The Raintree Lake Property Owners Association is managed by a nine-member Board of Directors that governs and oversees the operations of Raintree Lake by enforcing the covenants and policies of the Association. The board is elected by the membership each year on the last Thursday of March. Each director is elected to a three-year terms, while the officers position is only a one-year term.
The Board holds at least two meetings every month which are open to every member of Raintree. The Board of Directors meetings, at which policies are made, are held on the second Tuesday of each month. The Board’s work session, held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, is a less formal affair during which the Board discusses problems and policies but makes no formal decisions. All meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the Raintree clubhouse.
Current Board Members
Tony Jose – President
Term 2023-2026
tjose@rlpoa.com
My wife and our two children moved to Raintree in 2000. Our children grew up
enjoying the lake, pool, swim docks, swim team, and many of Raintree’s organized activities. As a family, we have watched the community grow. Over the past three decades, I have served in leadership roles in various community organizations outside of Raintree.
My most recent non-Raintree leadership role was with the Knights of Columbus at Holy Spirit Catholic Church of which I am still a member. I served on the Raintree Lake Board of Directors from 2004 – 2010. During that time period, through the hard work of the committee volunteers, Raintree staff, and other board members that served with me, much was accomplished. Walking trails, additional boat slips and monuments were added to our community. The clubhouse deck was replaced with the current deck and the Redesign of the clubhouse was started.
These are just a few of the things that were accomplished with the input of our neighbors. As I see signs reading “board member needed”, I wonder if our community is struggling to get volunteers. I know our community has great people. But I also realize that everyone cannot commit the time necessary for some roles. With your support, I will commit the time and energy needed to be a positive voice of the membership. My goal as a board member, if selected, would be to engage more of the community to get your ideas to the table and continue to improve the Raintree Lake community.
Kyle Haulotte – Treasurer
Term: 2025 – 2028
khaulotte@rlpoa.com
I was raised in rural Missouri and, together with my wife Lindy and Sons Kai and Collin,
have called Raintree Lake home for twelve years this May. I graduated from Missouri State
University with honors in 1997 and a BS in Accounting, passing my Certified Public
Accountant examination in the same year and beginning my professional career with one of
the world’s largest public accounting firms. During my 25 year professional career, I have
worked as a finance and accounting leader and executive having responsibility for all
financial aspects of the businesses that I have served, including financial reporting,
international accounting, process and policy creation, internal control, operational audit,
fraud prevention, treasury management, capital fundraising, budgeting & forecasting and
risk management. I have served on the Board of Directors of a $600 million Securities and Exchange Commission Registrant. I believe that a board should actively pursue the best interest of the entity it is serving.
I have been attending board meetings and working sessions of the RLPOA Board over the past six months to ensure I could make the commitment that a board seat requires and to ensure that I could add value to the Raintree community. I believe that I can be a valuable
contributor to Raintree by serving on its board and acting on behalf of our residents with the primary principles guiding my service being preservation and improvement of our property values and our common assets (RLPOA amenities), engagement of our community
through active listening and transparency of board actions and ethical behavior.
My family and I are proud members of the Raintree community and as a family who enjoys the activities of Raintree—the events unique to Raintree, the lake, the trails, the pool and the natural beauty Raintree offers its residents—I would very much appreciate your vote to
serve you and your neighbors and ensure that we retain our vibrant community so that our children desire to call Raintree home when they join Lee’s Summit’s home-owning residents.
Anita Burke
Term 2024-2027
aburke@rlpoa.com
I am an Engineer by degree, experienced project manager and Product Sourcing
professional in manufacturing. I am also a mom to two young boys who love summers and spending time on the lake. My family loves lake life and making amazing memories with our friends.
I do strategic contract negotiation for the government. With this, I am skilled in clear
communication, listening, problem solving and strategic thinking.
Transparency from the board is my number one priority. I think we need to figure out how to get up to times with technology broadcast the board meetings virtually, and be quicker and more detailed with notes from the meetings. Residents have a right to know where, when and how money is being spent.
My family moved to Raintree like many others to be able to enjoy the lake fully. I think there is opportunity to work together, understand everyone’s concerns and find resolution without further divide. I propose to reduce costs and administrative burden on issuing boat stickers that it be done every two years similar to how the boaters safety test is done. There are
other opportunities to address costs and maintenance of our amenities I’d like to address.
Kelly Bride
Term 2023-2026
kbride@rlpoa.com
I’ve owned my own part time business for 39 years. Past experience includes working as a paralegal in real estate, commercial property management, and bookkeeping and payroll for small businesses.
I currently volunteer in the Adoration chapel at church. I also volunteer to help college students apply for scholarships and internships.
In general I think that RLPOA does a good job at enforcement, and in reviewing and revising the rules as issues come up. I would like to see water patrol on the water more.
Lake siltation is a priority for me as well as mitigating flooding of common areas. I’d also like to see us build up our reserve fund for future projects
Charles Cruit
Term: 2025 – 2028
ccruit@rlpoa.com
I am a fairly new resident to this community. I was on the city counsel for Lake Tapawingo for 4 years as well as the BZA.
