Julie Roy Meet Julie Roy, one of Idyllwild’s super volunteers

Julie Roy is one of Idyllwild’s “super-volunteers,” always finding new ways to contribute to our community through its many nonprofit organizations. At the April meeting of the Idyllwild Garden Club, where she serves as membership coordinator and is the immediate past president, she was gave a talk about gardening in raised beds. At last month’s meeting of the Art Alliance of Idyllwild she was named one of two “Volunteers of the Year.”

Roy explains that at Art Alliance, she is in charge of accommodations, working to ensure that the participating wineries at the autumn Art and Wine walk are taken care of, even the ones who didn’t know they needed to request lodging in advance.

Roy also served as a bridge between the Alliance and the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema (IIFC.) This year, she served the IIFC as volunteer coordinator, leading a team of 45 volunteers over snowy five days. The snow brought unexpected challenges as many film makers were not prepared and needed help with last minute accommodations and transport. “It was non-stop being flexible, calling in favors. I worked with all the inns and lodges with the Art Alliance,” she said.

Julie is also a member of the board of the Associates of Idyllwild Arts, and is involved in creating activities for their Art in Society class with program director Erica Nashan. The program brings students “opportunities to connect with the community and act for the common good.” Roy has organized activities at the Nature Center, the Community Garden, and the Idyllwild Area Historical Society Museum. She says the program“instilled in them that they were contributing behind the scenes to make something better.”

Roy also serves on the Board of the Philanthropic Education Organization, an international women’s organization focused on education. She manages applications for grants and is the chapter’s chaplain. “The organization is non-denominational, but all believe in a higher power,” she said. Active with the Episcopal Church, St Hughes, she always has a booth at the Arbor Day Festival, and develops activities and projects for children at the event. For 17 years she has participated in the Idyllwild Rotary Christmas Festival, selling products from her alpacas.

That brings us to the alpacas. These wooly South American relatives of the camel are part brought Julie and husband Don to the mountains. The couple movedto Anza in 2004. In the wake of the 2003 fires in San Diego County that claimed 300 houses in their neighborhood, they began to look for a house and 10 acres. A mountain-area realtor targeted their zip code with a mailing, and they saw the listing for the Anza property. Don wanted to raise Empress tees, a fast-growing hardwood used for fine furniture. Julie decided on alpacas. “I’d rather hug an alpaca than a tree.”

She started with four pregnant females, and in two years had a flock of 20 beasts. She became active in the Southern California Alpaca Association (SoCalpaca) and began entering her animals in shows. She specialized in the rare grey alpacas. Her animals did well and won championships. The animals were shorn yearly and the wool was entered in competitions also. She was elected president of the organization, and managed their show in Norco.

When she and her husband Don retired from the Alpaca farming, they had 50 animals, which went to start eight new farms. She now trains aspiring Alpaca farmers online. Her business, AlpacaEdu.com, helps clients “develop profitable alpaca businesses” across the country. During the pandemic she began teaching online, becoming, in her words, “the Zoom queen of the alpaca industry.” She teaches classes, consults, and coaches. She is recognized as an expert and invited to speak at alpaca conferences.

She still has an ample hoard of what she calls “gold:” alpaca “nuggets” that are, she says, the “best soil amendment.”

After 13 years in Anza the couple bought a lot with two cabins in Idyllwild, one to serve as an STR. Roy had already created strong ties to Idyllwild through groups like Rotary and local galleries, including Middle Ridge Winery, where she sold art woven from her stash of alpaca yarn.

Roy was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but lived in San Diego from the age of eight. She was a business and life-skills coach, and was President of San Diego Professional Coaches Alliance when she moved to Anza, commuting to monthly meetings. She has a Masters in Organizational Development, and worked for many years in corporate environments, including San Diego Gas and Electric, in training and development.

She also has volunteered in her high school reunion committee since the 20th reunion. Her class mates are now celebrating their 75th birthdays.