At the December Holiday Party and Pitch-in, the neighborhood association elected its 2008 board of directors. The nine-member board includes seven returning directors, and two first-time directors— Christy Krieg of Washington Blvd. and John Carmer of Pennsylvania St. The association extends its sincerest appreciation to outgoing directors Jeanne Rieger and Past President Steve Towns for their service on the 2007 board of directors.
The following individuals are serving on Historic Meridian Park’s 2008 board of directors:
Doug Day — President
Since purchasing his 33rd Street home in 2005, Doug has been quite active in the neighborhood serving as both a newsletter and a Safe Neighborhood Awareness Program block captain. He also coordinated sponsorship and ad sales for the Centennial Home Tour. After a lengthy career in high technology sales and marketing mostly for small startup companies, Doug took a break from business life to rehab his mission-style home on 33rd Street. He has a BS from Purdue in Engineering, an MS from Wright State University in Computer Engineering, and an MBA from Harvard University. Doug enjoys singing in the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church choir. He has four kids, all grown, and a dog.
Christy Krieg — Vice President
Christy Krieg moved into Meridian Park in 2005, seeking an older, larger house for entertaining friends and family. The move also brought her closer to her job at Methodist Hospital, where she is a nurse practitioner. Born in Indianapolis to parents from Indianapolis, Christy has traveled the world and is surprised to find herself here, but delighted nonetheless! She was lucky enough to move into a house on Washington Boulevard lovingly restored by Jerry and Stephanie Johnson. Within two months, a stray dog had also learned to enjoy the home’s finery. Christy has plans for filling up the large back yard with structures and plants, but must first create a master plan in keeping with the neighborhood. Christy loves being outside in nice weather: hiking, kayaking, camping and biking. In the winter months she has more time to cook and read and cook and read. She has been a volunteer for Historic Meridian Park at such events as alley clean-ups and quarterly social events, prior to committing herself to a year of service on the board of directors.
Karla Johnson — Secretary
Karla moved to HMP in February 1998. She works as acting administrator for the Marion County Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Department. Her job allows her extensive community interaction with housing-related issues as she works to ensure safe and affordable housing for families and children. Karla has a masters degree in public health from IUPUI School of Medicine and sits on several work-related advisory committees including: the Indiana Lead Safe Task Force, Indiana Elimination Plan Advisory Committee (Housing, Environmental and Medical subcommittees), Marion County Elimination Plan Advisory Committee, Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Conference Planning Committee and the Improving Kids Environment Advisory Committee. She enjoys spending time with her children as well as outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking, horseback riding, swimming and working around the house. Karla has served on the HMPNA Board since 2006.
John Carmer — Treasurer
John moved to HMP in 2005 after living in Anderson for many years. John left Delphi Corp. (formerly Delco Remy division of GM) in 2005 after 20-plus years where he served as a product validation engineer. This led to the formation of Carmer Watson Properties, Inc. and the purchase of the Esplanade Apartments at 30th and Pennsylvania Streets. John was quite involved in preservation related issues in Anderson where he served on the Historical & Cultural Preservation Commission for more than ten years regulating property changes in two historic districts. He also was a member of the Anderson Downtown Neighbors Association (adnahome.org) where he served as president, Web site administrator, newsletter author, and helped to pursue affiliation with Historic Landmarks Foundation for property renovation and restoration.
Lorraine Phillips Vavul —Immediate Past President
Since moving to HMP in 1993, Lorraine has been involved extensively in HMPNA activities and governance. She joined the HMPNA Board in 2004 as vice president, then served as the organization’s president from 2006-07. During her tenure as president, she oversaw efforts of a neighborhood-wide Charrette beautification planning session and the neighborhood’s Centennial Celebration and Centennial Home Tour. Additionally, she led efforts to unify neighborhoods within the Mapleton Fall Creek area. As VP she coordinated the association’s monthly meeting programs and developed special programs such as Kids Safety Day and the Dr. Frank Johnson Memorial Health Fair. Over the years, Lorraine served as crime watch liaison, volunteer coordinator for the 1994 Meridian Park Holiday Home Tour, media relations coordinator for the 1997, 2000 and 2002 home tours, and as a committee member for the 2004 Arts & Crafts Architectural Symposium. She also served as HMP’s representative on both Historic Landmark Foundation’s Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis (HUNI) group and The Children’s Museum’s Neighborhood Working Group. Lorraine has a BA in Communications from DePauw University and an MBA from Butler University. Before electing to be a stay-at-home mother in 2003, Lorraine worked in marketing and community relations.
Jerry Johnson — Director
After three years rehabbing his HMP house at 3346 Washington Boulevard, Jerry and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Washington Court in December 2005, where they have nearly completed renovation on another home. A graduate of the Herron School of Art in 1994 with a major in painting and a minor in photography, Jerry owns his own home painting and home restoration business, Pennsylvania Painting. He served on the 2006 Centennial and Home Tour Committees and is a newsletter block captain and active participant in neighborhood alley clean ups.
Jess LaNore — Director
Jess LaNore moved from Seattle to Indianapolis in 1995 and has called Historic Meridian Park his home since 2001. In January he moved from Pennsylvania Street to Washington Blvd where he has begun restoring his second home. Jess is the editor of the Meridian Park Mirror, a newsletter block captain, and has been a home tour and alley cleanup volunteer. Professionally, Jess works for the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity where he manages the day-to-day operations of its educational foundation, including all activities relating to annual, major and planned giving. He has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Washington State University and is a past president of the College Fraternity Editors Association. He is also an active member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Ora Triplet — Director
Moving to the neighborhood in 1974, Ora is a long-time resident of HMP. She has served on the HMPNA Board since 1998 and coordinates HMP’s Alliance for Senior Advocacy Program, which assists several of the neighborhood’s senior citizens with a variety of needs. In honor of her loyal support and acts of kindness and compassion toward neighbors and friends, Mayor Bart Peterson proclaimed April 22, 2007 as “Ora Triplet Day” in the City of Indianapolis. For more than 35 years, Ora has been an active member of Eastern Star Church as well as a softball coach at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, where she played softball for many years. Ora routinely helps at M.T. Triplet Cleaning, which opened in 1978. Ora and husband, JT, have been married for 50 years and have raised five children.
Larry Sanner — Director
Larry Sanner first lived in HMP in the 1960s and returned to live in the neighborhood again in 19
88. From 1996 to 2002, Larry served HMP as a director and as its president from January 1998 to December 2001. Also during that time, he wrote and edited the neighborhood newsletter, the Meridian Park Mirror. Through his years of service, Larry has brought about positive change for the neighborhood pushing for additional stop signs and a stop light, and new curbs and sidewalks. His work with Indianapolis City Planners brought about the creation of the roundabout at 32nd & Pennsylvania Streets, the Median at Pennsylvania and 33rd Streets and the triangle in front of the Esplanade Apartments. Larry holds a BA from Ohio Northern University, a Masters of Divinity from Methodist Theological School of Ohio and a Masters in Personality Theory and Counseling from Butler University. In addition to his board commitment, Larry serves as the 32nd Street newsletter and Safe Neighborhood Awareness Program (SNAP) block captains, and chairs our Garden Committee. He was also active on the 2006 Centennial and Home Tour Committee. In recognition of Larry’s many years of dedicated service to HMP, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson proclaimed April 25, 2004 as “Larry Sanner Day.”