EVENTS
DCCOA February 2 Architectural Review Board, 7pm February 8 Access Control 6pm February 9 Common Property 6pm February 16 Covenants Enforcement 6:15pm
Finance and Legal 7pm February 23 Board of Directors 7pm EDGEWATER February 16
HOA Board 7pm
COMMUNITY
February 18
Women's Alliance Casino Night
February 20
Literary Circle Meeting
February 23
Garden Club
Meeting
February 23
Bunco
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Danny Becton reports...
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Serves as our Deercreek
CPAC Representative
Southeast CPAC,
District 3
Chair - Growth Management and Transportation
Click for report >>
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January 5th Annual Meeting Highlights
 The annual owners meeting was held at the Deercreek Country Club with 39 residents present including the Board members. With the counting of the 260 proxies a quorum was affirmed and the meeting was called to order by the Board of Directors (BOD) President, George Partin. The President introduced the current setting Board members to the forum: Doug Klippel, Vice President; Pete Gentry, Secretary; Carol D'Onofrio, Legal Liaison; Aaron West, Access Control Liaison; and, Len Fritz, Communication Committee liaison. The Treasurer, Jim Kagiliery, was out of town and Chris Phillips, Common Property Liaison was in the hospital.
The Committee Chairman were introduced and thanked for their significant contribution to the community. Tommy Waters, Dudley Meihem, Skip Yauger and Mary Selbrink have provided over 25 years of combined service. John Joyce the Chairman of the Finance Committee is serving his second year. Note that each committee is looking for new members and if interested homeowners should attend one of the meetings or contact the committee chairman. The contact information as well as the time and place of each meeting are in the Deercreek Living Newsletter.
The President's Report gave an overview of many of the Board's accomplishments this year providing some highlights for each committee. The BOD managed to maintain the quarterly fees at the current rate by renegotiating new contracts with the landscape contractor and Comcast while keeping all other contracts at the same rate for another three years. Additionally benefit was had by the Road Paving Project coming in under budget and the cost incurred for May Management to process ARB paperwork decreased. The BOD also approved establishment of the Deercreek Living Newsletter at no cost to the DCCOA; and, using surplus funds from the previous year's budget bought and installed the electronic sign.
The President then introduced the new May Management Property Manager Kimberly Hamm and the May Management Regional Manager Kathy Cox. The May Management support contract was renewed for another three years providing accounting services, ARB support, and initial legal process for non-payment of assessments. The Board of Directors recognized and thanked Bernard Vargas Vila for his 14 years of service as the Property Manager. His level of diligence and cooperation with the BOD over these 14 years will be missed. He was presented with a gift card as a token of appreciation for his hard work. After the meeting a coffee and cake reception was held were many of the 39 residence in attendance thanked him for his service.
The Finance Chairman, John Joyce, presented the Treasurer Report. The annual budget for the association approximates $850,000 continuing through 2012, and as mentioned earlier, with no increase in quarterly assessments. The Capital Reserve audit affirmed that the reserve fund balances are consistent with what the auditor recommended. The 2012 budget has been approved and adopted and will go into effect in January. The only negative account is the Bad Debt Expense which is increasing due to the economy as persons continue to forgo payment of quarterly fees and fines.
The BOD President recognized the following candidates for the three open seats for the BOD for FY2012. They are Doug Klippel, George Partin, and Nicholas Simonic. There were no nominations from the floor so the nominations were closed. The election results were announced and the members approved the three candidates for the BOD of the DCCOA.
Individual committee reports were then presented starting with Aaron West, Access Control Liaison. Dr. West explained the purpose of access control, through the security company Allegiance Security, is to provide coverage at the Gate House as well as traffic control. One of the projects the committee had this year was the research and hiring of a contractor to replace the bar code scanner which is becoming unreliable and un-maintainable. A new company, "Gate Works," is being considered for a new gate control system.
Mary Stelbrink recognized the Common Property committee members and thanked them for their service. She explained what the committee oversees, then informed the members that the fence at the playground will be replaced and the signs cleaned. On January 20, 2012 (Arbor Day) the garden club will tie yellow ribbons on the 77 trees that have been donated for the common property areas. Based on the covenants and legal research it has been determined that the sidewalks in front of a owners home are their responsibility. May Management will send letters to those owners that have damaged sidewalks and the board will determine a timeline for when the repairs need to be made.
