June 2013 - palmspringsfocus.net
Transcription
June 2013 - palmspringsfocus.net
The following is a summary of the May 30, 2013 meeting. The first order of business was counting the ballots for the Governing Documents. We are happy to advise that the homeowners approved the By‐laws with a yes vote of 325 and approved the CC&Rs with a vote of 320. The documents will now be sent to our attorneys for filing. We thank everyone for taking time to vote as well as a very special thanks to Robyn Maceri and her Rules and Regulations Committee for the years of work preparing the documents. ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR’S REPORT Cindy Hayward has arranged for a free Self Protection demonstration class on June 15, 2013 at 2:00 pm. She has also found a water aerobics instructor who will give a demonstration class on Saturday, June 8th at 9:30 am. The Board approved the start ups of a Theater Club, Cinema Club and a Bereavement Group. Further information will be available at the Lodge. There will be a Father’s Day Pool Party starting at 10:00 am on June 16th. Hot dogs, beans and lemonade will be provided. Homeowners should bring side dishes and dessert. Common Area Landscape Committee: It was approved to add 30 tons of Palm Springs Gold 3/8 rock to complete the entire area at the West Side pool. COMMITTEE REPORTS Committee Appointments: (1) Lyn Wright to the Community Access Control Committee (2) Susan Bustos to the Newsletter Committee Newsletter Committee: The Committee Charter and budget for 2014 were approved. Finance Committee: The Board approved the following requests of the Committee: (1) reinvest reserve fund in the amount $50,000 at the best available rate for 4 years if available or else 3 years. (2) reinvest operating fund in amount of $100,000 at the best available rate for 1 year. (3) invest $100,000 from money market at Union Bank to another financial institution. Facilities Committee: The Board approved pressure washing of pavers at the gate areas and near Lodge. Also approved was the purchase of two computers for the Computer Room. NEW BUSINESS a. An Ad Hoc Bistro Committee was set up to search for a vendor for the Bistro. David Schlegel was appointed as chairperson. His committee will have Kim Westman, Gary Cooper and Craig Coleman. June Gray will serve as Board Liaison. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETINGS (a) June 25, 2013—Executive Board Meeting at 10:00 am (b) July 23, 2013‐‐‐Executive Board Meeting at 10:00 am (c) July 25, 2013‐‐‐Open Board Meeting at 1:00 pm Page 2 Community News Page 3 WOMEN’S SAFETY CLASS We will be holding a free introductory informational class for women interested in learning how to defend themselves against assault and crimes of opportunity. Jenae Noonan, Women’s National Mixed Martial Arts Champion will be available for questions and answers and will be demonstrating some moves that will be taught in potential classes, if we have enough interest to schedule classes. Jenae recently started “Stay Safe,” a company that teaches adults 55+ personal safety skills. The class will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 15, 2013 in the Ballroom. The group will determine if we have enough people to have a 6 class session. WATER AEROBICS CLASS On June 8, 2013 at 9:30 am, we will have a demonstration class at our aerobics pool. This class will introduce Kathy Schultz, a Water Aerobics Instructor, who teaches at The Spa Resort and Casino. This class will indicate whether we have enough interest to have future classes. These classes would likely be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings but that could change depending on the needs of the majority of participants. Future classes will be $5 per class. Please sign‐up at the Lodge Reception Desk if you would like to attend the free demonstration class on Saturday, June 8th. FATHER’S DAY 10:00 AM SUNDAY JUNE 16, 2013 It's hot and we need to celebrate! The Four Seasons East pools are the place to be for fun in the sun and food in the bun(s). The staff will be serving up hot dogs and baked beans for a lunch and hosting a swim party. Residents are asked to contribute a side dish, (fruit, chips or easy to serve salad) or dessert to share for a yummy lunch. There will be pool games and other court equipment available. Plan to jump in the pool and play Bobbing Heads, Bumper Balls, Noodle Joust and Numbers Crunch. There will be prizes for the winners of the games. Invite the family and friends for a Father’s Day Party. Don’t miss this exciting day for the whole family. Please sign up by June 12th so we can plan how many we will be serving. Finance Committee Page 4 A t the end of April 2013, our Association has a surplus of $52,301 compared to our budgeted expenditures. This is, of course, great news. But we are yet to have the large electrical and water bills that come with the summer months. Our budgeting program does not allow variable amounts in individual accounts: so we average projected costs over the year using the same