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MF1 2014 July/August
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Transcript of MF1 2014 July/August
National Night Out is Tuesday, August 5th
The board had a brief mee-ng June 11th to plan for NNO (5:30 to 8:00 pm). We picked the theme “Patrio(c” the ole red, white and blue. We also voted that BBQ pulled pork and pulled chicken, with buns and baked beans will be supplied by the HOA Board along with sodas and water. Please bring a side dish to share, (odd numbered addresses will supply “salads and chips”) and (even numbered addresses will supply “dessert items and chips”). The Na-onal Night Out event is a na-onwide campaign focused on helping neighbors get to know each other beOer and to
become aware of poten-al c r i m i n a l a c - v i t y i n t h e neighborhood (see page 3 for crime stories at MF1). This has always been a very popular event at Meridian Firs 1. This is an excellent way to meet your neighbors, come join the fun! Watch for add i-ona l informa-on to follow as we get closer to the date. See you Tuesday, August 5th in the field behind the upper mailboxes (don’t forget to bring a side dish and a chair to sit on).
Windermere PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Chantelle Mitchell, CMCA, AMS [email protected] 253-‐638-‐9811 ext. 218
JULY/AUGUST 2014
Marilyn Kennedy Heidi Guthrie Deb Camuso Pauline Schoeneman Cliff MaOhews Ron Knowlton Judy Berghuis
President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Presidents Message: Better Communities
August/September 2011
T O W N H O M E C O M M U N I T Y
More than a destination at the end of the day, a community association is a place you want to call home and where you feel at home. There is a difference between living in a community and being a part of a community. Being a part of a community means sharing with your neighbors a common desire to promote harmony and contentment.
This goal is best achieved when homeowners, non-owner residents and association leaders reorganize and accept their rights and responsibilities. In all cases, this entails striking a reasonable, logical balance between the best interest of individual homeowners and those of the community as a whole.
Community Associations exist because communities exist and because they offer choices, lifestyles, amenities and efficiencies that people value. Yet, with all their inherent advantages, Community Associations face complicated issues, none more common than the challenge of balancing the rights of the individual homeowner and those of the community as a whole. Managing this critical and delicate balance is often the essence of effective community leadership.
Property ManagerShelley Murray - 206-387-7177 [email protected]
President Marilyn KennedyVice Pres Judy BerghuisSecretary Heidi GuthrieTreasurer Deb CamusoAt Large Ron KnowltonAt Large Pauline SchoenemanAt Large Susann Haines
Board of Directors
National Night OutSave the Date . . . Tuesday - August 2, 20105:00PM – 9:00PM (upper grass lot by old tennis courts)
Together Again: Meridian Firs 1 & 2
• HOA to provide Hawaiian Pork & Chicken
• Water & Sodas
Meridian Firs 1 residents, bring Salad or Chips to share
Meridian Firs 2 residents, bring Dessert to share
Games – Prizes – Bounce Toy - Food - Fun - Friends
Goal is for Uniformity in Complex by board of directors At our last board mee-ng in May, we reviewed the new lamp post resolu-on/rule and a leOer was sent out to all owners. The board will hire someone to fix any broken lamp posts and put on missing globes for uniformity in the complex with the standard round globe. The lamp posts will be repaired, but the individual homeowner will be responsible for any electrical issues if they aren’t working (as the power source for the posts is located inside each unit). We are a community of 58 homeowners so this is a large under-‐ taking by the board. A couple of examples are below:
Our goal is to have all light posts looking the same and in tact. This will make a big impact in the complex.
At our 2013 annual homeowners mee-ng, owners were asked to sign and return the “Consent to Amendment of the Declara-on for Mer id ian F i r s Owners Associa-on” and “Consent to Amendment of the Ar-cles of Incorpora-on of Meridian Firs Owners Associa-on” to allow the board borrowing authority. We needed a total of 44 signatures of both documents before we would be able to make the change, but we received only a few signatures back of the number that was required. Board members started knocking on doors to explain to owners the importance of this change and to clear up any confusion about “borrowing power” they may have had. It’s important for everyone to fully understand the implica-ons of the amendments to the CC&Rs being approved by 2/3 vote of the homeowners. With this approval, it will bring the associa-on’s covenants more up-‐to-‐date (these were wriOen back in the 80’s and have never been revised). It will also allow the associa-on to borrow money to fund exterior ma i n t e n an c e a nd c a p i t a l improvement projects in the future, and lastly it will reduce the percent requirement to pass future amendments from 75% to 60% of vo-ng membership. Thank you board members for geong the addi-onal signatures needed and geong this passed, a HUGE effort!
The board would like to recognize Pauline Schoeneman who lives at 24941 for the improvements made to her yard this Spring, with the addi-on of a railing and border in her front yard which is credited to her son Bill for his handywork. We would also like to say thank you for following the process and turning in the architectural request form when making changes to a structure (she added the railing to the top of her stairs) and the board a p p r o v e d t h e c h a n g e ! R emembe r m a k i n g a n y improvements to the outside structure of the building needs board approval (without it, the board reserves the right to have the structure removed at h omeown e r s e x p e n s e ) . Remember Architectural Forms can be found on our website, the address is located in Odds & Ends on page 3. Pauline & Bill, what you did really improved the look of your front yard (understanding it is s-ll a work in progress).
Page 2 WE DID IT! by board of directors
Newsletter Publish Months Changed by judy berghuis
Over the past couple of years the newsleOer has gone through a few trials & tribula-ons. When we first started publishing the newsleOer it came out monthly, but it was filled with non-‐essen-al ar-cles because we didn’t have enough to write about. Then we changed it to quarterly and found that the informa-on in the newsleOer was too far in advance to do anyone any good. So the last board mee-ng we had in May, I suggested to the board that we start publishing the newsleOer bi-‐monthly, this ensures the informa-on is much fresher when it happens and not too far in advance that it might be forgoOen. Hopefully with six newsleOers a year, we finally hit on the right number.
