Venetian eSplash 25 August 2018 – Meet the Nominees, Voting open

Voting begins today and runs through Wednesday, September 5

The deadline for submitting your votes is Wednesday, September 5.

You can download the election ballot form from the Voting Matters tab under the Members Only page (you have to be logged in), or you can download it here:  VPCA_Board_of_Directors_Election_Ballot_2018.pdf

Forms are also available at the Front Desk.  You can:

Voting will be from Saturday, August 25, through Wednesday, September 5.  The new Board members will officially take office during the Annual Meeting, Monday, September 10.

Nominee photos and bios are shown below and can also be downloaded here: 2018_Nominees.pdf

Online voting is open now and instructions can be found under the Voting Matters tab on the Members Only page or can be downloaded here: VPCA_Voting_Instructions_2018.pdf

Here are the Nominees:

Jimmy Lockhart

Our family has lived in Decatur for the past 20 years and we have been members at Venetian the past 10 years.  I am a Business Development Executive with Visionaire Partners, an IT search and consulting firm. My wife Julie is Director of Peer to Peer Marketing at the Arthritis Foundation and our daughter Gracie is a sophomore at Decatur High. We have many great memories at Venetian – 9 years of swim team for our daughter Gracie – no muggy rain delays right? Fourth of July parties, Luaus and poolside dinners are other favorites. Over the past 5 years, I have done the 40 mile challenge and love the sense of community we share at Venetian. I would like to serve on the board and have the opportunity to give back to our community. My background in the people business, negotiating contracts and working to find common ground may be beneficial to Venetian; I certainly hope so.

Kirk Fjelstul (fell stool)

My wife Suzanne and I have three kids: Katie Rose (15), Jake (13), and Lola Grace (11).  We’ve been Venetian members for 10ish years, and all three kids are Poolsharks.  Thanks to encouragement from some very supportive lap swimmers, Jake is also a rookie in the 40-Mile Club.  We have been long time volunteers with the swim team, having such glamorous jobs in the early years as bullpen parents, timers, and ribbon pullers.  More recently we have been promoted, largely due to our vast experience: bathroom cleaner, weed puller, guy that flips the event numbers on the pole, and head timer (guy that pushes a button after a race)!  All of this has prepared me to serve as a board member, I mean what is left!

I am a lawyer by training.  I began my career in private practice, where I defended governments in lawsuits; and then I moved to another firm, where I represented large development interests.  I left private practice to serve as chief counsel and then deputy executive director of a state authority.  I am currently the executive director of a regional commission, an organization that engages in community and economic development activities for local governments just south of Atlanta.

Venetian is so much more than a pool.  It is a place to make friends, relax, and have fun.  If elected, my goal is to work with the board as it continues that tradition.  I have served or been on boards my entire career, so I understand the importance of listening to and working with colleagues to reach consensus. My work experiences also mean that I can help with facilities, budgets, staff, or whatever is needed.  Venetian has given so much to our family, as a direct result of the contributions of volunteers who have come before us, and I look forward to adding another pair of hands.

Kelly Brooks

Kelly has lived down the street from Venetian Pools since 2005 and been a member since 2016. She is a freelance writer who works in the world of corporate communications for companies including UPS, The UPS Store, Cox Enterprises, IBM and Invest Atlanta. Prior to having children, she worked at UPS in Employee Communications for almost 10 years.

Kelly is actively involved at Westchester Elementary, having served on the PTA board and on the team that runs the school’s annual fundraiser. She also delivers meals to seniors each week through Meals on Wheels.  She and her husband, Steve, have two children (Luke-12 and Bay-8) — one of which is a spirited Pool Shark.

Kelly hopes that by serving on the Venetian board she can continue to build upon the strong culture of family and community that defines the pool.

Kimberly Head Amos

My husband Lewis and I live in Ponce de Leon Heights, just up the street from Venetian. We have two children—Anne in 5th grade and Elizabeth in 4th. Our girls have participated in swim team since 2014 and have attended Venetian summer camp since 2015, and Lewis is working on his fourth 40-mile swim challenge. We joined Venetian in 2012 and love that it is a significant part of our summer.

