As I write this, the sun is shining brightly on a chilly mid-February morning, with the prospect of warmer temperatures coming in the next several days. With overnight low temperatures becoming less cold, and daytime highs becoming warmer, don’t we all look forward to spring and the more pleasant weather ahead? (Well, except for those occasional thunderstorms and the threat of severe weather…) I know those of our POA hourly employees who work outdoors will appreciate a break from the cold temperatures.  

The VEBF board of directors took a break from our monthly meetings in February but will be back again in March. Meanwhile, however, the executive committee has been busy. The board decided at our January meeting that it was important to thank individually our many donors for their contributions in 2022. We decided to do that with a postcard mailing, which was managed by our treasurer, Bill Luerssen. And look for our full-page ad in the upcoming edition of the HSV Life magazine, thanking our 2022 local business sponsors. 

We are also making progress on our three new initiatives for 2023, with more background work on the Continuing Education Program, the Speaker’s Bureau, and the Advisory Resource Council. After our last newsletter came out, we had two members email us with an interest in serving on the Advisory Resource Council, adding to our growing list of folks interested in joining us in that informal capacity. 

Additionally, our secretary, Carol Freeland, has initiated a review of our by-laws, mission statement, and financial organization. I am thankful to Carol for her dedication to helping the board maintain high standards, so together, we can effectively manage our donors’ contributions and meet our goals to thank our hourly employees with a cash appreciation gift at the end of the year.  

In future newsletters, I will recognize the individual contributions of our board members and keep you up to date on the progress of our initiatives. 

Thank you for your support!  

John Chapman - President, VEBF 

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.   

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!

Donations are appreciated all year long.

Meet Dawn Johnson, Assistant to Director of Golf

I am married and have 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild! 

I started with HSVPOA in 2000 as an assistant manager at Magellan Golf Course, after 2 years I was promoted to Manager. I stayed at Magellan for 12 years and then moved to HSVPOA office in the Accounting Department. I stayed there 7 years and then went back to the Golf Department as Assistant to the Director of Golf (where I should have stayed all along!) I enjoy working with all the managers at the courses and the ones in the Golf Department. I also love working on tournaments and getting them ready and working with the vendors for food. Sometimes I even get to work the tournaments if we are shorthanded!  

The Golf Department is the best place to work, the people are amazing and you don’t mind going to work! 

Meet Darwin Klingenberg, Daily Reconciliation Coordinator in Accounting

Darwin Klingenberg is originally from Princeton, Illinois. He moved to the Village in 1997 with his wife. He and his wife Sandy have been married 63 years. He has 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Darwin will be celebrating his 84th birthday in April. He enjoys bowling and spending time with his wife. He started working for Hot Springs Village in 1997 and will be celebrating 25 years of service in May. He started at the DeSoto Pro Shop as a shop attendant. He then became the Assistant Manager shortly thereafter. In 2004, he started aiding the accounting department by processing annual renewals. In 2006, he officially became an accounting staff member as a part-time employee. In 2015, he started full-time, focused on helping staff with the TEG software conversion. He currently acts as the Daily Reconciliation Coordinator in Accounting. We are grateful for Darwin and his dedication and knowledge to Hot Springs Village!

Meet Tina Wilson, Member Services

Tina Wilson is from Jessieville. She is married with 4 children and 12 grandchildren with 1 on the way. She enjoys fishing and spending her weekends at the lake with her husband and grandkids. She has been with POA for two years. She works in Member Services focused on utilities. 

Meet Alexander Lee, Patrol Officer

Alex Lee has worked for the POA for a few years but has served for the last year in our community as a Patrol Officer with Hot Springs Village Police Department. This is his first appointment and truly enjoys being able to serve his community and meeting people.

Outside of work he enjoys golf, family and staying fit. His favorite charitable organizations is Arkansas Freedom Fund for Arkansas based military veterans. 

Alex's goal is to continue in law enforcement and obtain a bachelor's degree in behavioral science.

Thank you for your service, Officer Lee!

Meet Alena Merkuryeva, Engineer Technician 

Alena works in the Public Services Engineering Department. As the sole employee over all engineering, Alena is tasked with many responsibilities, including overseeing our GIS system and helping out all other departments in Public Services. This year Alena helped keep our GIS systems up to date, adding many facets of our utility networks to the system. She consistently supported our Sanitation department in the roll out of the new trash system, helping establish efficient routes as well as helping to track the deployment of the new POA trash cans to residents. Alena was also closely involved in our culvert rehabilitation project, street fogging, patching projects, and bidding upcoming projects. Alena also took the lead on our lift station flushing program to help with odor issues throughout the Village. Alena also worked on various other projects tied to our water modeling and projects tied to our water and sewer systems. Alena consistently helps the Superintendents and Public Services Director in everything requested including creating and requesting purchase orders. 

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.

VEBF Board of Directors

Seated, left to right: Carol Freeman, Secretary; Donna Jared; Sue Luerssen; Barbara Zavrel

Standing, left to right: Jeff LLoyd, Bill Luerssen, Treasurer; Bill Butterworth; John Chapman, President Not pictured: DC Reed, Vice President