A report on the activities of the Communication Committee was presented by Len Fritz the acting chairman for the committee. The committee also publishes the electronic newsletter, the community directory, and maintains the electric sign and website. Len discussed the electric sign emphasizing that messages can be placed on the sign by remote through input on a PC. He covered the basic intended uses for the sign. Rules for governance of the sign usage are under review and are expected to be presented to the BOD for approval next month. The Communication Committee of Jan Thompson Editor, Len Fritz chairman and Carol D'Onofrio along with many others have given input to the newsletters.
The sole purpose of the Covenant Enforcement committee is to provide an appeal process for anyone who receives a violation and/or citation. Doug Klippel is the BOD Liaison and provided an overview of the committee processes. The committee needs volunteers as state statues require at least three residents are present to vote on appeals.
The legal liaison, Carol D'Onofrio, informed the membership that there is over $100,000 in delinquencies with many of them going into foreclosure. She discussed the foreclosure process and stated that the Finance Committee will be monitoring the ones over 90 days in arrears. The bank owned homes have been billed for past assessments and late fees. The attorney used by the board pursues the homeowner that is in the foreclosure process where applicable to recoup the assessments.
The committee chairman, Skip Yauger, gave a presentation on the purpose of the ARB committee. He stated there are currently five members and more volunteers are needed. During 2011 there were 160 applications submitted for review with only five were denied. He asked that all members go to the Deercreek website where the submittal requirements are located. There has been a fine implemented for those homeowners who do work without prior approval. It is three times the review fee and if not paid then a lien will be placed on your property.
In closing the DCCOA recognized the six years of service given by Carol D'Onofrio. She has been President for two years, Legal Liaison and Club Liaison for three years; and, has been an active member of the Communications Committee where she researched and obtained the cost proposals for the electric sign, and published and distributed Deercreek directory. She was presented with a gift card as a token of appreciation for her contributions.
 | | At the Deercreek Annual Meeting in January we said farewell to Bernard Vargas Vila, who has been the property manager for more than 13 years. Coffee and cake was served. |
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Committee Update:
Communications
Submitted by Carol D'Onofrio
The SIGN: Out with old in with the new.
The old sign board was in constant need of repair, and subject to the elements. Over the years, the volunteers could only change the sign when the weather permitted. It was often raining or over 90 degrees when the sign needed changing. It was a manual job! The plastic letters were brittle, turning yellow and difficult to insert in the Lucite channels which were also breaking. The sign had limited capabilities in wording.
After a town hall meeting last January and final approval by the DCCOA Board, the sign was ordered and finally installed.
What's new about the sign?
It's electronic, and it gives us the ability to change the sign more timely. It is easy to read and lighted at night.
Since the installation we are currently experimenting with the various capabilities of the sign. The brightness of the sign was reduced dramatically. Each message stays on 3 to 5 seconds as you approach the gate. Whether manual or moving if you drive through the gate quickly you will not be able to read either sign.
We will continue to review the sign formats to make this sign clear and easy to read. Thank you for your patience.
Business Advertising
Advertising on the Deercreek web site www.deercreekcc.com is available through December 2012 for $295.
This includes your logo on the home page as well as a link to your individual advertising page and web site. Please review the ad rate sheet on our web site for details.
Want to sell an item?
Items can be advertised on Bargain Avenue which is also included on our website. Click on the link to Bargain Ave once you are on the web site.
Common Property Submitted by Mary Stelbrink Feral Cats Since Deercreek seems to have its share of feral cats - here is a list of some of the most asked questions about them. What is a feral cat?
A feral cat is a free-roaming cat that has never lived with humans. Where do feral cats live?
Feral cats live in towns and rural areas. They form colonies wherever they can find food and shelter, for example in parks, restaurant alleys, hospital grounds and barns. Where do feral cats come from?
An ancestor of a feral cat may have been a stray , lost, or abandoned cat that once had an owner. These cats have kittens and form colonies usually centered around a food source. when cats in a feral colony leave or die, new cats come in from other colonies or from the pet cat population. Why do colonies get so large?