I graduated from SMU in Dallas, Texas, and earned a master’s degree at Georgia State in policy studies, focusing on nonprofit organizations. Before children, I worked in fundraising for nonprofits, primarily schools and universities. Since then, I have been involved in the community as a parent and volunteer.

At Westchester Elementary, where my kids attended for four years, I chaired the safety committee as a member of the school leadership team. Our primary safety issue was … Scott Boulevard! Our accomplishments included a petition with 1200+ signatures, leading to a joint resolution by the City of Decatur and the City Schools of Decatur, ultimately helping to bring about a pedestrian hybrid beacon to be installed in front of the school this fall (like the one on Clairemont at the Y).

As a board member, I hope to continue strengthening the Venetian community and to find ways for members to contribute in a meaningful manner. I would also like to begin advocating as a community for improvements to Scott Boulevard, including a pedestrian hybrid beacon, which would allow people to cross Scott safely. Many thanks for your consideration.

Bryan Markowitz

My family and I moved to Decatur a little more than a decade ago and we live on Westchester Drive. One of the first things that I did after getting fully moved in to our home and our lights and cable hooked up was put our family on the Venetian pool waiting list. Just from the view from the road and discussion with other neighbors, I knew that the Venetian pool would be a special place for my family and me. I was definitely right with that assessment.

As I am sure many of you believe the Venetian pool really is much more than a pool. It is a place where the community meets to socialize, eat, drink and swim. Our swim team is a wonderful resource that enables to develop children into competitive swimmers. Our lap lanes are often always full with 40 mile swimmers (of which my wife is one of them) and our pool is full of people who are happy and enjoying the summer. When I receive my invoice from the pool in February, I always smile (and pay promptly) as it is the first sign of summer. The wonderful nights and weekends at the pool along with the 4th of July, float nights and luau quickly enters my mind.

When I am not at the pool, I am the Executive Director of the Georgia Optometric Association which is a professional association that represents optometrists here in the state of Georgia. Along with managing the association and a staff of 4, I lobby at the Capitol on their behalf.  I am a member of the Decatur Rotary Club and have also been a volunteer soccer coach with Decatur recreation. I am married to Sara and have two children (Jeffrey (14) who works at the snack bar and Heather 11).

I see it as an honor and a privilege to help maintain this wonderful oasis that we have here at the Venetian pool. I appreciate your consideration and ask for your support.

Steven Gyorffy

My name is Steven Gyorffy.  My wife, Jennifer, and two kids, Jack (11) and Eliza (9), have been members since last summer.  We have really loved being members at the Venetian.  We spend most weekends at the pool and frequently stay until closing.  I am an IT professional and have lived in Decatur since 1999.  I am also a member of the 40 mile club, successfully completing this milestone for the first time this season!

I hope to become a member of the board to contribute ideas for future improvements and continue keeping it a true oasis.

Christopher Weiser

Christopher Weiser moved to Atlanta in 1997 after graduating from Clemson University in Graphic Communications. Our family moved inside the City of Decatur in 2007, had 2 boys (Benjamin & Noah). They joined the Venetian family in 2012, where the kids were Pool Sharks for a number of years.

The Weiser’s regularly attend North Decatur Presbyterian Church where they head up a yearly fellowship event. Christopher had the opportunity to work w/ the pastor on a review board to evaluate the messaging and marketing direction for the church.

Outside of family & pool time, Christopher is fully engaged in the local Boy Scout troop. As an Eagle Scout himself, he leads the new / incoming Scouts in the ‘on-boarding’ process, as we; as and mentors the Life Scouts through their journey to Eagle Scout.

Since 1997, Christopher has been part of the graphics industry, now working for Matthews / SGK. He works on-site at Georgia-Pacific leading the packaging development team providing insight and recommendations for process improvements through data collection, evaluation and reporting.

While on the board, my hope would be to help provide ideas and insight of pool members as well as help fulfill the direction of the board.

Future Events & Important Dates:

Saturday, August 25: Board of Directors voting begins
Wednesday, September 5: BOD voting ends
Sunday, September 9: Pool closes for season
Monday, September 10: Annual Meeting, Pool Deck, 7 pm
Monday, September 10: Extended Lap Swim begins
Sunday, September 30: Extended Lap Swim ends

Submitted by Nick Cortese, communications@venetianpools.org

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