figure for each month. This works fine for some accounts such as telephone or staffing that do not vary much; but not utilities. Based on last year, water and electricity will be $15,000 to $20,000 above average for the summer months. If we spend at the budgeted amount for all other accounts, we should end September 2013 with a surplus of $32,000 to $37,000. Still good news. The Finance Committee has a new member: Peter Intravartolo. Peter has a great background in Budgeting, cost projections, and other business areas. His membership will be a real asset for our Community, and we thank him for giving more of his time to help out his neighbors. ~Bill Roberts Social Committee Looking for Input! Happy New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .......well the Social Committee. We are in the process of planning at least for events for 2014!!! WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!!!! We are looking for suggestions from the Four Seasons Community!! We are in receipt of your feedback from the recent Community survey and anxiously await your thoughts and comments. Please email them to Marian Martinez at [email protected] or David Schlegel at [email protected]. Thanks in advance, Your Social Committee Page 5 Left to right: Robyn Maceri, Chairperson; Terry Durkee; Ric Kiesel; David Schlegel; Gloria Kapp, Secretary; Roger Ball, Board Liaison. The purpose of the Rules & Regulations Committee is to act as a review board for all Rules and Regulations amendments, deletions and additions, as well as to ensure that all Governing Documents are in compliance with California Civil Code requirements. Responsibilities include: Developing proposed rule changes, deletions and/or additions as appropriate for Board of Director consideration. Reviewing all committees’ proposed rule changes to assure Board. content and format are consistent with our Community The Committee also oversees Rules & Regulations. maintenance of the Community Rules Developing procedures, & Regulations booklet to ensure processes, communications, etc. accuracy and compliance with local, as required for the county and state statutes. administration of any rule To function properly, the Committee change approved by the Board. desires and welcomes input from all Developing communications for homeowners by way of currently rule change/addition members of the Association to approved by homeowner either explain or announce procedures, at monthly R&R matters related to HOA attendance meetings, use of the Suggestion Box, processes. and by direct communication with Reviewing homeowner input and from the Board. before any action is taken by the Photos Page 6 Visit our photo website for pictures of our neighbors and recent events. Maybe you'll even find yourself there. Great memories and great fun. Come to Focus Fotos. Memorial Day 2013 Ceremony Focus Newsletter Disclaimer The Four Seasons at Palm Springs Community Association, Inc., accepts no responsibility for content, accuracy or opinion, express or implied, of articles, announcements or advertisements in this publication. Inclusion of advertisements does not carry any endorsement, actual or implied, for the product or service advertised. The K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Palm Springs Community Association, Inc., does not accept responsibility or liability for damage occasioned through use of products or services advertised herein. All submitted items are subject to editing. The contents of this newsletter including all text, photographs and its website, are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or reprinted without the express permission of the K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Palm Springs Community Association, Inc. Emergency Preparedness Page 7 JUNE EMERGENCY PLANNING MEMO – BACK TO BASICS T his month we decided to get back to the basics of emergency planning. The past months we have reviewed some of the areas that are not covered in the normal 30 second television spot on what to do in an emergency. Also we have reviewed some of the specific elements regarding the Four Seasons Emergency Plan. But every so often it is good to remind ourselves of some of the key elements that will make life a little less hectic after the earthquake. While many of us who have lived in California for years have heard some of these things a million times, it’s always good to hear them a million and one. So if you know all this and have put your own plan into place and it is up to date, good for you. You serve as an example for the rest of us who sometimes let it slip and know that we should be prepared because one second after the earth starts to move it will be too late to say I should have made a plan. you should have one gallon of water per person per day in case of an emergency. Almost none of those experts live in Palm Springs in the summer. Also if you have pets you need to figure their needs into your equation. There are several ways to insure you will have water to exist over the extended