Vice President, Southwest Region
Soon after moving into Medford Leas, Barbara Trought was elected to the Residents Association Council. A year later she stepped into the presidency. Barbara speaks enthusiastically and with great conviction about ORANJ’s successful drive toward public law that asserts residents’ right to be elected to CCRC governing boards and to require quarterly interactions between residents and governing boards. She declares, “This is a great achievement. I look forward to serving as ORANJ leads New Jersey residents associations in implementing the law.”
Asked about challenges for CCRCs, she asks, “Will the CCRC concept disappear because of changing economic realities of today?” Not hesitating, she continues, “Current residents are stakeholders. We can influence the decisions being made by administrators. Will we succeed? We can certainly try.”
Barbara’s lifelong interest in governance developed through student government offices in both high school and Douglass College. An English major and certification for secondary school teaching led to a brief career. Career gave way to her choosing homemaking, parenting two sons, and nonpartisan and partisan political activities. Through the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, Barbara focused on every aspect of citizen participation in representative government. Her skills while moderating candidate events gave voters and those who would represent them public spaces where differing views were respected and protected. Currently Barbara is a Pinelands Preservation Alliance Trustee and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).