The candidates listed below offer shareholders a set of skills and a level of professionalism that are necessary to managing the business of our co-op.

The undersigned respectfully recommend a vote for the following candidates on June 11, 2014:

#4 Michael Tumminia

Michael has a proven track record of effective leadership. While acting as the president and treasurer of the co-op, the Board turned broom closets into a community room and created a modern, safe, legal (i.e. up to code) playroom; they expanded our leasable commercial spaces; they transformed a padlocked vacant-for-50-years dumping ground into the Hester Street Fair; they balanced our budget, brought us into compliance with Local Law 11, improved our grounds, brought Hertz 24/7 to our property, built a functional interactive website, settled long-running lawsuits that were costing us millions to litigate with no end in sight; and more. And, under Michael’s leadership, we were kept in the loop with regular boardroom reports and shareholder meetings. Michael has his detractors, but without him, we would not have exploited the numerous revenue generating and quality of life enhancing amenities that we all enjoy today. Importantly, Michael has much more to offer if we vote him back on the board.

#7 Darcey Gerstein

Darcey is a professional writer, copywriter, and editor who has worked in financial and corporate communications. She knows how to translate balance sheets and budgets into clear and accurate language that even those without finance backgrounds can understand.  She will make an amazing secretary–a position the board has unsuccessfully filled for years and that is desperately needed.  Communication is a skill that is simply lacking here and the ~3,330 residents here deserve better.  Darcey’s enthusiasm and creativity will also be a welcome addition to the boardroom.

#8 Gillian Lusins

Gillian is a highly educated attorney with decades of experience working in large business organizations where efficiency is highly valued, decisions are made collectively based on the best expertise available, and clear communication is paramount. She will make a strong addition to the board’s capacity to analyze complex issues like Greenthal’s management contract and the dozen or so commercial leases that are all coming up for renewal over the next few years.  Furthermore, having an attorney on the Board to liaise with our outside counsel is extremely valuable and common throughout many corporate structures.

#9 Carol Bankerd

Carol has a long record of selfless community service and advocacy, from personally caring for the trees on our property (and off) to dealing with powerful real estate concerns on behalf of members of her past community in Cambridge, Mass.  Her experience and perspective will be enormously helpful to the board as Essex Crossing breaks ground across the street.  As a tenured educator at the university level, Carol is also one to take research very seriously.  We can all benefit from Board members looking to enhance their knowledge, rather than skirting issues or ignoring topics that simply require too much effort to fully understand.  Carol also brings much leadership experience resulting from her committee and council memberships throughout her 37 year professorship.

Please consider voting for these four candidates. Each brings valuable and complementary skills and professional experience to our boardroom.

Attention!

Last year shareholders voted overwhelmingly to remove Geordan Goldstein from the Board.

The final vote was 438-210

When you vote tomorrow, please keep this in mind.

Most importantly, please read the candidate statements and vote TOMORROW- Wednesday, June 11th 7 am to 7 pm in the lobbies.

Remember, you can vote online right now. Check your Election-America Proxy package for instructions.

Your neighbors–Linda Jones, Brett Leitner, Micah Arbisser