Board/Committees
The Lake Barcroft Board and Committees:
The Lake Barcroft Association (LBA) is a homeowner's association and the governing body for the Lake Barcroft community. The LBA Board of Directors consists of 13 directors, elected by the membership of LBA for two-year terms, with a three term limit.
Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month now in person at the UUCA Church in Arlington, Virginia. All regular Board meetings begin at 7:30 pm and are open to community members.
Director, (term/term expires), Assignments:
Larry Hoffer (2nd term, 1st year), President
Michael Montfort (3rd term, 2nd year), Vice President
Jim Simonson (2nd term, 1st year), Treasurer
Diane Weeks (3rd term, 2nd year), Secretary and Communications Chair
Ed Davis (2nd term, 1st Year) Community Safety
Marilyn DiPaolo (1st term, 2nd year), Membership Committee
Kevin Kampschroer (1st term, 2nd year), Water Safety Co-Chair
Bill Baumgartner (1st term, 1st year), Water Safety Co-Chair
Carole Bausell (1st Term, 1st Year), Environmental Quality Committee and WID Liaison
Reid Voss (1st term, 2nd year), Maintenance & Improvements
Ralph Smalley (1st term, 1st year), Architectural Review Committee
Merri Brown (1st term, 1st year), Special Events & Volunteer Efforts
Photos/Election statements of Board members:
LARRY HOFFER - From the moment my husband Wayne and I moved to Lake Barcroft seven years ago, we were captivated not only by the natural beauty that surrounded us but also the amazing spirit of this community. I became involved in small ways until four years ago, when I became the editor of the Lake Barcroft Newsletter. We’ve really made great strides in strengthening the content and capturing all the different activities and personalities that make our neighborhood tick. I’ve served on the LBA Board for two years, co-chairing the Communications Committee and now serving as Vice President. As the executive director of the American Institute of Architecture Students, and someone who has worked in the association management field for nearly my entire career, I work with boards every day, so I’m familiar with the characteristics that make a strong board of directors. I have brought that knowledge to my service on the LBA Board and hope to have the opportunity to continue strengthening its effectiveness, and its communication with residents if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected. We are truly fortunate to live in a community like Lake Barcroft, and it is vitally important we work to protect both the residents as well as the Lake and the ecosystem around us. How we accomplish both of those things is a delicate balance, but it is truly crucial for us to keep flourishing as a community. I would be honored and humbled to serve each of you if I am re-elected and will work to enhance the incredible spirit of Lake Barcroft.
MICHAEL MONTFORT: My wonderful wife Chris and I have lived in Lake Barcroft since 2002. Two years ago, we moved to our second Lake Barcroft home. We’ve raised two children and one hamster here. Through the years, we have all enjoyed the Lake, the friendly neighbors, the tranquil environment, and all the other things that go into making Lake Barcroft such a nice place to live. I’d like to serve on the Board to contribute to strengthening this special community.
My interests include local government issues relating to the Lake and the surrounding community, including schools, traffic and pedestrian access. I’m also interested in outreach for Lake Barcroft volunteer and social activities.
I was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. and my wife, Chris, was born in Taiwan. An aspect of Lake Barcroft we both value is the tolerance and fairness among the people we’ve met here. I hope to continue that community spirit on the Board.
I was introduced to Lake Barcroft through relatives. When it was time to buy a home, and settle down we knew Lake Barcroft was the place. I work as an attorney with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and previously served in the national tax office at Ernst & Young. I believe my legal and tax background may be helpful in dealing with issues that come before the Board. Personally, I enjoy cycling, scouting and sports activities with my children and church activities.
