Members begin terms today
At its annual meeting held Feb. 19, Absolutely Waterford elected a new Board of Directors to continue carrying forward its mission to revitalize Main Street and beyond.
Past President Morena Marquez, owner of Martini MO’z finished out her term Feb. 28. Taking over the reins starting March 1 is the organization’s former Vice President Mike Ciezki, owner of In Home Floor and Window Fashions.
Ciezki, whose term as president continues through the end of February 2014, is optimistic about the group’s future.
“I see great things ahead,” he said during the annual dinner held downtown at Marty’s Fiesta Hall.
“We have an awesome team that got Absolutely Waterford up and running, and I am excited for great things ahead …
“We have the best thing in the world that no one else has – we have Waterford and we can make it even better than it already is. Rather than sit back and watch, we’re going to make it happen.”
Ciezki will be joined by newly elected vice president, Mary Beth Mikrut, executive director of the Racine Community Foundation, a major AW sponsor; Treasurer Gil Amborn, a local citizen and active volunteer; and Secretary Jennifer Thomas, Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce director.
Other board members include Howard Bryant (citizen and volunteer), Scott Scheu (Hometown Computers), Don Houston (downtown property owner), John Putra (Riverside Chiropractic) and ex-officios Vikki Zuehlke, Waterford Village Clerk and Michelle Bores-Stockton, AW Executive Director.
During the meeting, Bores-Stockton formally honored Marquez and exiting treasurer Brian Lauer, of Lauer Financial, for their leadership from inception on.
Shining Star awards were given to Thomas for her work as the Organization Committee chair; Amborn, for his leadership heading up the Economic Restructuring Committee; Laura Halbach of REMAX Realty, for her work with the Design Committee; Zuehlke, the Promotions Committee Chair, and Bryant, a Design Committee co-chair.
Volunteers credited for making AW’s events such as the Waterford Winter Wonderland Parade and River’s Edge Art Walk so successful were Bryant, Liz Theirbah, Mary K. Windler and Rose Mary Christensen.
“These individuals are to be commended for their hard work in getting Absolutely Waterford off the ground,” Bores-Stockton said. “Our core group of volunteers and business leaders, as well as our generous sponsors, are so vital in bringing to life our vision of transforming the village while celebrating our heritage.”
Jim Engle, director of the Wisconsin Main Street Program, who was present at the annual meeting, said he agrees with Ciezki’s statement about “great things” being ahead for Absolutely Waterford.
“That’s kind of what I expect out of Waterford too in the coming years,” he said. “We spend the first year of a Main Street Program doing a lot of training and really getting started with fundraising efforts and that kind of thing. But typically it’s the second, third, and fourth years when we start to see more sophisticated projects.
“There was so much enthusiasm in the room tonight and committed volunteers, that I expect that to just keep coming along for years to come.”
Absolutely Waterford, a Wisconsin Main Street non-profit organization, works to revitalize the village’s downtown Heritage District by promoting its history, commerce and culture.
It’s not too late to get involved. For more information, visit absolutelywaterford.org online or email Bores-Stockton at [email protected].
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