JWN April 9 General Meeting and Board Elections

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Voter Guide

Jefferson Westside Neighbors Executive Board Election 2024

Election is April 9, 2024

First United Methodist Church

1376 Olive Street

Instructions

In-person Voting: Voting will take place at the April 14 General Meeting, the First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street.

Absentee Voting: Members who cannot attend may request an absentee ballot by requesting one from jwneugene@gmail.com.

• Requests must include the member’s full name and complete street address. If you are a business owner or manager or director of a non-profit with a physical location in the JWN, identify your role and provide the name and address of your organization.
• Each absentee ballot must be requested in an individual email even if members live at the same physical location.
• Ballots will be sent as an attached file with an ID number associated with your name and address. DO NOT SHARE BALLOTS. Multiple submission using one ID number will invalidate all ballots with that ID number. All absentee ballots will be cross referenced matching the ID number, name, and address.
• Completing Ballots: Ballots require your full name, physical address, and a signature. Members may only vote for the candidates listed. If you do not support any candidate for a particular position, write NONE.
• Submitting Ballots:
  • Ballots may be dropped off via the mail slot at 971 W. Broadway. Ballots submitted should be inside a sealed envelope that will not be open until votes are counter at the April 14 meeting.
  • Ballots must be printed and can be dropped off at the April 9 meeting by yourself or a third party but must be in the possession of the vote counter before the vote counting begins. To be safe, drop off by 6:30pm.

Nomination Process

All Board positions (Chair, Vice Chair, and five member-at-large positions) are open every year. View the JWN Bylaws for details. Call for nominations was sent out via the Winter 2024 Newsletter mailed to every JWN address, posted on our website, and included in the February and March eNews.

• March 9: Deadline for candidates to declare their intention to stand for election. Candidates are supplied a candidate information sheet. Candidates should send an email to jwneugene@gmail.com
• March 19: Deadline for candidates to submit required bio and answer candidate questionnaire.
• March 25: Completion and submission of voter’s guide.
• March 26: Deadline for publication of voter’s guide on JWN website.
• April 1: Ballot is complete and sent for photocopying.
• April 9: General meeting and election.

Candidates

Candidates filled out a standard form. Their answers are below.

Candidates will serve a one-year term, election date to election date, April 2024 to April 2024

Position: Chair

Candidate: Ted M. Coopman (Incumbent)

Stephanie and I have been visiting friends in family in Eugene since 1995 and bought a home in the JWN in 2012, moving here full time in 2016. I retired as a faculty member from San Jose State University in 2020. For fun, I grow fruit and veggies and we can and dry food, take our dog Raven to the park and the beach, and enjoy Broadway in Eugene shows and are patrons of Ballet Fantastique.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I have over 30 years’ experience as an activist and have served on the JWN Board as an at-large member from 2016-2018 and as Chair from 2018 to 2024. As Board member I reactivated the Friends of Monroe Park group and still lead it, advocating for resources and organizing work parties, as well as working to put organized groups in all JWN parks. As Chair I led the effort to build the Ollie Court Affordable Housing Apartments and early learning center at 13^th and Chamber, a project the JWN has been advocating for over decade. I was the only neighborhood leader invited to join the Eugene Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

Continue work on the Historic District Task Force project and make progress on repairing sidewalks.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes.

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups?

Serving 8 years on the JWN Board as well as leading the Friends of Monroe Park group. I have served on the Executive Boards of the American Communication Association and the Association of Internet Researchers as well as the steering Committee of the Live Oak Neighbors Association, Live Oak Off-Leash Advocates, and the Santa Cruz Independent Media Center, all in in Santa Cruz CA .

Position: Vice Chair

Candidate: Sandra Bishop (Incumbent)

I came to Eugene originally to attend the University of Oregon and never left. I grew up east of the mountains in central Oregon. Living in the west side neighborhood near downtown, for 20 years a bicycle was my only transportation. After more than 30 years of running my own business as a government relations practitioner and lobbyist at the state level in the Oregon Legislature I closed my business in 2019. I currently work under contract as a writer/editor and researcher. I’m a singer and an Argentine Tango dancer.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

Living in the west side neighborhood for more than 40 years (before moving to the south part of town five years ago) I have a deep and abiding concern for maintaining the livability of the neighborhood. I served on the JWN Board as Vice-Chair last year. I was also an EWEB Commissioner for 10 years. My experience owning and operating a business engaged in government relations, included lobbying in the Oregon Legislature has given me valuable experience working with individuals, groups and coalitions; helping to navigate through state, city and county bureaucracies.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

Continue to expand the number of neighbors who attend general meetings and work on committees and work groups in the neighborhood while mentoring newer members to safeguard neighborhood viability into the future. I would also like to see more residents organized and sharing information about disaster preparedness.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups?

