Thank you for the privilege of serving as your board president
Following an extensive and thorough process, I am very happy to report that SCNA has a new executive director. Kent Anderson was introduced to and approved for hire by the board at the November board meeting. Kent spent November adjusting to new surroundings and preparing for the upcoming Annual General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5. You can learn more about him on the front page of this issue of Viewpoint. Please join us in welcoming him.
Pursuant to our SCNA bylaws, the Ad Hoc Nominations Committee presented its slate of prospective directors to the board at the November board meeting. Those names will appear on the December 5 ballot. The bylaws also provide that “…additional nominations may be made by any Resident member at the membership meeting…”
Board service is a serious commitment and carries with it a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the Sierra 2 Center and SCNA. Th e Ad Hoc Nominations Committee selections were made with those factors in mind.
At this point, it is worth reflecting on the purpose of SCNA’s existence as stated in our 1980 Articles of Incorporation (Art. II D.):
“D. The specific purposes of this corporation are to:
- Promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Sierra Curtis neighborhood in Sacramento, California;
- Promote the educational, community and recreational uses of the Sierra School and its grounds;
- Promote and foster good racial and community relations in the Sierra Curtis neighborhood;
- Sponsor and encourage educational, community and recreational programs through public and private funding in the Sierra Curtis neighborhood of Sacramento.”
Our bylaws reinforce these purposes and emphasize that SCNA “…operates the …. [Sierra 2 Center]… for these purposes.”
On a different note, the Dec. 5 Annual General Membership Meeting will be my last, as my second term expires Dec. 31. I do not plan to run again, so this is my final President’s Message for Viewpoint.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve SCNA and the Curtis Park neighborhood as board president these past four years (and previously in the late 80s). The challenges faced by the last two boards have been many, and they required a dedicated commitment to successfully meet them.
Saving Sierra 2 Center for the second time in its 100-year history has been perhaps our greatest challenge but certainly one of the most rewarding. The board also was faced with replacing Viewpoint’s two longtime senior editors (Carol Blackman and Dennis Cusick) who retired. We welcomed Dorsey Griffith as the new Executive Editor and Bonnie Rodriguez as our Graphics Editor without missing an issue. Most recently, after Terri Shettle resigned after 14 years, the board was successful in finding her replacement. The Crocker Village gas station rehearing also was resolved successfully. Throughout it all, the focus on trying to solve problems has been to do what is best for the Curtis Park community as a whole.
These successes could not have been accomplished without the incredible work of many talented and dedicated board members. I am especially thankful and appreciative of their efforts. Thankfully, many of them wish to continue their board service and deserve your support.
Nominating Committee announces names of 2024 board candidates
The SCNA bylaws require that an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee present a slate of prospective board candidates to the board one month before the annual membership meeting (Art. IV. Sec. 4.A.). The committee of board members was formed in July and included Lily Harris, Jack Foster, Shannon Motley, Bruce Pierini and Kathy Les. The committee ultimately identified five incumbents who wish to run again and other individuals in the neighborhood who might be willing to serve.
The committee ran a piece in the October Viewpoint soliciting interested neighbors for the board. Committee members responded to those who expressed interest with informal interviews, and all were invited to an informational mixer held by the committee at Sierra 2 on Oct. 15. The mixer was well attended. Committee members provided background on the SCNA, the various committees that make up the board and members’ personal perspectives on what it means to serve. The committee fielded questions from those attending. After the mixer, the committee followed up with the individuals who attended to determine whether they were interested in serving on the board.
At the November SCNA Board meeting, the committee presented the names of neighbors who committed to run for the 2024 board:
- (Incumbents) John Bailey, Kathy Les, Bill French, Gerre Buehler and Andrea Rosen
- (New candidates) David Enos, Dick Weng, Karl Saddlemire, Noah Bench, Kinsley Earl, Dave Gonsalves, Alysse Macaluso and Ryan Marenger
Names of those listed above will constitute the ballot presented at the Dec. 5 membership meeting. SCNA bylaws limit the number of board members to 23. In addition, the bylaws provide that additional nominations may be made by any resident member at the membership meeting when the election is held on Dec. 5 as per Art. IV. Sec. 4.B. – Mimi Budd
SCNA Board Candidate Statements
Richard “Dick” Weng of 27th Street
My wife and I moved to Curtis Park two years ago and had our first child here. As I watch my son and other children play at the Sierra 2 playground, I feel the urge to contribute to this thriving neighborhood. I’ve decided to throw my hat into the ring, running for a spot on the SCNA Board to help contribute to this neighborhood however I can. I have a professional background in construction and land development. I hope to bring my knowledge and expertise to benefit the board and the neighborhood!
