vp_electioninfo

VERANO RESIDENTS’ COUNCIL 2008/09 ELECTION

CANDIDATES

This page contains statements from thirteen residents who are running for the Verano Residents' Council. Voting will be conducted online beginning on Monday, May 12th and ending at 12:15 a.m. on Monday, May 19th. You may vote for up to 5 candidates. An email will be sent to you with instructions and a link to the ballot, once the voting window opens.

FELIPE BARRETO

I'm a fourth year PhD student in the department of Ecology and Evolution, and I'm really looking forward to graduating. I moved to VP only 6 months ago after living in Palo Verde for 2 years, and I soon noticed what a great improvement in my quality of life that move made. Not only do I actually enjoy being in my apartment now, I feel that the residents of VP are much less disturbed and inconvenienced by maintenance, management, construction and landscaping activities. As a result, my neighbors actually greet me when we meet! Joining the VRC and helping maintain and improve the VP community seems like a good way to give a bit back.

As a fellow nerd, I appreciate the diversity of cultures, backgrounds and academic fields that VP residents comprise. Although the usual 'community BBQ' is always a good way to get people mingling, I feel many would benefit from knowing who else shares their taste in music, sports, outdoors, and fancy cuisine. Similarly, the talents of our residents should not be overlooked; it would be great to see more people feel comfortable in advertising their need for guitar lessons, or math tutors for the their kids within the community, but also to receive requests from people with higher incomes (such as our professors at University Hill!). I would find it a fun challenge to think of ways to facilitate communication between residents interested in such 'extracurricular' activities.

carrie CARRIE CARMODY

I have been a resident of Verano for three years and am a returning member of the VRC. As a single mom with two kids I understand the challenges of living on a budget! As a business manager with over two decades of experience I believe in fiscal responsibility and institutional accountability. These skills have aided me in successfully advocating for Verano Residents’ rights and ensuring that the administration adheres to fiscally responsible budgeting. This year’s rent increases, while unavoidable, are the smallest in years. In addition to building a more cooperative relationship with VHO, this year’s VRC successfully advocated for improved laundry facility communication, improved scheduling of maintenance issues, improved energy efficiency, and more events for single students. We also hosted the biggest Welcome Event in years. Several residents’ requests were resolved including parking lot improvements and playground safety.

I have a strong history of community leadership and resident advocacy. I look forward to continuing this legacy of resident advocacy and hope you will Vote for me.

The Verano Aces: I am running with four other candidates:Suzanne Kaasa,, Tia Peterson, Donna Willis and Anna Guercio. Through strong advocacy on behalf of all Verano residents, we will work to hold Housing and the UCI Administration accountable for their policies and decisions, including the Verano budget and changes to Verano policies, as well as timely communication on community projects.

Nothing_Beats_Five_Aces! www.veranoaces.com

PAYEL CHOWDHURY

My name is Payel. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Economics at UCI. I have lived in Verano Place for almost a year now. I believe that Verano is a great place to live in but there is also a lot of scope for improvements. What I love most about living here is the community feeling and the homely atmosphere. What I find missing is the lack of more community events for residents and their kids, that can provide an excellent platform for more social interactions.

Along with studies, I have always tried to improve the quality of life for both myself and for people around me. I have been the hostel president for two years in JNU, Delhi and the housing student president in IGIDR, Mumbai, along with several other such representative positions in the last ten years of my life. I have successfully brought many significant improvements apart from fulfilling my responsibilities well in these positions.

I believe that if you vote for me, I will fulfill my promise to organize more community events that would make Verano a better place for fun, community and activities for all age groups, and also to be available for the residents to know their problems and for resolving these to the best to the best of my abilities. So please vote for me and give me an opportunity to do work that I really enjoy doing and that which will benefit us all.

anna ANNA GUERCIO

Hi, I'm Anna. As a recent arrival, I've found much to value in Verano – but I see a great deal more that can be done. I urge you to elect me to the Council, where my background in leadership and community building will make me a formidable advocate on your behalf and a powerful voice in improving our little corner of California. In some of my past lives, I have:

Helped lead a thirty year old housing co-operative, addressing residents' needs and establishing a brand new house;

Run the marketing department for a social networking site, facilitating communication and fostering community;

Acted as residence director for a program at Yale University, nurturing a healthy environment and advocating for residents;

Overseen and expanded the reach of a race unity taskforce, planning conferences, writing newsletters, and building alliances, and;
Completed an MFA in Literary Translation and poetry, setting me on my way toward a PhD in Comparative Literature here at UCI.

