Interview with Board Member, Ms. Alfreda Bracksher President 

Trace:  Where are you originally from?

Alfreda:  San Francisco

Trace:  What were your objectives as President of the Board?

Alfreda:  I just wanted to make sure that everyone felt like they were a part of the cooperative.  I didn’t want the Board to be viewed as a “click”, I wanted the Board to be approachable, and I wanted to try and involve as many members as I possibly could to committees and volunteer work here.  So that was my main objective.

Trace:  Do you feel that your objectives have been met?

Alfreda:  Well, no because I still don’t have enough volunteers.  I think they’ve been partially met because I think people now feel welcome to offer to volunteer as opposed to offering and having them [board members] saying no because you’re not part of the “click”.  So I do think that part of my objective has been met.  We actually do have a few active committees, so I do feel that part of my objectives has been met, however there are still some more committees I’d like to put together and I’d like to bring more people out to volunteer for that.

Trace:  Ok, where did you live before you came here?

Alfreda: I lived in Mountain View for one year prior to moving here to Heron Court.

Trace:  Do you have children?

Alfreda:  I have a grown son and I have one grandchild.

Trace:  And their names?

Alfreda:  My son’s name is Terrance(?) and my grandbaby is Tyrise(?).

Trace:  And do you have some thoughts that you’d like to share with the community as they view the site for the first time?

Alfreda:  I think we are in a beautiful community.  I love living here at Heron Court, I think it’s a great place to live and I think most of our residence feel the same way that I do.  So that’s basically my feeling, I think everybody is here because they want to be here.

TRACE:  How many years have you on the Board as President?

Alfreda: I’ve been on the Board as President now for about eight (8) years.

Trace:  Well I’m going to tell you something and I’m going to put it in this interview.  Everyone who talks about the community and what you’ve done as a Board has been positive.  I haven’t heard one negative thing.  I’ve been to, and I will not name names, many a Board and there’s always someone who is complaining about something and it’s always the Board’s President’s fault.  They didn’t get to voice their feelings or whatever, but not here.

Alfreda:  Well that’s good to hear.  The other thing is we have an all female board and I think that’s rare.

Trace:  All female board, I’ll have to make sure that’s in highlight!

Ms. Alfreda Bracksher President

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Margarita Nosach – Vice President

Trace:  Where are you from originally?

Margarita:  Born in Ukraine, moved to the United States 29 years ago.

Trace:  How long have you lived here? 

Margarita:  For seven (7) years.

Trace:  What do you like about the community?

Margarita:  I love everything!  Community is the best.  The people are good and friendly, the renovation was done with our interest at heart.   It’s a good place to live.  Wonderful for children, quiet, good schools, great shopping [nearby].

Trace:  Do you have children?

Margarita:  Yes, two (2) children, Irene and Serge, and one (1) grandchild.

Trace:  How long have you been on the Board and what are your goals?

Margarita:  I am on the Board for six (6) years.  I want to help and add to our wonderful community to return the good our community stands for.

Margarita Nosach – Vice President

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Evelyn Monsour, Financial Officer

Trace:   Where are you from originally?

Evelyn:  I was born and raised in Santa Monica, California, then Brooklyn, New York to North Carolina and back to California.

Trace:  How long have you lived here in the community and how do you like it?

Evelyn:   I’ve lived here for 15 years and it’s the best community! From what I’ve seen, it’s wonderful.

Trace:  What do you like about it?

Evelyn:   Most of the people are friendly.  The administration and groundsman are interested in keeping it to the top level that we can.  Most are responsive to the needs of the community.

Trace:  Do you have children?

Evelyn:    Yes, two children, Christina and Rick, 5 grandchildren, 7 great grand children and 2 great, great grand children!

Trace:  What do you like about Heron Court and the being on the Board?

Evelyn:   My daughter found the place and I am glad I followed my daughter here.  I enjoy doing what I do for Heron Court and it’s great to work and see the completion of a project.  Our Board has undertaken and completed more projects than any other Board in 15 years.

Ms. Evelyn Monsour, Financial Officer

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Debbie Bianconi, Member

Trace:  Where are you originally from?

Debbie:  The Bay Area, Redwood City.

Trace:  What is your title on the Board?       

Debbie:  At this present time, I am a Board Director.

Trace:  What are your objectives for the community, why did you join [the Board]?

Debbie:  The reason that I have been on the Board for so many years, is that I want to make this a better community for everybody and bring all of the shareholders together so that we can show what we can do around here.  Youth programs, renovation to our buildings and have everyone live like a family.

