KLEIN NEW EAST LINCOLN
BETTERMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Denver resident Maeneen Klein became the new president of the East Lincoln Betterment Association (ELBA) Thursday night at Unity Presbyterian Church.

By Jon Mayhew

DENVER -- The premiere organization in eastern Lincoln County dedicated to the quality of life in East Lincoln has a new president.

Maeneen Klein became president Thursday night. Former president Lester Poole retired after serving as the organization's president for two years and serving on the board for six years.

In talking to the about 30 people that came for the monthly meeting at Unity Presbyterian Church, Klein said there are a lot of challenges and opportunities in east Lincoln.

"I challenge you all to stay engaged and stay with us," said Klein. "East Lincoln is poised to reinvent itself."

Klein, who works at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department (CMUD), is married to Lincoln County Commissioner Jim Klein.

She also told the crowd in attendance "it's time to roll up our sleeves."

"We're going to turn things upside down and inside out," said an enthusiastic Klein.

ELBA has been around since the mid-1970s and has been dedicated to issues affecting the eastern Lincoln County community.

Outgoing president Lester Poole said he's been a member of ELBA since the early 90s.

"I got involved when I found out someone wanted to put a landfill behind our house," said Poole. "It woke me up to look around at what was going on."

Fellow ELBA member Wayne Vinzant said the goals of ELBA are very broad.

"It's making East Lincoln a better place to live," said Vinzant. "It's also to have a better sense of community."

Besides Klein serving as president, Martha Lide is vice-president and Vinzant is secretary.

For more information on ELBA, visit the Web site www.elbanc.org.