RA Annual Meeting: Celebrating Reston's Year

Eve Thompson (Lake Anne/Tall Oaks) and Tim Cohn (North Point) were officially welcomed to the Reston Association Board of Directors at RA's Annual Members' Meeting on Tuesday.

Current RA president Ken Knueven will also serve another three-year term on the board, this time as an At-Large Director. He formerly represented Lake Anne/Tall Oaks.

All three spots were uncontested. The board will meet Wednesday to vote for the 2013 officers.

To see official election results, click here.

There were a few glitches with the 2013 election - including ballots that were quite delayed to members homes. Elections Committee Vice Chair Ed Robichaud says the committee will be reviewing election procedures and possibly making changes.

Other highlights from the meeting:

* Remarks from Sen. Janet Howell, Rep. Gerry Connolly and Del. Ken Plum. Howell said "moving to Reston 39 years ago was the best thing I ever did."

"We are now in our fourth home in Reston," she said. "Part of the reason is there is such a sense of community. We know we are different. We know we are better and we work really hard to keep it that way."

* The crowd sang Happy Birthday to Reston founder Robert E. Simon - and presented him with an elegantly carved walking stick.

Simon, who turns 99 on Wednesday, gave kudos to the RA staff, but also commented that several boards "have not stepped up."

He encouraged the board  - as he did the last two annual meetings  - to borrow money and get indoor tennis built. He says he has a line of credit in place with Access Bank ready for Reston Association to use.

* RA recognized these people for their contributions in the last year - 

Friends of Reston (directors Pam Tobey, Nancy Herwig and Ellen Douglas)

Volunteer Service Awards - Heather MacLellan, Reston Tennis (volunteer of the year); South Lakes High School Interact Club (youth volunteers of the year); Vocelli Pizza (Community Partner of the Year).

Mike Collins (North Point) and Joe Leighton (At-Large), who are leaving the RA Board of Directors

* RA's Tobacco Free Living Initiative, was recognized by Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax.

* Knueven also gave a "State of the Association" speech.

"We are no longer a homeowners association from the 1960s," he said. "We have moved from a 'trust us' entity to one that is data-driven and accountable."

Knueven said the board has been taking a more qualitative look at things as the community's infrastructure ages - determining what RA needs to repair or replace.

Knueven also recapped the highlights of RA's last year, including being named one of Money Magazine's Top 10 small cities; the renovation (and May 11 opening of Dogwood Pool); and the opening of kid-sized tennis courts on North Shore.

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