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 membership is open to all residents of the historic Earlewood neighborhood.

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

Officers

  • President, Meg Southern Syms. Meg moved to Earlewood in June 2021 with her husband Austin and rescue pups Pandy and Max. She works in marketing, business development, and historic preservation consulting with a local architecture firm and volunteers with various local nonprofits. 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 president@earlewood.org.

  • Vice-President, Chase Hastings. Reach Chase at vicepresident@earlewood.org

  • Secretary, Taylor Yarnal. Reach Taylor at secretary@earlewood.org

  • Treasurer, April Drafts-Johnson. April was born and raised in Massachusetts by two South Carolinians and returned to SC in 2012 to attend University of South Carolina. She is a registered nurse who also has a passion for art! She and her husband have lived in Earlewood since 2020. You can reach April at treasurer@earlewood.org.

  • Chair Communications Committee, Laurel Pinkley.

  • Chair Grants Committee, Paul Mishoe.

  • Chair Planning & Zoning Committee, Zach Speaks.

  • Chair Safety and Police Committee, Annie Mahaffey.

  • Member-at-Large, Jim Prater. Email Jim at mal@earlewood.org. 

  • Immediate Past 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 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 January, April, July, and October
Virginia Bedford 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 January, 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

The mission of the Earlewood Community Citizens Organization (ECCO) is to:

  1. 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. Reach common understanding regarding neighborhood problems, issues, and solutions;

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

  4. Encourage participation in community life;

  5. Develop closer cooperation among community citizens;

  6. Foster community pride;

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

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