No stranger to the concept of volunteerism, the MHCSD Board Director and Vice President Bernice Tingle has been serving her community since she was 15 years old. As a high school student in Oakland, CA, Director Tingle tutored students in the subjects of English and Mathematics. "Oftentimes through the experience, I ended up learning just as much as the student who I was tutoring," said Tingle. One experience in particular provided her with many life lessons. While tutoring an elementary student, Tingle attempted to motivate the student to study by promising that she would help him earn straight A’s. The student then informed her that he wasn’t interested in getting A’s and actually didn’t plan on finishing school. "Before that experience I thought that every student wanted to get A’s on their report card," said Tingle. "I learned that not everyone has the same objective and if you want to help then you need to find out what they want."

Allowing residents to provide input and become part of the decision-making process are important governance policies for Tingle as an MHCSD Board Director. Finding out what community members want is exactly what Tingle did when she decided to run for the MHCSD Board. Not only did Tingle spend time talking to Mountain House residents, but she talked to the staff from the MHCSD, the fire department, library and the local dentist office. Tingle learned that all of these stakeholders had individual objectives to help ensure Mountain House remains a vibrant community. Community safety, more community involvement by citizens, programs for adults and children and encouraging growth of quality businesses were some of the priorities Tingle heard during her visits.

"As an MHCSD Board Member, I want to make sure that community objectives take priority," said Tingle. "Obviously we will need to balance that with our budget." Fiscal responsibility is a mantra that Tingle not only lives by, but also encourages in others. Through the Young Women’s Empowerment Project, Tingle provides seminars on money management to 14- and 15-year-old girls. "I try to explain that it’s not want you make, it’s what you do with what you make," said Tingle. "By establishing goals and priorities in your life and mindfully spending your resources on those important goals, you will be much more financially responsible."  Director Tingle demonstrates her continued commitment to our community and our youth by serving as the Board lead for the Mountain House Youth Action Committee.

Community unity is a concept that Tingle wants to emphasize during her tenure. This involves celebrating diversity by offering cultural learning experiences, as well as encouraging residents to reach out and become actively involved in their neighborhoods. "We should care about our next door neighbor," said Tingle. "It’s our responsibility to go over to our neighbor and introduce ourselves and get to know their schedule. Also, if you see three days of uncollected papers, then pick them up for your neighbor. It is the small things that will make a big difference in our community."

Tingle embraces the Mountain House Master Plan and she cites the Plan, the quality homes, and good neighborhoods as three major assets of the Mountain House Community. In her first few years as a Board Director, Tingle would like to see how the MHCSD can help create transit links between Mountain House and other local communities. She would also like to find ways to better connect the library with the community members. "Our library is a good place for the kids to go. They have wonderful equipment, great programs and a staff that is excited about helping them. We know that smart kids make our community stronger," said Tingle. "I want to find ways to get the library further entrenched in our community."