Current Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Officers

OFFICERS
President: Gail Wojtowicz, 6 Robin Hood Court, (618) 402-8736 <president@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Gail and her wife Meredith Boyd are 6-year residents of Sherwood Forest at #6 Robin Hood Court. Gail spent 34 years in the United States Air Force and retired as a colonel, after finishing multiple tours as a commander and extensive staff work at the Pentagon. She worked at the UofSC Belser Arboretum for four years and has been interim president of the SFNA for the past year.

Gail is energized by the increasing involvement she has seen across the board in Association development and projects. Her special interests are improving curb appeal, a new dog park, creating welcome signage to the neighborhood, and seeking stronger relations with other neighborhood associations and with city service support.

Vice President: Pat Mason, 4201 Blossom Street, (803) 467-9570 <vicepresident@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Born 8/1/46. Raised on MN horse farm. Lots of 4-H projects. Earned BSBA from Denver University. Served 11 years as a destination sales & marketing executive with Marriott International in DC, NYC and Chicago. Recruited to Columbia by Don Tomlin (US Capitol Corp.) in 1983 as VP for real estate marketing. Purchased 4201 Blossom residence in Sherwood Forest. Organized first iteration of our Sherwood Forest Association.

Formed American Lodging Resources, Inc. with Leyla in 1986. Created a 501.C6 non-profit in a grant partnership with SC PRT to attract visitors with intentions to invest and or relocate to the Carolinas.

Celebrating third year of retirement. Recently completed 2-yr stint as Chair of 28-member Board of Directors serving the SC Wildlife Federation. Currently leading SFNA Block Captain team, Co-chair of Branding Task Force. We love and are committed to nurturing the safety, friendliness and identity characteristics of Sherwood Forest.

Secretary: Kate Barton, 4100 Devine Street, (904) 742-0884 <secretary@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Kate and her husband Parker are relatively recent residents to Sherwood Forest at the corner of 4100 Devine and Poinsettia. They are both sales and marketing experts. Kate is in the insurance field with responsibility for South Carolina and Georgia. Both are on the road frequently. They are invested in the success of the neighborhood and when Kate is unavailable, Parker will stand-in to cover Secretarial duties.

Treasurer: Henry Nechemias, 4 Robin Hood Court, (803) 738-0682 <treasurer@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Henry is a resident at 4 Robin Hood Court, has served as the Treasurer for about six years and is willing to continue supporting the Association in that role. He is a long-time officer for the non-profit, South Carolina Railroad Museum in Fairfield County.

His wife, Valerie, has been an Association member for more than 30 years and has recently organized the Forest Friends Committee.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Safety: Position Open
Appearance: Dave Nelson, 2 Robin Hood Court, (803) 787-3064‬ <appearance@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Social: Position Open
Membership: Pat Mason, 4201 Blossom Street, (803) 467-9570 <membership@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Legal: Kirby Shealy 500 Kalmia Drive, (803) 787-3744 <legal@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Arboretum Liaison: Gail Wojtowicz, 6 Robin Hood Court, (618) 402-8736 <arboretum@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>
Forest Friends: Valerie Marcil, 4 Robin Hood Court, (803) 331-1138 <forestfriends@sherwoodforestneighbors.org>

The Belser Arboretum Endowment Fund

The USC W. Gordon Belser Arboretum in the heart of Sherwood Forest is almost entirely supported by two funds established in 2007 by the University of South Carolina. The Belser Arboretum Endowment Fund (#B11336) was established to provide a permanent funding mechanism for the Arboretum operation. Only 5% of interest earned by the Endowment Fund can be used each year. The second is the Belser Arboretum Fund (#1A3769) which is a spendable fund from which monies can be freely spent for current Arboretum needs.

If you wish to donate to either of these funds, visit giving.sc.edu/arboretum or write a check to the USC Education Foundation, 1027 Barnwell St, Columbia SC 29208 and indicate in the memo field the name and number of the fund.

For more information or to arrange for large gifts, contact Vincent R. Suarez, Senior Director of Development, 803.777.4232 or mobile 803.260.3645, or email him at vsuarez@mailbox.sc.edu.

William Gordon Belser Biographical Information

Below is an excerpt from the privately published Belser family history.

William Gordon Belser was born October 8, 1875, at the Woodside Plantation. He was educated at the Summerton High School and the South Carolina College (now University of South Carolina) from which he graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1895 with highest honors. He was President of the Euphradian Literary Society, and won the Euphradian Society medal for debate, the Roddwy medal for debate, the Carolinian medal for essay, and the Southern Intercollegiate Oratorical Association medal for oration. After his graduation form the University of South Carolina he taught school for one year (1895-1896) in Georgetown, S. C., where he was taking post-graduate work in English at the time of his father’s death in December, 1896. For the next two years he acted as administrator in the management and settlement of his father’s estate. In the year 1899 he returned to the South Carolina College for the study of law where he was graduated with LL.B. in 1900. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1900, and thereafter formed a partnership for the practice of law in the City of Columbia with his brother-in-law, William C. Melton under the firm name of Melton & Belser, and has continued  until this date in the successful practice of law in the City of Columbia as a member of that firm. He has also been engaged more or less extensively in real estate operations, having been interested in a large development near the northern section of Columbia, and in the development of sections in and around Columbia known as Sherwood Forest, Hampton Terrace, Rosewood Gardens, Suburban Farms, and others. He is president and director of various corporations, – North Columbia Land Company, Argus Investment Company, Acme Building and Loan Company and several others.

William Gordon Belser is member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Omicron Delta Kappa fraternities, of Phi Beta Kappa, and of the South Carolina and Richland County Bar Associations. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. His recreational interests are particularly horticulture and gardening, and travel.

In 1909, W. Gordon Belser married Mary Elizabeth Wilson daughter of Judge John Snowden Wilson, of Manning, S. C. On her father’s side she was descended from the Witherspoon and Snowden families of Williamsburg County, and on her mother’s side she was the granddaughter of Dr. John Ingram, prominent physician of Manning. Of this marriage there are six children.