Appreciation to Our Neighbor by board of directors
A car (1993 black Honda Civic) was stolen from our neighbor-‐ hood back on April 13th. It was taken from the driveway of the homeowner living at 24852 in the upper loop in Meridian Firs 1. Also, thieves broke into another vehicle (a white van) that same month, again in the upper loop. The van was used as a work vehicle. A laptop was stolen from the vehicle and was aOached to a swivel holder, it had industrial strength velcro aOached to it (the thieves ripped out the swivel holder). Also a baOery charger was plugged into the laptop and the thieves (instead of unplugging it) cut the wire and took it also. There was also a report of another aOempted break-‐in late at night into another car parked in the upper circle. This aOempt was thwarted by alert neighbors.
Homeowners are reminded to keep their vehicles locked up. Also to keep doors and windows to their homes locked up even during the day. We ask that you report anything suspicious by calling 911. If you ask yourself, “should I call 911”, the answer is probably yes. The Kent Police have been out to our neighborhood a number of -mes lately and are aware of the situa-on. They are ac-vely working to solve some of these theqs. Any informa-on you might have could be very valuable to the Kent Police in puong a stop to these theqs! Don’t leave anything of value in your car – don’t be a vic7m!
Page 3
Crimes @ Meridian Firs 1 Are Up By ron knowlton
Odds & Ends by Board of Directors
Meridian Firs Email address is [email protected] send us an email and it copies to all board members. M e r i d i a n F i r s W e b s i t e i s hOp://www.meridianfirs1.com/ you c a n fi n d a n a b u n d a n c e o f informa-on here. Board Mee7ng Schedule: The Board of Directors holds eight (8) mee-ngs throughout the year. The Board does not meet in: March, June, August, or December. Mee-ngs are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM at the WPM South Office and are subject to change without no-ce. At the beginning of each mee-ng there is a homeowner’s forum – owners are encouraged to aOend the mee-ng to stay informed on the business of the associa-on. If you plan on aOending the mee-ng, please call in advance to be added to the agenda or to be no-fied if there is any change in the mee-ng schedule. 4th of July Celebra7on: Remember Meridian Firs 1 prohibits fireworks of any kind within our community. Failure to comply will result in a $100.00 fine to the owner who is most directly related to the situa-on or the parents of any minors involved, followed by a $200.00 fine per occurrence thereaqer. Lake Meridian has a professional show.
The saying “you get what you put in” applies to associa-on living. There’s more to being a member of an HOA than many people realize. A community associa-on is a non-‐profit en-ty with the sole purpose of maintaining, protec-ng, preserving and enhancing the common property of the development while promo-ng harmony among the membership. As a new homeowner within an associa-on, you should know what is expected of you. 1. Par7cipate in the community AOend the annual associa-on mee-ng, open board mee-ngs and social func-ons like NNO to have a beOer unders tand ing o f the community’s business and to promote a sense of community by mee-ng your neighbors. Volunteer your -me as a leader within the community and run for an open board posi-on. Support the community associa-on by following the rules, including maintaining your property and not damaging or liOering on the common area. If you learn of a neighbor that is not abiding by the governing documents, introduce yourself and share your concern. They may not be aware of the governing documents, rules and policies of the community. 2. Keep up-‐to-‐date on associa7on affairs Review your associa-on’s governing documents to stay current on what your responsibili-es are. These documents are in place to protect the value of all the homes and to ensure uniformity throughout the community. Read the associa-on newsleOers and visit the associa-on website frequently. Review the annual assessment no-ce and budget.
If an amendment to one of the governing documents is proposed, educate yourself by reading and understanding the governing documents and the reason for the proposed change. Take it upon y ou r s e l f t o p a s s o n t h a t informa-on and educate your neighbors, to ensure that the amendment posi-vely impacts the associa-on as a whole – not just a few members. 3. Vote for board of director candidates and on community associa7on maLers Each associa-on is led by a volunteer board of directors. Annually you will be invited to aOend a membership mee-ng in November to vote on associa-on maOers, including the elec-on of board members. The length of board member terms of office is defined in the bylaws. Board members vote among themselves to determine who will serve in the capacity of officers (president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, etc). 4. Pay annual assessments The board of directors will adopt a budget annually. Expenses will include items such as maintaining the common areas, addressing legal and safety issues, enforcing the covenants, and adequately insur ing the property and associa-on. Without the member-‐ship paying the assessment, the associa-on would not be able to afford these items – or even an aOorney to collect the delinquent balances. Each lot or unit owner within a community associa-on is an automa-c member, and is required to pay all assessments and charges. Unlike a country club membership with dues, those l i v ing wi th in a community associa-on are not able to opt out and avoid paying the assessments.
Page 4 HOA Living: You Get What You Give by board of directors
Summer Grilling by board of directors
One of the most enjoyable summer pas-mes is cooking outdoors with family and friends. Nearly everyone would agree that a steak or burger cooked over the open-‐flame of an outdoor grill tastes beOer than one prepared indoors in a broiler or frying pan. However, residents in mul--‐residen-al housing must take special precau-ons to enjoy the benefits of grilling outdoors. Using open-‐flame grills or other grills can be unsafe. By taking a few simple precau-ons you could prevent a relaxing evening outdoors from turning into a fiery tragedy for you and your community. Posi-on grills at least 10 q. away from siding, fences, deck rails, and out from under eaves and hanging tree branches. Keep children away from grill areas: declare a 3 foot “safe zone” around the grill The smoke produced during grilling can be harmful, even fatal. Lethal smoke can build up in your unit or your neighbors unit through an open window without your knowing.