CONCORD, N.H. – A ROC leader from Maine has been elected to represent the interests of her peers nationwide as a director of the ROC Association and ROC USA.
Margaret Jones, Board President at Mountainside Community Cooperative in Camden, Maine, was voted to represent the New England Region of the ROC Association Board of Directors. She will succeed Deb Winiewicz, past president at Halifax Estates in Halifax, Mass.
Jones has served as the Board President of Mountainside since it became a ROC in 2019. She is a member of Maine ROC Strong, ROC USA’s Policy and Advocacy Committee and part of the Maine Advocacy team. She also serves on the Manufactured Housing Board for the State of Maine and the Camden Town Budget Committee.
“I am grateful to my fellow New England ROC leaders for the trust they have placed in me,” Jones said. “And I look forward to working with the Board as we grow in numbers and commitment to this amazing affordable housing model which provides the security of community ownership across the nation.”
Jones ran alongside, Lawrence F. “Butch” Johnson, a Member at Breezy Acres Cooperative in Colchester, Vt. Johnson said he is very excited for Jones and the two have learned a lot from each other over the course of the election.
“These opportunities come up and if you don’t try, you won’t get anywhere,” Johnson said. “I will just keep going and who knows, may try again in three years. The best thing about this election is that either way it went, we both had so much to offer our communities. It was a win-win situation.”
Winieiwicz is excited about Jones’ future on the Board and thankful for the participation from New England ROCs.
“I have no doubt Margaret will do an outstanding job in this role and find it as rewarding and fulfilling as I have,” Winiewicz said. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the New England communities who participated in this important election. Your involvement makes all the difference. I also want to give a special shoutout to Butch Johnson for stepping up as a candidate. Butch’s dedication and willingness to support the Association in any way he can is truly appreciated.”
ROC Association Board Chair Marjory Gilsrud is thankful for the collaborative work of Johnson and Jones and thankful for the participation of ROC Association.
“The theme for this election was really about working better together. Both candidates were already highly involved with the Association and have been great ROC leaders and have been cordial throughout the whole process,” Gilsrud said. “When we were short on quorum everyone pulled together to get us across the finish line, so special thank you to our Outreach and Education Committee Members and New England certified technical assistance providers for urging neighbors to get their ballots in. We exceeded quorum. Congratulations to Margaret and thank you to Butch for continuing to be a champion for educating all ROC Members.”
ROC Association was started by two community leaders who had been appointees to the ROC USA Board of Directors. They saw the potential of a large national network of local communities if they were to formalize an organization and develop an election process for ROCs across the country.
Membership is free to all 338 ROCs that are or once were under contract with a ROC USA Certified Technical Assistance Provider. Directors are elected from each of the three regions and also serve on the ROC USA Board.
Jones will officially take office at the first Board of Directors meeting in 2025.