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The idea of following DC Reed as president of the VEBF is not something I was looking forward to. Ask any board member, and I’m sure they will recall my hesitancy about this change.
DC, our friend and leader, decided he needed to step back from some of the day-to-day VEBF activities that required so much of his time. In doing so, however, he sweetened the deal for me by agreeing to stay on the board as vice president and assisting as needed.
You should know that this is an active board, and DC would be the first to admit that our achievements would not have been possible without the support of these wonderful volunteers. As we move forward, I know I can count on our very capable board—each of whom I hold in great regard not only for the accomplishments in their personal lives, but especially for their dedication to the VEBF.
I’ll have more to say in next month’s newsletter about where I and the board hope to take the Village Employees Benefit Fund in 2023. Meanwhile, please join me in a virtual thanks to DC Reed for his successful term as president of the VEBF.
John Chapman - President, VEBF
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DC REED STEPPING DOWN AS PRESIDENT
DC Reed has been with the VEBF for five years, four of them as president. He announced his intention to step down as president at a recent board meeting, effective at this month’s board meeting. He will stay on the board, however, in the capacity of vice president, and continue working for the benefit of Village employees. Current vice president John Chapman has agreed to take over as president. Bill Luerssen will stay on as treasurer, and Carol Freeland will continue in her role as secretary.
While president, DC has taken the VEBF to a new level of fund raising, due largely to the creation of a website with secure credit card transactions, annual mailings to every household in Hot Springs Village, this VEBF Newsletter, and a local business sponsorship program.
At the annual POA Employee Christmas luncheon, POA General Manager Kelly Hale and the Hot Springs Board of Directors recognized DC for his dedication to the VEBF and the POA hourly workers, who have received ever larger appreciation gifts as a result of his and the board’s efforts.
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DC Reed, Kelly Hale, Todd Noles (Santa) | | |
THANKS TO YOU, WE DID IT AGAIN!
That’s right, thanks to our dedicated members and other donors, including our local business sponsors, the VEBF has once again been able to provide POA hourly employees with a generous appreciation gift of $300 to full time employees, and $150 to part time employees.
Quite frankly, the board was concerned that donations would be down this year due to inflation and stock market fluctuations affecting retirement accounts. But our Villagers and sponsors came through in the end! This allowed the board to fund the same amount we gave employees last year, while maintaining some cash reserves for our Catastrophic Emergency Fund, the Continuing Education Program, and next year’s marketing efforts.
Photo: POA employees lined up to receive appreciation gifts at the 2022 POA Employee Christmas luncheon. Treasurer Bill Luerssen and his wife Sue are seen staffing one of 4 tables to manage the crowd.
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When you’re a front-line worker, “Thank You” means a lot.
The people who work hard every day to make sure everything in Hot Springs Village – from the East Gate to the West Gate – is well-cared for and maintained, are the hard-working hourly employees of the POA. They are the line staff, workers who groom your golf courses, collect your trash, maintain your roads and buildings, pump water into your homes, operate your wonderful facilities, patrol your streets, extinguish your fires, and yes, process your sewage. Although they earn an average wage of just $11 per hour, their contribution is invaluable.
Let’s show our appreciation for a job well done! Your donation will ensure that our POA employees are supported with emergency funds and continued education all year long plus holiday monies at the end of each year.
You can mail your donation check to Village Employees Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 8503, Hot Springs Village, AR 71910 or donate via secure credit card, CLICK HERE.
Help us help those who serve our community!
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Meet Tamara Orosco, a Recreation Specialist with the Hot Springs Village Parks and Recreation Department...
Tamara works in all aspects of the Parks and Recreation Department. She believes in teamwork and working with all Departments of the POA to ensure that the community benefits from all that the village has to offer.
Before joining the Hot Springs Village POA, Tamara worked as an assistant to the Mayor of Hot Springs and President of Levi Hospital and before that, she worked at the Garland County Assessor’s Office for twelve years.
Tamara lives in Hot Springs Village with future husband, Rick Hays. She is a mother of three grown children and has one grandson. Rick and Tamara enjoy traveling and spending time with friends and family.
