Your Voice, Your Board
Meet the 2025 candidates for the Sleepy Oaks Campground
Board of Directors – 3 seats available.

Ron Gobler
Lot #23
Hello everyone, my name is Ron Gobler and I live at Lot 23. A little bit about myself.
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My profession is electrical contracting. I have a wonderful family: my wife Margie, daughter Tasha, daughter Tiffany, son Brent, son-in-law Adam, and two grandchildren, Reese and Cole, making them the fourth generation here at Sleepy Oaks.
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I have been coming here since the inception in 1983. My father-in-law was one of the first developers and Presidents in Sleepy Oaks, and back then Phase One was the only part that was developed. At that time, all of the co-owners were fishermen. I can remember we would all chip in and have fish fries and a keg of beer on Saturday night. It's funny how things change — now we have hot dogs and karaoke, which brings me to the point of why I want to be a board member.
I would like to be involved with how we move forward to keep Sleepy Oaks a recreational and fishing community, addressing the short- and long-term challenges we face such as dredging the channel, infrastructure, roads, electric, internet, pool, by-laws updating, and the biggie: where do we get this money to take care of this community?
I very much care about the people that love it here, as my family does, and will do my best to make wise decisions for Sleepy Oaks.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself, and I hope you will vote for me so I can work for the future success of Sleepy Oaks.

Jackie Vedrode
Lot #85
Hi, my name is Jackie Vedrode. I live in Unit 85 with my cat, Ollie. My son and his family live next door to me at Sleepy Oaks, and I have 3 beautiful granddaughters.
I help Jim with the opening and closing of the pool, but you may also know me as your waitress at H&H. I live at Sleepy Oaks full-time, so I would always be available when needed.
Recently, I told my friend I want to run for the Board but didn't know if I was qualified. She said that I am most certainly qualified because not only do I love Sleepy Oaks, I love the Co-Owners as well. She said she knows I would work hard to make sure the Co-Owners’ needs are recognized and met, and that I would do everything possible to fight for our Park and the Co-Owners. I have to say, she is correct.
In addition to my work at H&H, I also owned my own restaurant in Wisconsin for 13 years.
Please consider voting for me. I promise I will put Sleepy Oaks and the Co-Owners first.
Thank you.

Fred Bublitz
Lot #217
My name is Fred Bublitz, I own lots 217 & 218.
I'm married to my beautiful wife Dawn for 18 years and have 4 children and 3 grandchildren.
I've worked in the construction industry for the past 27 years getting ready to retire soon. My wife and I are planning to retire living here.
I would like to see the park be more proactive and not reactive. With my construction background, I feel I can help the board anticipate future costs to start saving instead of hitting each co-owner with large lump sums of money at once for needs of the park, while keeping association fees at a minimum.
We as co-owners have to work together to come up with resolutions that works for all of us. Just like every family, compromise is necessary, we won't always agree, but at the end of the day we have to do what is best for all co-owners. I feel I can examine all wants and needs to come up with a logical and cost-effective solution. Work together is the key to keeping Sleepy Oaks a fun, relaxing place to be, That is why I bought here.

Chris Keller
Lot #219
Candidate Christopher D. Keller
Lot #219, Phase III
I have been a member of the Sleepy Oaks community since the spring of 2019. My children and I love to spend time here creating our memories while enjoying all the fun people and things that Sleepy Oaks has to offer.
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Last year, I won the opportunity to represent co-owners on our board of directors. Since being elected, I think that it is obvious what a difference a good board of directors makes in the quality of life here at Sleepy Oaks. I have put co-owners’ needs, wants, and desires front and center as we approach the unique challenges of running our park.
I have tried to restore the co-owners’ committees to empower co-owners with a voice in what happens. I have participated in making this current board accountable and accessible to co-owners to help strengthen relationships between the community and the board. I believe in addressing concerns and issues as soon as possible and not allowing animosity and anger to fester.
I believe in fairness and that every co-owner has the right to be heard and considered. I also believe that my contributions to the board over this last year speak for themselves. We have come a long way in a year, but we still have a lot of work to do. There are serious issues that need to be acknowledged and addressed, but we need to balance that with strengthening our community and having fun at our happy place.
I would appreciate the opportunity to continue doing the good work that this board started this year.
Thank you.