I have been a member of many boards, commissions, and community-oriented groups. Previously I served for 10 years as one of 5 Eugene Water & Electric Board elected Commissioners. We worked cooperatively to set policy and guide the largest municipal utility in Oregon. Currently I’m a member of the League of Women Voters, City Club of Eugene, and WOW Hall (Community Center for the Performing Arts) as well as a founding member and continuing member of several Tibetan Buddhist organizations. In all of these organizations I work cooperatively in small groups, including work groups on policy and document retention, work on water policy, land use and zoning, and many other subjects areas. I have experience and feel comfortable working with people from varied backgrounds and orientations. I’m willing and able to work with others to resolve concerns, create a better outcome for community projects, and to reach mutual goals or priorities.

At-Large Position #1

Candidate: Peter Borden (Incumbent)

Hi, my name is Peter. Last year JWN neighbors elected me to an at large position solely on my desire to be of service and to learn. Last year was a contested election, which I thought was great! There was so much energy and participation in the room. In the last year I think I have been successful in being of service. That said, it doesn’t feel like I have done enough and I planned on stepping down to make room for someone new, but there is no one interested in this seat, NO ONE! Something that I have learned in the last year is that the JWN is extremely lucky in its representation and the activeness of the board. Some neighborhoods don’t have associations, and few are as effective as the JWN. So I am running again. This time I am adding one idea to my core principles of learning and being of service, and that is outreach, engagement, participation! I would love for next year to be a contested election, to have more than one person interested in a seat or a position on the neighborhood association, and to use this structure to represent and be of service to their neighbors.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I served last year on the board, have worked in teams before both as an employee and as a manager. I also currently have a lifestyle whose structure can facilitate public service.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

I want to accomplish Outreach! I would love to see participation in the neighborhood meetings increase, and to find a candidate to run against.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups? 

I have experience working in small groups from high school on… Whether it was completing a group project working in a team to complete a construction project or coordinating resources within a small business I have worked in small teams before.

At-Large Position #2

Candidate: Stephanie Coopman (Incumbent)

Ted and I moved to Eugene and the JWN at the start of 2016 after visiting for many years. When we bought our house here in 2012 we’d planned on splitting our time between Eugene and Santa Cruz, CA. Then in 2015, with the Bay Area and Santa Cruz getting more crowded and more expensive, we decided to leave our townhouse near the beach for a saner and mellower life in Eugene. Happily, we’ve found a home in the JWN with Raven, our golden retriever/border collie.

I retired from San Jose State University in August 2023, although I still teach full-time every fall semester. I teach online courses in communication, primarily in the areas of applied communication and game studies. I started teaching online in 1999. For a few years, I taught a mix of in person and online classes. Then I moved to all online about 10 years ago. In addition to teaching, I served as chair of my department for five years.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I attended my first JWN general meeting in February 2016 and soon joined the JWN Outreach Committee. I designed and launched the most recent version of the JWN website that year as well. I’ve written articles for the JWN newsletter and for the past five years edited the newsletter’s paper version. I was elected to the JWN Executive Board in September 2020. In 2022 I agreed to chair the neighborhood’s historic district task force. I’ve presented three updates at general meetings and written several newsletter articles on the group’s activities. If re-elected to the board, I will continue with these two primary projects as well as participate in park work parties and other neighborhood events.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

Continue leading the historic district task force and editing the JWN’s paper newsletter. I’m especially interested in getting neighbors involved in the neighborhood and matching up neighbors’ interests and passions with work that needs to be done.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups? 

In addition to my experience working on the JWN’s executive board, I’ve chaired and served on numerous committees and task forces for my university and a number of professional organizations.

