Nearly one hundred residents attended the annual WOHA Membership Meeting on Sunday, January 26 at Hobby Middle School. The event marked the group’s golden anniversary and attendees were treated to celebration cake along with a presentation about on-going endeavors to safeguard property values and our collective quality of life.

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Members overwhelmingly approved several new organizational by-laws, including those improving financial protocols. Among the changes is a provision ensuring that members receive not only a yearly summary of recent spending, but also an overview of the upcoming budget. The Board will also be required to alert members if significant overruns are likely to occur during a fiscal year. Lastly, new limits were established on how excess funds can be invested or earmarked by the Board.

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Former WOHA President Ed Einstein made a pitch for support of the WO Swim Club which continues to feel a financial pinch. Einstein once served as the club’s president and remains a dedicated advocate. In particular, he suggested that WOHA consider lending the club the funds it needs to make overdue infrastructure repairs, and the Board would seek member input and approval if such action is formally proposed.

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The Board election was held and 10 candidates applied for 6 open seats. Several previously retired Directors will be returning to lend a hand in 2025. Sylvia Romo, Ami Sewell, Rick Lopez, and Joyce Beneke were elected, and two incumbents, Cheri Wiese and Janis Witt, were re-elected. All were approved by wide margins and will serve two-year terms.

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The bulk of the meeting was led by President Peter Lund who shared progress of the covenant amendment ballot now being circulated community-wide. An open floor discussion revealed some differing opinions about the initiative; however a straw poll reaffirmed the group’s overwhelming desire to encourage all property owners to return a ballot in support of all seven proposed revisions to the community rules established by the subdivision’s developer nearly 60 years ago.

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“There were a few residents who expressed concerns with the covenant campaign, but overall the discourse was quite civil thanks to ground rules established upfront” said attendee Debbie Salinas. “The president only had to intervene once or twice to ensure speakers weren’t interrupted by those who didn’t agree with their opinions.”

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Lund also shared a synopsis of the group’s key achievements over the past 50 years and thanked members for their continued financial support and volunteerism. He emphasized that Whispering Oaks has avoided decline seen in nearby subdivisions of similar age, in large part because of WOHA’s service as lead caretaker and advocate over the decades.