period of time that we expect we will need to be self‐sufficient. First are the traditional cases of bottled water in storage. One key element is to insure that if you have these cases of water that you continue to rotate the water. While they will last a long time, a long time is not forever. Also do not store the water bottles on concrete floor for long periods of time. This can cause chemicals to First thing is water, the key to leach from the concrete into life. All the experts agree that the water. If you are going to store bottled water in your garage place it on a cardboard or wood base. In addition to bottled water you have some other options available. If you have a hot water heater you have an automatic source of several gallons of water. In order to use it you need to first learn how to turn off the gas to the heater and let the water cool down. Then on the bottom of the heater you will see a faucet that can be opened and the water extracted into containers. In addition you have some water capture in the tanks in your bathroom. Capture that water as well, do not flush the toilet but instead use plastic bags to capture waste and place it outside or bury it. Water in pools can be used for cooling or washing. Food is the other item we hear a lot about. Having cans of food in the pantry will go a long way toward meeting the needs for several days. These may not be gourmet meals but they will get us by until Sherman’s and Lulu’s can reopen. One thing to remember about those cans: many are now coming with very convenient pull top lids; Page 8 however, many do not and there is a good possibility that that electric can opener on your counter will not work for a while so investing in one of the old fashion manual can openers might be a good idea. Again don’t forget your pets; so not letting your pet food supply get too low will insure they can be there to provide support while we wait for professional responders. A reminder also about the Four Seasons Emergency Plan. Part of our plan includes surveying homes and determining who is here, who is not, and who needs help. If, after you have surveyed your home and family and you determine you are all right we would like to ask you to tie a dishtowel on your front door to signal to the survey teams that they do not have to stop at that home. It will save time and allow them to maximize their efforts. In addition we are asking residents to report to the Lodge or the nearest Communication Station. In this way we can begin to determine who is here, who is all right and who we need to check on. If you have already signed up to be on your Action Team of choice you need to come to the Lodge if you can to begin to set up the community response. For information purposes there will be six Communication Stations set up in the following locations: East Side 1. Savanna & Tranquility. 2. Savanna Way & Savanna Trail. 3. Savanna Way & Fan Palm. 4. Savanna Way & Tumbleweed. West Side 5. Roundabout at the pool. 6. Roundabout at Cassia & Date Palm Trail. So those are the big items to work on for this month. We will all be in this together and we will do fine. Get to know your neighbors so that in the hours and days after the earthquake are not the first time you meet the people you might need to depend on. The beauty of the Four Seasons is that it is a community with many common elements and one is our commitment to help each other when the time comes. If you have questions regarding the Emergency Preparedness Plan you can send them to [email protected] or contact Jim Crotts at 760‐333‐ 6195, [email protected]. ~Four Seasons Emergency Preparedness Committee Cinco de Mayo Page 9 4th of July Potluck Page 10 Page 11 Best Way to Get Rid of Used Needles and Other Sharps The FDA recommends a two‐step process for properly disposing of used needles and other sharps. Step 1: Place all needles and other sharps in a sharps disposal container immediately after they have been used. This will reduce the risk of needle sticks, cuts, and punctures from loose sharps. Sharps disposal containers should be kept out of reach of children and pets. Note: Overfilling a sharps disposal container increases the risk of accidental needle‐stick injury. When your sharps disposal container is about three‐quarters (3/4) full, follow your community guidelines for getting rid of the container (Step 2, below). DO NOT reuse sharps disposal containers. available in your area: Drop Box or Supervised Collection Sites You may be able to drop off your sharps disposal containers at appropriate chosen collection sites, such as doctors' offices, hospitals, Your community may provide special waste pick‐up services that send trained special waste handlers to If traveling by plane, check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up‐to‐date rules on what to do with your sharps. To make your trip through airport security easier, make sure your medicines are labeled with the type of medicine and the manufacturer's name or a drug store label, and bring a letter from your doctor. