TWPOA Newsletter |
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| Editor: Anne Fernandez
Fall 2008 |
Tara Woods Website - Get all the news about the association
TWPOA Board Members President Mike Mann |
NOTE: October 12 Board Meeting at 11:00am NEW Time Acting Property Manager Update |
President's Corner
by Mike Mann
The community's signature July 4 parade and picnic were a huge success once again. The number of people participating, either through riding in the parade or enjoying the picnic, exceeded all previous events. We even had local press coverage. Nancy Lear, MaryHelen Perrigo, and Betty Jo Spivey did a great job organizing and managing the activities. Our band of stalwart chefs suffered through some significant smoke inhalation at the grills, but the results were well worth it. The weather was hot with the continual threat of a downpour. The rains eventually came late in the day and the only negative was that the fireworks display was cancelled and delayed until the following week. It was still a spectacular display, but a lot of friends and family didn't get to see it.
As a Board we continue to make progress on the boat docks. In past newsletters I discussed the heritage of the boat slip issue, the advice from our lawyer, and implementation decisions already made by the Board, including the decision to resolve the unusable slip situation by increasing the current 39 slips to 43.
We have now made a set of decision on the future management of boat slip assignments that I believe will provide a broader base of benefit for all of our members, waterfront and non-waterfront. A set of recommendations were provided at the June 6 Board Meeting, and after 2 months of consideration, they were formally adopted, in their entirety, at the August 10 Board Meeting. The following summarizes the approved boat slip management plan which will be implemented beginning January 1, 2009:
A standing Boat Slip Management Committee, consisting of 3 Association members, will be responsible for the assignments and reassignment of available boat slips.
In order to aid in the resolution of boats occupying the wrong slip, a registry would be maintained for boats authorized to use a slip. The registry will be created by a form appended to the dues letter and submitted with the annual dues. The Boat Slip Management Committee will maintain the registry.
Authorized members would be guaranteed the existing slip category for the term of their membership, but they may be moved within the category to optimize slip utilization. For example, if a pontoon boat makes it difficult for other users in the category to navigate, the pontoon boat may be moved to a less conflicting assignment within that category. A separate committee has recommended 3 slip categories where the slips are approximately equivalent in terms of access and depth but those categories have not yet been formally approved pending the result of the construction plans. Re-assignment within a category would be exercised in order to achieve maximum benefit to the members within the category.
In addition, slips will become available for reassignment with change in membership (generally when a lot is sold). The assignments of available slips will be resolved based on an auction. The auction lets the members choose the price based on their assessment of value whereas a lottery forces the association to arbitrarily pick a standard fee regardless of the actual value. The departing member can ask to have the auction conducted before or after their membership ends. When a slip becomes available a notice would be published on the website, an email would be sent to all authorized members, and a notice would be posted on the docks three weeks prior to the re-assignment event. Members who intend to participate in the auction would register their intent with the Boat Slip Management Committee who will conduct the auction process. The results will be posted on the newsletter and web site and the registry updated accordingly.
There will be no user fees associated with the assignment or use of a boat slip. Fees collected through the auction process will be used to pay for improvements to the docks, including the costs for re-decking and expanding to 43 slips.
Normally when the Board establishes a committee the selection of members is handled informally. However, the degree of authority being delegated to the Boat Slip Management Committee is sufficient to have a more formal process. I would like to solicit nominations from all of our members with the intent of the Board formally approving the committee membership at the October 10 public Board meeting. I would encourage both waterfront and non-waterfront members to consider participating. If you are interested, please drop Dave Bolden an email at drb4168@msn.com or give him a call at 703-978-4168 to self nominate.
Some of you may not be aware but Sue Dickens has been taken ill. They are long term residence of Tara Woods and Dick serves on the board. This is a horrible time for them. There is an account that has been set up for them at Virginia Community Bank in Louisa. Checks can be made out to the Sue Dickens Fund, that is what the account is under. There are three options for giving a donation, going to the branch, you can also mail any donations to Virginia Community Bank P.O. Box 370, Mineral, Virginia 23117 and stopping by Lake Anna Realty. With Dick being out of work on top of all the medical bills they are going to incur, an account only seemed as the right thing to do. If you have any questions please feel free to call or email Cherish Dahm .
God Bless all,
Cherish Dahm
Treasurer's Report
by Jack Perrigo
As of August 1, 2008 we have $18,993.67 in the operating fund and $59,389.35 in the capital/reserve fund for a total of $78,383.02. Receipts total $29,832.84 and all the dues have been collected. Disbursements are $19,751.73 and include the transfer of $9,087 from the operating fund to the capital/reserve fund and remains in Tara Woods. We spent $253.33 on the 4 th of July parade/picnic and collected $186 from the food sales to guests so our net cost was $67.33. Talk about bang for the buck!
