George,

I am writing to support Sue Lewis to serve on the school board. For five years, I have enjoyed working with Sue on the Board of the Leadership Charlottesville Alumni Association, and I value her contributions tremendously. Sue has a remarkable ability to ask the necessary questions and keep a group focused on the task at hand, and I have appreciated the many times she has referred us to our bylaws or mission statement when discussion begins to flounder. Sue is that rare big-picture thinker who also notices the details.

The School Board's demanding charge to "select the superintendent, determine educational needs of City students and prescribe studies to be pursued and programs to be conducted" requires someone who will be actively engaged in learning about the issues and able to make decisions within a group. The competence which Sue brings to public service has been honed through years of service across the Charlottesville community, with non-profit organizations as well as governmental entities (Planning Commission, Housing Authority, MACAA, FOCUS). She has been active in setting policy and oversight of executive directors, and has served on executive search commmittees for MACAA and FOCUS.

From her years of service, Sue has broad and deep connections throughout the community to draw upon. Sue has demonstrated her great energy, ability, and true calling to contribute to community. Her practical and committed focus on serving the organization leaves no room for grandstanding or divisiveness. I believe that Sue would be a vital resource to our city by serving on the school board at this time.

Susan McGinnis (electronic mail, June 20, 2005)