Banning Cultural Alliance Board of Directors

Karen Clavelot, President of the Board
Karen’s background includes managing a Radiology office in Downey, CA and most recently she worked for the Los Angeles County Health Department as a Senior Radiation Protection Specialist. inspecting x-ray machines under contract to the State of California.

Karen has served as the 2004 Chair of the Sun Lakes Charity Gala-Event, chaired the Sun Lakes Recreation Advisory Committee in 2005 and is currently chairing the Sun Lakes Restaurant and Lounge Advisory Committee.

Karen and Ray, her husband of 42 years have been residents of Banning since 1999. Karen strongly believes that community involvement is a very high priority and she will continue her work to serve the community through the Alliance.

Charlene Sakurai, Vice President
Charlene is a retired Oncology nursing educator, with a background in primary and secondary education, and is currently working as an independent contractor and consultant. She was employed at City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA in Nursing Research and Education, and retired from Amgen, a prominent biotech company, as an Oncology Clinical Specialist. Her professional memberships include Oncology Nursing Society and Sigma Theta Tau. Charlene was also an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nursing (AACN), San Fernando Valley Chapter, where she served on the board for 5 years. She is published in professional journals, and received the ONS/Chiron Therapeutics/Susan Baird Oncology Excellence in Writing Award (Clinical Practice) for work on ethical issues in oncology nursing practice.

Melodie Corkill, Treasurer
Melodie serves as Treasurer for The Alliance. Pre-retirement, Melodie was with Pacific Telephone as a Budget and Results Manager and held the position of Tax and Business Manager for the Melvin J. Kreger Law Corporation from 1983 to 2001, which specialized in tax issues. She continued to work as a consultant for this same law firm until June 2007

She was certified as an Enrolled Agent by the U.S. Treasury Dept in 1983 authorizing her to represent taxpayers in tax audits and I.R.S. and F.T.B. disputes. She volunteers her time during tax season to assist the elderly with the preparation of their tax returns.

Melodie is a golfer and is a past president of the Sun Lakes Women's Golf Club.

She is the proud mother of three sons and three daughters, and enjoys 15 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren

Betsy Zalewski, Recording Secretary
Bio coming soon!


Amy Herr, Board Member
Amy is a lifelong resident of Banning and most recently worked in the medical field as a manager in a Radiology Department at Kaiser Permanente. She “retired” six years ago after having her youngest child. She is married to husband Joe and they have two children, Troy and Hannah. Amy is a proud trustee on the Banning Unified Board of Education. She is also the Board President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass. As an Alliance board member, she enjoys serving on the Events Committee and seeing all the great things the Alliance is making happen in Banning. Amy is dedicated to working with the Alliance to ensure the youth of Banning are fortunate enough to be exposed to the various aspects of art and culture. In her spare time, Amy enjoys spending time with family and friends, preparing and eating wonderful food and scrapbooking


Marilynn Hollis, Board Member
Bio coming soon!


Bob Keeling, Board Member
Bio coming soon!


Vaughan Kelley, Board Member
Bio coming soon!


John Klimkiewicz, Board Member
Bio coming soon!

Elizabeth Lord, Esq., Board Member
Elizabeth is an attorney specializing in family and criminal law. She was raised in the Los Angeles area and moved to Santa Cruz CA to attend the University of California at Santa Cruz. . Ms. Lord has a JD from Santa Clara University School of Law and has been practicing law for six years. Ms. Lord and her family recently moved back to Southern California to be closer to family. She chose to live in Banning because Banning is an up and coming area that is experiencing significant growth. She and her family enjoy hiking and camping and travel

Beverly Rashidd, Board Member
Beverly, a five- year resident of Banning, is retired as a non-profit administrator and a financial development specialist for several national and community based organizations. She currently consults in non-profit program planning, board and organizational development and fundraising. In addition to her membership in the Banning Cultural Alliance, Ms. Rashidd chairs the Golf Advisory Committee for Sun Lakes Country Club, founder, advisor and board member of the “Happy Cookers” gourmet club, and two golf clubs. She has served on the boards of directors and committees of several social, health, and political organizations. Her special interests are the arts, cooking, and golf.

Joyce White, Board Member
Bio coming soon!