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WGBPA plans to name new board--if possible
Current executive board members might keep seats
By Kate Carter
Members of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association are preparing to elect some new officers next month, but they may end up voting the old ones back in.
"I can count on one hand the new people," predicted association Vice President Chris Carris, based on the small response he's had from business owners interested in being nominated for a position. Carris said that if no one else is willing to take on the responsibility, he and other members of the executive committee might stay on.
The association's election nominating committee--consisting of Carris, President Bob Waligore, Second Vice President John Karamanos and board member Laura Augusta--have been discussing who they will put on the Feb. 21 ballot for the past few months. But they have reported difficulty in finding people who want to be nominated.
They sent out letters to Willow Glen business owners this month, calling for persons interested in serving as president; first, second and third vice president; treasurer; recorder and secretary to let the committee know by Feb. 1.
But they also cautioned potential committee candidates that, if elected, they would be expected to do more than just show up at monthly meetings.
The time commitment has been the association's stumbling block of late, since it has been difficult getting even a quorum of board members at its monthly meetings in recent months. The time-consuming planning for activities such as Dancin' on the Avenue and Founders Day has been mostly coordinated by a few committed members of the association--Carris, Waligore, Karamanos and Augusta, whose one-year board terms are almost up.
"I'll be more than happy to see anyone else's name but mine (on the ballot,)" Carris said. "We'd like to see some new blood. If it doesn't happen, there's at least four or five of us standing by."
Waligore said he won't agree to being president again next year, although he will continue to be on the board. The association's bylaws state that the two past presidents are automatically board members, he said.
Other board members are appointed by the elected executive committee after they have taken office on March 1.
The business association oversees the use of city business investment district money that Lincoln Avenue businesses pay to the city and then get back to use in ways to better their community and their profitability.
The association is also investigating possible mismanagement of funds from past years.
Waligore said the success of the business association comes only from the commitment of its members to get involved and make things better.
"It's everybody's business association, not just mine," he said. 'It's a business community and people need to get involved. It's time for people to make a decision about what they want to do about the association."
For more information about how to be nominated, call 408.298.2100.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
