COEUR d'ALENE - Douglas Pierce wore a pair of shorts to the first Walk for Autism Awareness on Saturday morning.

He could be called an optimist.

The temperature was chilly, the wind was piercing and the sun - hidden behind a thick layer of gray clouds - made very little effort to shine. Pierce, however, joined about 550 participants and strolled around Riverstone Park, his 3-year-old son, Erik, perched high on his shoulders.

"We're having a blast," Pierce, a Coeur d'Alene resident, said with a grin. "A little chilly, but we're having a blast. And it's kind of a warmup for Bloomsday tomorrow."

His family - Jane Kelley and 16-year-old Kayleigh Pierce, a sophomore at Lake City High School - walked alongside him.

"(This) really is a walk in the park," Kayleigh joked. "Go Timberwolves!"

Participants paid a $10 registration fee and received a T-shirt for their efforts. All proceeds from the walk benefited Panhandle Autism Society (PAS).

The nonprofit serves the five northern counties, offering educational and social programs - including a summer camp and support groups - for autistic children and their families. PAS hopes to hold a fundraising walk every year, according to former executive director Denise Wetzel.

Over 30 volunteers, including a bunch of students from North Idaho College, helped run the event. Wetzel said she was surprised by the big turnout.

"I knew for sure I'd get 100 people," she added. "I was really overwhelmed."

Tammy Randazzo of Coeur d'Alene traveled the course with Cody Gray. Also a Lake City High student, Cody has autism and lives at Milestones For Young Adults in Coeur d'Alene.

"I think it's amazing that there's this many people out," Randazzo said. "It's wonderful to get the support and education."

Cody enjoyed his trip around the park.

"He loves people, so this is just a big party for him," Randazzo said. "He loves it."

Vendors and service providers set up tents on the Riverstone lawn. Food and beverages were served after the walk, and raffle prizes were doled out.

A local running group has talked with PAS about holding a 5K run in conjunction with next year's walk, Wetzel said - so the 2012 Walk for Autism Awareness could be even bigger.

"It's great to see so many people recognize autism is an issue in this world of ours," said Liz Mathes of Coeur d'Alene.

The successful event overshadowed a major change within the Panhandle Autism Society.

On April 8, the PAS board of directors chose to discontinue Wetzel's contract. Her tenure with the organization ended Saturday.

Wetzel had served as executive director for 18 months.

"She worked far beyond what she got paid for," said Traci Donahue of Coeur d'Alene, a former PAS board member and parent of three children with autism. "It's just amazing what she's done in such a short amount of time."

Donahue and other parents collected signatures on two petitions. The first sheet urged people to attend a board meeting on June 23 and vote in a board election; the second called for Wetzel's reinstatement.

Parents are worried about the future of PAS, particularly its teen programs, Donahue said.

Toni Kaminski of Rathdrum signed both petitions. Her 14-year-old son has Asperger's Syndrome, she said, and benefited from a teen group Wetzel facilitated.

"I think the quality is going to decline because nobody is going to have the dedication (Wetzel) had," Kaminski said.

The PAS board has done nothing to alleviate her concerns, she added.

"I couldn't even identify a board member if they walked up to me," Kaminski said. "As of right now the teen group is in limbo. My son is upset that his teen group won't be meeting anymore."

After the race, Wetzel was publicly thanked for her efforts.

Board members maintained that the decision to release Wetzel was based solely on budgetary issues, and was not a reflection of poor performance on Wetzel's part.

"Like most nonprofits, we (PAS) struggle in this tough economic time. And there just aren't enough funds to have an executive director at this time," said board member Cathy Kowalski of Coeur d'Alene. "PAS is moving in a new direction."

The society will keep all of its programs, board members said. PAS will also be coordinating with families to make sure their needs are met.

"We're going to be collaborating with existing community organizations so we can maximize our dollars," Kowalski said. "We have to streamline."

Wetzel did an excellent job and was an "incredible advocate," according to Kowalski and fellow board member Melaine Collins-Spalding of Post Falls. She laid groundwork PAS could build upon.

Deciding to let Wetzel go was a difficult choice, they said.

"In order to continue those (programs), that's the decision that had to be made," Collins-Spalding said.

Wetzel declined to comment on the situation.