Dear Friends –
We were so pleased and impressed by the quality and number of board nominations received during the 2025 election nomination process. For AFHC Board elections, AFHC staff assists the Board in conducting the Board’s election of Directors using the organization’s bylaws as the guide, by facilitating communication, and assisting with setting the web-based election used by the AFHC in the past.
One important piece of the nomination and qualification process for prospective Board members is reviewing whether candidates meet the prerequisites to serve as a Board member. The AFHC bylaws provide the following requirements to be able to be a qualified candidate to face election: “Qualifications to serve on the board shall include:
Have no history of or current substantial enforcement actions or violations with DSHS, L&I, IRS, or other government sanctions against their home.
Having been a dues paying member of the AFHC for at least 18 months before being eligible for nomination”
In the process of reviewing candidates and nominees, we did make several decisions and changes that we wish to share as part of our goal of full transparency in our process. Two respected and dedicated AFHC members who were nominated unfortunately did not qualify under the bylaws to be candidates.
It was determined that Scott Naegle did not have the clear AFH license for the requisite two years. There is an LLC name on the license at issue, and in further examination another LLC is listed as the Governor in Washington Secretary of State documents, so Scott’s name did not appear on either Washington agency database as provider or licensed party. Scott is about as integral and engaged an AFHC member as I have known in my brief time here, and we wish Scott not only the best but we will continue working with Scott and his sister closely in advancing the AFH industry – which they are incredible leaders in doing daily – and just down the street from my home too.
After initial certification, it was also determined in review that Damaris Awungshi did not satisfy the requirement that she has been the licensed AFH provider for two years before election. Damaris’s license date was approximately 3 weeks shy of being eligible under the bylaw requirement that she have a license for two years. I have little doubt that despite this technicality, Damaris will be one of our outstanding future AFH leaders. She is a well-respected provider already in the Cowlitz County area and I was so impressed by her engagement, positive ideas, and beautiful family.
As both candidates were in Region 6, and only one eligible candidate remains, votes will only be tallied for eligible candidates. Any individuals who voted already for a candidate who is later removed will still have their votes counted for all other positions they selected for. One other change to share, Ligia Ognean was nominated for both an At Large and Region 7 Board position. I reached out to Ligia to see which she preferred to run for, and she selected the At Large delegate seat that she appears on the ballot for.
As in previous years, we are using the same secure online voting system that has supported AFHC elections in the past. Following long-established procedures, our team will carefully audit all ballots to ensure accuracy, remove any duplicate votes, and confirm that members vote only for candidates within their designated region. We take the integrity of this process very seriously, and the Council staff has devoted great care and attention to managing this election in accordance with the historical precedent and standards that have guided prior Board elections.
We want to thank our valued member Eyob Gebrekidan for the grace shown when the first day’s candidate biographies did not show Eyob’s biography until the following day. Thanks as well to the ad hoc committee of two board officers (Kim Erwin, Jenna Hester) and Operations Manager Bryon Dahl, for serving as election support in reviewing qualifications, and overseeing the tabulation process.
Remember friends – your voice matters and your vote matters. We have 3 more weeks (election is open until January 8) to participate in this pivotal opportunity to help build the AFHC Board of tomorrow. I hope that all of you can take the opportunity to participate and shape this member driven, mission focused organization that exists to support YOU. Thanks for the opportunity to serve, and thank you all for the dedication and excellence you bring top our industry daily.
Best,
Bob
