TWPOA Newsletter
Editor: Anne Fernandez	Fall 2009

Tara Woods Website - Get all the news about the association

President's Corner
by Mike Mann

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer.   Compared to the past, it has been very mild with more rain.   This has been a real benefit to the lake level and boating in general.   My son in law bought a bass boat and we have been generally unsuccessful bringing home big stringers of fish.   I'm blaming it on the weather and the water.   Hopefully you haven't experienced the same frustrations.   

The summer is traditionally a slow time for the Association.   We currently don't have any controversial issues that we are working as a Board of Directors.   Somehow the community seems to be doing just fine.   We did have a great Fourth of July parade and the fireworks were once again spectacular.   Nancy Lear and Mary Helen Perrigo are responsible for organizing and conducting the parade.   They are really good at this and put in a lot of time and effort ensuring that it is successful.   They have lots of help from others in the community and this year Mary Helen recruited what must be most of her extended family as cooks.   At the Annual meeting we acknowledged three new property owners:   Jennifer and Randy Dominick (39 Scarlet O'Hara Court), Mary Margaret and Terry Morin (139 Rhett Butler, and Carol and John Losinski, (990 Carrs Bridge Road.   If you have an opportunity, please introduce yourself and welcome them to the community.

The boat dock construction is done and we've conducted several auctions to allow people to upgrade their slips.   There are still 3 category 1 slips available for assignment.   We started the construction project because we didn't have enough usable boat slips and we introduced the auction process because a number of people complained about the quality of their slip assignments.   Nonetheless, the last auction had no bidders and we've decide to only schedule future auctions when there is a home sale or a definite expression of interest.   I suspect this is really a byproduct of the high water levels.   With the current level, every slip is adequate.   However, when we have droughts, and we have had 2 significant ones over the last 10 years, it is an entirely different story.   I do have some concern regarding water levels if the new reactor proposals are approved.   There is a fair amount of hype, but one argument I've heard is that statistically drought effects will occur every two and one half years instead of the current seven years.   This is something those of you with category 3 slips should think about.   Once those remaining category 1 slips are assigned, I expect relatively little turnover and the opportunity to upgrade may not be available when you want it.   Just something to think about.  

The other thing we all should be thinking about is safety and how we can respond to an emergency situation.   I had a personal experience last month where I was stung by a wasp and went into anaphylactic shock.    I was home alone and the paramedic told me the Benadryl I took saved my life.   However, it had expired in 1997.   It certainly was a lesson for me concerning keeping medicine up to date, and this is a particular problem if you only use your house as a vacation home.   The other lesson had to do with paramedic response times.   In this case it took about 40 minutes to get a lifesaving response.   This criticality of emergency response times became even more crucial two weeks ago when an airplane crashed into the water 150 yards from our pavilion.   We were just starting a Homeowners Association Board meeting when the crash occurred.   Needless to say, we never completed the meeting as a number of people jumped in to try and save the pilot and his daughter.   Time appears to stop when you're faced with an emergency, but it seemed like a very long time before the ambulances arrived.   During that interval, there was an outcry for someone to perform CPR.   Fortunately my sister in law, a nurse, was visiting and she was taken over to Nell West's dock to perform that service.    One of the charms of Lake Anna is that it is somewhat remote and a respite from the city.   However, there is a potential price to pay.   At our next meeting the board will discuss what the community can do to help in these kinds of situations.   I also think it is incumbent of each family to ensure that we have appropriate medicine, equipment, and training to respond to emergencies. That is what has to fill the gap between the incident and the emergency response.  

Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the summer.     Mike

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Treasurer's Report
by Jack Perrigo

As of August 1, 2009 , Tara Woods has received $30,260.00 and spent $20,996.19.   Total dues are $28,120.00 and there are still 2 lots who have not paid the dues.   Significant expenditures are:   Insurance ($2,384.00), Board Expense ($3,371.93), Fence ($3,903.26), and Boat Slip Reconfiguration ($7,540.58).   We have received $1,300.00 from the boat slip auction and we anticipate that the reconfiguration cost will be fully recovered in time.   The Operating Fund balance is $19,477.34 and the Capital Fund is $61,652.40 and Total Funds are $81,129.74. 

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Boat Slip Upgrade Opportunity

The Boat Slip Management Committee announces an opportunity for non-waterfront property owners to obtain access to a better boat slip prior to next year's boat season.  The next boat slip auction is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at 11:00 am , immediately preceding the next Board Meeting.  If you are interested in bidding, please send a note to the Committee at bsmc-twpoa@msn.com no later than close of business 25 September.

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Property Manager Update
by Jack Perrigo

I have been killing the grass along the paved areas in preparation for sealing the Pavilion asphalt.   I plan to have the sealing done after the Labor Day holiday.   This will require that we close the Pavilion and boat ramp for one day.   This will be done mid week in order not to disrupt activity.

I have this years stock of fence materials and any one who wants to replace their posts and rails should contact me.   As you might recall, the fence issues was decided based on a survey of the members.   The conclusion was that Tara Woods would continue to buy the materials for the fence and the property owners would be responsible for installing the fence posts and rails.   Our goal is the replace all of the rails with pressure treated rails.   Since the volunteers have diminished, the Board decided to begin an involuntary fence program.  

After the needs of each lot are determined, the property owners will be notified when the materials will be delivered to their lot.   The property owner will have 30 days to install the fence material.   The property owner can DIY or hire someone.   Josh Sabourin has offered to install rails for $3.00 each and posts for $10.00 each.   At the end of the 30 days, the property manager will hire a contractor to perform the work and the property owner will be billed for that cost.  

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Vandalism
by Bart Cameron

On Sunday, August 23, I discovered someone had vandalized my pontoon boat at the TWPOA marina in apparent attempt to steal gas.   No real damage was done, but the fuel tank was removed from the back of the boat and left sitting on the dock.

This illustrates the need for all residents to be vigilant and be aware of what's happening around them.   Many of our houses and other items of property are often left vacant or unattended for weeks at a time for those who are not permanent residents.   Please do not hesitate to question suspicious or inappropriate activities and contact local law enforcement when these activities occur.   In these economic times, no neighborhood is exempt from crime.

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4th of July
by Maryhelen Perrigo and Nancy Lear

We had another rousing Fourth of July celebration that included a parade and picnic. The July 4th celebration has become the big event for the year and we had an excellent turn out.

Sheriff Fortune and his Honor Guard lead the parade to our Pavilion. Jill and Larry Katz carried the Tara Woods Banner. There were eleven entries in the parade: Jim and Bev Duke (Red Cross-Float of the Brave), Scott and BettyJo Spivey (Uncle Sam), Donna Bobbish and Scott Perkins (New Generation of Hippies), Dick Lear (stimulus package � Best In Show), Caleb and Casey Lear (1960 Corvette � Best Oldie But Goodie), Martin Family (traveled the furthest � Indiana ), The Holland Girls (Song and Dance-Rocking American Women), Lindsey Sadel (All American Golf Cart), Burke Grandson (Marching), Wards and Strauss (American Beauties),

Many thanks to our judges: Bob and Jo Richards, Ron and Diane Skinner.

We served hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, beans, cookies and brownies. We made sure that there was plenty of food this year. We bought 150 hot dogs and 120 hamburgers. The Wards donated 50 hot dogs. There was plenty of food.

People are already planning on their floats for next year.

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Calendar of Events

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.

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