Gerry Buehler of 4th Avenue (Incumbent)
I’ve lived in Curtis Park for 38 years, and during that time I’ve been a member of the SCNA board for several terms, participated on the Wine Tasting and Home & Garden Tour Committees and contributed articles to the Viewpoint. I’ve also been in charge of Viewpoint distribution since 1987. l’m running for the SCNA board to represent the interests of my neighbors and to support their desire to live in a community that encourages their active participation. I would like to work on projects to enrich our neighborhood by increasing membership and volunteers. I’m also very interested in our project to convert Sierra 2 to an all-electric building.
Noah Soliday Bench of Marshall Way
As a board member, I want to give back to this wonderful community. I want to ensure the continued success of the Sierra 2 Center, bring back neighborhood events like the Easter Egg Hunt and Wine Tasting, work with the city on traffic and land use, and assist the board and Viewpoint with digital record keeping and information access. My wife and I moved to Marshall Way in 2019 where we now reside with our two daughters. We adore SCNA events, and we’re at the Sierra 2 Center or Green almost every day. My career as a tools engineer is one of constant learning, coordinating diverse groups, weighing priorities, building consensus and solving complex problems. I know my skills and experience will be an asset to the board and our neighborhood.
Karl Saddlemire of Highland Avenue
I have been a Curtis Park resident for seven years. On Highland Avenue, my wife and I are raising our two young sons – one broadly obsessed with dinosaurs, the other an unapologetic triceratops specialist. By day, I work as an attorney handling criminal appeals and capital post-conviction cases for the Federal Defender’s Office. I am running for the board to support the many family-friendly activities championed by SCNA, such as Music in the Park, the Easter Egg Hunt and Home & Garden Tour. I would like to serve on the neighborhood concerns and ad hoc racial justice committees to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard in conversations about improving Curtis Park. I hope to bring my love of Victorian serialized fiction to future editorial work for the Viewpoint.
David Enos of 25th Street
My wife and I bought our home in Curtis Park almost 20 years ago. We had two young children at the time and welcomed our third child during the first year we moved in, after several months of renovation work. I enjoyed raising our three children here and will welcome a bit more free time once our son finishes his senior year. I have volunteered in youth sports for the past 15 years as a coach and board member for both Land Park Little League and Kennedy High School baseball, and I am now the head varsity baseball coach at Kennedy. I have owned Valley Sign Source for 27 years and moved my location to Curtis Park near Franklin and Fourth Avenue, operating there for 11 years before leaving for more space in West Sac. I love this neighborhood and acknowledge the importance of maintaining a strong neighborhood association to represent and hear the priorities of all residents. If elected, I would also like to ensure continued success of Sierra 2 operations and maintain long-tradition Curtis Park activities like Music in the Park, the Home & Garden Tour and youth sports.
Andrea Rosen of Portola Way (Incumbent)
I have lived in Curtis Park since 1979 and raised my two (now adult) children here, too. They loved the activities put on by our beloved association. I was recruited to the board quite early on and have had the privilege of serving for the better part of the last 40 years (yes, I am that old.) I have worked on dozens of SCNA projects over the years. I have a lot of history with this organization and am very dedicated to the betterment of our neighborhood and Sierra 2. I am so excited to continue to meet the many young people who are moving into and energizing our neighborhood. A high-functioning SCNA board means a lot to this neighborhood in so many ways, and I aim to help it continue to be one of the best neighborhood associations in the city. I would love to hear from you and would be humbled to receive your vote.
