Nominating Committee Recommendations
The SWRA is a working Board, which usually meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month for 3-4 hours. Board members also serve on committees. The Nominating Committee recommended Members William Phillips and Bob Taffet to serve for three-year terms on the SWRA Board. Please see the candidates’ biographies in this newsletter. The Bylaws allow any 1987 covenants property owner in good standing with SWRA to run for one of the two board of director seats By Petition. If interested in running by petition, one must obtain a petition form from the SWRA office and return the completed form on or before February 4th to qualify and be listed on the election ballot. Should someone decide to run for the board of directors by petition, their biography will be mailed with the election ballots.
Bob Taffet Bio – Bob Taffet has owned a house in Stillwaters since 1998. As his family expanded so did the lake house. His late wife, Linda, passed away in 2020 following a 13-year bout with cancer and Frontal Temporal Dementia. Bob remarried in 2023 to Robin Ulrich. They make their full time home here in Stillwaters. Bob graduated from Rutgers University and received his commission in the United States Air Force (USAF). During the Vietnam War, Bob flew 170 fighter combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos. During the early 1970s Bob was assigned as a Fighter Instructor Pilot at multiple bases in the US. In 1975 he was assigned to Taiwan as an advisor to the Nationalist Chinese military. Subsequently, assigned to the USAF’s fighter headquarters in 1978, his duties included work with various training programs, contingency operations, Inspector General (IG) matters and he was the first Branch Chief for the fighter forces of the command responsible for the middle east area of operation. Following this tour he was assigned to Korea, first as the Chief of Safety for most USAF bases and facilities in South Korea and then as commander of a tactical squadron. His unit was awarded the USAF Outstanding Unit Award. Upon returning to the United States, he became the first Director of the Combat Employment Institute at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Many of the Institute’s graduates went on to successfully plan and execute the air war against Iraq during Desert Storm. Bob received his Masters of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and graduated the following year from the USAF Air Command and Staff College. He also is a graduate of the USAF Air War College as well as the USAF Aircraft Accident Investigation School. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medals (x3), the Air Medal (x8), the Air Force Commendation Medal (x3) and several foreign decorations. Upon his retirement from the USAF at the rank of Colonel, Bob became the first Director of the Auburn University Montgomery Alabama TechnaCenter where they trained over 75,000 people in the use and applications of computers. Following his full time retirement, he substitute taught at Montgomery Academy, Trinity Presbyterian School, and St. James School. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Air University Foundation at Maxwell AFB and is a past Commodore of the Stillwaters Yacht Club.
William Phillips Bio – William and his wife, Mary, have been property owners in Stillwaters since 2015, becoming full-time residents in 2020, enjoying the pace of Lake Martin living. Previously residing in Birmingham, AL, they have been married for 38 years and share their home with two cats, Soot and Ms. Kitty. William attended Auburn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Florida. Over his 35-year career in financial services, he developed expertise in risk management, portfolio management, sales, underwriting, real estate legal matters, executive leadership, team building, training, and quality assurance. Retiring from PNC Bank in 2021, William is now excited about the growth and opportunities in Stillwaters. He is committed to contributing to the community’s improvements, advocating for a fiscally stable long-term approach to resource management with his financial expertise.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS Saturday, March 8, 2025 10:00 AM Make Plans to Attend THE STILLWATERS RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING SWRA ANNUAL MEETING.
THE ELECTION COMMITTEE:
The Election Committee oversees the election for the SWRA Board of Directors. The committee also counts and verifies all ballots received by SWRA. Elections Ballots will be mailed to SWRA members and should be returned to the SWRA office addressed to: Secretary, SWRA Board. Ballots must be in the office no later than February 28, 2025. Ballots that are postmarked by February 28th will be counted as long they arrive before the Election Committee meets the following Tuesday. Members must be in good standing in order to vote, which means that all monies due to SWRA must be paid by that date.
SWRA BYLAWS:
ARTICLE VII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Section 7.2 The Board of Directors shall appoint an Elections Committee consisting of five (5) members, in good standing, at least 60 days prior to the election. The Committee’s duties include verifying all ballots and proxies and announcing the results to the membership at the annual meeting and by other means. The Nominations Committee may serve as the Elections Committee at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Section 7.3 Elections to the Board of Directors shall be by written ballot. The Secretary shall prepare ballots listing the Board vacancies and those properly nominated to fill them and shall mail ballots to each member at least 14 days prior to the election. The member may cast as many votes as parcels owned for each candidate but may not cumulate those votes for one candidate in elections with more than one vacancy. The ballot must be signed by the member or proxy and returned to the Elections Committee for verification. The Elections Committee will verify all votes including those made by proxy and comparing the number of votes to the number of parcels owned. All Ballots will be held by the Committee as confidential. The Elections Committee may disallow all ballots not received by the due date or improperly executed by the member or proxy. Section 7.4 The Elections Committee will count all proper ballots and publicize the results to the membership at the members’ meeting and by such other means deemed appropriate. All ballots will be destroyed unless a recount request is filed with the Elections Committee by at least one third (1/3) of members casting ballots within ten (10) days of the members’ meeting.