Elections for Area 11 Board

Election Results   – Term Beginning on September 1, 2026

Chair Elect

Karen Kaneko-Baker

Karen loves handbells and has been ringing for 45 years and counting.  The first piece she rang was Griffin’s arrangement of Handel’s Passacaglia and was hooked!  She has continuously rung in church choirs starting in Las Angeles, California and continuing after moving to Tucson, Arizona.  Karen became a founding member of Sonoran Bells 26 years ago and has rung with the ensemble at two Area 11 Festivals and other events in Tucson.  She has participated in other ringing opportunities that include Distinctly Bronze, the Advanced Ringing track at Pinnacle, and Bayview Week of Handbells.  In addition to ringing, Karen has taught 4-in-Hand and Bell Notation classes at workshops, volunteered at National Events to help move instruments & equipment, and tried her hand at directing a church choir.  
Karen has a B.S. Electrical Engineering degree from California State University, Northridge.  Over her lengthy career, she started as a design engineer before moving into leadership roles that include Program Management, Control Account Management, and Product Team Lead for new technology developments with budgets ranging from $2-$200 million dollars.  Other roles include chairing the company-wide technical symposium with 300 attendees and performing interviews, task assignment, technical training and career development for engineers in the department.
Karen is currently the President of Sonoran Bells and has served in the role 5 times over the years in addition to serving as Secretary and Vice President.  Karen is currently on the board for the Impact of One non-profit and has served on the board of governors for St. Alban’s Preschool and Kindergarten.

Secretary/Treasurer

Irene Brown

I started ringing handbells in 1996 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls and rang  with this choir until moving to Arizona in 2020. I have been ringing with Gold Canyon  Methodist Church since 2021. I attended the Area X events for many years along with the Big  Sky Handbell Conference and then started ringing in National Bronze level events in 2014. I  have held an individual HMA membership since 2014.  

My professional experience in accounting is as follows: 

Animal Services Manager for the City of Idaho Falls PD, Idaho Falls, ID 01/2006 – 6/2020  Financial Responsibilities:  

  • Organize, submit and manage $1,000,000 budget for the division  

INL Project Manager for Desert Sage Contractors, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID 09/1999 – 06/2005  Financial Responsibilities:  

  • Cost accounting and billing for all projects at the Idaho National Laboratory  Officer Manager for Desert Sage Contractors, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID 01/1999 – 09/1999  Financial Responsibilities:
  • All accounting and office functions for the company including accounts Payable,  Accounts Receivable, Payroll and General Ledger

Controller/Officer Manager for Robert V. Burggraf Co, Inc., Idaho Falls ID 07/1984 to 12/1995  Financial Responsibilities: 

  • All accounting functions for company and 2 satellite companies ($50 million+) including  General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Job Cost and Profit/Loss Statements.
  • Supervision of office staff including payroll, accounts payable, administrative assistant and receptionist.