Who We Are
Friends of Cabin John Creek, Inc. (FoCJC) is a volunteer citizen group dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and stewardship of the Cabin John Creek watershed. FoCJC was started informally in 1999 as a committee of the Cabin John Citizens Association in Cabin John, Maryland. FoCJC has since incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit and has grown to include members from within and without the watershed, including residents of Glen Echo, Bethesda, Potomac, and Rockville.
FoCJC regularly collaborates with local organizations including the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, City of Rockville, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, The Potomac Conservancy, Audubon Naturalist Society, Alice Ferguson Foundation, and Izaak Walton League of America. FoCJC volunteers organize events and programs, such as Creek Clean-ups, environmental film viewings, stormwater management campaigns, and other activities to educate and motivate local residents to become stewards of Cabin John Creek.
Mission Statement
We work to protect and improve the health and beauty of the Cabin John Creek Watershed, raise awareness of its significance in the community, and foster community involvement in these goals through education, projects, and advocacy.
Board of Directors
Friends of Cabin John Creek is always looking for talented go-getters who love working for a good cause, sharing their knowledge and experience, and learning new skills. Volunteering with FoCJC -- whether as an intern, event supporter, program organizer, or board member -- allows you to learn more about the challenges and threats facing our watershed and make a difference for the environment. There are opportunities for people with all backgrounds and availability. Contact us to find out more!
Our Logo
FOCJC has chosen the Cabin John Bridge as a symbol in the FOCJC logo, because the historic Cabin John Bridge (built in 1863) is located at the geographic point where all the water of the Cabin John Creek Watershed flows into the Potomac River.
​Sandy Laden
Vice President
Sandy Laden has a BS in Animal Science from Rutgers University and is a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and has been a practicing veterinarian in Montgomery County since 1991. Sandy hikes frequently along Cabin John Creek near Luxmanor and Tilden Woods Park. She became interested in creek stewardship after seeing the erosion of the creek along the park trails. Sandy is also involved with restoration projects of Serpentine Barrens in Baltimore and Harford counties.
Scott Hoffman
Treasurer
Scott is a long-time Cabin John resident and has spent the last 30 years as the fourth generation running a local family-owned insurance company, serving as Treasurer for the past 20 years. After graduating from St. Stephen's High School in 1986, he earned his B.S. degree from the E. Claiborne School of Business of the University of Richmond. Scott is active in solving local community issues and is an avid barefoot water skier!
​P. Burton Gray
President
​Burr moved to Cabin John in 1991 and began yearly creek cleanups which resulted, among other things, in the removal of the WSSC signs indicating that the Creek was polluted. Burr is a co-founder of FoCJC and served for 20 years as the head of the Cabin John Citizens Association which has supported FoCJC since its infancy. Burr has also served on the Boards of the Potomac Conservancy and the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. He has a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
​Jon Putnam
Director
Jon has degrees from Amherst College and the University of Michigan and works in international conservation for the federal government. He has lived in Cabin John since 2011, attracted to the community in large part by its natural setting, including in particular Cabin John creek. Jon also serves on the Advisory Group for Montgomery County's Legacy Open Space, and is an avid birder.
​Don Libes
Director, Webmaster
​Don has degrees in computer science and math from Rutgers and the University of Rochester. Don works as a computer scientist for the federal government when he is not out on the trails.
Don brings balance to the Board by representing the average citizen who wants to do the right thing despite a complete lack of formal education in any environmental sciences. Don also maintains FoCJC's website and social media sites.
Carla Dinowitz
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​Roy Seidenstein
Co-Founder
​Roy was one of the two original co-founders of FoCJC in 1999. Additionally, Roy led FOCJC's water quality monitoring program for its first six years, and helped organize trash-cleanups and other activities until he moved away in 2021. Roy was a Cabin John resident for over 20 years, and his home backed up to the Cabin John Creek Stream Valley Park. Roy has a BA in Biology & Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz, a JD from Lewis & Clark Law School, practiced environmental law over 30 years (mostly at USEPA), and is a life-long backpacker.
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