Building Friendships. Building Community.
Meet the Neighbors Who Serve Our Community
Your HOA Board: Karlotta DeJarlais, Elizabeth Gomez, Suzie LaPlant, Jacque Forrest, Jackie Dielmann, Becky McLain, Caleb McLain
At BV/S, we believe in “Building Friendships, Building Community.” Our neighborhood is more than just a place to live, it’s a place where neighbors connect, support one another, and create lasting memories.
Throughout the year, we are proud to bring our community together through events like our 4th of July parade, Turkey Trot, Christmas Tree celebration, National Night Out and fun pop-up gatherings. These moments give us the opportunity to meet new neighbors and strengthen the bonds that make BV/S special.
In addition to community events, we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment through initiatives such as constable patrol Oak Wilt support and consistent deed enforcement. These efforts help preserve the quality, safety, and beauty of our neighborhood for everyone.
Together, we are building more than a neighborhood... we are building a true community!
Caleb McLain / President
We joined this neighborhood in 2020, and I continue to be impressed with the people in this neighborhood community.
A blend of original home-owners and new neighbors who discovered our corner of the city, we come together to share in each other’s lives. As our families grow, our priorities evolve from Spicewood Elementary events to Canyon Vista, then Westwood sports and college visits. Our extended family – our neighbors – are part of our lives on this journey that we share with each other.
I joined the HOA board to give back to my neighbors. I discovered that this HOA is completely focused on doing more to benefit our neighbors. The HOA funds constable patrols, block parties, and helps fund community-impacting events like funding Oak Wilt remediation. All of these and HOA events are funded by voluntary memberships of less than $100/yr, as well as lots of effort from our volunteer Board & committee members.
Our greatest challenge is to keep in touch with the nearly 1200 homes that we cover. The HOA communicates regularly with our members, and neighbors that have not joined the HOA do not get these updates. I feel that Stroll magazine is a great way to reach our neighbors who do not know us and get introduced.
Jackie Dielmann - Secretary
We moved to the neighborhood 32 years ago. We raised our 3 boys in this wonderful neighborhood, and I taught at Spicewood ES for 23 years. Our roots are deep here with many friends, wonderful neighbors, and a fantastic street! We are truly fortunate to have made so many memories here.
One fun memory with our boys was always decorating the Christmas tree in our yard that we purchased through the HOA and then we would walk through the neighborhood admiring everyone's decorations! The 4th of July parade has become one of our newer memories and we enjoy seeing so many children and friends participating!
I’ve enjoyed recipes, reading about families that I taught, and using some of the recommended service providers listed in the Stroll Magazine. It is such a good resource and another reminder how connected our neighborhood is.
I joined the HOA Board so I could give back to our community and help continue traditions along with creating new ones in the soon-to-be future!
Jacque Forrest/Treasurer
After retiring, we relocated from San Antonio to downsize and be located close to our daughter and her family. We chose Balcones Village Spicewood because of the quality of the homes on larger properties with the large trees.
I've served on the Board since shortly after we moved here in 2015. I've served as ACC Chair for 8 years, and as treasurer since 2022. I see the HOA as an important part of maintaining the strong sense of community we have. I enjoy being involved and donating my time and skills where I can to help keep the neighborhood a wonderful place to live!
I enjoy seeing STROLL each month, especially the Featured Family articles, the recipes contributed by neighbors. Stroll has been a good source of local small businesses and services.
Elizabeth Gomez / Communication Chair, and Event Chair
This neighborhood has been home to me for more than 50 years. I grew up here, Married my husband John and moved to Pflugerville for a time, and eventually returned to help care for my parents. Coming back felt natural and was nice reconnecting with people that I grew up with.
Some of my favorite memories growing up here were the traditions that brought everyone together. The Fourth of July parade and the Christmas trees lining the streets during the holidays made the neighborhood feel truly special. Even today, my children still talk about how beautiful it was and how much those memories meant to them.
That’s part of the reason I joined the HOA , to give back and hopefully help continue some of those traditions for future generations.
I also love how we stay connected through Stroll Magazine. It’s wonderful seeing neighbors featured and learning more about the people who make this such a great community, while also discovering local vendors and businesses like Leaf Landscape Supply.
After all these years, it still feels like home.
Karlotta DesJarlais - Membership Chair
I am so excited to have joined the board this year! I look forward to engaging with our neighbors, bringing people together and creating a supportive community environment. We truly have a special neighborhood. HOA’s responsibility focuses on protecting the neighborhood through our deed agreements. Since we are a voluntary HOA, I look forward to creating opportunities for people to get involved.
When my husband, Michael, son, Jackson, and I moved into the neighborhood about 7 years ago our street was lined with American Flags for the 4th of July. I loved it so much. I enjoy our HOA neighborhood traditions, like the 4th of July parade and our darling neighborhood Christmas trees. I also look forward to building new traditions that foster community and brings our diverse neighborhood together!!
As we launch some new events this year like our Spring Fling - Yoga on the Green provided by Yoga Commons, we have partnered with Stroll Magazine to highlight our families and businesses that support our neighborhood.
We personally reached for Stroll when we needed a new pool service. We contacted PHD and absolutely love their quality of work and friendliness. Stroll has been a fun addition to our neighborhood. We like learning more about our neighbors, collecting tried and true recipes, and being able to contact vetted recourses and businesses.
As Membership Chair, I take to heart building a stronger community together!!
Suzie LaPlant - ACC
I was raised in northeastern Ohio near Cleveland and after 20+ too snowy winters and grad school, I took a job in Miami, FL and stayed there for about 35 years. I ended up working most of my career in public mass transit management. I met my husband in Miami, and we started a successful business taking care of other people’s orchids. He did the actual work, and I did the weekend repotting and helped with buying all sorts of new and unusual orchids for the clients.
We bought our house in 2005 and moved to Austin and this amazing neighborhood in 2006. I was drafted into the HOA Board within 2 weeks of moving in! Except for a few years around Covid, I have been involved with the HOA Board in one manner or another ever since. I am currently the Chairperson of the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and have rarely been so busy!
Stroll Magazine has been a help in taking care of the odds and ends of daily living. As I grew older and needed a wrought iron handrail by my front steps, Stroll had an advertiser. I needed a new and younger attorney to review changes to my Trust; there’s someone in Stroll. It’s always good to have a local resource to review!