The annual meeting of Friends of the Library is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The event gets underway at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Conference Room

The meeting is an open invitation for members, prospective members and interested individuals to learn first-hand the multitude of ways the Friends of the Library encourages, enables and funds the programs and opportunities available at the Fountain Hills Branch Library for the community’s residents. Refreshments will be served.

Five members of the board of directors are retiring. Steve Conrad has served as president for two terms of three years. Doris Mills has served as finance director for six years. Crystalle Ebbinga has been publicity director for six years. Sue Anger first served as events chair and also with Books for the Homebound. Tim Zaspal has served as Resale Book Shop chair.

At the January meeting, the Friends membership will elect new board members. The following community leaders are candidates for 2018 election:

Donna Yordy

Yordy has been a resident of Fountain Hills for 22 years. She is a family-and community-oriented person who enjoys working with others to make a difference. She spent her career teaching first grade and now enjoys spending her time volunteering with various organizations in town. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, is a member of Kiwanis and Four Peaks Women’s Club.

Yordy founded the Breakfast with Santa program 15 years ago and is still chairing the event today. She enjoys reading, hiking and entertaining but she especially enjoys spending time with her family friends.

“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to serve the community as a member of the Friends of the Library board,” she said.

Michael Veech

Michael and his wife, Susie, moved to Fountain Hills in 2009. They became members of the Friends of the Library soon thereafter. He has been a volunteer with FHFL since the summer of 2016.

Veech spent his career as a music teacher in both public and private school settings. He also has taught and continues to teach private piano students. Veech holds post-secondary degrees in music education and piano performance. He also has been a church administrator, a church elder and a music education department head at Kentucky Christian College. His retail experience includes men’s clothing, home improvement and Southwestern gifts and décor.

Veech said, “The work that the FHFL does for the library and our community really excites me. I love being around the books. The mission statement says it all: ‘To fund and support the programs and facilities of the Fountain Hills Library.’ I look forward to helping the FHFL make an even greater impact on our library and community.”

Gary Fillmore

Fillmore is a native of Plymouth, Mich. He and Mary Lou, his wife of 47 years, moved to Fountain Hills in 1997.

Fillmore received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in business from Indiana University.

After college he served in the U.S. Army in Germany as a captain in the Quartermaster Corps. Following the military, he joined the Bendix Corporation as a junior accountant and later served as the vice-president of the trucking operation.

Fillmore retired from the renamed Allied Signal Corporation as a Corporate Manager of Transportation and Logistics for North America and Europe with 27 years of service. After leaving the big corporation he worked for three smaller organizations serving as vice-president of finance.

“My wife and I love Fountain Hills and are both avid readers,” Fillmore said. “I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Fountain Hills Friends of the Library board.”

David Bugniazet

Bugniazet has been a full time resident of Fountain Hills since 2002. Although his undergraduate degree was in secondary education, the majority of his adult life was spent in the business world. Sales suited Bugniazet’s affable, competitive nature, and during his corporate career at General Electric, numerous training workshops honed these skills.

Since retirement in April 2017, Mr. Bugniazet enjoys reading, walking, hiking and practicing Yoga and volunteering with Fearless Kitty Rescue.

“The Friends of the Library was established to help keep our local library strong and vital by raising awareness and funds,” Bugniazet said. “I look forward to lending my skills of financial literacy, marketing, computer skills, a willingness to ask questions and enthusiasm to the Friends board of directors.”

Claude Verbal

Verbal has made Fountain Hills his full time home since 2003 and has owned his home here since 1992. He received a Mechanical Engineering Degree from North Carolina State University and attended Wayne State and the University of Michigan for his graduate studies.

Verbal spent his varied corporate career with the Buick Motors Division in research and development, product design, quality, manufacturing management, GM Service Parts Operation, and he completed his career as C.O.O. with Wesley Industries.

Volunteering has played a major role in Verbal’s life. His service with the Flint Institute of Music, Flint Beautification Commission, Flint Community Development Corporation, the Flint Environmental Action Teach and the Flint Inner City Lions and library board demonstrate his commitment to his community, culture and the arts. He also served on business boards such as Hurley Medical Center Board of Managers and International Airport Board.

Verbal said, “I am an avid reader and have worked in team settings with many diverse groups. I look forward to the opportunity to work very hard and lend my skills to be a strong advocate for the Friends and the library.”