MHCSD Board Director Jim Lamb is an
inquisitive life-long learner. His interests vary from wine making
to scuba diving, to building survival igloos. Regardless of the
subject, the constant among his multi-faceted interests is Lamb’s
keen desire to fully understand the ins and outs of the
subject.
While working as a part-time manager and waiter for Wente
Vineyards, Lamb began studying the art and science of wine. This
study eventually led him to earn a certification as a Sommelier, a
wine expert whose responsibilities include wine procurement,
storage, wine cellar rotation and providing expert advice to
customers. In addition to ensuring the patrons had a pleasant
dining experience, Lamb also found opportunities to improve some of
the business processes. He created a software program that reduced
the wine inventory effort to approximately three hours. No small
feat, as inventory typically took at least eight hours to
perform.
When Lamb and his sister purchased the real estate and property
management company from their mother, Lamb spent the first year
learning the intricacies of the business. "I imagine the staff got
pretty tired of me asking a bunch of questions," said Lamb. "I
needed to understand the how’s and why’s of the business before I
started making changes." This inquisitiveness and desire to improve
are some of the qualities that Lamb feels he brings to the MHCSD
Board.
Prior to being elected to the Board, Lamb saw himself as an
unofficial community organizer. In addition to moderating a
community-based website, mhvillages.com, an on-line discussion site
dedicated to Mountain House, and founding the sister
site wiki.mhvillages.com, an on-line community
driven Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ), Lamb organized voter registration drives
in Mountain House, helped organize a grass roots effort petitioning
the Lammersville School Board to pursue unification with the goal
of getting our own high school, and helped to organize and
participate in the Mountain House Neighborhood Watch program. He’s
been a consistent and reliable volunteer for Mountain House
community events, including the 4th of July parade, El Paseo and
the Mountain House 5K and 10K Fun run and Walk, amongst
others.
As a Board Director, Lamb states that he and the other Board
Members are required to focus their efforts on the MHCSD specific
mission, which does not include economic development or land use.
"Our first priority should be addressing whatever falls under the
MHCSD purview," said Lamb. "However, we should always try to be
responsive to our constituents. If residents come to our Board
meetings, we owe it to them to listen and acknowledge them, ask
questions and do our best to be responsive."
Director Lamb leads the Parks, Recreation and Special Events Committee for the District. Some of Lamb’s goals include expanding the Parks and Recreation programs in Mountain House, expanding community involvement in special events, and expanding the communication between the MHCSD and its residents. "Communication is key component to making sure our community thrives," said Lamb. "When residents are talking to each other, then they begin to learn and care about each other."
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