2020 RCC PREFERENCE POLL OFFERS CANDIDATES TO FILL THREE SPOTS (PDF)
RESTON, VA — The Reston Community Center (RCC) Board of Governors announces five candidates for its 2020 Preference Poll. This year’s candidates are incumbents William Keefe, William Penniman and Vicky Wingert, as well as newcomers Niels W. Pemberton and Lorri Zell. The candidates’ statements are included here exactly as submitted and are presented in alphabetical order; voters are urged to review all statements before making selections.
The poll seeks community guidance to fill three three-year positions. Voting begins on September 11, 2020. Each property in Small District 5 (SD5) will receive a ballot in the mail. Mail-in ballots must be received by the counting agent (a pre-addressed envelope is provided with the ballot; postage is required) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1. Walk-in and online ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2.
A Candidates Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m.at RCC Hunters Woods, located at 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191. If you would like to attend, please email RCCContact@fairfaxcounty.gov. Because of social distancing requirements, a reservation via that email is required. Mask wearing and health self-checks are also required of all attendees. Anyone who doesn’t feel well should remain at home. The forum will be livestreamed on RCC’s Facebook page.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors established the RCC Board of Governors to represent the interests of Reston (SD5) residents and businesses in developing policy and providing financial oversight for RCC. Board appointments are made by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors after participants have made their preferences known in the annual poll.
Board members work together to establish the overall policies for the Center and to guide its programs and budget development. Board members represent Reston Community Center at social, recreational, cultural and educational activities throughout the district as well as function as liaisons to RCC’s community partners.
This year’s candidates have provided the statements below, shown exactly as written by the candidates with no changes to content. For more information on the 2020 RCC Preference Poll or Board of Governors, please visit our website at www.restoncommunitycenter.com or call 703-476-4500.
2020 RCC PREFERENCE POLL CANDIDACY STATEMENTS
William Keefe
Question A: What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
I have been an active, committed member of the Reston community for over 40 years with involvement in activities such as coaching youth sports, serving on various land use planning forums, and volunteering with local groups such as Cornerstones and Southgate Community Center. Specifically, I have been:
- Awardee: “Best of Reston” (2017)
- Member: Reston Community Center Board of Governors (nine years)
- Member: Reston Association Board of Directors for three years
- Member: Reston Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Committee for five years
- Coach: Reston Youth Baseball
- Coach and Commissioner: Reston Youth Basketball
- Volunteer: Cornerstones, Southgate Community Center, and Reston Runners
Question B: How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all, to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
I am excited to once again bring my many years in a leadership role in Reston along with my extensive experience working on a collaborative basis with Reston organizations to make RCC even more responsive to the needs of the residents of Small Tax District 5. I have lived in Reston for 42 years. I am very familiar with and have good working relationships with many of its local citizen groups. Given Reston’s changing demographics, along with the financial limitations placed on Fairfax County social services, RCC must continue to provide diverse programming, including multilingual and multicultural programming, at reasonable cost to its many patrons. Cooperation with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Reston Association, and Reston’s community organizations such as Cornerstones and Southgate Community Center should be emphasized. I look forward to once again being a part of the collaboration as an RCC Board member and ambassador.
Niels W. Pemberton
Question A: What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
Metrowatch Public Transit Advocate, 1994 –1998
Metrowatch was WDC area’s transit advocacy & consumer society.
Member of it’s Board of Directors from Virginia; October 1994 — May 1998
I represented Metrowatch @ public meetings on transit service, fares, environment, highways & passenger train service.
Coordinated responses to ideas expressed at these hearings and meetings.
I helped save RIBS bus service that was threatened with curtailment.
Question B: How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all, to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
I’d bring my advocacy skills to RCC.
Here’s what I’d do:
- Advocate myself for more movies & shows at Center Stage (Local Jazz & rock bands etc.) There should be an event each Friday & Saturday night at Center Stage.
- Increase outreach to all schools.
- Outreach to Reston newcomers.
- Honor Reston Association pool passes, in RA’s off-season.
