Your mailed ballot must arrive by the deadline
The completed gold return envelope must be received at the Varna Post Office no later than October 14, 2026. Allow enough mailing time.
The 2026 Election
Members will elect four directors from five candidates. The same election materials also include a proposed by-law amendment and an Annual Meeting proxy card.
2026 Election Timeline
The schedule below follows the election process established in the Lake Wildwood By-Laws and the dates set for the 2026 election.
Members in good standing may submit a candidacy statement and petition signed by 50 voting members in good standing.
Members may meet the candidates at 1:00 PM in Arrowhead Lodge.
The By-Laws require ballots to be mailed within 30 days after candidate filing closes.
Completed returns must be received at the Varna Post Office by this date.
Results are certified to the membership. New director terms begin immediately after the meeting.
2026 Board Candidates
The candidates appear below in the same order shown on the official ballot.
Ed Berg
Cassie Weide
Nancy Herberg
Pete Sedwick
Larry Gooding
How to Complete and Return Your Ballot
Follow each step carefully. The inner BALLOT envelope protects the secrecy of your vote, while the gold return envelope is used to verify voting eligibility.
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Mark your choices. Clearly mark the box next to each candidate you select. Vote for no more than four candidates.
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Use one BALLOT envelope for each ballot. Place the completed ballot in the envelope marked BALLOT. Only one ballot is permitted in each BALLOT envelope.
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Place the sealed inner envelope in the gold return envelope. If you are entitled to multiple ballots, multiple sealed BALLOT envelopes may be placed together in one gold return envelope.
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Complete every required field. Enter the lot number or numbers, print the member name, sign the envelope, and state the number of BALLOT envelopes enclosed.
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Mail early enough to arrive on time. Use the supplied gold return envelope addressed to Lake Wildwood Association, Inc., PO Box 110, Varna, IL 61375-0110. It must be received at the Varna Post Office no later than October 14, 2026.
Proposed By-Law Amendment
Marcella Myers, Lot 249, submitted a proposed amendment to Article IV, Section 4.09 concerning owners' comments and their inclusion in Board meeting minutes.
Owner Comment Period
The Board must reserve a portion of the meeting of the Board for comments by owners. However, the duration and meeting order for the owners' comment period is within the sole discretion of the Board.
Publication in Meeting Minutes
The Board must reserve a portion of the meeting of the Board for owners' comments, submitted in writing or made from the floor. All owners' comments would be included and published within the Board meeting minutes. The duration and meeting order for the owners' comment period would remain within the sole discretion of the Board.
Reason for Proposal
Reason: The Board Of Directors have close down are voices, by no longerThe proposal reasoning above is reproduced word for word from the signed amendment proposal submitted July 30, 2026.
publishing the Owners comments in the Sunbeam monthly paper, which part
of our dues contribute to.
Summary of Attorney Guidance
The election material states that publishing owner or Board comments is not generally prohibited by law, but the Association's attorney advised against including comments in official minutes or Association publications outside established corporate procedures. The stated concerns include accuracy, context, consistency, professionalism, possible misquotation, and potential defamation risk.
Board position: The Association Board of Directors recommends members vote against the proposal, which is a NO / AGAINST vote.
Two Separate Ways to Participate
The official Board ballot elects directors. The proxy card supports Annual Meeting participation and quorum, but it cannot be used to vote in the election of directors.
2026 Annual Meeting
November 7
The Election Committee counts the ballots and certifies the election results to the membership. The terms of newly elected directors begin immediately following the Annual Meeting.
Unable to Attend? Return a Proxy Card
A written, signed proxy appoints Linda Watkins, Corporate Secretary, or another Association member you designate to represent your voting interest on business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or an adjournment of that meeting.
- Return only one proxy card.
- Each dues-paying lot owned represents one vote.
- List the lot or lots owned and number of votes.
- If naming an alternate, enter that member's name and lot number.
- Print the member name, sign, and date the card.
How the Election Is Administered
The Lake Wildwood By-Laws establish how candidates qualify, how ballots are verified without exposing individual votes, and how the results are counted and certified.
A member in good standing may file between August 1 and August 15 by submitting a candidacy statement and a petition signed by 50 voting members in good standing. Candidate names appear on the ballot in filing order, and candidate biographies accompany the ballots or are separately published and distributed by the Association.
Article IV, Section 4.03The committee consists of the Corporate Secretary, the current Board of Directors, and one representative of each candidate. A candidate or the candidate's representative has the right to be present when ballots are counted.
Articles III and IVReturns are secured in a safe or other locked place until counting day. Before inner envelopes are opened, the committee verifies that the number of BALLOT envelopes matches the member's voting interest, that the signature is genuine, and that the member is in good standing.
Article IV, Section 4.06After verification, outside envelopes are separated from the sealed BALLOT envelopes. Votes are counted without identifying individual voters, and the Secretary certifies the elected directors to the Board and membership.
Article IV, Sections 4.06-4.07Ballots and candidate statements are retained by the Corporate Secretary for one year. The candidates receiving the largest vote totals fill the available vacancies, and their terms begin immediately following the Annual Meeting.
Election Frequently Asked Questions
These answers summarize the most important instructions from the official 2026 election materials and the Lake Wildwood By-Laws.
How many candidates may I vote for?
You may vote for up to four candidates. A ballot containing more than four selections is void.
What if I own more than one dues-paying lot?
Use one ballot for each voting interest and place each ballot in its own sealed BALLOT envelope. Multiple sealed BALLOT envelopes may be placed together in one gold return envelope. List all applicable lot numbers and the number of BALLOT envelopes enclosed on the gold envelope.
Why must I sign the gold return envelope?
The signature is part of the eligibility verification required before the sealed inner BALLOT envelope is opened. The election material expressly states that votes will be voided without the member signature.
Can my Annual Meeting proxy vote for Board candidates?
No. Article IX, Section 9.01 permits proxy voting except for the election of directors. Use the official mailed Board ballot to vote for candidates.
What does the proxy card do?
If you cannot attend, the proxy appoints the Corporate Secretary or another Association member you designate to represent your voting interest on eligible Annual Meeting business. Proxies also help establish the required meeting quorum.
When do elected directors begin serving?
The terms of elected directors begin immediately following the Annual Meeting on November 7, 2026.
Governing references: Lake Wildwood By-Laws, Article III, Sections 3.01 and 3.04; Article IV, Sections 4.03 through 4.07; Article VIII, Section 8.01; Article IX, Sections 9.01 through 9.03; and the official 2026 election materials.
Questions About Your Election Packet?
If your packet is missing an item, your name or lot information has changed, or you need help understanding the return process, contact the Association office before mailing your ballot.