A female cat can have up to 18 kittens a year. Approximately half of these kittens survive. They can produce their own litters within a year. Feral cats usually live only 3 to 5 years because of accidents, disease, predators or starvation. The size of a colony is limited mainly by the amount of food available. What do feral cats eat? Cats in urban colonies raid garbage containers, scavenge for food or are fed by concerned people. Many feral cats also kill and eat small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews. They hunt birds and reptiles to a lesser extent. The effect of feral cats on the wildlife population can be devastating.. Are my cat and I at risk if we are in contact with a feral cat? Feral cats can carry diseases. If your cat comes in contact with a feral cat, she/he has an increased risk of catching these diseases, especially if she/he is not vaccinated. Possible risks to people who come into contact with feral cats or their feces include ringworm, rabies, and parasites such as hookworm. |
Women's Alliance to Host
Mardi Gras Casino Night
 | Patty Tomka is ready
for Casino Night! |
Get out your Mardi Gras beads and start saving your extra change. The Women's Alliance is hosting a Casino Night at the Club on February 18 from 6-10 pm. We're bringing in The Party Company to run real casino tables - 4 Blackjack tables, a Texas Hold 'Em table, a Craps table and a Roulette wheel. So find your lucky socks and put this on your calendar. There will be food, prizes and fun! We even have a 'Pit Boss' who can help the novices learn the games. Ticket price is $50 per person and will include $10,000 worth of chips. RSVP to Patty Tomka pbtomka@hotmail.com and drop checks off at 8214 Condover Ct by Feb 10. Make them out to Deercreek Women's Alliance.
Attire: Denim and Diamonds
Down load information flyer HERE. We're also bringing back the Shamrock Scramble on March 11, with a shotgun start at 1 pm. You'll want to get a head start on putting your teams together - and perhaps finding matching outfits! The more green the better! You can get more information from Kathy Nyman in the Pro Shop as it gets closer to the tournament. Let's plan to make this one our biggest one ever. We'll have hole sponsors and silly prizes along with some really nice raffle prizes. The cost is $85 per person or $300 for a team of four. This will cover golf, cart fees and dinner. If you would be willing to sponsor a hole, please contact Karen Rutland at 519-0926 and she will give you the information. Everyone comes off the course smiling at this event (it could be because of the beer cart) so make sure you are signed up to come out and play with us. This month we are spotlighting our charity called "The Bag Ladies" as they celebrate their 4th birthday. In that amount of time they have produced and donated 2,081 welcome bags to be given to children arriving at the Hubbard House. This started with the women of the Lakewood Presbyterian Church and has grown to include groups across the country, as they have organized training sessions and start-up packets for those interested in setting up the program in other cities. The Bag Ladies have been blessed by donations of all kinds over the years. Sometimes in comes in the form of a large check to underwrite expenses, sometimes fabric is offered to make the bags and sometimes it is free computer work offered by experts. Books are donated by Books a Go Go, another of our charities, and various community stores donate things to put in the bags. They are launching their website on January 14 to become accessible to anyone who sees the need to help in their own communities. If you have something to offer, contact Debbie Wallace at 998-0090 or write to Pat Bloebaum at PatBee@aol.com
By Patty Tomka |
Deercreek Home and Garden Club
By Rita Allen
Our landscapes are not at their best at this time of year, but warmer weather is just around the corner, and it is a good time to make plans.
On Thursday, February 23, Paul Garwol of Mulch and More will speak to Deercreek Home and Garden Club members and guests on "Landscapes and Resistant Grasses". Many of us are looking for ways to simplify the work required to keep our property looking good with minimum effort, and this program may give you just the new ideas you need.
The meeting begins at 1:00 P.M. at Deercreek Club, but many members gather for lunch before the meeting. It is not necessary to be a Deercreek Club member to come for lunch, and this has become a welcome opportunity to become better acquainted with our neighbors. Reservations (363-1604) are appreciated, but not necessary.
We are not only about gardening. The Out to Lunch Bunch will have its next excursion on March 8, when lunch will follow a field trip to Sally Corp, to tour the amazing world of animatronics.
Please add these dates to your new calendar:
March 22: "Interior Design and Color Selection"
April 26: Secret Garden Fashion Show by Dillards
If you think you may be interested in Deercreek Home and Garden Club, please come to one of our meetings to see if you want to become a member. We know that we want to meet you.
Deercreek Home and Garden Club,
where no one is a stranger for long.
