Elections

The voting period will run from April 5 through May 5. You must be a current member residing in Area 11 to vote.

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Voting Instructions

Nominations for Chair-Elect

Sara Oedekoven

My name is Sara Oedekoven. I am a Wyoming native and currently live in Cheyenne, Wyoming with my husband and 2 children. My oldest is currently in college and my youngest is completing her Junior year in high school. I have been a veterinarian for 20 years, starting in mixed animal practice and now do small animal practice.

I have been involved in music in many different facets over the course of my life. I play the piano and flute and have also sang in choirs. I started ringing bells at my local church in 2016 and found that it is my favorite outlet for musical expression. Shortly after I started ringing, I was asked to be the assistant director to the church’s youth bell choir. After being the assistant director for a year and half, I became lead director until 2022. I currently serve on the Area 11 board as a Wyoming At-Large member and would be excited to expand my role with bells in Area 11.

 

Lynne Storms

A retired educator from Maine, Lynne began ringing handbells in high school when she and her mother formed the first handbell choir in their home church. She played the sousaphone in school bands where her love for the bass line began. In Phoenix, Lynne has been a member of several advanced level ensembles always preferring the “big bells”. Handbells have taken her from Maine to Arizona, Nashville, Oregon, Dallas, and Ireland.

Lynne has served on a number of nonprofit boards including the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (Executive Director), University of Maine at Machias Alumni Association (President), Phoenix Guide Dog Raisers (Secretary), Literacy Phoenix (Secretary), and Phoenix Homesteads Association (Grant Writer). She is a charter member of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus and the Arizona Musicfest Festival Chorus and currently sings with the Pro Musica Arizona Chorale. In addition to music, reading, writing, and crafting are her favorite pastimes.

Lynne lives with her husband in a 1937 adobe home in the heart of Phoenix where they enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. They follow college basketball and baseball, enjoy Mexican cuisine, and love a “not-so-feral” yellow cat.

Nominations for Secretary-Treasurer

Shirley Culp

I grew up ringing handbells in my father’s church choirs in Omaha, NE. For the past 25+ years, I’ve been ringing at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO under the direction of Sue Hahn Boarman. More recently, I joined the Denver Bronze and have been ringing with them since 2018. I’ve held the position of treasurer for Denver Bronze for the past three years. Over that time, I’ve managed all aspects of their financial resources including in-person and online ticket sales, fundraising, and grant applications for the SCFD (Scientific and Cultural Facilities District) which provides grant money for non-profit organizations in the Denver area.

I’ve also established policies and procedures that I hope will ease the transition for those taking over the position in the future. Although my work experience was not in finance, my job was very detail-oriented as an office manager for the wholesale side of La-Z-Boy, Inc. I held that position for over 25 years, working for several La-Z-Boy sales representatives across the United States. Since retiring in 2022, I stay busy ringing handbells, singing in church choir, traveling with my husband, and enjoying our grandchildren.

Jill Persichetti

I have been playing handbells with church choirs for over 15 years. I love playing handbells and have enjoyed a variety of Festivals and Events in addition to my church service.

I was elected Treasurer of Area 11 in 2022 – my 2 year term started September 1, 2022. I am running for re-election for another 2 year term.

I am a retired CPA with work experience in public accounting, financial reporting for a fortune 500 company and as financial manager for a small law firm. In addition I have managed the finances and prepared the taxes for both my husband’s sole proprietorship as well as my own.

I have over 20 years of service as treasurer on a variety of non-profit boards of directors.

Proposed Changes to By-Laws

 

Red is how the By-Laws currently read and the Blue are the proposed changes to be voted on my Area 11 membership.

Article IV, Section 3. (c)

Current: Sub-Areas may elect and maintain a Board of Directors consistent with Area XI Bylaws.

Proposed Change: Sub-Areas may appoint and maintain a committee consistent with Area XI Bylaws.

Article IV, Section 3. (d)

Current: All officers and appointed members of a Sub-Area Board shall be voting members in good standing according to the Bylaws of AGEHR, Inc.

Proposed Change: All appointed members of a Sub-Area committee shall be voting members in good standing according to the Bylaws of AGHER, Inc.

Article VI, Section 3. (b)

Current: The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a two-year term and be eligible for re-election for a consecutive two-year term.

Proposed Change: The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a two-year term and be eligible for re-election, two times, for a maximum of six consecutive years.

Article X, Section 1. (b)

Current: The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit copies of minutes, adopted Bylaws revisions, revised Area XI Official Documents, and appropriate financial documents to the Internal Revenue Service and appropriate Sub-Area agencies as required to maintain status of a non-profit corporation and shall submit the same annually to AGEHR, Inc.

Proposed Change: The Secretary-Treasurer shall submit copies of minutes, adopted Bylaws revisions, revised Area XI Official Documents, and appropriate financial documents to the Internal Revenue Service and appropriate Sub-Area agencies as required to maintain status of a non-profit corporation and shall submit the same annually to AGEHR, Inc.