Please Vote in This Year’s HOA Election!

The following are biographies of those Green Meadows West homeowner-members who are running for election to the association’s board of directors in 2023.

The election will take place at the Annual Meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tues., Jan. 31, 2023, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

All association members in good standing (all dues paid) may vote in-person, by assigning their proxy to another homeowner-member, or by returning their proxy to the board.

Four candidates will be elected, toward a minimum number of nine board members.

Directors serve terms of three years. Directors are unpaid volunteers.

If you have not received your ballot and meeting-attendance proxy, please contact Association Manager Ben McMenanin at Knapp Property: 515.222.5206; benm AT knapplc DOT com

Ballots and proxies must be received by 12 noon Mon., Jan. 30, 2023 in order to be counted.

Those who attend the meeting, as well as those who have returned proxies, will be eligible for door prizes.

The following biographies are presented in alphabetical order by last name. Candidates who are currently serving on the board are labelled as “incumbents.”

*****

Jeff Chavannes (pronouced “sha-van”) moved to the Green Meadows West neighborhood in July 2022. He lives in the south end of the neighborhood, on Barnsley Drive. He is currently working for Wells Fargo doing global strategy work. In a previous role with the company, he was heavily involved in housing initiatives. As a military veteran, his passion was around helping military and veteran families with housing needs. He created, stood up and managed national military and veteran philanthropic housing programs for Wells Fargo, Jeff has knowledge of community development and a desire to see his community strengthened. He, along with his wife Melissa, wants to see his three young children grow up in a vibrant community with outdoor activities and events to bring everyone together.

If elected, Jeff would focus on:

• Green energy projects (solar power & water conservation)
• Maintaining and potentially expanding the use of our green spaces for the neighborhood
• Addressing sidewalk safety issues by helping to find discounts for our community to repair or replace damaged concrete

*****

Jason Hamata (Incumbent) moved to the Green Meadows West neighborhood in 2019, and was elected to the association board in 2020. He lives on Nottingham Street, and has four young children that will all attend Johnston’s amazing public schools. He serves on the Prairie and Grounds committees. If re-elected, Jason would work to continue maintaining the infrastructure that we have, continue working on our natural areas, and continue to improve the horticulture at our entrances and throughout the neighborhood.

*****

Ron Lower (Incumbent) has lived in the Green Meadows West neighborhood for more than 15 years. He and his wife live on Hardwicke Drive, in Plat 8. Ron is a Software Engineer at John Deere Financial. Ron has served on the association board since 2014, and is currently a member of the Grounds Committee. If re-elected, Ron would continue overseeing maintenance of our common areas, in order to ensure the neighborhood is an attractive and appealing place for all its residents.

*****

Jason Rauscher (Incumbent) has lived in Green Meadows West, since 2016 and has been serving on the association board since 2017. He works at Corteva Agriscience with a background in biology and education. Jason has played an active role on the Prairie Committee, and currently serves as a board officer. He has a passion for the beauty and ecological impact of Iowa’s natural areas, and the important roles they play in the quality of life of our community.

Board Announces 2023 Annual Meeting Date, Seeks Candidates

The next annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association (GMWHOA) members is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tues., Jan. 31, 2023, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

This meeting will be conducted in-person. The board is also exploring live-streaming and video-teleconference options, in case of weather and/or public health contingencies.

The association’s officers and board of directors will present reports regarding current and future  activities. The meeting agenda will also include discussions of:

• 2023 operations budget
• current and future membership dues
• election of new board members

To vote at the annual meeting, members must be in good standing, with all fees paid. Meeting materials, include official notice, ballots and proxies, and board candidate biographies will be distributed via postal mail in early January 2023. Biographies will also be posted on-line via website and social media.

Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend.

As always—to encourage meeting attendance or proxy-returns—there will be drawings for door prizes! These include two cash awards of $100 and one of $50!

If you are interested in serving on the Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association board, please contact the Nominations committee via the Association Manager. Members of the Nominations committee will contact you to offer further information about prospective board roles and responsibilities. They will also solicit a short biography to share with the GMWHOA membership-at-large via postal mail, website, and social media prior to the election.

