3 Incumbents Vie For 3 Vacant RCC Board Of Governors Seats

RESTON, VA — Three incumbents are running as candidates on the 2021 Preference Poll to fill three vacant seats on the Reston Community Center's Board of Governors, according to an RCC release. The candidates are William G. Bouie, Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt and Richard Stillson.

RCC conducts the Preference Poll annually to solicit feedback from the residents and businesses in Small District 5 on who will serve a three-year term on the board, which provides financial oversight and sets policy for the center.

Voting will start on Sept. 10. Each SD5 property will receive a ballot and a return envelope pre-addressed to the counting agent. Completed ballots must be received by the counting agent by 5 p.m. on Sept. 30. The deadline for online or walk-in ballots is 5 p.m. on Oct. 1.

RCC will be hosting a candidates forum on Sept. 9, at 6:30 p.m., at RCC Hunters Woods, which is located at 2310 Colts Neck Road.

The following information is taken verbatim from the statements of candidacy completed by the three candidates.

William G. Bouie

What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

• Current RCC Board Member
• Chairman, Fairfax County Park Authority Board
• NACPRO 2021 Outstanding Public Official Award
• Best of Reston Award, 1993; 2001
• Robert E. Simon Fellows Award
• Katherine K. Hanley Leadership Award for Community Service
• Fairfax County Anthony H. Griffin Partnership Leader Award
• Wolf Trap Foundation Board of Directors
• Reston Hospital Center Board of Trustees
• Vice Chairman, Public Art Reston
• Reston Youth Baseball Chairman
• Past Board of Management, Reston YMCA
• First President, Friends of Reston
• Project Gold 2000, US Olympic Committee
• Lord Fairfax Award

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s vision to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all and foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

The RCC Board of Governors presents an opportunity to contribute to my great community and to utilize my talents and skills. I have the experience and qualifications for the position in dealing with RCC activities, working in the business community, working with youth and athletics, and working with various organizations in Reston and throughout the County to help plot our future.

Our diversity is a strength that is unique, embraced, cherished, and to be celebrated.

I am a strong supporter of the Center, and the Reston community. I enjoy working with Restonians, to learn about their needs, and wants, and to strive to make RCC a place for all. I will continue to work with the residents and the County to ensure consistency of programming, and to engage the business community so that they receive the inherent value in working with the Community Center and its programs as Reston grows.

Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt

What previous experience or participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

Reston has been my home for 46 years. I have participated in numerous cultural, educational, and social events offered by RCC. Those experiences, coupled with various community forums provide me with a strong understanding regarding what it takes to create a sense of belonging and to cultivate community. Prior to serving on RCC Board of Governors, I was an employee of the Reston Community Center where I planned and implemented programs aimed at enhancing the social, cultural, and educational qualities of the Reston Community. My experience includes connection, guidance, and leadership as a participant and as a board member.

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching leisure experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

As a professional social worker and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, I have always embraced a philosophy of collaboration and inclusion. My professional goal is to provide learning environments where people from diverse, cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, and socio- economic backgrounds come together and learn from one another, with the confidence of bridging connections towards a common ground. As a DEI consultant, I inform individuals, organizations, and communities about their strengths, and highlight the power of diversity.

Reston is a community rich in diversity! A community where many of its residents actually “live, work, and play” together. My professional and personal experience will contribute to the social, cultural, and educational environment provided by RCC. The goal of my community involvement and my desire to serve on the RCC Board of Governors is to ensure that all Reston residents are included in and benefit from the great programs and events RCC offers.

Richard Stillson

What previous experience of participation in civic activities would you bring to the RCC Board?

I have lived in Reston for 49 years and have been active in the town’s development. I was the first chairman of RA’s Lakes Committee when the lakes policy was being developed. I was the first president of Reston 2020 at the turbulent time of the first task force to revise the Comprehensive Plan. I have taught many courses in Reston for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Most importantly, I have been on the Community Center Board of Governors during the past three years, including during the Covid19 pandemic, one of the most difficult periods in RCC’s history.

How would your leadership enhance RCC’s efforts to bring the community together by providing opportunities for enriching learning experiences and connections that reach out to all to foster inclusiveness and a sense of belonging?

A strong real estate market and good management allowed the Community Center to emerge from the worst of the Covid19 pandemic in a strong financial position with two new pools and new programs under the One Fairfax initiative. It is crucial that the Community Center use its current strength to continue to initiate new programs and events to help rebuild the community. This importantly includes the new residents in the growing transit corridor who do not have the history of building our town from scratch and may know little about RCC. We must expand our programs outside the RCC facilities and improve our communications about our offerings.

My almost half century of experience in Reston and, most recently, my experience on the Board of Governors, will enable me to help guide these programs in the most effective directions.