Arbor Walk Newsletter
November 2013
Ten Reasons to Serve on your Association Board.
1. Protect Your Property - One of the top priorities of all board members should be to protect the value of all homes in the community. This is not a self-serving act; it is an obligation to all members of the Association. Being involved on the board puts you in a better position to make and implement rules that directly affect property value, especially if they require decisions about the Association’s budget or routine maintenance.
2. Correct Problems – If you notice problems in your community, such as parking violations, maintenance issues, or situations with unruly neighbors, you can help to correct them by serving on the board.
3. Meet Expectations – Everyone has certain expectations when they move into an Association. Are those expectations being met? It is unlikely that an Association will meet everyone’s expectations, but by serving on the board, you can help balance competing expectations to create a better community.
4. Gain Better Understanding of Applicable Laws - Volunteering as a board member forces you to become better-versed in laws and regulations related to community Associations.
5. Learn New Skills – Most members who volunteer to serve on the board don’t possess all the skills necessary for this management / leadership position. Most will learn on the job. This is an opportunity to learn about maintenance issues, finances, and budgeting.
6. Learn Life Lessons - As an Association board member, you must learn to work as a team. A one-man-show is effectively a dictatorship. While this type of leadership can be very efficient, the Association is usually better off if board members share their interests and responsibilities with others, as the job is too big for one person. At the same time, you will appreciate the importance of valuing others’ opinions before making decisions.
7. Have Fun - Serving on the board doesn’t have to be boring. The interaction with your fellow board members and active members who get involved is also a socialization process. You get to meet and know your neighbors and develop friendships. The collaboration that occurs during the decision-making process of the board often brings out the creative side of people as they strive to create outcomes that work for all members. In the process, you cause your community to run better.
8. Develop Leadership Skills - Serving on the Association board gives you a chance to hone your leadership skills. Organizational skills are generally improved as you deal with coordination of board activities and membership social functions.
9. Give Back to the Association - By volunteering on your Association’s board, you are also giving back to your neighbors and community. Many people derive a great sense of satisfaction in volunteering.
10. Meet Neighbors - An Association board meeting can be one of the best places to meet your neighbors and to learn more about them. It gives you a chance to socialize and make friends with others living in your neighborhood. Many friendships start right here.
From HOA Pulse
Arbor Walk Yard of the Month!
This month's spotlight yard is: 217 Chipping Sparrow
Make sure to check out the new yard of the month sign in their yard!
Congratulations and thank you for working so hard to keep your yard looking great!
Howdy Ho, Neighbor!
- It was great seeing so many families out and about on October 31st! Everyone was having a great time, whether they were walking around collecting treats or hanging out at home providing the treats...and sometimes tricks.
- Did you see Optimus Prime standing at the corner of Willet and Dolphin!?!? That was a great costume!
- Some families on Willet snuck treats on the door steps of some other families during the month of October.
What examples of community have you noticed around the neighborhood lately?
Friendly Reminders
- EMail: HOA2@dorchestersold.net
- Fax: 843-563-5095
- Mail: Dorchester Real Estate Services, Inc. P.O. Box 116 St. George, SC 29477
2. If you have any concerns about the neighborhood please email Deb at the email address above.
3. Trash pickup the last week of the month will occur on Friday since Thursday is a holiday.
4. Summerville DREAMS Third Thursday is November 21st, 5pm-8pm at Town Square & Short Central. It's a fun time. Come on out!
5. Did you Know you can get updates from the town of Summerville with the Citizen Alert System? Click HERE to sign up for the Town of Summerville's citizen alert system. The town can now communicate with residents via text message or email. Messages may include relevant safety and community event information.
Thanksgiving Day Facts and Myths
Before the big dinner, debunk the myths—for starters, the first "real" U.S. Thanksgiving wasn't until the 1800s—and get to the roots of Thanksgiving 2012.
Thanksgiving Dinner: Recipe for Food Coma?
Key to any Thanksgiving Day menu are a fat turkey and cranberry sauce.
An estimated 254 million turkeys will be raised for slaughter in the U.S. during 2012, up 2 percent from 2011's total, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Last year's birds were worth about five billion dollars.
About 46 million turkeys ended up on U.S. dinner tables last Thanksgiving—or about 736 million pounds (334 million kilograms) of turkey meat, according to estimates from the National Turkey Federation.
Minnesota is the United States' top turkey-producing state, followed by North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia, and Indiana.
These "big six" states produce two of every three U.S.-raised birds, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
U.S. farmers will also produce 768 million pounds (348 million kilograms) of cranberries in 2012, which, like turkeys, are native to the Americas. The top producers are Wisconsin and Massachusetts.
Find out more info about Thanksgiving from National Geographic News
In Search Of...
A few moms are looking to grow their walking group. They meet on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 in the Willet Drive cul-de-sac next to the trail entrance. See you there!
Here's How We Can Help
Want to contribute?
- Do you have a great neighbor and think others should know about it? Nominate them for Neighbor of the Month! Send us the name of a neighbor that you would like to spotlight and why you are nominating him or her.
- Do you offer a service that might be useful to others in the neighborhood? Perhaps a child that can babysit, lawn care service, house maintenance, or professional cakes? Let us know and we'll briefly share your info in the newsletter.
- Do you have any tips you'd like to share with others? Let us know
You can also join the Arbor Walk Facebook Page to get more updates on your neighborhood!
If you are no longer living in Arbor Walk and/or wish to no longer receive the monthly newsletter, kindly let us know by emailing the address below.
Email: hoa.arbor.walk@gmail.com
Location: Summerville, SC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arbor-Walk/159707794092349?ref=ts&fref=ts