Gene Firmingham
Lot #84
​My name is Gene Firmingham and I’m running for a Sleepy Oaks Board seat. My wife Cindi and I have been coming to Sleepy Oaks since the mid-80s. We both have had numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and parents that were part of the Sleepy Oaks family. Cindi and I became Co-Owners in 2012. Sleepy Oaks, for me, is where I come to decompress by sleeping in late, fishing and kayaking, cooking every night over an open fire, walking the park –beer in hand, and visiting neighbors.
I have a number of years of experience serving as a Board member on several non-profit organizations, holding positions such as Director and Treasurer. I have been both Committee Chair and member in those organizations; to include By-Law Committee, Entertainment, Budget and Finance, and the organizational head for a number of community events. After about a decade of hiatus, over the last year I have also served as the Co-Chair of the Sleepy Oaks Advisory Committee.
Why am I running? To be honest, I had to think about it…I was perfectly content with just a pole in one hand and a beer in the other. I really didn’t have any intentions of being involved with the governing body of Sleepy Oaks. It started with a couple of jabs at a newly elected Board member; with a “Good Luck, Have Fun” and a wink. This was quickly turned back on me with a “If we’re not part of the solution, blah, blah, blah.” That landed with me. The last couple years have been bumpy, but I have seen things begin to move forward and I see potential in the direction things are going.
It has been asked about me if I was a “single issue candidate.” I had to think about that, too. I concluded that I’m really a no issue candidate. We have always have drama and disagreements-that’s to be expected from hundreds of different personalities. We just need to minimize the bickering.
In my previous Board/Committee experience with other organizations, we were able to produce revenue streams to support our growth. I believe we need to explore new options for raising and more importantly, investing funds for maintenance and improvements (i.e., a Dredge Fund). This is allowed with non-profit organizations, as long as the funds are properly budgeted and allocated. I have been part of many victories and successes, but I think that what my experience has the most to offer our Community are all the lessons that were learned getting there. They are all successful organizations, but there was plenty of drama and dysfunction along the way. Organization, communication, honesty, and good will/faith are always key.
In my past as a Board or Committee member, as well as in my personal life, I have always said, “I don’t need to win every argument, but I damn sure need to be heard,” and I believe that you deserve that right, too. If I’m elected, I will have one vote per lot, the same as every other Co-Owner. When I vote as a Board member, I will vote in the best interest of the wants and needs of all Co-Owners and the betterment of our Community.
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Thank you for your consideration.

Barbara Mathers
Lot #196
Hello, Sleepy Oaks Campground Board of Directors and Co-owners, let me introduce myself.
I'm Barbara Mathers, chairperson of the entertainment committee, wife of Loren Mathers, best pancake maker, and co-chairperson of the entertainment committee. We have been members of the Sleepy Oaks Campground community for 10 years now.
I have seen many boards come and go—some good, some not so good. Some that brought division of the community, and some that brought the community together for the good of all co-owners. Well, at least a majority of the co-owners, because let's face it, there are over 500 personalities in this community, and the board can't please everyone.
I'm running for the board because I want to be a part of the decision-making that keeps this park moving forward—by continuing to work with the standing committees that were formed, by continuing to work on the bylaws that need to be updated and changed for the benefit of the co-owners, to continue to have open question-and-answer sessions with the co-owners, and to continue to be the voice of the co-owners.
All of us have an investment in this community. It will take all of us to make it work. Let's make Sleepy Oaks a happy place for those of us who are here now and for those who are still to come.
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Thank you,
Barbara Mathers
#196
Resume: Co-owner, 10 years
Entertainment committee co-chair, 2017–2023
Entertainment committee chair, 2025
Membership Chair, Rosedale Community Players, 2023–Present
Business Chair, Rosedale Community Players, 1994–1996
Vice President, Rosedale Community Players, 1996–1997
Producer, Rosedale Community Players, 1998–2002
President, Rosedale Community Players, 2016–2017
To register your vote,
return your ballot
Ballots are on their way to you;
they must be postmarked no later than
Wednesday, August 27, 2025