Individuals standing for election must be in good standing, with all fees paid.

Board members serve for elected terms of three years. Board members elected in 2023 will serve until the annual meeting in January 2026. Organizational by-laws stipulate a minimum of nine board members. Board members serve as volunteers.

The board meets regularly to consider financial reports, homeowner requests, and committee actions, typically on the third Tuesday of each month.

Interested individuals may also volunteer to serve on committees and working groups, such as the Prairie and Grounds committees. These positions are not elected, but are instead appointed via board or executive action.

For more information on the annual meeting, volunteer opportunities, or to contact the Nominations committee, please contact: Association Manager Ben McMenamin, 515.222.5206; benm AT knappproperties DOT com 

Please Vote in This Year's HOA Election!

The following are personal statements of candidacy for each of five people running for election to the Green Meadows West Homeowners Association board of directors in 2022. Four will be elected, toward a current total of 11 board members.

These statements are presented in alphabetical order by last name, regardless of incumbency, and are posted both on the neighborhood Facebook page and website.

All GMWHOA voting-lot members who are in good standing (dues paid) are eligible to vote in this election. Because the 2022 Annual Meeting is to be conducted via video-teleconference, all voting is taking place by postal mail or hand-delivered.

If you have not received your ballot and meeting-attendance proxy, please contact Association Manager Ben McMenanin at: 515.222.5206; benm AT knappproperties DOT com

Ballots and proxies must be received by 12 noon Mon., Jan. 24, 2022 in order to be counted.

Returned proxies will also be eligible for door prizes.

The Annual Meeting video-teleconference is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tues., Jan. 25, 2022.

Here are this year's candidate statements:

*****

My name is Joel Beary. My family moved to Green Meadows West in 1995 and have had at least one branch of the family here since then. I am 2000 graduate of JHS and went on to receive my BA degree in Sociology from the University of Iowa in 2004. 

I spent a few years away from Johnston early in my career but returned in 2015 when my wife and I purchased my childhood home upon my parents retirement. We currently reside in Green Meadows West with our two children and look forward to doing all we can to help the neighborhood maintain its wonderful atmosphere as well as support its growth going into the future.

I want to ensure my children as well as everyone in GMW has the same great experience growing up here that I did. 

*****

My name is Randy Brown. My family has lived in Green Meadows West Plat 9—an area south of the power lines that cross east-west through neighborhood green space—since 1999. We have two children in Johnston public schools. We are original owners of our house. (The mortgage is nearly paid off!) I am a former editor of Better Homes and Gardens-branded specialty magazines, and am now a freelance writer and independent publisher. My 2006 graduate degree at Iowa State University involved economic and other neighborhood effects generated by changes made to residential properties. I have been a Green Meadows West board member since 2005, and have even intermittently served as a board officer.

As a board member, I have proudly been directly involved in such past GMWHOA initiatives as:

• The installation of new playground equipment at Windsor Park.
• Launching the annual all-neighborhood “Picnic in the Park” and (now Summer Concert series) in Dover Park.
• The professionalization and long-term planning of maintenance for our 17 acres of restored prairie.
• Negotiating with the City of Johnston the zoning conditions of two Planned-Use Developments (P.U.D.) along 86th Street, which prevented food-service and other cash-register businesses from locating adjacent to our GMW residents.

I would appreciate your vote. Thanks for your attention!

*****

My name is Sara Lockner and I am seeking election to serve on the Green Meadows West Home Owners’ Association Board as a demonstration of my love and commitment to the GMW neighborhood. 

I have lived in Green Meadows West since 2015, with my husband and 2 children. I feel so fortunate to call Green Meadows West home; I love the aesthetics, the prairies, the trees, the feeling of community and most importantly—my neighbors! We also love our neighborhood schools and plan on being long term Green Meadows West residents.

