Ernie Addison. Bill Hodges photos.
Immediately after being sworn in at the March 9 CA Board of Directors meeting by President David Floyd, Ernie Addison and Marilyn Miller took their seats with the other directors. They were appointed to fill vacancies left by the abrupt resignation of two directors after the December 2015 election. The new directors will serve until Jan. 4, 2017; they will, however, be eligible to run for full three-year terms in the general election later this year.
Floyd said nine candidates were interviewed for the vacancies and all of them possessed leadership qualities. He extended a great appreciation to all the candidates for their willingness to volunteer for these demanding positions.
Ernie Addison and wife Ginger moved here from Oklahoma two years ago. The warm weather and safe environment here are the two top factors in their choice of Sun City Center. They like the idea of living in an established 55+ community where there is a variety of homes and you can have any kind of lifestyle you want. He also supports the debt-free concept while recognizing that, just like in our personal lives, there are instances that make it necessary.
Addison retired from the Air Force in 1990 after 21 years. He subsequently held various management positions in engineering and engineering fields. He still works from home and until now, felt he worked too many hours to consider running for the board. When he recently cut back on hours, he realized he needed to fill the void by doing something challenging and productive. That led to his decision to apply for the board.
Looking ahead to his 2016 future as a director, Addison said, “I don’t know enough to have preconceived ideas about the board’s priorities. I plan to listen to members and learn in order to perform in their best interests, and I am a firm believer in holding myself accountable.”
He wants to help maintain the positive community attributes that brought him and Ginger here and believes his analytical and problem-solving skills will be assets to the board.
Beach time is important to the Addisons, and they make a weekly getaway trip a priority (usually to Anna Maria Island). They also enjoy glass fusing and are members of the SCC Stained Glass Club. He also enjoys running, sports and reading. He and Ginger are convinced that they made the right decision about moving here. He likes the fact that you can have any kind of lifestyle you want and any kind of home.
Marilyn Miller.
Marilyn Miller is the new kid on the block. She and husband Robert were happy to get to the Florida sunshine from Buffalo, N.Y., last November. She did not waste any time getting involved. After learning from Library Administrator Elaine Birkinshaw at Hi Neighbor that there was no book club here, she started one. (It now has 19 members and soon will split into two clubs.) She also joined the Scrabble Club and is helping John Bowker at the History Society, scanning photos and creating a database.
When Miller saw the call for applications to the board, the opportunity appealed to her. She said she has no alliances, so she brings a fresh perspective to the board as well as further diversity. She was a business owner in New York, so has management skills and is a self-starter. She founded the Association of Women Business Owners, Buffalo Chapter, and served on several area boards.
She knows she has a learning curve ahead to absorb all the community issues and says, “I want the CA members not to worry about the fact that I am new. Longevity does not necessarily equate to credibility or make one a better potential board member.”
Deciding on Sun City Center was a well-researched effort. The Millers were looking for someplace to age in place, since Robert’s career had made them move 21 times. When they scoped out 55+ communities, they found SCC to be a really unique area. The warm weather was, of course, a factor, but they found SCC to have an abundance of health-care providers and facilities for different levels of care.
They were extremely impressed with the friendliness of the volunteers at the Information Center and the welcoming attitude of club members during a tour of the Central Campus. Miller is a big believer in making new people feel welcome and has already created “welcome to the neighborhood” cards since there is no homeowners association in her neighborhood. “Sun City Center has a unique beauty and great people,” she said.
Interviews with new CA directors Ernie Addison and Marilyn Miller can be viewed on the Friends of Sun City Center Facebook page or can be searched on YouTube: hodges miller addison march.
