Linda VanApeldoorn
2025 TSNA Board Candidate
Tell us a little about yourself.
Please provide a brief background or bio, including any relevant experiences or interests.
I am a transplant from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where I owned and operated a cutflower farm. Prior to operating the farm, I had several other careers. Some at the same time. (I've been accused of being a workaholic in the past.) I have worked in telecommunications, bar/restaurant management, and sales, to name a few. In New York, I was on the board of the Friends of the Lansing Library and our local BNI chapter. I also coordinated several charity and fundraising events in our community. I feel this variety of experiences makes me a well-rounded person that is open to new thoughts and ideas. As well as having good time management and organizational skills.
How long have you lived in the Thomas Square neighborhood?
Please provide some details about your story in respect to how you came to live in our community.
About 7.5 years ago, my husband and I were debating a move to the south. We came to Savannah for a short visit and within 8 hours knew this was where we were going to call home. We made our permanent move almost 6 years ago. It's been the best decision we ever made. We love it here.
What do you do professionally?
Please share a bit about your profession and how it impacts you and your relationship with the community.
Currently I work part-time as a tour guide with Savannah on Wheels. I give history tours via bicycle throughout the landmark historic district. In order to do my job well, I have to keep up with what is happening in Savannah today and in the future, not just what happened in the past.
Why are you interested in serving on the TSNA Board of Directors?
Explain what drew you to make this decision to volunteer to serve your community on the TSNA board.
For starters, I feel it's important to serve the community you live in. There's been a lot of changes in the short time that we have been here, some great, some not so good. We chose to live in Thomas Square because of it's proximity to downtown and all it has to offer yet it was a neighborhood. I like knowing my neighbors and being a part of a community. I am concerned that tourism is about to take over our area and I want to be involved in how decisions are made that will effect the quality of life here. "Whining gets you no where", as my Dad used to say. Action is what gets things done.
What do you see as the top challenges for our neighborhood, and how do you think the board should address them?
Some examples we see as top issues facing our neighborhood in the coming years are the potential expansion of Savannah’s To-Go Cup district, hotel development, the ongoing affordable housing crisis, rising property taxes due to property value inflation, and increasing crime & homelessness challenges.
For our neighborhood I see the following as the most critical issues:
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Preventing hotel development
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The train. And not just the horn but the length and weight of it. It is literally cracking foundations of homes.
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Pedestrian, bike and driver safety
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The incompletion of various construction sites (such as the one at the former church/school site on Bull St. across from The Vault)
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Parking issues (lack there of)
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Challenges presented by the unhoused
I think the best way for the board to address these issues is to get more people involved in the neighborhood association. I go to many of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) meetings and they can have well over 100 people attend. That group gets things done just by sheer numbers and being a real squeaky wheel.
What steps would you take to bring the community together, inspire engagement, bolster membership & attendance at meetings, and give residents a stronger voice?
Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of the Thomas Square neighborhood, but there is much room to inspire more participation and engagement moving forward.
I think getting more people involved in participating in the Thomas Square Neighborhood Association is key to accomplishing many of the association's goals.
A few recommendations I would make for the meetings:
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Make people that come to the meetings feel more welcome and seen. There should be at least one board member that greets people at the door and introduces new people to other board members or another attendee.
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Require board members to attend a set number of meetings. Introduce board members and thier role(s) at the start of every meeting. Community members should know who their representatives are and what they are working on.
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Reduce the cost of membership.
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Have a "business spotlight" portion where one or two of the local businesses speaks about what they do. And maybe offer a discount/ free sample if appropriate or possibly pay a small fee for the chance to advertise.
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Serve snacks. People will always come to meetings where free food (and/or drink) is involved!
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Ask membership for help with a specific task. You can't just ask people to become engaged, they need something tangible that they can do to participate. Especially if it's a small, easy task. (Like signing a petition or send an email, etc.)
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Have an informational paper that people receive when they sign in listing items like, TSNA calendar of events, website links, basic information on the Association, how to become a member, etc.
What skills, connections, resources, or expertise do you bring to the table that will help TSNA navigate these rapidly changing times and serve the neighborhood effectively?
I think the biggest thing that I bring to the table is that I care. I care about my friends. I care about my neighbors and I care about what happens in my community. And I'm motivated to make effective changes that will benefit all that live in our neighborhood. As an instructor and former business owner and project manager, I have great organizational and time management skills with an emphasis on getting projects completed effectively and efficiently. As well as getting people to work together as a team.
Contact
If you would like to reach out to the candidate directly with any follow up questions they can be reached via email.
Reminder
Only current paid members of the TSNA can vote in the 2025 Board of Directors election. Please join now to secure your opportunity to make your voice heard in this election.