When not working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I can be found enjoying walks on the community trails, baking and making crafts with my family.  I have a passionate love of birthday parties, block parties, caffeine and dinners prepared by others. I also serve as a choir coordinator for the Heartland Youth Choir (Canto) and sit on the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Associate Board.

I look forward to learning more about our neighborhood and making positive contributions. Thank you! 

*****

My name is Chris Riester and my wife and I bought our home in Green Meadows West in 2019 and prior to that I lived in the Beaverdale/Merle Hay neighborhood.

I would like to be on the board to help improve the communication and openness of board activities to the community and involve more direct involvement with all members.

I have not served on the board of an HOA in the past, but I currently serve on the Des Moines Valley Region Sports Car Club of America. Our chapter currently has 300+ members and we hold monthly events spring, summer, and fall with 30-100 participants. I have also participated in working with the

Iowa Chapter BMW Car Club of America that also has 300+ members and holds monthly events year round.

My wife and I love living in GMW because it truly does feel like a community. The trails and parks are a big perk for us and we enjoy using them to walk our 2 dogs and enjoy the natural prairie that the neighborhood is known for. Our dogs also enjoy the neighborhood for all of the squirrels they get to watch, bunnies they get to chase, neighbor dogs to bark at, and smells they get to smell going through the prairie.

*****

My name is Jon Vasey. We have lived on Tiburon Place in Green Meadows West for 25 years. My wife Dana and I have two children. I am an attorney with Elverson Vasey, and have been in practice 35 years. I was one of the founding members and first president of the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association. I have served on the GMW board since 2014. In my spare time, I enjoy Drake basketball, music, and architecture. My primary goals are to preserve the character of the neighborhood, and to see that property values are maintained.

First-ever Virtual Annual HOA Meeting is Jan. 26, 2021!

No need to worry about snow during this year’s annual neighborhood meeting! Due to a potential lack of available meeting facilities, as well as efforts to protect the health of our neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association will be conducted via video-teleconference only at 6:30 p.m., Tues., Jan. 26, 2021. The meeting will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

We need your help! Official notices and documents of the meeting—including mail-in ballots and proxies—will be sent to homeowner-members via postal mail the week of Jan. 10, 2021. Please vote and/or return the ballots and proxies sent to each voting-member address by postal mail. If you did not receive a packet, please contact the association manager.

All neighbors who are in good standing (all fees paid), who return their ballots and proxies will be sent the meeting ID number and password via e-mail. The video-teleconference will be conducted via the Zoom application.

The meeting agenda will include discussions of:

• A prescribed spring 2021 burn of prairie areas
• The 2021 operations budget
• The election of new board members

“Neighbors will be able to connect to the meeting audio-only by phone, or the audio-visual presentation via computer, tablet, or smartphone via the Zoom application,” says board member Randy Brown. “To officially conduct voting for board members, however, we’ll still need to ensure a ‘quorum’ via returned proxies!”

As always, returned-proxies will be used to draw for door prizes. Jokes Brown, “Only this year—you must NOT be present to win!” Available prizes will include two cash awards of $100 and one of $50!

For more information, please contact: Association Manager Randi Johnson, 515.222.5206; randi.johnson AT knappproperties DOT com

Annual meeting to be held Jan. 23 at Crown Point Center

The annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association members is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Jan. 23, 2018, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

The association’s officers and board of directors will present reports regarding 2017 activities, and a 2018 budget.

To vote at the annual meeting, members must be in good standing, with all fees paid. Meeting materials will be mailed to homeowners prior to the annual meeting. Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend. Those who attend or who return proxies will be eligible for door prizes.

For more info: Association Manager Randi Johnson, 515.222.5206; randi.johnson@knappproperties.

Annual meeting to be held Jan. 24 at Crown Point Center

The annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association members is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Jan. 24, 2017, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

The association’s officers and board of directors will present reports regarding 2016 activities, and a 2017 budget. Board highlights for the past year include:

• Our 10th Annual "Picnic-in-the-Park" event.