JAMES M. SIMONSON James (Jim) Simonson is the Director of Operations, Budget, and Performance Management at the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Mr. Simonson has developed and managed budgets at the Federal, State, county, and local level for thirty-five years. Mr. Simonson is active in the community, currently as Treasurer of the Lake Barcroft Homeowner’s Association and an Assistant Patrol Leader for Boy Scout Troop 681. He was President of St. James School’s PTA Organization and President of the Board of Directors, Sleepy Hollow Bath, and Racquet Association. Mr. Simonson managed two Federal agencies’ budgets, with a combined total appropriation of $31.84 billion, for 17 years. He manages $35 million in contracts for DOJ to secure services for information technology systems, training/technical assistance, strategic planning, and clerical/logistical support. Prior to joining OVC, Mr. Simonson was the Budget Director for the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance for nearly 10 years. Before working on budget and management issues, he was a Program Manager in the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He joined DOJ in 1989 and worked for two years as a Grant Monitoring Specialist with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Prior to his Federal service, Mr. Simonson was the Chief Legislative Analyst for the Miami-Dade County Commission; Director of Programs Operations for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association; and Legislative Assistant in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In July 1993, Mr. Simonson was selected for a fellowship with the Legislative Staff Management Institute at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. Mr. Simonson was also a student intern in the Irish Parliament. Mr. Simonson holds M.A. and B.S. degrees in political science from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
DIANE WEEKS: We moved to Lake Barcroft in 1994 from Capitol Hill. We didn’t know much about the neighborhood at the time but soon realized it was the best move we could have possibly made. We were surrounded by involved, friendly neighbors who have become life-long friends. Both my daughter Madeline and son Henry especially thrived in the carefree outdoor-oriented environment. They both went through Belvedere, Glasgow and Stuart and had a great experience and solid education. While they were in school, I was very involved with the PTSA, athletic boosters and fundraising.
I am a member of the Woman’s Club and was on the Lake Barcroft Board for two years. I’ve been involved with GeesePeace and our dog Scout was trained and is now the Lake Barcroft GeesePeace dog. And then there’s Section 1’s busy social calendar of beach barbeques, happy hours, Oktoberfests and other random events like ‘it just snowed three feet so let’s meet at Beach 1 and have hot cider.’
I worked in publishing for 30 years and am now working in the computer security field. I’ve always admired the volunteer spirit of Lake Barcroft and now that I have more time, I look forward to the chance to participate as a Board member and serve the community that has given my family so much.
ED DAVIS -My wife Sara and I have lived in Lake Barcroft for 29 years. We previously lived in DC and learned about this community because Sara’s sister Kathy Utgoff and her husband Vic live here. Our two boys grew up here, both went to local schools including Justice High.
I worked for the US House of Representatives for twelve years and then for many years for a nonprofit advocacy group, Common Cause. In between those jobs, I went back to school and received a masters degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
For the last few years, I’ve been writing the Milestones section of the Lake Barcroft newsletter, chronicling events in the lives of the people in our community.
I spent many years coaching and on the board of the Mason District Little League, my last four years as president. I was treasurer of the Justice Choral Boosters for three years. In recent years, Sara and I have been delivering food for the ACCA food bank.
Our neighborhood has a beautiful lake and a vibrant, full-of-life suburban forest. But we also live in an area that has become more urbanized, bringing with it environmental stresses and "urban" problems (such as car break-ins, which I am all-to-familiar with living in DC in the 70s and 80s - love the city anyway). As a board member, I hope I can work with others to maintain our unique setting while being good neighbors to the community around us.
Wherever I have traveled, it is always a joy to be back in the Lake. I hope that serving on the board will allow me to play a small role in keeping the community a place we all want to get back to everyday.
MARILYN DI PAOLO I consider myself fortunate to be living in Lake Barcroft and enjoying all the wonders of this exceptional community. I have lived in Lake Barcroft since 2007, having come to the US from Montreal, Canada in 1990. I believe strongly in giving back to my adopted country and community and thus served for many years as a Precinct Chief for local, state and national elections. Since moving to Lake Barcroft, I have actively participated in this special community by serving on the Boards of the Lake Barcroft Woman’s Club, the Newcomers Club and being an active participant of the July 4th Fireworks Committee, Geesepeace and Barcrofters. I can often be found on the lake, kayaking, swimming, and barging. Therefore, as a board member, I will always advocate for an environmentally friendly community and a clean and healthy lake. With great appreciation for the amazing, caring, and knowledgeable people in this community, I will always listen to my neighbors’ concerns and look for common ground on which to act. Professionally, I have worked in the field of Juvenile Justice in Canada and for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to program development and oversight, I developed communication protocols among human services agencies and served on task forces for disproportionate minority confinement and as the agency ombudsman for minority issues. My experience in working with government officials, state and local boards, commissions, service providers, law enforcement, judges, and court staff to reach consensus and promote and implement best practices would serve me well to be an effective team member on the LBA Board. I would be honored to serve our community that I so greatly appreciate.
