CCA General Meeting

1. Welcome. (Art Wilbur, CCA President)
2. Annual Report. (Art Wilbur)
3. Financial Report. (Traci McCall)
4. Update on the Fire Department (Scott Freeman).
5. Donation to Carson Food Bank (Art Wilbur)
6. Donation to Carson Fire Department (Art Wilbur)
7. Questions for the CCA Board (All)
8. Voting for CCA Board Members (Paul Green)
   1. Candidates address the community before the vote. Up to two minutes each.
   2. Voting
9. New CCA Board (Art Wilbur)
10. Any other business.
11. Motion to adjourn.

CCA Elections

The Carson community will be voting for a new Board of Directors for the Carson Community Association at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM will be held next Saturday July 13th from 10.30am at the Carson Fire Station. Below you will find details of the Meeting Agenda, and more about the candidates on the ballot as of July 6. You can still choose to stand for election; see below for details.

Below are the candidates on the ballot as of July 6. More candidates may come forward this week.
President: Dustin Freyta, Stanley Yuen
Vice President: Ryan Timmermans
Secretary: Ellery Collins
Treasurer: Emma Reed, Sarah Schildknecht
At Large Board Member: Rob Hughes, Emma Reed

We asked candidates to send us something about themselves to help members of the community know who they are voting for. Below is what we have received as of July 6th.

Dustin Freyta, for CCA President

I am 35 years old, and a father of 2.  I have founded and direct two organizations, Guardians of Taos Water and the Sacred Water Mountain Society.  Also have a background as a community advocate and a jack of all trades. I am a descendent of the Apache and La Cieneguilla Land Grant, which were here before Carson existed. My vision for the CCA is to give voice to the community to determine what we want our future to look like, and also to introduce indigenous land management practices that will restore the lands and waters that have historically been here. I would boost the fall festival with a 420 Harvest Festival with a Taos Valley Cannabis Cup Competition

Stanley Yuen, for CCA President

My name is Stanley Yuen and I have been a resident of Carson for 5 years. You may have seen me at the Carson Cafe singing karaoke sober. I am originally from Honolulu, and came to Carson to escape from the city and practice a more sustainable way of life at the village scale.

I love Carson because we have a unique expression of both Independence and Solidarity. I saw this when we organized to stop the so-called “Livable Environment Ordinance”, an ordinance that would have expanded the county’s power to interrupt our way of life. I saw this in our 10-year battle to get the NMDOT to correct the “Dead Man’s Curve” and reduce car crashes in our neighborhood. I see it in our Voluntuesday events, our fire department fundraisers, our willingness to check in on our elders, and the many other ways we support each other.

Our community has many proactive leaders, and my role as president of the CCA will be to cultivate these leaders. This policy can be summed up in four words: “No Masters, No Flakes.” I’ve worked in financial services and small business, but most of my relevant experience comes from serving in member and officer roles on half a dozen nonprofit boards. These experiences have led me to believe that it is less important to direct, and more important to serve. The best leaders listen to the concerns and perspectives of the community, seek out self-motivated leaders to carry out beneficial projects, and collaborate and support those who seek to lead through their own efforts.

I believe the CCA must excel in its core responsibilities: the Carson Opiñon, the spring and fall fundraising events, the Thanksgiving Feast, and lobbying to maintain South Carson Road. Beyond that, I believe the CCA’s role is to support through its resources and influence, to build consensus around the best ideas, and work with the broader community to make life a little better for everyone in Carson.

Emma Reed, for Treasurer.

I have prior experience as treasurer of a 501(c)(4) in Ohio that I started and have studied up on the language of the laws here in New Mexico pertaining to 501(c)(3) status maintenance. I spoke with the previous CCA treasurer and have a good understanding of what the job would entail. I am up to the job if the community would like to have me. 

Sarah Schildknecht, for Treasurer.

My name is Sarah Schildknecht. I have been a resident of Carson for seven years. Some of you know me well, some not at all and others know me as the gal at the Sunday market with the cool trailer. 

In my free time, I run a 40 year old, small herbal business that I showcase at Carson Sunday Market, tend my goats, chickens and gardens, as well as support the Carson Cafe with my bookkeeping experience. Some of you may have also enjoyed my weekly offerings of sourdough loaves and pastries at the Cafe.

I have worked in finance for over 20 years, currently serving as the Operations Director for Taos Land Trust, a non-profit organization focused on land conservation, agriculture and youth education. In my years with Taos Land Trust, I have become quite familiar with the unique nature of operating a non-profit. I am often called upon to support many other aspects, including our youth led gardens, working lands programs as well as the county-wide, free seed exchange program. I anticipate and welcome my knowledge and talents to be tapped as a member of the CCA similarly, in support of the overall mission for our community.

The CCA exists to serve the needs of the Carson community. My vision for the continued success of this organization is dependent upon your trust and support. I believe that financial transparency is of first and foremost importance. It is my commitment to provide a public financial record, as well as a narrative, of how each dollar coming to the organization has been spent in service of the goals and needs of our community. The major goals of the CCA should be guided and driven by community member input and feedback. Our greatest resource as a small community is our collaboration and support of one another. I hope to use my experience and skills to serve as a conduit for the positive impact the CCA can continue to have for Carson.