CyberFair 2000 Project
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Carpinteria, California, USA
Carpinteria Valley Leaders
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About This Site
Who Made This Site?
Why an Avocado Tree?
Project Narrative
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Susan Youngs
We choose to interview Ms. Youngs. The students in our group are: Morgan, Sean and Daniel. We choose to interview Ms. Youngs, because she works at the Seal Watch.
Q: What is your full name?
A: My full name is Susan Patricia Smith-Youngs.
Q: Were you named after anyone?
A: After my Aunt Patty, and the fact that I was born on St. Patrick's Day.
Q: Where were you born?
A: I was born in Long Beach, California
Q: What are your parent's names?
A: My mom's name is Anne Kuhns Smith and my dad's name is Clayton Waite Smith.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: In Laguna Beach, my family owned Treasure Island Trailer Park. We lived in a trailer on the beach. We lived on Guam for 4 years, then moved to Coronado until college at UCSB.Q: What do remember most about your childhood?
A: We had a very large happy family. We traveled a lot because my father was a Commander in the Navy.
Q: What are your parent's professions?
A: My father was in the Navy, my mother was a homemaker, and a member of the D.A.R. My grandfathers were engineers.
Q: Tell me about your family.
A: I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I am the second oldest. My parents were married for over 50 years when my mother died.Q: What is your family background?
A: I am part English and part German - and 1% Irish because of my birthday! My grandparents were very active in government. My mother was high in the Republican Women's group. She worked for Goldwater and Reagan. My mother used to drag me to all of the conventions. Even though I was not old enough, I worked for Nixon, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and many others. One of my great , great grandfathers was the governor of Pennsylvannia.
Q: How long has your family lived in this area?
A: My parents have lived in California for over 60 years.Q: Could you describe your profession to me?
A:I have owned my own custom interior sewing business for the last 20 years. A few years ago I entered the antique business.Q: Describe the activities that you are currently involved
A: I am a captain of the Carpinteria Seal Watch (for 11 years) and helped raise money to buy the Bluffs.
Q: What path did you take to become a leader?
A: I am a college graduate of UCSB. I like working at organizing things.
Q: What does the term "Civic Leadership" mean to you?
A: A leadership of all peoples. Personal duty to give back to the community.
Q: Could you list and describe the changes or contributions you have made to the community?
A: I have gotten all my neighbors together for the Seal Watch and the Neighborhood Watch.
Q: Describe the changes that have taken place since you became a leader.
A: Helping to organize the Neighborhood Watch. Helping with efforts to get the city to close the beaches to protect the seals.
Q: How long have you been involved with the community?
A: 12 years.
Q: Tell me some unusual things that have happened to you?
A: I could write a book about all the unusual things that have happened in my life. One time when we were over the seal rookery, spending the whole night to protect the seals from a killing coyote, a big horned owl swooped down and made a grab at my hair. She must have thought I was big prey!
This page was written by Morgan Y., Sean S. and Daniel B.
This page was edited by Morgan Y.
This page was photographed by Morgan Y.
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