• Working with city officials and area stakeholders regarding a proposed road access from the neighborhood's southern east-west boundary of N.W. 54th Avenue, south into the Birchwood Crossing commercial area.

• Improving stormwater swales and prairie areas.

• Preparing to either remove or treat Ash trees on common property, in keeping with the City of Johnston's plans to mitigate and eradicate Emerald Ash Borer infestations.

To vote at the annual meeting, members must be in good standing, with all fees paid. Meeting materials will be mailed to homeowners prior to the annual meeting. Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend. Those who attend or who return proxies will be eligible for door prizes.

For more info: Association Manager Randi Johnson, 515.222.5206; randi.johnson@knappproperties.

Annual Meeting to be held Jan. 26 at Crown Point Center

The annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association members is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Jan. 26, 2016, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

The association’s officers and board of directors will present reports regarding 2015 activities, and a 2016 budget. Board highlights for the past year include:

• A May controlled burn of restored prairie areas.

• Improvements to irrigation systems in Dover and Windsor parks.

• Our 9th Annual “Picnic-in-the-Park” event.

• Review of plans for construction on a last remaining buildable lot in the neighborhood, located at 5506 Foxboro Rd.

Members must be in good standing, with all fees paid, in order to vote. Meeting materials will be mailed to homeowners prior to the annual meeting.

Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend. Those who attend or who return proxies will be eligible for door prizes.

For more info, contact Association Manager Cyndy Rath at: 515.222.5206; cyndyrath@knappproperties.

Annual Meeting to be held Jan. 27 at Crown Point Center

The annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners’ Association members is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tues., Jan. 27, 2015, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

The association’s officers and board of directors will present reports regarding 2014 activities, and a 2015 budget. Members must be in good standing, with all fees paid, in order to vote. Meeting materials will be mailed to homeowners prior to the annual meeting.

Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend. Those who attend or who return proxies will be eligible for door prizes.

For more info, contact Association Manager Cyndy Rath at: 515.222.5206; cyndyrath@knappproperties.

Association Conducts Annual Meeting, Officers Elected

The general membership of the Green Meadows West Homeowners Association braved polar blasts to conduct its annual meeting, Mon., Jan. 27, 2014, at the Crown Point Community Center, Johnston.

Achieving a quorum of 10 percent of its membership was somewhat problematic, given the sub-zero temperatures, but proxies and late arrivals eventually crossed the required threshold. Special thanks to former association president Steve Halterman for helping "get out the vote."

The minutes of annual meetings are typically published and approved at the subsequent year's meeting. In an effort to communicate annual meeting actions in a more timely manner, however, draft minutes are available to members upon request to the association manager.

Highlights of the 2014 meeting included the election of new directors to the board of directors, presentation of the new year's budget, and discussions of neighbors' concerns regarding light infiltration from newly developed businesses along N.W. 86th Street. Regarding the latter topic, follow-up meetings with the association's Grounds and Property committee are planned for later this spring.

With the election of officers at its regularly scheduled February meeting, the 2014-2015 Board of Directors is now:

• David Erbes - President
• Jack Sullivan - Vice President
• Gary Vaden - Treasurer
• Randy Brown - Secretary
• Mark Hilliard
• Greg Knoploh
• DeAnn Lee
• Ron Lower
• Jon Vasey

Annual Meeting to Be Held Jan. 27, 2014 at Crown Point Center

The annual meeting of Green Meadows West Homeowners Association members is scheduled for 7 p.m., Mon., Jan. 27, 2014, at the Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway, Johnston.

The association's officers and board of directors will present reports regarding 2013 activities, a 2014 budget, and other topics.

Members must be in good standing, with all fees paid, in order to vote. Meeting materials will be mailed to homeowners prior to the annual meeting. Proxies may be assigned to the board for purposes of achieving quorum, or may be assigned to a neighbor who plans to attend.

Those who attend or who return proxies, either by mail or hand-delivery, will be eligible for door prizes.

For more information, contact Association Manager Cyndy Rath at: 515.222.5206, or e-mail: cyndyrath@knappproperties.com