The Five Aces: I am proud to be running with Tia Peterson, Suzanne Kaasa, Carrie Carmody, and Donna Willis. Through strong advocacy on behalf of all Verano residents, we will work to hold Housing and the UCI Administration accountable for their policies and decisions, including the Verano budget and responsiveness to student needs.

It takes Aces: Attitude + Commitment = Excellence! -- www.veranoaces.com

suzanne SUZANNE KAASA

I am a 5-year Verano resident, and have been a member of the VRC for the last two years.

Advocacy Experience:

I am an experienced advocate and have served on the following committees:

Ad Hoc Housing Committee
GSHIP Committee
Academic Senate Housing Committee
Off-campus Affordable Housing Committee

VRC Record:

Last year the council worked to lower the projected rent increase from 8% to 5% and advocated for residents by stopping the planned in-home inspections and changes to the pet and smoking policies. The VRC was proactive in increasing communication, such as creating a VRC newsletter and email listserv to keep residents informed. We also provided a new gas-grill for the Commons, and sponsored several community events.

This year the VRC has maintained the same high standard of representation. We have worked with housing on the budget for a rent increase of 3.2%, which is even lower than last year. We have also addressed resident concerns such as arranging for Parking lot 35 to be re-stripped and the swing set to be resurfaced. In addition, we have sponsored VRC events such as Welcome BBQ and donated to resident-initiated events such as Diwali. This year we have funded purchases such as bike racks and a PA system for resident use.

The Five Aces: I am running with four other candidates: Carrie Carmody, Anna Guercio, Tia Peterson, and Donna Willis. Together, we represent a strong experienced team of housing advocates. -- www.veranoaces.com

ling LING LIN

As an international student, my first home in the U.S. was at Verano Place. Since then, I have made friends, volunteered at Welcome Day, joined BBQ party... It is needless to say how much I have enjoyed my stay and cared about Verano.

I applied for Verano Housing Assistant for 2007-08. I was fortunate to be selected, and I love my job! Many of you have spoken with me, or seen me at the Office/Commons/Old Rec/… You might not remember my face, but you would remember my pretty spoken Chinglish!

I am running for VRC election, because I want to continue serving the community, as much as I have done as a Housing Assistant, and now I have more experience to contribute to VRC so as to serve our residents better.

VRC not only is Verano Residents Council, but also is Voice, Rapport and Connection. VRC has being working for Verano residents, however, there is still much to improve. For example, I have participated in many surveys as a fellow resident, but rarely have I gotten any feedback. I would like future VRC to take on a firmer role on this point. Rent hike is another issue that is heavily affecting our lives, and I would like VRC to continue strong advocacy for affordable housing.

Last but not least, I hope to represent all international students, whoever loves Verano, and whoever wants to make it a better place!

You are here to vote. Ling is here for you!

ERICA MUNOZ

My name is Erica; I have lived in Verano for almost three years. I am currently a Criminology student at UCI. I plan on attending Law School after receiving my Masters. I am interested in becoming part of the VRC because I believe in advocacy. I know that I can help make common ideas be heard. Although I have a serious demeanor, I enjoy socializing and seeing the community to which my children and I belong to get along well. Once on the VRC, I plan on researching possibilities for students from all backgrounds to get the support they need, Whether it may be by advocating for reasonable rental rates, or community activities for single or married graduate students, I believe we all have something to offer and gain from one another and if we can work together nothing is impossible. In the past I have worked closely with individuals of many distinct nationalities, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Lebanese, and Caucasian. I enjoy learning new things, have and open mind, and therefore, I can appreciate individual concerns. If you vote for me you will be voting for someone who is sincerely concerned about you.

JILLIAN PETERSON

Hi. My name is Jillian Peterson. I am a graduate student in the Psychology and Social Behavior program. I study violence- root causes, as well as prevention and intervention strategies. I would love to serve as your representative on the Verano Residence Council for 2008-2009.

I think the role of a council member is to listen to the community and be an active voice. The council provides resources, mediates conflict, and creates change through dialogue, creative thinking, and problem solving. Although graduate school housing issues may not involve violent crime, working in public defense has taught me to be an effective advocate. My certification in community mediation and background in restorative justice give me a wealth of experience.

I think the most amazing thing about Verano is the diversity of experiences and views among the people and families living here. Having lived in the Midwest, New York, Central and South America, and now Orange County, I know how overwhelming it can be to enter a new community. I hope to commit my time and energy to making Verano a welcoming and rewarding place to live. I hope that you will vote for me in this election.

