Steve Barrett holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and a master of engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He dedicated nearly 40 years to semiconductor chip design at IBM, spending six years in Kingston, New York, before relocating to Vermont in 1980.
After retiring in 2013, Steve began volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington. Though he studied French for two years in high school, his true passion for the language emerged when he joined the AFLCR in 2013. He actively takes classes, participates in multiple conversation groups, and enjoys traveling to Québec and France with his wife for immersive French experiences.
Steve stays active through hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, and cycling. He is married and has two daughters, one residing in South Philadelphia and the other in Vermont.
Reach out to Steve at sbarrett@aflcr.org
Pamela Hunt studied French in high school and at Boston University. By profession she is a freelance copyeditor, proofreader, and writer. Since moving to Vermont in 2005, she has frequently spending time in Québec, which rekindled her interest in communicating in French. She joined the AFLCR in 2016 and has enjoyed its numerous grammar, conversational, and literature classes and events, as well as the strong sense of community among the members.
She believes that the best way to improve one’s language skills is through speaking with others and has worked to grow the AFLCR’s reach into conversational groups and other social gatherings.
In addition to serving on the AFLCR board and its Events Committee, Pam volunteers frequently at City Market. She spends as much time as possible exploring the outdoors with her dogs, improving her photography skills, and traveling to locales where she can immerse herself in French.
Reach out to Pamela at phunt@aflcr.org
Bill Pence earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s in business administration from the University of Baltimore.He moved to Vermont in 1984, serving as business manager for Planned Parenthood for 4 years. Thereafter he was the business manager for Howard Center for 25 years.
He retired in 2018 and volunteers for the Charlotte Recreation Department and the Flynn Theater. At times, he is a community mentor to a local resident. He feels retirement is the most unusual trip he has ever taken—less stressful and more flexible, a different pace in life that is usually enjoyable.
He stays active with pickleball, walking with friends, and trying to get out and exercise. He participates in several local French
conversation groups each week, and feels that learning French is a lifelong process. He is married to a retired social worker and has a son
living in the area with two lively granddaughters.
Reach out to Bill at treasurer@aflcr.org
Jim Spink is a seasoned courtroom lawyer who was elected to fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers 2004. As an accomplished litigator, he has tried over 125 civil cases in court. He has also mediated civil cases since the early 1990s and has the skill set of an accomplished mediator, having conducted over 3,500 mediations in civil disputes in our region.
He has been active with the AFLCR for several years. In 2025 he participated in a delegation visit to Burlington's French sister city, Honfleur. He has an abiding interest in French culture and language (he studies French daily). He has participated in several month-long immersion programs at the Alliance Française in Paris and at the l’Institut de Francais in Villefranche-sur-Mer in the South of France. As a board member, he is keen to help bring in a wider group of participants, especially youth, and to augment ties to our neighbors in Quebec.
Reach out to Jim at jspink@aflcr.org
Tony worked for 30 years at IBM/Global Foundries, initially as an engineer. Then as an executive, he managed large-scale development projects. He authored more than 600 US patents, then retired in 2020.
At the AFLCR, he took classes in French language, culture, and literature from 2015. He has also participated in French conversation groups and played pétanque, as well as in AF-USA conversation and film groups.
His interest in all things Francophone inspired him to co-found two French- language book clubs. He's taken French immersion language courses in Paris, Montpellier, Annecy and Quebec City.
He brings enthusiasm for French language and culture and the ability to see the big picture while also noting the details. He is eager to see AFLCR thrive and grow.
Reach out to Tony at tstamper@aflcr.org
