::: COMMUNITY NEWS

Wilbur Haines, left, greets neighbor Mike Martel after Martel won his second term on the RMA board.

Mike Martel, Mel Standart win RMA board seats

Published Friday, November 17, 2006

Mike Martel and Mel Standart were elected to serve three-year terms on the Rancho Murieta Association board of directors at the association’s annual membership meeting Thursday night.

In his bid for a second term, Martel was the top vote-getter with 811 votes. Standart received 702 votes and Anne Denker 370.

Director of elections Richard Silvis said 1,102 ballots were cast, which he termed a “fantastic” voter response that exceeded the required 40 percent quorum of the membership by more than 7 percent.

Dennie and Mel Standart greeted well-wishers after Mel's win in the election.

After Martel and Standart were sworn in by Silvis, President Paul Gumbinger announced the new board will hold an organization meeting Dec. 4 to elect officers and select committee chairs.

Director Julie Sams, who was appointed to the board 18 months ago, made a farewell speech in which she characterized staff members as capable and thanked them for their support. She said she believed she had contributed to the board’s goals and encouraged others “to walk barefoot across the hot coals.” Gumbinger presented her with a carved version of the association’s logo made by Maintenance Manager Rod Hart.

Vice President Jack Cooper presented Gumbinger with a gift in recognition of his three terms as president and praised him for handling the trials and tribulations of office with “an incredible amount of integrity and prestige and understanding.”

President Paul Gumbinger thanked Julie Sams for her 18-month tenure as an appointed board member. Sams said she would hang the RMA logo carved by Maintenance Manager Rod Hart in her office.

Gumbinger reported on the association’s goals, beginning with the pedestrian bridge, which is nearing completion. He included improvements in the cable system and broadband, the design for the skateboard park and increased communications with the Community Services District and Country Club, and the hiring of General Manager David Stiffler among the year’s achievements.

He said a challenge in the year ahead is to rewrite the CC&Rs to update them and eliminate ambiguities. He noted that a 60 percent vote of approval will be required to adopt the changes.     

About 30 people attended the meeting at the Country Club. Fred and Edith Reali, who were not present, were the winners of the drawing for the video iPod, this year’s incentive to vote early.