Thank You!

tia Tiamoyo (Tia) Peterson

I’ve been a resident of the Verano housing community for five years and I have served on the Verano Resident’s council for one year. I chose to run because as a Verano resident, I'm interested in how this community can best serve the needs of its residents. Housing issues are important to me and I have worked hard to make sure that the resident voice has been heard by the housing administration. I will be here to listen to your comments, suggestions, complaints, and needs. I believe that the VRC needs to work hard to balance the needs of all residents: couples, families, and single graduate students too. This is our community and it should reflect us all. As a VRC member I will work to put on events that entertain, inform, and build community.

I have a strong history of community leadership:

10+ years on the Board of Directors for Grass Roots II (a non-profit specializing in helping low-income families)
AmeriCorps member
06/07 Internal Committee for AGS
05-09 Association for Psychological Science Campus Representative

The Verano Aces: I am running with four other candidates: Suzanne Kaasa, Carrie Carmody, Donna Willis, and Anna Guercio. Through strong advocacy on behalf of all Verano residents, we will work to hold Housing and the UCI Administration accountable for their policies and decisions, including the Verano budget and responsiveness to student needs.

"It takes Aces: Attitude + Commitment = Excellence. We'll give you 5X the ACE" www.veranoaces.com

MICHELLE POMEROY

I am the wife of a PhD student. My husband is also running for VRC. Though not a student myself, I am very familiar with student life. This past year, I've worked on campus as a graduate student coordinator. In this capacity I've gained a general scope about UCI's graduate school and have made strong connections with many campus departments. My comprehensive knowledge would be an excellent resource for the VRC.

My husband and I are expecting our first baby, June 1st. As a soon-to-be-mom, I realize more than ever the importance of a strong community. I have a degree in Child Development and Family Studies. As a VRC member, I would promote couples and the family in all decision-making processes.

I’ve been a Verano resident for one year. As a new community member, I am not anchored to one pattern of thinking. I will bring fresh ideas, a resourceful mind, and novel solutions.

The VRC needs your feedback! I am committed to implementing technology that would promote better communication between residents, the VRC, and Housing Administration.

Please see our website for more about the Pomeroys! VotePomeroys.com

MILES POMEROY

I am a PhD student in Biology at UCI. I am married and my wife is also running for VRC. As a Verano council member, I would bring skills in Information Technology and website development. I would increase Verano residents’ awareness of the council and its ability to benefit the community. I think it is important to not only represent your opinions, but also search out your suggestions and feedback. I want to improve communication between the council and residents by providing RSS feeds to inform residents of current VRC issues and implementing an online suggestion tracking system whereby those who make suggests would be notified of their status.

Please see our website for more about the Pomeroys! VotePomeroys.com

YANG WANG

My name is Yang, pronounced as "young". I was born and grew up in China. I came to UCI 5 years ago and have lived in Verano Place (VP) ever since. I am currently a PhD student in Information and Computer Sciences (ICS).

Please vote for me because:

I have served as a council member in UCI's Associated Graduate Students (AGS). I know and have experience with what it takes to get students' voices heard and seriously considered.
I am an international student. I know how it is to study, work and live here. VP has a significant percentage of international students. We need to have someone who truly understands our needs and speaks for us!
I am a husband and father. I understand the challenges in raising a family while doing research.
I am a team player in UCI Men's soccer club. I know how to respect and work with others to achieve goals.
I have lived in Asia, North America and Europe. I am fascinated by various cultures. VP is a place with rich diversity and I aim to help preserve and promote such diversity.

I created a Facebook group called "UCI Verano Place". This is where former and current VP residents, families, friends and staff can communicate and connect with each other. This is where we can speak out and discuss about opinions, needs, and suggestions. Please come join us and spread out the word!

More about myself: http://www.ics.uci.edu/~yangwang

donna DONNA WILLIS

I am a two-year Verano Place resident and have been a member of the VRC since February this year. While our complex is one of four graduate housing communities at UCI, Verano Place is unique in the way that it opens its doors to undergraduate students with families. Though I will be a first-year MAT student during the 2008-2009 academic year, I initially became a Verano resident as an undergraduate student in a domestic partnership with children. I have an invested interest in advocating the needs of our undergraduate residents and other underrepresented populations whose situations also require special care.

Advocacy experience:

In addition to my current service on the VRC, I also have experience advocating for the funding of arts programs in the K-6 curriculum. Additionally, I am implementing an outreach project with the objectives to foster and direct the empowerment and enrichment of “at-risk” youth within our neighboring Orange County schools.

The Verano Aces: I am running with four other candidates: Carrie Carmody, Anna Guercio, Suzanne Kaasa, and Tia Peterson. Through strong advocacy on behalf of all Verano residents, we will work to hold Housing and the UCI Administration accountable for their policies and decisions, including the Verano budget and responsiveness to student needs.

"It takes ACES: Attitude + Commitment = Excellence. We'll give you 5X the ACE.”

www.veranoaces.com

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