ME International Board of Directors
JAMES DAVIS, Interim President
James was born and raised in the Midwest just outside of St Louis. Until recently, he lived in Western Colorado, but now calls Washington State his home. James was a Social Studies teacher until his ME cut his career short. When he could no longer teach, he decided to write novels to have something creative and productive to do while struggling with his ME. He has completed two novels and is working on the third in his trilogy. James currently enjoys spending time with photography and getting outdoors when possible. It took James well over a decade to be diagnosed with ME, and his experience discovering his illness created a desire to give back to the ME community.
MARY KELLEY, Treasurer
Mary Kelley lives in the very Southwest corner of Denver. She was born in Western Nebraska but moved to Colorado when she was 15 years old. She called the Palisade/Grand Junction area home for 34 years after moving there with her parents. Her career started with the IRS handing out tax forms as a seasonal employee in Grand Junction, moving into a clerical position and audit aide before becoming an auditor for 14 years, and ending her 27½ year career as an Office Audit Group Manager. After becoming an auditor, she was named to the National Teaching Cadre and traveled all over the United States teaching classes for the IRS. Mary moved to the Denver area in 2007 and retired in November of 2014.
Mary is an Enrolled Agent and started her own income tax practice in 2016. Her “fun” but sometimes trying job is ushering for the Colorado Rockies, last year working 55 games. The rest of her time is spent being a Grandma to eight Grandchildren, playing Texas Hold’em, traveling and being “mom” to her Havanese dog, Mr. Buttons.
Mary is honored to be part of the ME International team and looks forward to getting to know all of you and working with you.
JAMES LUTEY, Past President, Secretary
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jim.lutey
Jim has been married to his wife, Pam, for 56 years. He is mostly retired, but does a lot of volunteer work including Rotary, book work for his son’s landscaping business, ME International, as well as being a caregiver for his wife, Pam, who has ME.
When Jim’s wife, Pam, became ill, she not only consulted many doctors, but in her research, found out about ME Action Colorado. That organization helped Pam and she and Jim became members of their Steering Committee. It was, and still is, the only organization in Colorado that provides some help to ME patients and that works hard on ME education and advocacy. Realizing that there wasn’t really an international ME organization, Jim’s wife, Pam, founded ME International.
Jim grew up in Nebraska and graduated from the University of Wyoming where he met Pam. He had a 32½ year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They moved 8 times, living and working in Montana, Oregon, S. Dakota, Washington, Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado. After retiring in Denver, he and Pam moved out of the city to the town of Johnstown, CO. Both were co-executive directors of the local Chamber of Commerce and Jim was involved in the Historical Society and on Johnstown Planning & Zoning Commission. They have a marketing company and owned Johnstown Milliken News for several years.
Jim is a generalist; always has been. He thinks it evolved from his childhood and early years. He liked to do a lot of things (fish, hunt, golf, taxidermy, fly tying, camping, etc.) and never really concentrated on any one thing to do it really well. “I was good at lots of things, but never an expert at any one thing.” So, in regard to ME International, he expects to be good at organizing, leading, and common sense, but not getting deeply involved in the details. He is pleased that ME International’s diverse board can cover the details.
HEATHER SECKINGER, Board Member
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/heather.seckinger.7
Twitter – https://twitter.com/bavardlyn
For over 25 years Heather Seckinger has been a survivor of ME, having been diagnosed at 15 years old. Being located in Camarillo, CA (a suburb of Los Angeles) allowed for an early diagnosis and led to a great understanding of the disease.
Her life has been severely disrupted. After having to be home schooled in high school, she went on to achieve a degree in History from CSUCI with a lot of determination on an extended timeline. What working career she’s been able to have, has been devoted to children.
Unfortunately the last 5 years she’s found herself bed-bound for most of her days. She spends a good portion of her time helping others understand this disease and alleviating fears. She keeps her brain active by participating in many Facebook groups and admins for groups like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Global and a few others including “Loving someone with ME,” specifically for carers and supporters, which is of particular interest to her.
She’s been truly inspired by all the lives interrupted and is devoted to changing that. To the Board she brings enthusiasm and a deep desire to help her fellow warriors.
Interview of Heather by accessiBe, 01 January 2023
PAM LUTEY, Board Member
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pam.lutey
Twitter – https://twitter.com/MEInterorg
Pam Lutey was born and raised in Lakewood, Colorado. She attended and got a teaching degree from The University of Wyoming and met her husband Jim at UW. She has moved 8 times from Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Washington State, South Dakota, Oregon, Missouri and Minnesota and enjoyed every minute of it. She enjoyed being a teacher, a retailer and Co-Executive Director of the Johnstown Milliken Chamber of Commerce. She is currently in Rotary but is unable to attend meetings. She loves starting projects, like ME International. She is one of the lucky ones, getting ME when she was older. She has two sons, Bert and Paul and two grandchildren, Anton and Claire. She has lived the last 20 years in Johnstown, CO. She knows this organization is going to take time and it is wonderful to have such great volunteers. “We will just take each day as it comes and educate along the way.” She hopes that we might have a Foundation Fund to help those that need it the most.
When Pam became sick she tried to find out as much information as she could about ME. At the time, the only ME group in Colorado was Colorado ME Action. She tries to help as much as possible from home but is unable to attend events. She formed a small group on Facebook so they could get to know each other and help whenever possible. She made many friends in this group and they try to support each other and keep up to date about what is going on in Colorado. Pam didn’t join ME International, she founded it. It just seemed like ME should have an international organization like many other non profits.
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