Thursday, December 20, 2007

Americana Finnmark Christmas Party

The Christmas Party was hugely successful. It appears that there were more people than usual.

Vince did a great job catering- the food was varied and very good and quickly vanished.
By the way Vince- what is the recipe for those rolls- they are the best, and with your gravy that you had yesterday- I could have eaten a plate of rolls smothered in gravy- Yikes- let over do it.
But hey--its Christmas.

There was little or no talk of community politics- and I did not see too many renters- most of the party goers appeared to be on-site owners.

Jim Rocco thanked CMI and Grounds Management for their service and their contribution to the party.

This is what community living is all about- neighbors meeting neighbors.

Besides Vince, CMI and Grounds Management- thanks should go to Billy and Carlos and Heidi for helping to set the place, up and clean up afterwards.

Again- another Great Time at Americana Finnmark

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Latest Folio

The latest Folio had some intersting stuff- with some articles having a little more meat and less mashed potatoes.

A Barbara Carter wrote an article about the nature of how things are done and where the priority is given in dealing with certain issues.

Bob Fustero, who I think is the same Robert Fustero who started this rental revision thing writes about the danger of clothes dryer cloths- those scented things people throw into the dryer to give their clothes a fresh air smell.

It appears that they are are full of all kinds of strange and deadly chemicals--maybe we can go back to clotheslines.

My hat is off to the team of Plunket and Harrington- and a nod to Lorenzo for a job well done.

The Christmas Party is on the 19th-- Be There!!!
Meet your neighbors , have some good food.

And to you people who show up late hoping to snatch some bottles of wine and extra food to take home-- STOP.

The wine can be kept for next year- if you did not bring it- do not take it!!

Peace

P.S.- Where is the Nativity scene for the tree

Friday, December 7, 2007

Last nights meeting-Dec 6,2007

It was a packed house at the BOD meeting last night, with topics ranging from air handlers to wading pools..

The 2008 budget was voted on an approved-- some in the audience were wondering why the budget wasn't under discussion.

If those concerned residents were so concerned, they would have seen the announcements for the previous budget meetings, and would have been part of the discussion at the last BOD meeting- the BOD meeting in December is a final vote on the budget prior to it be mailing out to the community.

The process for the approval and creation of the budget is in your condo package that you receive when you buy a unit.

READ IT.

The BOD also approved repairs for the wading pool and service work on the chiller--this money comes out of the Reserve Fund, which is financed for a variety of reasons--This info is also available in your Condo Package--READ IT!!!

The Rental Revision Committee was created by the BOD to study the issues related to renters, landlords and some of the problems that have arisen over the past few years.

Its members included owners, renters, and offsite owners.
Three meetings were held--the announcement of the meetings were posted always 3-5 days in advance of the meetings.

Again- members of the Community should read the bulletin board and not wait until the last minute to complain about not being properly notified.

The quacking landlords finally had their quacking silenced when the BOD President explained to them the procedure for passing a by-law change and he seems to have stifled some of the misinformation that certain landlords and renters have been spreading.

Overall it was a good meeting-- and we should have more turnouts such as last nights.

So there you have it- and again--Merry Christmas

Sunday, December 2, 2007

From loud to soft

During the summer- Americana Finnmark is a live, brightly colored, active community.

All the plants and trees are in bloom, people are walking about, playing tennis, enjoying the pool, sitting on their patios or balconies.

Then the Fall slowly moves in, the pool closes, trees lose their leaves and plants wither.

There are less people walking, the tennis courts are not so crowded, and
there is a slight nip in the air.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the green grass becomes covered with brown leaves, the pine trees shed their cones, the sound of birds become less, and the squirrels are less active.

Meanwhile as the weather gets colder, there are less people walking, less noise coming from the units, as windows are kept shut, and soon a quiet descends over the community.

It is not a bad quiet, it is sort of like the community is going in to hibernation-- there is still the Christmas party, still a few brave souls walking still some contact--

We should not lose touch with our neighbors during this time-- stay in touch, invite people over for a snack, or dinner, or perhaps a wine tasting or even a cheese party.

Stay in touch-- Write me in care of this blog- let the community know what you do during the winter.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

R. Mcknif