- Expand Small Tax District #5 to the rest of the 20190, 20191 & 20194 Zip Codes and the neighborhoods on the periphery.
- Be a wise spender of money.
William Penniman
Question A: What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
I have served on the RCC Board of Governors for several years, at various times as Secretary, Treasurer, and chair/co-chair of various committees.
I currently serve on the Reston Comprehensive Task Force. From 2009-2014, I served on the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force in various capacities.
I have been a member of the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee since 2014, and I served on Hunter Mill Budget Advisory Committees for three years.
I’ve served on the Virginia Sierra Club’s ExCom since 2014, including as Conservation Chair and Sustainability Issues Chair.
I practiced law for nearly 40 years.
Question B: How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all, to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
I proudly share Reston’s unique sense of community and strongly support RCC’s vital role in building community. RCC is a distinctly vibrant community organization. It offers classes, concerts, summer camps, programs and facilities; preserves and advances Reston traditions, such as the MLK celebration and Multicultural festival; and coordinates with many community organizations to achieve common goals. I believe that RCC is vital to keeping Reston from becoming just another suburb.
My goal is to help RCC continue to serve community members of all ages and income levels, while working closely with schools and other community organizations, like RA, Southgate, Cornerstones and arts organizations. RCC’s efforts must continue to evolve to meet new challenges, including growth, climate-change and Covid-19. We need a long-range vision, adaptability and a close eye on the budget. My experience on the Board and other civic organizations will help RCC serve the community while meeting these challenges.
Vicky Wingert
Question A: What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
I have lived, worked and played in Reston since 1973 and have been active in a variety of community organizations. In my younger years, I coached girl’s softball and basketball. For many years, I worked for the Reston Association as Day Camp Director, Open Space Director and CEO. I have served as president of the Reston Historic Trust, founder of Friends of Reston and the Reston Association Board of Directors. Currently, I serve on the Reston Community Center Board of Governors. I was named a Best of Reston awardee in 2000 and a Simon Fellow in 2017.
Question B: How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all, to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
During this period of unprecedented challenges, we must remember the values that shaped this community; a welcoming home for all and a place where cultural and recreational opportunities are available to everyone. RCC’s mission is aligned with these values and must continue to be our focus. Now more than ever we must work collaboratively with all our community partners to leverage our collective strengths to maximize the use of all community resources. Equity in all aspects of our programming and resource allocation must remain a central goal. By working with our Opportunity Neighborhood partners, this goal is attainable. I understand that a primary role for the Board of Governors is the responsible use of tax dollars. Prudent use of funds today must be coupled with a commitment to meet the demands of tomorrow. I have spent a lifetime engaged in recreational planning and bring that experience to RCC.
Lorri Zell
Question A: What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?
Professional Background:
- Degree in Accounting Information Systems
- Certified Human Resources Professional
- Career focus in finance, technology and human resources
Civic Activities:
- Served on various religious and nonprofit boards
- Co-chairing SaveOurSunrise, a Reston Community Group
- Co-chairing the Wiehle Task Force Study Group
- Serving on the Reston Comprehensive Plan Task force
My experience has prepared me to serve on the RCC board, focusing on gathering community input, collaborating with others to create action plans and delivering results. This is even more important now as RCC navigates to provide excellent community programs during the pandemic.
Question B: How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all, to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?
Developing community inclusiveness and a sense of belonging begins with observing and recognizing needs in your community, asking for input, developing solutions together and then executing initiatives. This has been my approach to community involvement and engagement since I observed a need for and began a toddler program 20 years ago to address an unserved population.
Today, you can witness my inclusive style in the Wiehle Crosswalk Study group I co-chair, where I created a format that incorporates everyone’s input. When developer’s came to Campus Commons, I organized my neighbors and adjacent communities to deliver a thoughtful response which allowed for everyone who wanted to have a voice to be included in the conversation.
Smaller, more personal ways I’ve served the community and keep people connected are:
- Engaging on community social channels
- Organizing lake cleanup days and kayak meetups
- Using my gardening certification to provide advice and support to others
