A Village of Rio Ponderosa resident since 2003, I am a native of Staten Island, NY.  I have held a number of management positions in the financial industry including a financial newspaper, an investment banking firm, a financial information technology company and, just prior to retirement,  at a boutique accounting firm.  In addition to my full time positions, I served for ten years as editor of a 64-page square dance magazine and was an officer in various civic and community organizations.      I have served as Membership Chair and Director of the VHA since 2006.  In addition to my VHA duties, I am a supervisor of CDD #1, a Florida Master Gardener, Chair of the Bookworm Book Club, Vice President of The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and Treasurer of the Marion County Rose Society. I have been married to my dear husband Charlie since 1973 and we are the proud parents of six children and four grandchildren.  

Jan Palmer moved to The Villages in 2017 from the Detroit, Michigan area suburb of Macomb. She hails from Western New York, but has lived in Massachusetts and Michigan as GM moved her husband around. She and Mark have five children, five grandchildren, three dogs, and she considers being a lifelong volunteer and stay-at-home mom as her primary career choice.  On the side she has worked at Kodak, Clarkson University, and Oswego Hospital as a secretary, was a feature writer for The Pepperell Times Free Press in Massachusetts, Young Mother of the Year for Massachusetts, a tour escort for Alcott Tours accompanying seniors and students on bus tours, was the office and editorial assistant for Travelhost Magazine of Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, and enjoyed many years as an activities director in Buffalo and Michigan for assisted living residents. She has written for and edited several newsletters, has been the drama director/writer and women’s ministries coordinator at her churches in two states, and a choir member/soloist and Bible study teacher/facilitator for 40 years plus.  Since arriving in The Villages she has found many opportunities to do what she enjoys;  serving with The VHA and exploring the nuts and bolts of The Villages, being involved with Special Friends activities, bowling, exercising regularly at Bone Builders, participating in Senior Olympics, joining the Writers 4 Kids group and the Writer’s League of the Villages, decorating, gardening, playing cards, entertaining guests, and getting to meet new friends and neighbors.  Her goal as assistant editor for The Voice is to produce an interesting and informative product for VHA members and promote the positive work they do on behalf of all Villages residents. 

Robert “Bob” Griffin I was born and raised in Dravosburg, PA, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, which explains my loyalty to all Pittsburgh sports teams. I graduated from Penn State University in 1964, where I majored in accounting. After graduation, I began my career as an accountant for ASG Industries, a glass company in eastern Tennessee. Two years later I transitioned into IT as a programmer. During that time, I married Charlene “Charley”, a southern belle. We moved to North Carolina for me to work for PPG Industries Fiberglass Division as a programmer and then a supervisor in 1970. After 3 years in North Carolina, I transferred to Pittsburgh where I finished my career holding a variety of positions – programmer, telecommunications supervisor, data center manager, and worked with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program as PPG’s coordinator. We decided long before retirement that we would eventually settle in the south. We heard about the Villages, visited, revisited and fell in love with it. We moved here in 2006 and soon afterward joined the VHA. I’ve attended the Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy and the Resident Academy and now serve on the VHA board representing District 6. In addition to serving on the VHA board, I am an avid supporter of the Villages Regional Hospital. I see the VHA as an opportunity to help my friends and neighbors.

Roy was born in Columbia, South Carolina but spent most of his childhood and adult life in Richmond, Virginia.  After serving 4 years in the United States Marine Corps he worked 40 years for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Roy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.  While living in Richmond he held Board of Director positions for several residential and social organizations including 5 years as President of The Stony Run Townhouse Association.  Over the years he was the recipient of several awards of merit for his dedication and distinguished service. Roy and his wife, Ruth, moved to The Villages in 2009 when she retired from her position as a Human Resources Manager.  Since moving to The Villages Roy has served in leadership roles for several clubs including The Marine Corps League, The Old Virginia Club and the Community Improvement Council (CIC).  In his spare time, Roy has enjoyed playing water volleyball, dancing, photography and working on genealogy.   