At-Large Position #3

Candidate: Sue Cummings (Incumbent)

I’ve lived and owned property in the JWN for 23 years. Before that we rented an apartment in the West University Neighborhood for 10 years. I have been on the JWN board since 2009. I’m a now retired, but for my first 10 years on the board, I also worked full time. I have served as the JWN Treasurer for the past 6 years and previous to that served terms as secretary and vice chair. I have been a member of the events committee for several years and have worked with some really great volunteers to organize the summer picnic. I have helped to coordinate the Neighborhood Food Drive that benefits Food for Lane County. Currently, I help to organize clean-up events for Friends of Charnel Mulligan Park and I am a member of the JWN’s Historic District Task Force. I enjoy staying active, gardening, spending time with family and friends and local cultural events. I volunteer for Meals on Wheels and recently started volunteering in a 3rd grade classroom. I care about affordable housing, finding help for the homeless, supporting neighborhood businesses, safe transportation, parks, trees, green spaces, the climate and the overall health and safety of our neighbors and neighborhood. I believe that in order to best represent my neighbors it is important to first listen to and consider diverse opinions and then to be willing to stand behind the decisions that were made during votes by the JWN neighborhood association.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I have served on the JWN Executive Board since 2009.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

Continue to support projects that focus on safe transportation measures. Better sidewalks, safer crosswalks, great bike infrastructure, accessibility for all. Continue to support updating the survey of historic houses in the JWN with the possibility of creating an Historic District. My hopes are that it will help to preserve existing affordable housing while still allowing for compatible infill to add more needed housing.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups? 

I have been on the JWN Executive Board since 2009. I have worked with volunteers to help successfully plan many of our annual JWN Picnics. I participated in the JWN entry in the BEAM BRIGHT Light parade last year…which was great fun,

At-Large Position #4

Candidate: Rene C. Kane (Incumbent)

I am an enthusiastic supporter of strong neighborhood associations and I’ve advocated as a JWN board member (7 years total) and as the city’s liaison to neighborhood associations (12 years) . In my more than 30 years of being a JWN resident (first as a renter and now homeowner) I’ve come to appreciate all the neighborhood has to offer – a strong and connected community, a diversity of residents and businesses, walkability, proximity to downtown and the University of Oregon and, of course our parks, trees and gardens. I look forward to continuing to serve our neighborhood community and to celebrate all the JWN is and all it can be.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I’ve been serving on the board as an At-large member for the last three years and previously served as chair for four years (2005-09). In 2009 I became the city’s liaison to neighborhood associations until I retired in 2021. I know a lot about how the city does (and doesn’t) work and I know what makes for a strong, engaged and effective neighborhood association. I think it’s worth celebrating all the best parts of our neighborhood (neighbors, walkability, trees, parks, businesses) and working to make the JWN even better.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

Strengthen our connections to neighborhood-based businesses and non-profits; support establishing a disaster preparedness group in the neighborhood.

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups? 

SO MUCH. Working in the neighborhood for as long  as I have, serving on the board of Burrito Brigade, representing the JWN on the Neighborhood Leaders Council and, as a city liaison to neighborhood associations, coaching neighbors association board members about creating and maintaining an effective board.

At-Large Position #5

Candidate: Penny Melquist (Incumbent)

I’ve been a member of the neighborhood for over 20 years and recently joined the board last year. I’ve seen the neighborhood change tremendously overtime especially for the better. I want to continue to make a difference and engage a diverse set of neighbors that represent the neighborhood. I was a scientist for over 20 years, working closely with internal and external teams under all kinds of situations. Most recently, my job is in business development, where I still work closely with a variety of teams and advocate for solutions and resolutions of problems. I want to bring this skill set to the neighborhood because there are lots of different voices that need to be represented.

Please share any relevant experience that you feel prepares you for this position on the JWN board.

I was a member of the board last year and I’ve been directly involved with having the keystone make a positive impact on the neighborhood. I was a scientist for over 20 years and I’m now in a business role and routinely talk to people a various backgrounds, experiences, and opinions. This leads me to be able to listen and communicate effectively, as well as being empathetic.

What are the two main things you hope to accomplish in the coming year if elected to the JWN Board?

1. Increased diverse engagement.
2. Support and advocate for neighborhood issues

Board service entails attendance at monthly board and general meetings, and occasional committee work (5-10 hours/mo.).  Can you commit the time necessary to serve?

Yes

What, if any, experience do you have working collaboratively in small groups? 

I’ve worked on many small and large teams throughout my career as a scientist and in business development. I’ve worked really closely with internal and external teams in all kinds of situations And always try to drive for clear and effective communication and positive results.