Web's Board of Directors
Cindi Smith has lived in Colorado Springs for 48 years. Her background includes being a professional musician as well as a special education teacher at the elementary level. After retiring from teaching in the Harrison School District in 2004, she continued to offer her talents to the local community by playing music at various local venues. Cindi grew up with a Christian background and has been practicing meditation for the past 25 years. What drew her to Web of Connection was its all-inclusive mission. Cindi currently serves as the Chair of the board of directors and is an active participant in Web’s programs, enthusiastically supporting it’s interfaith mission. She feels that “our local area is ripe for this type of a community which will focus on compassion, communication, agricultural sustainability, diversity and support for individual and communal growth.” 
Chris Wurster
grew up in Northern New Jersey and moved to Colorado in 2001. He has made Colorado Springs his home since 2018. For over 20 years Chris was drawn to helping youth in a variety of capacities. He has been a mentor, an advocate, a camp counselor, a 4H leader, and a volunteer in several organizations with the purpose of helping youth navigate the multitude of challenges they face, often due to no fault of their own. Eventually, he realized that he was drawn to this work because he often struggled internally himself as a young person. He had long been seeking, reading or studying with the longing for connection and belonging. It was through the finding and practice of mindfulness meditation that Chris finally felt that he had discovered the tools he had been searching a lifetime for. Since then, he has been connecting with many populations, including seniors and adults of all ages, in sharing these practices with the intent on bringing more peace and ease into people’s lives. Chris has felt at home with the WEB community because of what he describes as the kindness, the sincerity, and the authenticity of its members. He is grateful and excited to be a part of the WEB Board of Directors. He is dedicated to continuing to expand WEB’s reach into the needs of the community. See more under ‘Teachers’ link… 
Torrie Smith
Retired from a healthcare profession, Torrie has lived in Colorado almost 30 years. She spent most of that time in the San Luis Valley and moved to Woodland Park in 2014. There she became more involved in the Colorado Springs Community. She made the move to the 'big city' just over a year ago. She has been involved in a number of volunteer ventures and hopes to be able to contribute to the Web mission. And avid outdoors oriented person, she divides her time between nature, ideas, contemplation and relational sharing. |
Ray Osteroos currently serves as treasurer for WEB. He has lived in the Colorado Springs area for 35 years after leaving an agricultural life in North Dakota. He grew up in a Christian-centric household but turned to Buddhism for spiritual development and as guide for living. Ray’s “second life” has been as a government auditor that had him traveling extensively in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. As a guide for living, Ray values Buddhism’s practical approach, encouraging everyone to test its value for addressing the challenges of their lives. Rather than looking for outside answers and excuses, its resonating message of interconnectedness and personal responsibility/control, mirrored Ray’s approach to life. 
Cheryl Osteroos
holds much gratitude for having the opportunity to be on the WEB Board. She was drawn to the non-profit a few years ago from retreat flyer, which emphasized a mission to honor diversity, build community, and care for the earth. Cheryl moved to Colorado from North Dakota with her husband Garvin (Ray) and has lived in the Divide, CO area since 1987, and in Germany from 1990-1995. Since that time, Cheryl and Garvin have continued their love for travel and exploring other cultures. Cheryl values life experience above all else. The human condition is complex, and we learn how to break down barriers through mindful engagement with our experiences. Through mindful awareness to what is arising and our reactivity to it, we lean toward a more peaceful existence of openness and realize our interconnectedness with all beings on this earth. Cheryl began this path after spending 12+ months caring for parents. Many questions arose, needing her attention. Meditation practice allowed her to pause and reflect and the Buddhist teachings offered a collection of tools, which guided her through the suffering she was experiencing. Cheryl and Garvin continue on this path with their two boys, a life experience they so dearly cherish. The potential of WEB is extraordinary, and Cheryl looks forward to being involved with its journey. She is currently the Board Secretary. 
John Moeller
has lived in Colorado Springs for over four years. He was raised in Grand Rapids, MI. He has lived in several other places throughout the US including Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Mexico, California, and Hawaii. John has a bachelor degree in Geography from New Mexico State University and an associate’s degree in Geographic Information Technology from Central New Mexico Community College. For the past eleven years John has been happily self employed as a stock trader. John has explored a number of religious schools of thought. For the past eight years he has been involved in Buddhism. Although he does not consider himself a Buddhist he finds the teachings and practice to be very valuable and transforming. John has found the Web of Connection to be just the type of spiritual community he has been looking for quite some time. He highly values the interactive approach that Web of Connection offers which facilitates highly valued spiritual friendships. John writes the weekly email, "This Week at Deer Park", and he leads a guided meditation every Thursday evening. |