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Sites Sharps disposal guidelines and programs vary depending on where you live. Check with your local trash removal services or health department (listed in the city or county government (blue) pages in your phone book) to see which of the following disposal methods are Residential Special Waste Pick‐Up Services Be prepared when leaving home. Always carry a small, travel‐size sharps disposal container in case other options are not available. pharmacies, health departments, medical waste facilities, and police or fire stations. Services may be free or have a nominal fee. Step 2: Dispose of used sharps disposal containers according to your community guidelines. specific requirements on how to label sharps disposal containers. You may be able to drop off your sharps disposal containers at local public household hazardous waste collection sites. These are sites that also commonly accept hazardous materials such as household cleaners, paints and motor oil. Mail‐Back Programs You may be able to mail certain FDA‐ cleared sharps disposal containers to a collection site for proper disposal, usually for a fee. Fees vary, depending on the size of the container. Follow the container manufacturer's instructions because mail‐back programs may have collect sharps disposal containers from your home. These services are typically fee‐based and many have special requirements for the types of containers they will collect. Some programs require customers to call and request pick‐ups, while other offer regular pick‐up schedules. For more information specific to your state, visit the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal’s Safe Needle Disposal website to find information including: • types of sharps containers that can be used, • disposal programs in your area, • how to label your sharps disposal containers, • how to secure the lid of your sharps disposal container, and • whether sharps disposal containers can be thrown away in the common trash. ~US Food and Drug Administration Travel Page 12 Travel Presentations by Collette Vacations San Antonio Holiday 12/14/13 – 5 Days ‐ $1,649 Southern Charm Holiday 12/14/13 – 6 Days – $1,849 Relax Texas‐style when you settle into your River Walk hotel on this 5‐day San Antonio holiday getaway. Visit the legendary Alamo. Learn about the history of the San Antonio region at the South Texas Heritage Center. Be swept up in the romance of the Old West at a dude ranch in Bandera decorated for the holiday season. Visit charming Fredericksburg nestled in the hill country and rich with German heritage. Discover the bold flavors of Texas wines and cuisine during dinner at an olive orchard. Cruise along the Paseo del Rio and immerse yourself in the laid‐back atmosphere of this Texas city. Experience the history, charm and singular hospitality of the Low Country in Georgia and South Carolina during the holiday season. Soak in two nights at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club, once described as “the richest, most exclusive club in the world” and decorated for the holiday season. Explore one of America’s oldest plantations, Boone Hall. Visit charming Beaufort. Explore the history of Savannah and Antebellum Charleston. The holiday season is a fabulous time to visit the German Hill Country settlement of Fredricksburg with events and decorations flavored by German heritage. Visit the Alamo where, in 1836, a battle was fought and men made the ultimate sacrifice to defend their freedom and the Republic of Texas. • Visit James Island Country Park where over 500,000 lights provide you with an enchanting 3‐mile drive. • Experience a guided tour of Jekyll Island Club, beautifully decorated for the season. • Experience a house and garden tour of the Andrew Low Home and learn about the driving force behind the Girl Scouts and their founder, Juliette Low. Page 13 Chin, chin! !Salud! Salut! A votre santé! Prost! Na Zdorovie! These are just a few ways to toast as you enjoy an evening with friends from Four Seasons. How many of you know that the U.S. is the world’s fourth largest wine producing country and that there are wineries in all fifty states? This is just one little bit of information shared at one of the Four Season’s most well as experienced wines they might not otherwise try. popular clubs. Several years ago Jim and Judy Crotts founded the “Wine Club”, which has grown ever since. There are currently forty‐one e‐mail addresses on the membership distribution list. Generally there are about 25 members who attend the meetings—depending on what part of the year it is. Over the years the group has blind tasted many wine varietals from Cabernets to Rosés to Chardonnays and even Champagne. Members have learned about many wine producing areas in the world as At a recent tasting, hosted by sommeliers, Herb and Marilyn Radosh, the group tasted French Red Wines. Most chosen were Cabernets from the Rhone region. A blind tasting consists of trying six different wines which are supplied