Bells seeks Florida library board seat

To the editor: I am writing to announce my candidacy for the Florida Public Library Board of Trustees. I am running as a write-in candidate and believe I am well-qualified to serve. I have lived in the Village of Florida for more than 10 years and have served my community by helping to start the annual Florida Fun Fest and continued to serve on the Fun Fest committee for five years. My background and skills are in both business and education. I hold a masters in business administration and masters in education. As the principal of a management development consulting firm for the past 15 years, I work with a variety of organizations nationally and within the Hudson Valley. A large part of my work includes strategic planning, leadership development, motivating a multi-generation workforce and improving communication in the workplace from boardrooms to the front lines of organizations. I understand how to manage and grow organizations by serving the needs of the consumer. The organizations I work in encompass various industries in health care, manufacturing, retail and banking as well as non-profit organizations. I also have had the pleasure of delivering programs in strategic marketing and consumer diversity for librarians at Ramapo Catskill Library System and the New York State Library Association annual conference. I am a regular user of our local library and know that both Florida Public Library and the library system are extremely valuable resources for the community and the schools. With the rapidly changing needs of our growing Florida community, with residents of all ages using the library, and technology changing the face of the Library system, I feel my background and skills in business and education can be an asset to the Library. I ask for your vote for me, as well as yes for the library budget on May 15. Please remember to write in “Donna M. Bell” for library trustee. Thank you. Donna M. Bell Florida