I like to remind people that it was only a few years ago that Tara Woods was in financial trouble. Most of the problem came from the fights over the covenants. Hiring lawyers was necessary but expensive. The resources had dwindled down to just a few hundred dollars in the operating fund and nothing had been added to the capital/reserve fund. We have come a long way since then. We still have a ways to go, but we are on the right track. I am thankful that I don't face the challenges that Art Goldbeck and Bill Poggi had to deal with.
Property Manager Wanted
by Jack Perrigo
Harmel Sabourin has been our property manager and recently resigned as of 6/30/08 . I was Co-Property Manager with Harmel last year and will fill in until we find a new property manger. I have explained to the board that having one person as property manager and treasurer is not a sound business practice. There needs to be a separation of duties. I will consider acting as co property manager if it helps us find a replacement for Harmel.
Harmel leaves some big shoes to fill. Many of you are probably not aware of all the hard work he, his wife, and kids have done for us. Harmel has gone well beyond what we have ever asked any property manager to do. Basically, the PM hires contractors to do the work around the community. Harmel and his family have put their backs into the job, doing most of the work themselves and sponsoring work days where other volunteers have pitched in.
All of their work directly translates into more money in the association by avoiding spending our scarce resources. For example, Harmel and his sons replaced several hundred rails and posts of the Tara Woods fence. We estimate that Harmel installed about 7,000 pounds of new rails and posts. He hauled away 5,000 pounds of old rails. That alone probably saved us at least $2,000 over hiring a contractor.
In another case, Harmel replaced the computer board in the gate. He spent $150 and installed it himself. If we paid the contractor to do this work, it would have cost well over $650. In past years we have spent thousands of dollars paying contractors to do this work. Since he has become an expert on the gate, he will continue to help us maintain it.
He's done his part and now it is time for someone else to step forward. If you are interested call me at 894-0295 or any board member. The pay is $1,500 a year.
Acting Property Manager Update
by Jack Perrigo
Jim Duke and I power washed the fence around the porta potti and applied some stain. We will add additional cover coats this fall.
I plan to buy fence rails in late September. I have started a list of people who have requested rails. The rails will be handed out on a first come first served basis. Let me know if you need rails (540-894-0295). If any rails are left over, I will look for the neediest properties and deposit the rails with a note explaining the fence policy (i.e. Tara Woods provides the material and the property owners installs and hauls away the old).
I plan to finish the trim work on the docks later this fall. I will need some volunteers, so call me at 540-894-0295 if you can help.
Please go to www.twpoa-va.org for news, schedules, and other important information such as minutes of meetings and budget summaries. As we progress into the Twenty-First century, we will rely more on the webpage to keep you informed rather than the US Mail which is expensive. Forgot the web address? Google - Tara Woods.
If you have comments or suggestions, please contact Dick Lear, our webmaster.
July 4th, 2008 10th Anniversary Update
by Nancy Lear and Mary helen Perrigo
We had a great turn out for our parade and picnic. It really has become the event that everyone looks forward to. The committee is comprised of myself, Nancy Lear, and Betty-Jo Spivey. The theme contest winner was Elaine Ellis. Her theme was “2008 Olympics.” For her award winning theme we gave her a patriotic windsock. We had our best turnout ever with over 200 people attending. We served over 120 hamburgers, 100 hotdogs, pounds of potato salad and other fixings. The cooks were Jack Perrigo, Dave Bolden, Harmel Sabourin, Jim Holland, and Mike Early. We collected $186 from food sales to “guests” of Tara Woods. The parade as usual was terrific. We had some serious and not so serious “floats”. The judges did a superb job. Our judges were Ron and Diane Skinner, Janice Abercrombie, Carolyn Beard, and Reana Barrio (all the way from Florida ).
Float entries were:
Thanks for all the participants and spectators. We look forward to next year.
New Restaurant - The Anna Cabana
We have a new restaurant on the lake located by Lake Anna Marina (not associated with the marina). You can drive your boat up or drive over. They have a lovely deck looking out onto the lake or a small dinning room inside. There is a full bar and very good food. They are open every day currently and plan on being open in the winter during the weekends. If you go on the weekends call ahead and reserve a table, they are very busy even on Saturday afternoons. 4227 Boggs Drive, Bumpass (540)895-4022, www.theannacabana.com
| October 12, 2008 11:00am NEW TIME | TWPOA Board Meeting | TWPOA Pavilion |
| January 11, 2009 1:00pm | TWPOA Board Meeting | LARS |
LARS is Lake Anna Rescue. It is located on Rt. 618 (Bumpass Rd.) Take Rt. 652 left out of the subdivision to Rt. 601. Turn right and go over the railroad tracks. Take an immediate right onto Bumpass Rd. (I believe it is Rt. 618) and go 1 or 2 miles to the Rescue building on the left, 300 Bumpass Rd. Bumpass, Va. 23024.