Eileen Clute - President

Julie House - President Elect

 I moved to Carolina Beach in 2016 from Pittsford, NY located near Rochester, NY and did not know a single person. Enter Island Women! I was told about Island Women and decided to go to a meeting to check it out.(2017) Imagine my delight when I was welcomed warmly and encouraged to volunteer. I did volunteer and started to feel that connection to my new community.  I started with Martha's Kitchen, then the Literacy committee, various fundraisers, fireworks, and recently took the Chair position for the Literacy Committee. I am a member of the Ft. Fisher Recreation Turtle group, and you may have seen me line dancing with Beachs and Boots.  Yes, that is cowboy boots, cowboy hat and line dancing to country music! I met so many wonderful and talented women who are volunteering their time to support  this community. As  member at large, I hope to  provide support to the board as well as represent the interests of the membership for this wonderful organization of women.

Teresa (Terry) Merrick – Treasurer

A permanent Kure Beach resident since late 2020, I moved here from New Jersey where I was the treasurer of my church for 15 years. I also served on the board of directors of North Jersey Meals on Wheels. I was a computer programmer working for IBM until my husband and I adopted our son (29 years ago!). After my husband died, friends enticed me to move to this area, where I enjoy the absence of snow and presence of the beach. I currently volunteer at Carolina Beach Elementary School and enjoy working with the kids.

Laurel Gerhat –Secretary 

I joined IW in 2017 when my husband, George, and I retired and moved full time to Kure Beach from Endicott, NY. We have three children; Jeff who lives in Richford, NY,  Greg who lives in Wilmington, and Ali who lives in Columbus, GA.  When we are not traveling, I love to spend time at the beach or pool, exercise, garden, read, and cook.
I'm looking forward to serving on the board of this great organization that does so much for so many. I've have been coordinating the Food Lion pickups for Martha's kitchen since 2019, been a webmaster for five years, a volunteer at the Carolina Beach Elementary school for the past two years, and have helped on various other committees as well. 
Feel free to text or email with any thoughts on how we can make this organization even better.

Debbie Passmore - Member at Large 

Debbie brings over two decades of leadership experience to Island Women. Throughout her career, Debbie has volunteered for many non-profit activities, from Hands On - renovating elementary schools, Sunburst Projects - a counselor for a pediatric Aids camp, Make a Wish Foundation, Susan B. Komen, St Jude’s Hospital, Martha’s Kitchen, Island Cottage, Carolina Beach Elementary School and Federal Point Help Center

Debbie is the founder of Coastal Creations NC, an entrepreneurial endeavor creating custom made decorative hooks and other hand-crafted wooden décor. She is also a business consultant for the restaurant industry. Debbie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post graduate work at Georgia Institute of Technology. She served as poet for the Women’s Foodservice Forum for ten years and is a published author of two books: Tales of Girliegate and Island Inspirations.

Debbie joined Island Women in 2014 and was elected to the 2015 Board as a Member at Large. In 2016 Debbie was elected President of the organization and served for two years.

Kerri Collins - Member at Large

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and since leaving, I’ve always wanted to get back to the beach. I’ve lived in Wilmington for 15 years now and I can’t think of anywhere else I would want to live. I joined Island Women three years ago to fulfill a long-standing desire to volunteer and give back to my community. Although I live “OTB”, my heart belongs to Pleasure Island. I can’t say enough about the wonderful women I’ve met since joining Island Women. I am honored to serve on the Board.

Robin Pleta - Member at Large

Greetings! I am a recent transplant (since June ‘22) to the Wilmington area from Pittsburgh, PA. I was born, raised and did my undergraduate degree (BGSU) in Ohio. I moved to PA right out of college to take an elementary teaching position. 35 years and many friendships later I retired from that district (Upper St. Clair). After retiring I worked part time for a jewelry company and helped my husband flip houses. My husband, Tim, and I raised 2 daughters calling Mt. Lebanon, PA our home. Our older daughter went to school @ UNCW and never left the area. She and her husband live in the area and have a new baby girl. Our first grandchild, thus our move. Our younger daughter went to Slippery Rock University and lives in the Philadelphia area. She is loving life as an on-premise sales representative for White Claw. I enjoy reading, bicycling, crafting, traveling, racquetball and pickleball. And of course, I’m a Steeler fan!! We are enjoying exploring all that the area has to offer and look forward to meeting new people and getting involved.