The Woodlands Township is taking applications for the more than 100 open positions on the Village Associations and Residential Design Review Committees in The Woodlands until the 5 p.m. deadline on Jan. 17.

There are eight village associations in The Woodlands, which represent the eight villages. The associations hold monthly meetings to address residential issues, plan events for their residents, manage funding provided by the township and inform the township of concerns within each village.

"The Village Associations are the heart and soul of The Woodlands Community," said Bruce Tough, chairman of the township Board of Directors. "That is how the governance of The Woodlands evolved... They are the eyes and ears of The Woodlands Township."

Tough previously served on the Cochran's Crossing Village Association and considered it "an honor."

The number of at-large positions, term length and officer election processes vary per association. Alden Bridge has 10 open at-large positions that hold two-year terms, Cochran's Crossing has 18 one-year term positions, Grogan's Mill has seven two-year term positions and Sterling Ridge has eight two-year term positions.

Those four villages elect officers themselves following the selection of the at-large positions.

College Park has open positions at president and secretary, each two-year terms, and nine one-year at-large positions. Creekside Park also has two-year term openings at president and secretary, as well as six representative positions and an event chair, all serving for one year. President, secretary and five representatives will be elected for Indian Springs, all two-year terms, while Panther Creek has two-year term openings at vice president, secretary and six representatives.

There are 10 RDRCs in The Woodlands which correspond to the eight villages. The committees hold monthly meetings and make decisions regarding the covenants of property within their communities. Karen Dempsey, management analyst for the township, said the RDRCs make decisions on any applications which fall within the covenants while the Development Standards Committee receives applications which fall outside of the covenants. The DSC also serves as an appeal board to the RDRCs.

Indian Springs and Grogan's Mill each have separate committees, which were split between The Woodlands Association and Woodlands Community Association. Nine of the committees have five open positions, except for the TWA committee of Grogan's Mill, which represents East Shore and has only three positions.

All RDRC members serve one-year terms.

Candidates for Village Associations or Residential Design Review Committees must be at least 18 years of age, live within the village they represent and must not have any delinquent fees or charges owed to The Woodlands Township.

Voting for all positions will be at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Convenience voting will be from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Feb. 11-15, while election day will be from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Feb. 16.

For more information on the application process, election signage or voting requirements, call 281-210-3800 or go to www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.