by volunteers in the club. The wines are evaluated according to their appearance, aroma, body, taste and finish. Interestingly the most expensive choice is not necessarily the first choice of the tasters. At the last get‐together I asked a few members to explain why they enjoy this activity. Louise Rahmann mentioned the camaraderie as did Joan Diamond. Allene Moore likes the socializing and understanding different types of wine. Ross Willhour shared that he has developed a taste for wines that he would not ordinarily drink. Rick Green feels the best thing about this club is the large variety of wines we have tasted. “It appears we have a lot of people in Four Seasons who drink wine”, stated Jim Crotts. That seems to be the case. Joining is a very simple matter—just show up on the second Thursday of the month, at 6:30 p.m., in the Game Room of The Lodge. Bring a glass and one dollar. After trying it out, you could find yourself volunteering to be a sommelier or just to bring a bottle for the next tasting. After all. . . . . At The Hop Page 14 . Movie: "Lincoln" Page 15 Movie Night June 29, 2013 6:00 PM "Lincoln" Lincoln recounts President Abraham Lincoln's efforts, during January 1865, to obtain passage for the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in the United States House of Representatives, which would formally abolish slavery in the country. Expecting the Civil War to end within a month but concerned that his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation may be discarded by the courts once the war has concluded and the 13th Amendment defeated by the returning slave states, Lincoln feels it is imperative to pass the amendment by the end of January, thus removing any possibility that slaves who have already been freed may be re‐enslaved. The Radical Republicans fear the amendment will merely be defeated by some who wish to delay its passage; the support of the amendment by Republicans in the border states is not yet assured either, since they prioritize the issue of ending the war. Even if all of them are ultimately brought on board, the amendment will still require the support of several Democratic congressmen if it is to pass. With dozens of Democrats having just become lame ducks after losing their re‐election campaigns in the fall of 1864, some of Lincoln's advisors believe that he should wait until the new Republican‐heavy Congress is seated, presumably giving the amendment an easier road to passage. Lincoln, however, remains adamant about having the amendment in place and the issue of slavery settled before the war is concluded and the southern states readmitted into the Union. Lincoln's hopes for passage of the amendment rely upon the support of the Republican Party founder Francis Preston Blair, the only one whose influence can ensure that all members of the western and border state conservative Republican faction will back the amendment. With Union victory in the Civil War seeming highly likely and greatly anticipated, but not yet a fully accomplished fact, Blair is keen to end the hostilities as soon as possible. Therefore, in return for his support, Blair insists that Lincoln allow him to immediately engage the Confederate government in peace negotiations. This is a complication to Lincoln's amendment efforts since he knows that a significant portion of the support he has garnered for the amendment is from the Radical Republican faction for whom a negotiated peace that leaves slavery intact is anathema. If there seems to be a realistic possibility of ending the war even without guaranteeing the end of slavery, the needed support for the amendment from the more conservative wing (which does not favor abolition) will certainly fall away. Unable to proceed without Blair's support, Page 16 however, Lincoln reluctantly authorizes Blair's mission. In the meantime, Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward work on the issue of securing the necessary Democratic votes for the amendment. Lincoln suggests that they concentrate on the lame duck Democrats, as they have already lost re‐election and thus will feel free to vote as they please, rather than having to worry about how their vote will affect a future re‐election campaign. Since those members also will soon be in need of employment and Lincoln will have many federal jobs to fill as he begins his second term, he sees this as a tool he can use to his advantage. Though Lincoln and Seward are unwilling to offer direct monetary bribes to the Democrats, they authorize agents to quietly go about contacting Democratic congressmen with offers of federal jobs in exchange for their voting in favor of the amendment. With Confederate envoys ready to meet with Lincoln, he instructs them to be kept out of Washington, as the amendment approaches a vote on the House floor. At the moment of truth, Thaddeus Stevens decides to moderate his statements about racial equality to help the amendment's chances of passage. A rumor circulates that there are Confederate representatives in