BILL BAUMGARTNER - Christina and I moved to Lake Barcroft in the fall of 2018 and were immediately impressed by the extraordinary sense of community. On our second day, a neighbor insisted on bringing us to a neighborhood party and introduced us to dozens of fascinating people. We were quickly welcomed into a whole range of activities ranging from the Newcomers Club to the Women’s Club home tour to Neighborhood Watch to beach cleanups and much more. Before coming to Lake Barcroft, I enjoyed a 33-year career in the U. S. Coast Guard and lived in many places throughout the U.S. Neighborhoods like Lake Barcroft are rare and don’t “just happen.” They are the result of a lot of hard work, commitment, tradition, and a deep sense of shared community. Although not glamorous, responsive, and competent management are also essential elements – especially when you are stewards of a magnificent 135-acre lake. I believe I can make a significant contribution to Lake Barcroft. I have been impressed by the management of our beaches, boating, dam, water quality, and safety, and would be thrilled to contribute my Coast Guard maritime and water safety experience. Much of my work in the Coast Guard involved law enforcement and security. I believe that I can be helpful in strengthening our community’s relationship with our local police force and helping them work on behalf of all the members of our diverse community. With engineering degrees, an MBA and a law degree, I can also assist the LBA Board in a variety of other areas ranging from maintenance to finance and more.
KEVIN KAMPSCHROER I have lived in Lake Barcroft for just over 30 years, raised one child, married, renovated (two phases), and love living here. I was on the Board before and would like to continue to serve. While I was on the Board, I was the chair of the Safety Committee, then the Chair of the Architectural Review Committee (and still a member), and the Treasurer. Perhaps the most important, or at least the most fun, activity I have managed is the annual fireworks display. Regardless of my election, I will continue to do that. I think my background will be helpful in dealing with the issues with insurance, reserve account management, capital projects, and maintenance. I work for the U.S. General Services Administration ad their Chief Sustainability Officer; I have worked there for 47+ years.
REID VOSS - I was born in rural Nebraska but moved to the Bailey’s Crossroads area as a toddler. Lake Barcroft was common stomping ground with Barcroft friends, and I decided long ago that I wanted to live here when I grew up. (Some long-time residents might remember SR&R, the lawn service that two of my teenage friends and I created, working for many lake customers.) After graduating from college I managed the Old Town Theismann’s Restaurant, and transitioned to real estate 13 years ago, buying, selling, and renovating houses along the way. My father owns a construction business, so it was a logical career, having shadowed him for years.
Two years ago my wife, Meredith, and I were lucky enough to find a permanent home on Waterway with a flat yard for our boys, Luke (8) and Chase (6). Luke fishes every chance he gets! Meredith and I joined the Newcomers Club, and we all love it here. Community service is important to me. I served on the Fairfax County School Board (student rep), Kings Park Civic Association and Pool Boards, coached Mason District Little League and the Stuart (now Justice) High School Crew team, including spring training on the lake. I would be honored to serve on the Board and, if elected, will strive to keep the lake clean and healthy, building on what others have done to make Lake Barcroft the great community it has always been. We want our boys to grow up and live here, too!
