About ECCO

The Earlewood Community Citizens Organization (ECCO) represents the residents of Historic Earlewood neighborhood. The organization was formed in 1977 - one of the first neighborhood associations in Columbia - and serves to maintain and improve the quality of life, residential character, safety, and sense of community and pride in Historic Earlewood neighborhood.

ECCO is open to all residents of Historic Earlewood neighborhood.

Mailing Address:
ECCO
P.O. Box 30225
Columbia, SC 29230

Officers

  • President, Bonnie Slyce. Bonnie has lived in Earlewood, across from beautiful Marshall Park, since 2017 with her husband and six fur babies. Bonnie is a Clemson graduate and works as an Elementary Behavior Interventionist in Lexington School District One. She enjoys making t-shirts, tote bags, etc with her Cricut. Email her at president@earlewood.org.

  • Vice-President, Mary Williams. Mary lives in Earlewood with her husband, Jon, her two boys, and puppy Stash. They have restored their 1920s home over the last three years and it continues to be a work in progress! She previously served on the ECCO Parks Committee. She is a member of the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the City of Columbia and an associate attorney at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. Jon is the owner of ECCO Business Member, Tube Electric, LLC. In her minimal free time, Mary likes to explore our neighborhood parks, head to the beach, go see live music, or restore abandoned furniture. She’s excited to serve for the next two years! Email her at vicepresident@earlewood.org  

  • Secretary, Meg Southern Syms. Meg moved to Earlewood in June 2021 with her husband Austin and rescue pup Max. She works in marketing, business development, and historic preservation consulting with a local architecture firm, and volunteers with nonprofits Cola Town Bike Collective and Columbia Opportunity Resource. Meg is a proud alumna of the College of William & Mary and the University of South Carolina. She and her husband love hosting porch parties and taking long walks through Earlewood. You can contact her at secretary@earlewood.org.

  • Treasurer, Yvette Sistare. Yvette was born in South Carolina and moved to Columbia in 1981 where she attended Midlands Tech and Columbia College. Yvette has lived in Earlewood for the past 18 years. She recently retired from her role as the Finance Director for the SC Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Yvette has served the past six years as the ECCO Treasurer and has (thankfully!) agreed to continue for another two years. You can reach Yvette at treasurer@earlewood.org.

  • Member-at-Large, Nailah Darby. Nailah is a native of Charleston, SC but has lived in Columbia for over 12 years. While in Columbia, Nailah has earned two degrees in Hospitality, married her best friend, and has three lovely children. Nailah and her family have been in Earlewood for the past nine years and look forward to many more. You can email her at mal@earlewood.org. 

  • Immediate Past President, Emily Burn. Emily has lived in Earlewood for the past ten years. She and her husband, Ryan, share two young sons, three dogs, and two cats. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College and the USC School of Law, is an attorney, and has worked in the criminal justice field for many years. Emily also manages ECCO’s social media accounts and volunteers with local animal rescue organizations. Email her at pastpresident@earlewood.org.

Meetings

All residents of Earlewood are invited to join us for all or part of our neighborhood quarterly meetings in the Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive. All residents are encouraged to attend and help make Earlewood an even better place to live.

Quarterly Membership Meetings
3rd Thursday of the month in February, April, July, and October
Earlewood Park Community Center
1113 Recreation Drive

  • Police & Safety Meeting
    6:30 – 6:45 pm
    The quarterly Police & Safety meeting begins at 6:30 pm prior to the General Membership meeting. The CPD Community Response Team officer assigned to Earlewood attends to answer any questions and address safety concerns of residents.

  • Neighborhood Meeting
    Immediately following the Safety meeting 6:45-7:30 pm
    The quarterly neighborhood meetings for residents of the Historic Earlewood community are held on the third Thursday in February, April, July, and October at the Earlewood Park Community Center. Reminder signs are placed around the neighborhood several days prior to the meeting. Topics that are important to the quality of life of Earlewood are discussed. All residents are encouraged to attend and get to know their neighbors!

 

Mission Statement

Our mission is:

  1. to maintain and enhance the residential character of the neighborhood while striving to enhance the quality of life of the citizens that live, work, and worship therein

  2. to reach common understanding regarding neighborhood problems, issues, and solutions

  3. to communicate community concerns and desires to appropriate government agencies, elected officials, private organizations, other pertinent groups, and citizens

  4. to encourage participation in community life

  5. to develop closer cooperation among community citizens

  6. to foster community pride

  7. to serve as a conduit for information to residents about city services and other items of community interest and concern

  8. and to do such things as will tend to improve conditions for neighborhood residents and community-oriented businesses.