Sandy Mott is a native of Oklahoma.   She majored in Journalism at Oklahoma State University where she met her future husband, Paul.  She has 2 children.  A son lost to cancer at age 40 and a daughter who lives here in Florida with her husband and 3 children.  She has been a Cub Scout den mother, a Brownie leader, a church Youth Group sponsor, and a Sunday School teacher. She has had varied work experience in the savings & loan industry, in direct sales, as a church secretary and an Avon lady. She moved to The Villages in December of 1989, just as development was beginning on the west side of highway 27/441.  She is a charter member of the VHA and is the Village Representative for the Village of Del Mar. She was elected VHA Vice President in February 1992, and became President when the then-President Yyonne Knudson stepped down in August of that year. She served as President until March 1994. She served 3 terms on the VHA Board between 1994 and 2003.  Along with her husband, Paul, she wrote for and edited the VHA Voice for about 10 years ending in Feb. 2003.  She wrote a weekly column, “Sandy’s Corner,” for the Daily Sun from Feb. 1998 to May of 2003, when it evolved into a weekly opinion column on the op-ed page.  The weekly column continued until July 2010 when Paul’s illness left no time for writing. Through all the years, her commitment and devotion to the VHA has been constant.  Now, once again, she will be editing the VHA Voice, with a lot of help from the VHA Board and membership.

I was born in, raised in, educated in, and worked my entire career in the great state of Illinois. My how that state has changed! After graduating from the University Of Illinois College Of Pharmacy I began my career in a small neighborhood pharmacy. I soon realized I was one of those lucky people that loved his job every day. The combined challenges of small business, practicing pharmacy, and keeping up with 3 growing kids and a busy wife kept me totally involved for 41 years. It was only after a visit to The Villages that Kay and I realized there was more to life than work. With a big smile on our faces and following our rule that the first decision is the best decision, in a relative instant our house was sold, we said goodbye to life long friends, shocked our kids, and climbed into our car to start a new adventure. Beginning on the first week we moved to The Villages my wife and I became involved with The VHA and as we start our 8th year as residents we continue to be involved in clubs, organizations and activities we enjoy. This is the only place in the world you can retire and not have to retire. To put it in simple terms, The Villages and the wonderful people who live here are a joy.  Pinch me!

Walter Martin graduated from college in Dayton, OH and then left and began an unheard of 41 year career with GMAC Insurance division General Motors.  He held many supervisory/managerial positions in claims administration, and the audit and the sales staffs.  He lived in Pittsburg and had transfers/promotions to Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit (executive office) and San Antonio, TX.  He retired in 2004 and moved to The Villages. He is married to Janice Perrin Martin of Middletown, OH and they celebrated 49 years of marriage in December of 2013.   They share the same interests in just about everything and his wife is his biggest fan.  They have two daughters (one married and one single) who were born in Pittsburgh and both now reside in California. He learned of the Villages in 1991 long before he was eligible to retire.  When the time came the decision of whether to remain in TX or move to The Villages was easy (even though San Antonio was very attractive for retirement) because he was accustomed to relocating and felt it was time for another move – this time to a beautiful active senior retirement community.  He presently serves on the Board of Supervisors for CCD #5 (Vice Chairman), attends the annual Florida Association of Special Districts conference; is VHA representative for District 5, Ashland; is a past member of Vestry Board at St. George Episcopal Church and serves on the Lay Eucharistic Minister staff; is an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program; is a Client Facilitator for the AARP Tax Aide Program; is President of the Polo Booster Club; is a past president of the African American Club; is a past President of the 3C’s Ohio Club; a member of the Villages Croquet Club and have attended the United States Croquet Association school in West Palm Beach.   He is also a regular tap dancer in the Rhythm Boys dance group in the Way, Way, Way, Off-Broadway Players theatre group and has had speaking parts in every production.  He is a member of Villages Theatre Company and had a role in the Trip to Bountiful production and the Squabbles production.  He also plays golf and an occasional game of billiards and enjoys jazz.  He is also a member of the Jazz Lovers Club. In addition to his busy life, they enjoy vacations to unique destinations.