Bill French of E. Curtis Drive (Incumbent)
With a large number of board members retiring this year, I would like to add some continuity next year with a new term. The next few years will be very challenging but promising, with a new executive director and new lease for our aging Sierra 2 Center. I would like to contribute to our future as a board member.
Kinsley Earl of Sixth Avenue
My family and I moved into Curtis Park in 2019. As a Sacramento native, I am excited to be raising my child in this unique and thriving neighborhood. My professional background is in account management and marketing. I have a variety of volunteer experiences in my background as well – such as coaching youth soccer, event planning for schools and tutoring. I am running for the SCNA board because I want to give back to this neighborhood that so warmly welcomed my family. I want to help preserve the unique character of Curtis Park and continue to build on its legacy of community and active participation.
Ryan Marenger of Eighth Avenue
As a new member of the neighborhood, I have been thrilled by the level of community engagement I have seen in the past year. In my professional capacity as a nonprofit finance and accounting consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and participate in the operation of a large number of organizations. I would use my professional experience to help SCNA make sensible decisions that serve and enrich the neighborhood, while at the same time fostering equity and inclusion, increased community engagement and ongoing financial stability.
Kathy Les of Portola Way (Incumbent)
It’s my strong belief that life in Curtis Park is enriched by our strong neighborhood association and the crown jewel of our neighborhood – the Sierra 2 Center. Together these two assets make Curtis Park one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in the city. Over my 30 years living and raising a family in Curtis Park, I have served as a SCNA board member, executive director of SCNA and Viewpoint editor. On the board, I have served on many committees, including the Development Committee, which under my leadership raised more than $150,000 during the Covid years when the Sierra 2 Center lost revenue during the temporary closure. Right now SCNA and the Sierra 2 Center are at a key transition point as we onboard a new executive director and the neighborhood comes together around the future of the Sierra 2 Green. As a current and future board member, I will bring stability and continuity to the association. In my role as a board member I will advocate for the whole neighborhood, our quality of life as residents of Curtis Park and for the continued viability of the Sierra 2 Center.
David Gonsalves of Highland Avenue
My partner and I moved to the neighborhood in 2009. She has lived in the neighborhood starting in 1971, and her mom still lives here. We love Curtis Park and want to continue working to improve the neighborhood. I would like to work to enhance the Sierra 2 community center. When I was on the board from 2010-2014, we upgraded the patio outside of Curtis Hall. We also improved the walkway on the north side of the main building. I would also like to help restart the wonderful events that helped make living in Curtis Park such a wonderful experience. Th ere is still much to do, and I would like to be a part of that eff ort. I hope you will consider voting for me.
John Bailey of Coleman Way (Incumbent)
I am a retired CPA and chief financial officer. I have served as SCNA treasurer for the last four years, as well as during much of the 1980s and 1990s. I have also served as treasurer for other local nonprofits. Revenue shortfalls due to Covid-19 lockdowns threatened SCNA’s existence. With incredible support from neighbors, SCNA survived, but it remains in a weak financial position. During Covid, SCNA was unable to add to the savings account dedicated to funding building maintenance, which now barely covers three years of such costs and must be strengthened to a minimum of five years, because repairs to an old building frequently occur on an emergency basis and the funds must be in possession at that time. Operating funds need to be strengthened as well. After decades of professional experience in shepherding large for-profit and nonprofit organizations, I believe I bring the needed expertise to guide SCNA back to a fiscally responsible position, and I ask for your vote.
Alysse Macaluso of Curtis Way
My name is Alysse Macaluso, and I moved to Curtis Park in 2022. I took a step away from my corporate career to be a stay-at-home mom when our son was born. As I reflect on the changes in my life over the last few years and decide what’s next for me, I realize that it is important for my family to see me do things I am passionate about outside of the home. I want to make a positive difference in our community and dedicate my extra time to continue the efforts that make this neighborhood the thriving, inclusive and vibrant community that it is! I am passionate about community engagement and finding new ways for people to connect. As a new mom, I believe there is an opportunity to coordinate more family-oriented events so that children of all ages and families can come together. Sierra 2 Center has also been a great resource for my family, and I love the building and everything it offers to our local community. I will be committed to listening to your ideas and concerns and advocating for changes that you want to see. I hope you will vote for me!