By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
At the Seven Lakes Landowner’s Association annual meeting on March 25, three new board members were seated. But shortly after they took office, two board members resigned, citing changing personal reasons.
Treasurer Deb Sikes left with one year remaining in her term. Marijola (Mary) Farley, slated to lead the Recreation Committee, left open a two-year term.
The resignations initiated a process outlined by community by-laws to replace them. The news was communicated to landowners and members were invited to self-nominate and submit resumes to the board. The board then conducted interviews with interested candidates and made the appointments.
The newly appointed directors are Amber Johnson and Charles “Mac” McElfresh.
Johnson will assume Sikes’ one year term as treasurer and leader of the Finance Committee. She is a Sandhills native and has lived in Seven Lakes for about nine years. She previously served on a number of committees including recreation, lakes and dams and finance.
Guild said that, with Johnson’s education and background in accounting, the other board members feel very lucky to have her as treasurer. Johnson is currently employed with a technology company.
McElfresh will assume leadership of the Lakes and Dams Committee, filling in the two-year term vacated by Farely. The three-year resident is a retired Navy Seal and has also worked in the private sector. According to Guild, he has taken an interest in board meetings and has been an engaged resident with an awareness of the goings on in the community.
Newly elected Danny Bowers will assume Farley’s role on the Recreation Committee. Bowers is a high school football referee and brings a passion for young people to this position.
“He has a feeling that we’ve tended to do community events and a lot of things for the younger children, but we haven’t really done that much for the teens and tweens,” shared Guild. “So I think he has an interest in that, a passion for that. I think he wants to try to fill that gap.”
The process for filling the vacant positions went well, Guild said. “Given that the resignations were not planned, I think we got ourselves back into a full board within two months,” she said. “I feel good about that.”
Another thing Guild feels positive about is the response from the community. She says they had five residents raise their hands to be considered for these appointments.
“The two that ultimately were selected will do an excellent job, but honestly, we had five very good and qualified candidates.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