MERRI BROWN I moved to this area from Massachusetts, with my husband, Gil, in 2011. I had just retired from a teaching career spanning early childhood to high school and we were delighted to be close by our daughter and our new little grandchild in Arlington. In 2014, we bought our house on Whispering Lane and immediately felt at home. Throughout the years, I have enjoyed being part of decision making within my community and working with others to create change. In our Massachusetts neighborhood, I served on the boards of our local synagogue and the local Woman’s American ORT chapter. These experiences taught me the importance of working with others to achieve common goals. Valuable lessons learned! After moving here, I wanted to be just as involved in this lovely community. I have taken on leadership positions in the Newcomers, Barcrofters and the Woman’s Club, serving as recording secretary of the Woman’s Club, co-president and then, President for three years. With co- president, Marcia Graboswki, we reallocated Club funds for two benches in the Woman’s Club Garden, contributed funds for the wrought iron fence and replanted the area now known as the rock garden. These efforts were done in collaboration with WID and LBA which provided me valuable insights about the collaboration among the various organizations. The pandemic presented new challenges. We expanded the club’s activities and moved immediately to zoom. Working with co-president, Charlotte Flounders, we opened the classes to all women of the community to bring us together while staying apart. Currently I chair the member events committee. Being a part of a leadership team has always been important to me. As an LBA board member, I can continue to give back to this community that so warmly welcomed us.
CAROLE BAUSELL - It is with utmost enthusiasm that I offer my candidacy to serve as a member of the Lake Barcroft Board. My mission, if elected, will be to help maintain the precious gifts we enjoy in this unique community and protect them for future generations: a healthy, swimmable lake set within an urban forest that is home to birds and other wildlife; a welcoming social fabric; safe streets; and a quiet, peaceful community.
Arriving in 2011 with husband Larry Golfer, I have experienced life on both sides of the lake, first residing on Stoneybrae Drive and now living on Jay Miller. My volunteerism here has covered both environmental and social activities. For several years I enjoyed overseeing the Lake Barcroft Earth Day Raffle that contributed hundreds of dollars to the LBA for its Tree Replacement Program. I also volunteered for Geese Peace, the Village, the Woman’s Club, the Newcomers Club, and the Art League. I currently volunteer with Barcroft Families for Safe Streets, where my goal is to recommend effective new strategies for traffic safety for our pedestrians, cyclists and drivers throughout the community.
During a rewarding career as an educational psychologist, I advocated for children and adults with special learning needs, working at the local, state, and national levels. I served on a federal roundtable and on the board of a school for the blind and trained executives in using quality improvement techniques and data-based decision-making. I also supported causes such as clean water with environmental groups, recommending policy changes as needed. I am well-versed in working with diverse stakeholders on complicated issues and have been successful in promoting consensus among them through respectful dialogue, creative thinking, and practical solutions. It would be an honor to be given the opportunity to give back to my community by serving on the LBA Board.
RALPH SMALLEY: My family and I have lived in Lake Barcroft for 33 years where we raised two children. Over the years and at different times, Diane, my wife, and I have each served on the Board. I also initiated the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund (for graduating seniors at Justice High School) in 1994 after Justice Marshall, our neighbor, had died. By profession, I hold master’s degrees in public administration and in Urban Planning. With a scholarship and a fellowship, I earned a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and worked as a planning director. Then we came to Washington D.C. where I consulted with the Congress’s Office of Technology Assessment. Later, I became entrepreneurial and, among other endeavors, designed and developed marinas. With this background, land use planning, public policy and specifically environmental waterfront impacts are familiar to me. Now retired, again serving on the Board would be an opportunity to “give back” to this great community we call home. Based on past experience, the Board mostly does routine management, which it does well, but because community needs change over time, the Board also could be more proactive in assessing our interests and needs, and then, in promoting groups and programs that meet these needs. The creation of the Lake Barcroft Village is an example of such a program, but it emerged only with the private leadership of a few individuals. Again, the building of a new playground is another example of something that was new, but again, it was a private initiative. In my opinion, it would be worthwhile for the Board itself to show leadership for being more innovative. This doesn’t mean spending more money; it does means being deliberative and spending effort. If I were a Board member, this is predominantly what I would want to work on.