellen McCarty

Family status: Married to Flint Morrison for 40 years, with two adult

children and three delightful grandchildren, ages 11, 4 and 3.

Age: 55+ and holding

Education: B.A. in education from California State University of Long

Beach and I have done post graduate course work.

Past offices held: President of Huntington Beach Coordinating Council;

vice president of Programs, Huntington Harbour Republican Women’s

Federated; Executive Director Amigos de Bolsa Chica; Secretary of

Governor Wilson’s Wetlands Consensus Committee for two years.

Present occupation: I am the education and executive director of the

Bolsa Chica Conservancy.

Explain your job in 15 words or less: I welcome guests to the

Interpretive Center, conduct classes for students and groups and do

administrative work for the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.

Your greatest achievement: As a beginning quilter I completed a sampler

quilt for our daughter using fabrics from the clothing I had made for her

-- and I won a medal for it from the Huntington Harbour Art Association.

Personal motto: Be the person my dog thinks I am.

Most humbling moment: I was totally overwhelmed when I was awarded a

plaque by the Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding

contributions to the environment and particularly the Bolsa Chica

Wetlands.

Your greatest extravagance: Purchasing yards of interesting fabric that I

might someday use in a wall hanging or quilt.

The most influential author you’ve read: Christian psychologist, Dr.

James Dobson

What cassette is in your car right now: Disney Classics, The Wiz and Phil

Collins.

Your most treasured possessions: Photos and handmade keepsakes from my

family and friends.

Which words or phrase do you overuse: Honey, have you checked your list?

What can you cook? I can cook anything when at least 1/2 of the

ingredients are already prepared.

A habit you wish you could control: My annoying habit is interrupting

people in conversation.

The college major you almost chose: journalism

Your last charitable act: Telling the Little Mermaids to keep the

overpayment when my dues were accidentally billed twice.

As a child, what did schoolmates tease you about? My low voice, and the

space between my front teeth.

What is in your car trunk right now: Empty containers to fill with water

for the Interpretive Center, just-used paint brushes to be cleaned at

home, several pages of creative finger-painting which I just got from our

little preschoolers.

The first thing that attracted you to your partner or spouse: I was

attracted to my husband’s persistence in trying to get my attention when

we worked together at Disneyland.

The worst idea you ever had: About 25 years ago, I invested money in a

pyramid scheme.

What would you have been voted in high school? Miss Shy of Wilson High

Who are your heroines? Amelia Earhart and Sally Ryan were both incredibly

intelligent and daring.

Favorite escape from reality: Spending time on the walk bridge at the

Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

One thing you would change about the world, if you could: Slow the pace

down, put more life into living, practice the golden rule.

Your idea of exercise: Trying to motivate our beagle to keep moving when

I take her for a walk.

What do you dislike most about your appearance: The creeping signs of

maturity.

I have a dream that: In my lifetime, I really will see water from the

Pacific Ocean returned to the lowlands to replenish the life-giving tidal

flow to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands after nearly a century.

Where can you be reached? At the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center, 3842

Warner Ave., Tuesday -- Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 846-1114.