Washington ready to discuss peace, prompting both Democrats and conservative Republicans to advocate postponing the vote on the amendment. Lincoln explicitly denies that such envoys are in or will be in the city — technically a truthful statement, since he had ordered them to be kept away — and the vote proceeds, narrowly passing by a margin of two votes. When Lincoln subsequently meets with the Confederates, he tells them that slavery cannot be restored as the North is united for ratification of the amendment, and that several of the southern states' reconstructed legislatures would also vote to ratify. After the amendment's passage, the film's narrative shifts forward two months, portraying Lincoln's visit to the battlefield at Petersburg, Virginia, where he exchanges a few words with General Grant. Shortly thereafter, Grant receives General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. On the evening of April 14, 1865, Lincoln is in a meeting with members of his cabinet, discussing possible future measures to enfranchise blacks, when he is reminded that Mrs. Lincoln is waiting to take them to their evening at Ford's Theatre. That night, while Tad Lincoln is viewing Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp at Grover's Theater, a man announces that the President has been shot. The next morning his physician pronounces him dead. The film concludes with a flashback to Lincoln delivering his second inaugural address. ~From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 17 One hears that coupons are not worth the time, money or effort required to return anything of substantial value. Well, that may be one opinion. But if one complains about the rising costs of living and not being able to do anything about it, then one really has not invested in the game of coupons. Everyone knows that you have to buy food and household supplies on an ongoing basis. There is a resource out there largely free which can reduce your out‐of‐pocket costs. COUPONS!!! If you like puzzles or beating the odds, perhaps at the casinos, then couponing may just fit the bill! On Tuesdays. at 3pm, residents meet in the Lodge craft room to discuss couponing patterns and pricing patterns at different groceries. Also they update and replenish the coupon bank/file which exists at the Four Seasons. Bet you didn't even know this existed. Even if you don't want to come to the 3pm Tuesday session, you can always ask the Lodge staff for the coupon file and take whatever coupons will reduce your shopping costs. The file is isolated into types of categories, e.g, pet supplies, beverages, and even restaurants. Some of those who are present at the 3pm session, can show you how it is possible to reduce the cost of your weekly shopping by anywhere from 10% to up 70%. It can be very satisfying to know one can do that; your wallet will be very happy to achieve such a gain. The resource is there at the Lodge. Page 18 Advertising Rates Page 19 Greg Gray 11/13 Page 20 Classified Ad Rates Board and Committees FOUR SEASONS AT PALM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD EXECUTIVE SESSION 10:00 AM Tuesday June 25, 2013 Tuesday July 23, 2013 COMMON AREA LANDSCAPE Cy Hegerich Chairperson Deanna Sparks Vice Chairperson Pat Ellerd Secretary Chase Burke Peter Intravartolo James Fogarty Board Liaison 2nd Monday FINANCE Bill Roberts Chairperson Jim Wetton Vice Chairperson Rick Hobkirk Secretary Jim Kresge Peter Intravartolo Roger Ball Board Liaison 3rd Tuesday AND Board Meeting 1:00 PM Thursday July 25, 2013 Open Session COMMITTEES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Diana Grace President Craig Silver Vice President Jeanne Blackburn Secretary Roger Ball Treasurer James Fogarty June Gray Thomas Jenkins ARCHITECTURAL Donald Richroath Chairperson Judy Crotts Vice Chairperson Robert Saenz Secretary Gino Canzonetta Jerry Hemstock Jeanne Blackburn Board Liaison Last Monday COMMUNITY ACCESS CONTROL Dick Jewell Chairperson Brian Boeckman Secretary Bill Combs Dick Bergstrom Diana Grace Board Liaison 2nd Thursday EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Jim Crotts ‐ Chair Ross Willour Asst. Coordinator Cal Rahmann Inventory Control Gary de Rousseau Secretary Jim Bayle Diana Grace Bonnie Honohan Janna Joos Thomas Jenkins Board Liaison NEWSLETTER Victor Ranieri Editor, Webmaster Pam Satterfield Assistant Editor Jim Wetton Treasurer Peter Intravartolo Secretary Alan Alexander Photo Editor Thomas Jenkins Board Liason 2nd Wednesday RULES AND REGULATIONS Robyn Maceri Chairperson Gloria Kapp Secretary Terry Durkee Ric Kiesel David Schlegel Roger Ball Board Liaison 2nd Tuesday FACILITIES Brian Boeckman Chairperson Richard Piassoli Vice Chairperson Ric Kiesel Secretary Tom Alexander Chuck Bustos Alan Alexander Craig Silver Board Liaison 2nd Wednesday SOCIAL Marian Martinez Chairperson David Schlegel Vice Chairperson Lyn Wright Treasurer Arlene Bergstrom Secretary Peter Intravartolo Ric Kiesel Robert Saenz June Gray Board Liaison 1st Tuesday Refrigerator Rag Page 22 Calendar