TRACE:  Do you have children?

Debbie:  Yes I do, I have a grown daughter who was raised here and lives out here and I have four grandchildren.  My daughter’s name is Stephanie, my grandchildren are Manny, he’s 18-1/2, Elaina is 17-1/2, Natalie is 15-1/2 and Jose is 12-1/2. And they’ve grown up here as well.

Trace:  What are your thoughts of the community as a whole, the people who live here?

Debbie:  I love it!  I’ve been very active in everything that happens in Heron Court, the community, I speak very highly of Heron Court, I teach people to understand what Heron Court’s Cooperative is so that they understand what we’re all about and that we are also homeowners out here as well.

Ms. Debbie Bianconi, Member

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Renea Ajayi, Member

Trace:  Where are you from originally?

Renea:  Long Beach, California.

Trace:  What are your objectives for the community?

Renea:   I just wanted to be able to do something for the kids and I have some ideas to do something with the weatherization, solar paneling and some ideas that I had.

Trace:  Have you been able to do that?

Renea:   No, but I still want to talk about it and keep bringing it up.  I still want to talk about it, it’s not as easy as I thought it would be. But it’s something I still have in mind and I want to have things and activities for the children, after school things for the children.

Trace:  Do you have children?

Renea:   Yes I do, I have five (5) children, 9 grandchildren and 3-1/2 great grandchildren.

Trace:  Your children’s names?

Renea:   My oldest is Yolanda, then Tracy, Stacey, Bert and Erin (or Aaron).

Trace:  How long have you lived here?

Renea:   I’ve been here about eight (8) years now.

Trace:  When people visit the site, what would you want to tell them about Heron Court?

Renea:   It’s a wonderful place to live, it is, I love living here!  It is clean, very friendly, family  oriented.  I have to live on the senior side, so it’s really nice there and they keep the place really nice for us and I really appreciate that.  So, it’s a really nice place to live, a really nice area.

Ms. Renea Ajayi, Member

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Nancy Crismas, Member

Trace:   Where are you from originally?

Nancy:  I was born and raised in Redwood City.

Trace:  How long have you lived here in the community and how do you like it?

Nancy:  I’ve lived here for seven years in August and I love it.  There are lots of children, friends for all age groups, feeling of the community, I feel safe, it’s a very neighborly feeling. Truly your neighbors are friends, you can borrow a cup of sugar! 

Trace:  What do you like about it?

Nancy:  I really like the way we all come together as a community, we throw parties for the kids.  I’ve never lived anywhere before where there’s such a sense of community.  Everyone knows each other.

Trace:  Do you have children?

Nancy:  Yes, I have three children, Daija 14-½, Anthony II, 11 and Calvin 7.

Trace:  What do you like about Heron Court and the being on the Board?

Nancy:  To be able to be involved and give something back to my community.  What I really enjoy is coming up with programs for the children.

Ms. Nancy Crismas, Member

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Jacquel Kehr, Member

Trace:   Where are you from originally?

Jacquel:   I am a California native, born in San Jose and raised right here in the Bay Area.

Trace:  How long have you lived here in the community?

Jacquel:   I am one of the original residents, I moved here in April 1984.

Trace:  What do you like about it?

Jacquel:   Having my own place, being able to not have to pay high rent.  As a low income resident, this is such a gift.  It’s just beautiful, the people keep it up so nice.  The area is nice too.

Trace:  What do you like about Heron Court and the being on the Board?

Jacquel:   I’m looking forward to moving forward on our capital improvements to the interior of the units.  As an interior designer I’m interested in offering my skills.  Also, I used to do counseling at the independent living center in Hayward and worked for many years with HUD so I’m hoping to bring those skills [working with HUD] to the community.

Ms. Jacquel Kehr, Member

Interview with Board Member, Ms. Diana Kanygin, Member

Trace: Where are you from originally?
Diana: Russia.

Trace: How long have you lived here in the community?
Diana: One year. I have been in United States for 15 years and have been a U.S citizen for 10 years.

Trace: What do you like about it?
Diana: Wonderful administrative services and excellent maintenance of Heron Court Community.

Trace: What are your objectives now that you are on the Board?
Diana: Assist the administrator.

Trace: Do you have children?
Diana: Yes, I have one son named Denis and two grandchildren named, Ben and Silvia.

Trace: Anything you want the general public to know about living at Heron Court?
Diana: There are lot's of parks around Heron Court.
 

Ms. Diana Kanygin, Member