I have previously worked with the Country Club at Lake Tapawingo at the firework’s tent & helping with the BBQ’s.
So far regarding the Raintree Covenants, Rules and Regulations and their enforcement I like what I have seen.
Kelly Manz
Term 2024-2027
kmanz@rlpoa.com
I’ve been a member of the Raintree Community for 17 years along with my husband and two daughters. I couldn’t imagine a better place to raise a family than a lake community, and I want to join the board to help guide our decisions for the next families raising their children here at Raintree Lake.
I have experience in managing budgets, networking, social media, and all aspects of running a successful business. I
established one of the biggest charities in Kansas City, solely focused on babies born with Congenital Heart Defects. I also have served as a board member for two local charities for the past ten years.
In 2009, I championed the passage of a state law in Missouri to help protect newborns. Getting a law passed takes a lot of grit, determination and tenacity which are also the same traits I’ll bring to the RLPOA board. For example, the law I passed was initially blocked by the American Heart Association, several insurance lobbyists, and many other representatives in Missouri for three straight years. I never gave up, but instead inspired more people to join my cause. In the end, it took 4 years for the law to pass and now ever baby born in Missouri is required to have an oxygen level check to make sure they are breathing
properly after birth. After posting about this law online, almost every state in the US passed similar laws and mandates of their own.
You may be wondering what all that has to do with joining a board of directors…absolutely nothing, but it does show the type of person I am who did something to look after the greater good of society. That’s what being on a board of directors really is at it fundamental core. A group of individuals collectively looking after the greater good of a community. I don’t have all the
answers to the problems or concerns, nobody does. However, I will approach all issues presented with a fair and balanced mindset. I do believe we have rules and regulations for a reason, and they must be adhered to. I want to protect our greatest asset in the community, our lake, and make the decisions needed so the future families moving in can use this resource for years to come.
Jeff Wilson- Secretary
Term 2023-2026
jwilson@rlpoa.com
Hello neighbors, my name is Jeff Wilson. My wife Nancy and I have lived in Lee’s Summit for 34 years. I retired last May after 38 years as an engineer with Allied-Signal/Honeywell and Ford Motor Company.
Since I retired, I have been a regular attendee at the board meetings and Work Sessions. These 9 months of meetings have put me in a good position to hit the ground running if elected. I am a firm believer in doing what’s right for the majority of the community.
I volunteer at Lee’s Summit Social Services and have been an active member of the Raintree Activities Committee. I might have bumped into you at the Food Trucks or one of the other numerous events.
In the past, I feel the vocal minority have had success pushing their agenda. Now that I have the time to give back to the community, I appreciate your vote!
Chris Coussens
Term 2024-2027
ccoussens@rlpoa.com
35 years in Lee’s Summit, Greenwood, Raintree, overly great communicator—Customer Relations, Director of Inventory, process development background
Above professional experience relates to community needs. Great listener, and better
conflict resolution. Looking to better community.
Enforcement is needed and rules should be easily accessible for all to become informed. Inform and hold accountable.
Disbursement of funds and partnership with residents on these funds. Better
communicate and inform community. Be involved and get boots on ground to gather input.
Jim “JC” Connelly
Term 2025-2028
jconnelly@rlpoa.com
I am interested in applying for the open seat on the current 2025 Board. I have had the opportunity to work closely with many of the current board members. I think most of the Board members and staff are aware of the positive work and discussions I have been a part of over at least the last two years.
Below are just several projects I have played a role in completing over the past two years. This may also help the new Board members better understand some of the background concerning why these projects were established.
- I have attended most board meetings and work sessions as a board member in the past two years and as a
homeowner for approx. five months prior to becoming a board member - I have been the lake committee liaison to the board for he past two years and have attended most lake committee meetings as a non-voting member during that time.
- I was chosen as one of the members of the “Dock Committee” to help lead the board in creating and determining the following:
- Create a minimum dock requirements document that would guide any future Raintree dock builder as to our
minimum dock requirements. - Create a new dock specification document to be sent with the new minimum dock requirements document to
describe specific dimensions and locations of needed dock details. - Work closely with Asst. GM to help determine a root cause analysis concerning past dock failures that may or may not have ended in litigation.
- I was chosen to be a member of the Board “Human Resource Committee”. This committee was created to do the
following: - Help identify staff members that will be leaving Raintree in the future months or years, and with the help of OMNI and the staff, help create a transition plan to best fill the positions that are going to open. Also assist the staff in restructuring responsibilities.
- Help OMNI, Board, and staff to update our Raintree Employee Handbook into a document that meets current standards.
- Assist in the creation of a timeline that defines the entire transition plan and support the staff in meeting that timeline.
- Keep the Board aware of identified training requirements that may require additional funding.
I have tried to be a positive influence and a team player during my time on the Raintree Board. Many of you have enough direct knowledge to make that determination for yourselves. I am looking forward to reviewing the new stamped dock drawings that will be supplied by the chosen “P” dock vendor. I would recommend the Board minimize the down payment for this dock until drawings have been approved by Raintree. I will offer my time and expertise to be part of this review whether I am on the Board or not. I am looking forward to working with the current Raintree Board of Directors for another year if you make that decision.