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Change is Good: The eLetter on July 6, 2009 began with the words "Greetings from the New President." Hard to believe, but I have been in the President's role for a little over 5 years. In the last 5 years one of the things I have championed is that change is inevitable and, when properly managed, is a good thing. Further, I feel that organizations are much stronger when periodically new leadership takes the helm. After 5 years as the President, I feel now is the right time for me to step aside and make room for a new TERA leadership team. In most volunteer organizations, the role of President carries with it a lot of work and few perks. However, in spite of the abundance of work, I got much more back than I ever gave. It is with some satisfaction that I look around and see things TERA and I crusaded for (new stop signs at dangerous intersections, new signalized cross walks, a ridge saved from over development, bike lanes, etc.) and feel some satisfaction that I was part of those efforts. Most of all, being President gave me the enormous opportunity to meet so many great Eagle Rockers, as well as many in LA City Government whom I call "friend" today. It was work, but it was rewarding. For continuity, I am not going away, and will remain on the TERA Board as the Immediate Past President.
I am pleased to announce that as of September 1, 2014, Greg Merideth will assume the role of TERA President. Board Member Luis Lopez will step into Greg's prior role as Vice President. Both Greg and Luis, who have been important members of the board, and provided excellent leadership when I was on holiday earlier this year, will bring a fresh perspective and unique skills to the leadership team. Please wish Greg and Luis all the best as they continue TERA's 26 year tradition of working for Eagle Rock. ________________________________________ Bob Gotham, President
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Incoming President's Message
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I would like to start by thanking Bob for his service to The Eagle Rock Association, particularly his time as president. I recognize that I have some rather large shoes to fill. For five years, Bob has been the embodiment of TERA, forging relationships between residents, the business community, community organizations, and civic leaders and tirelessly working for the betterment of the Eagle Rock community. For this, the community owes him a debt of gratitude.
I am both honored and humbled for being given the privilege of serving you as the new president of TERA. Many of you may not know me yet, but I have served on the TERA board for two years, most recently filling the position of vice president. I am a nearly 30-year resident of Eagle Rock. For the last fourteen years, I have lived here with my wife Minh in our home near Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards. I am a nearly 30-year employee of the City of Los Angeles, currently working as a manager of information technology in the Bureau of Contract Administration. Prior to this position, I worked in the Planning Department as the secretary of the now-defunct Board of Zoning Appeals, which gave me some insight into land use and entitlement issues.
Over the course of my residency here, I have developed a deep affection for the hometown feel of the Eagle Rock community. That, combined with my experience working for the City, has instilled in me a desire to preserve the unique residential, commercial, and open space qualities of this community, which was the motivating factor in me joining the TERA board. And, it is also the reason why I am now willing to accept the challenge of guiding the Board into the future.
So, what does the future hold for TERA? As Bob stated, change is inevitable. However, a change in leadership does not mean a change in TERA's mission, which is to work for the improvement of the quality of life in Eagle Rock. To that end, with your help and the support of the TERA Board, we will:
- Continue to oppose the expansion of Scholl Canyon Landfill so that its continuing impacts on Eagle Rock can be lessened.
- Support removing the hours of operation conditions contained in the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan, so that new businesses can more readily achieve the same footing as existing businesses thus making Eagle Rock a more attractive location for new, small businesses.
- Continue to support Take Back the Boulevard. Support the continued beautification of Colorado Boulevard by supporting the placement of medians on the portion of Colorado west of Eagle Rock Boulevard so that it will have the same look and feel as the eastern part of Colorado.
- Work to foster community identity and pride by pursuing the installation of community-identifying monuments at each of the main entry points into Eagle Rock.
- Pursue the possibility of creating and implementing a specific plan for Eagle Rock Boulevard, so the it can reap benefits similar to the one that have made Colorado Boulevard such a success.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. It is just a sample of the issues that are "on deck" for TERA. I look forward to working with you and the Board on these and other issues with a goal of producing an even stronger, safer, more beautiful, and more vibrant Eagle Rock.
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Greg Merideth, Vice President
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Incoming Vice President's Message
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For the last couple of years I have served on the Board of The Eagle Rock Association. Most recently I led TERA's campaign in opposition to the proposed expansion of the Scholl Canyon Landfill.
I am the Director of Government Affairs for AltaMed Health Services, a large nonprofit network of federally-qualified community health centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties. In this capacity, I advocate for access to quality and affordable health care for underserved communities including primary care, senior care services, HIV/AIDS specialty care, substance abuse treatment and other safety net programs and services. I also serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood - Los Angeles.
Throughout my career I have been active in civic affairs. From 2007 to 2013 I served as President of the Los Angeles East Area Planning Commission. I was a founding board member of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council where I served 2 terms and also served 3 terms as chair of the regional parks funding oversight committee.
Additionally, I have experience in housing policy. Previously, as a former Senior Consultant in the financial services practice of KPMG Consulting Inc., an international IT consulting firm (now Bearing Point, Inc.); I managed large-scale data management projects involving credit analytics for federal housing programs, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Prior to joining KPMG Consulting Inc., I was a Social Science Analyst in the Division of Policy, Development & Research (PD&R) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.
I hold a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College. I reside in Eagle Rock with my partner Hans Johnson. I'm honored to serve the Eagle Rock Community in my new role as TERA Vice President and look forward to working with Greg and the entire TERA board to protect and advance the quality of life for all Eagle Rockers.
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