Triangle Land Conservancy: Member Spotlight August 2009


	Triangle Land Conservancy 1101 Haynes Street Suite 205 Raleigh, NC 27604 919.833.3662

Member Spotlight - September 2009

Barbara and Jonathan Sheline

Longtime donors to national conservation efforts, Barbara and Jonathan Sheline joined TLC in 2001 because they wanted to help conserve land locally. They developed a strong appreciation for that land during frequent picnics with their two children in nearby Duke Forest.

“Having Duke Forest right here makes this the greatest place,” says Barbara. “And that land is not guaranteed to always be undeveloped. We joined TLC to help ensure these special places are protected. When we read about the land TLC has protected, it is great to know we are supporting conservation right here in our own backyard.”

“As a local organization, TLC is keeping land in a natural state, making sure there are open spaces in the Triangle, including undeveloped forested areas and land near waterways,” adds Jonathan.

In addition to their interest in local conservation, the Shelines live by the mantra that less is more.

“We really believe in voluntary simplicity,” says Jonathan. “We want to minimize our consumerism and get more out of less.”

“Our vacation cabin doesn’t have electricity or running water, and we really appreciate our time there,” adds Barbara. “We love to spend time in beautiful places, doing low impact activities, leaving a small footprint when possible.”

Barbara and Jonathan met on their first day of medical school at UNC. Jonathan, from Tallahassee, Florida, had earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard. Barbara, a New Jersey native, had completed her undergraduate degree in zoology at UNC and was pursuing a Masters in Public Health in addition to a medical degree.

After they finished medical school, the Shelines moved to New Mexico to complete their residencies.

Then, in 1990, both Barbara and Jonathan joined the faculty at Duke University and they moved to Durham.

Barbara and Jonathan are family doctors -- Barbara at the Family Medicine Center and Jonathan at Integrative Physicians. In addition, they teach a doctor/patient relationship course at Duke.

The Sheline’s two children, Annelle and Sam, are Jordan High School alumni. Annelle graduated from New York University last year and is a journalist in Cairo. Sam is a senior at Davidson College, where he is studying biology and film.

Barbara enjoys hiking, gardening and watercolor painting. She donated one of her paintings of New Hope Creek for a TLC fundraiser. Jonathan enjoys hiking, whitewater canoeing/rafting, running, and building things. He built their vacation cabin in the woods of Virginia and many home projects. He especially enjoys building fish ponds and water projects. Barbara and Jonathan are members of the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and they also enjoy the company of their dog, Caly, and cat, Nellie.

Member Spotlight Archives

June 2010 - Greg Smith and Cyndi Grover

May 2010 - Todd and Kathleen Shapley-Quinn

April 2010 - Joyce & Fred Sparling

March 2010 - Diane Allen

February 2010 - Jane Kendall and Ran Coble

January 2010 - Kris and David Jackson

December 2009 - Carol Ruess

November 2009 - Kent Fiala

October 2009 - Linda and Rufus Edmisten

September 2009 - Barbara and Jonathan Sheline

August 2009 - Shannon Bueker