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Tamara Orosco working the Green Market at Grove Park, far right | |
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Meet Amber Johnson, Meter Reading Supervisor Public Works Department...
“I love working for the POA and serving our village residents needs. I really appreciate the support the residents give to the POA employees. I am a 4-year veteran of the POA in the Public Utilities Division and in those years I have met some really awesome residents while reading the meters. I am in awe of the generosity shown by the residents of the village. Through your generosity, the Village Employee Benefit Fund has allowed me to give my family a good Christmas that I would not be able to afford. Thank you for caring for the POA employees, it is such a blessing to so many families. May God bless your families also.” - Amber
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DeSoto Golf Course Maintenance would like to introduce David (Hunter) Tackett to HSVPOA.
Hunter started working at the POA in August of 2018 at DeSoto Golf Course as a Greenskeeper. He never thought about making HSVPOA a career until he was promoted after a few years to a Golf Maintenance Equipment technician due to his dedication and commitment to improve himself. His daily duties consist of overseeing all the equipment used on the golf course from simple hand tools to complex mowers, utility vehicles and the equipment used to assist in repairs. Hunter has other talents that are far from his daily duties here at DeSoto Golf Course such as making drawing come to life with color or brewing some home craft brews that he likes to share with friends and family. You may even notice him on a golf course from time to time considering he enjoys playing golf.
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Code Enforcement Clerk - Mickey Stant
Mickey Stant has worked for the POA for three years and is currently the clerk for the Code Enforcement Department. She displays great customer service and stays very busy taking complaints from the public and assigning violations to compliance staff. She plays a vital role in protecting property values for Hot Springs Village POA.
She previously worked as the Village Engagement Associate at Cortez Pro Shop. Mickey says she enjoys working for the POA to help make the Village a better place. Mickey is originally from California and worked in the airlines industry there and in Minnesota before coming to Arkansas twenty years ago. Mickey has a son Bret, two daughters, Beth and Jennifer and two grandchildren, Audrey and Lucia.
Mickey has benefited from the Village Employees Benefit Fund and says "The gift makes our holiday much brighter. It is so nice to know the work we are doing is recognized and appreciated."
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
The VEBF continuing education program is a Village Employees Benefit Fund Program that provides financial assistance to qualified POA employees so they may pursue educational opportunities in technical training, certification programs, and college level work related to employment at the HSVPOA. The program intent is to assist selected employees so they may expand their proficiency, augment expertise, and strength their skill sets; in doing so, better serve Hot Springs Village.
Find out more, click here.
Donate to the VEBF, Click Here
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EMERGENCY FUND
In addition to an annual gift, the Board has an emergency fund to be used at the Board’s discretion, to assist any POA worker who experiences financial difficulty as a result of a catastrophic personal emergency. Applications for help with expenses that POA workers might have because of a serious medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, or other personal tragedies, are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. While the Fund is probably not able to provide cash to cover all the costs of an emergency, the contribution enables the applicant to cover some expenses.
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Hot Springs Village Evening Lions are proud to support VEBF. Our POA employees deserve the best because they ARE the Best! - HSV Evening Lions Club | | |
We are very thankful for the hard work of the men and women of Hot Springs Village that take care of the community and make it the best place in America to live. We are truly blessed!” - Laurie Rushing | | |
The employees of Hot Springs Village make our lives better every day in countless ways. That’s why I support the VEBF! - Ike Eisenhauer | |
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Hot Springs Village Employees Benefit Fund was established on September 22, 1999, to receive and disburse appreciation funds contributed by the property owners of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
These funds are for the benefit and support of all qualified POA employees (excluding Top Management) as defined in the by-laws.
Our intent is to demonstrate the recognition, appreciation, and respect that our property owners and others have for all those who work to support and maintain Hot Springs Village.
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VEBF Board of Directors
Front row - John Chapman, Barbara Zavrel, Carol Freeland
Back Row - Ryan Bartholomew, Jeff Lloyd, DC Reed, Bill Luerssen
missing from the picture is Bettie Ann Salzwedel
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