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Literary Circle
By Elizabeth Curtin
 In February, the Literary Circle will discuss Little Bee - aka The Other Hand, by Author Chris Cleave:
Worlds collide when Little Bee, a Nigerian girl orphaned by violence, meets Sarah, a dissatisfied British professional away on holiday. The story is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterwards that is most important. A mixture of tragedy and comedy, a taste of what could happen to immigrants to the UK , realistically narrated by the two main characters: Little Bee, an immigrant to UK from Nigeria ; and Sarah, a British magazine editor who had a previous connection with Little Bee.
In March, books for the coming year will be selected.
The Literary Circle is a vibrant group of Deercreek readers who meet monthly to exchange thoughts and insights about the books they are reading. For more information contact Elizabeth Curtin, 519-7937, elizabeth28451@yahoo.com
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 A Story for
Valentine's Day
Submitted by Max Zahn Larry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Like other couples, they struggled to make ends meet and to do the right things for their children. They were ordinary in yet another way - they had their squabbles. Much of their conversation concerned what was wrong in their marriage and who was to blame. Until one day, when a most extraordinary event took place. "You know, Jo Ann, I've got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open them, they're full of socks and underwear," Larry said. "I want to thank you for filling them all these years." Jo Ann stared at her husband over the top of her spectacles. "What do you want, Larry?" "Nothing. I just want you to know I appreciate those magic drawers." This wasn't the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the incident out of her mind until a few days later. "Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct check numbers in the ledger this month. You put down the right number 15 out of 16 times. That's a record." Disbelieving what she had heard, Jo Ann looked up from her mending: "Larry, you're always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop now?" "No reason. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the effort you're making." Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her mending. "What's gotten into him?" she mumbled. Nevertheless, the next day when Jo Ann wrote a check at the grocery store, she glanced at her checkbook to confirm that she had put down the right check number. Why do I suddenly care about those dumb check numbers? she asked herself. She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry's strange behavior intensified. "Jo Ann, that was a great dinner," he said one evening. "I appreciate all your effort. Why, in the past 15 years I'll bet you've fixed over 14,000 meals for me and the kids." Then "Gee, Jo Ann, the house looks spiffy. You've really worked hard to get it looking so good." And even "Thanks, Jo Ann, for just being you. I really enjoy your company. Jo Ann was growing worried. Where's the sarcasm, the criticism? she wondered. Her fears that something peculiar was happening to her husband were confirmed by 16-year-old Shelly, who complained, "Dad's gone bonkers, Mom. He just told me I looked nice. With all this makeup and these sloppy clothes, he still said it. That's not Dad, Mom. What's wrong with him?" Whatever was wrong, Larry didn't get over it. Day in and day out he continued focusing on the positive. Over the weeks, Jo Ann grew more used to her mate's unusual behavior, and occasionally even gave him a grudging "thank you." She prided herself in taking it all in stride, until one day something so peculiar happened she became completely discombobulated: "I want you to take a break," Larry said. "I am going to do the dishes. So please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen." (Long, long pause.) "Thank you, Larry. Thank you very much!" Jo Ann's step was now a little lighter, her self-confidence higher, and once in a while she hummed. She didn't seem to experience blue moods much anymore. I rather like Larry's new behavior, she thought. That would be the end of the story except one day, another most extraordinary event took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke. "Larry," she said, "I want to thank you for going to work and providing for us all these years. I don't think I've ever told you how much I appreciate it." Larry has never revealed the reason for his dramatic change of behavior no matter how hard Jo Ann has pushed for an answer, and so it will likely remain one of life's mysteries. But it's one I'm thankful to live with. You see, I am Jo Ann. (Condensed from Deseret News - Jo Ann Larsen) |
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CLUB NEWS
The Deercreek Country Club is a private club. For membership information, go to our web site, www.deercreekcc.com and click on the Deercreek Club tab.
Love Thy Neighbor! By Shannon McQuarry, Membership Director Now until the end of February, Deercreek Country Club encourages you to LOVE THY NEIGHBOR!
DEERCREEK MEMBERS - invite your "not yet a member" neighbors to breakfast, lunch, or a round of golf on us. We will pick up the tab!! (some restrictions apply) Invite them to come experience your club and show them what they're missing out on. Make reservations with Shannon in the Membership Department at 363-1604 ext 223. If they end up joining the club on your behalf, you will receive a $100 credit on your Club account AND you will be added to a drawing for a YEAR OF FREE DUES!
NOT YET MEMBERS - Come see what you're missing!
Ask your Deercreek Member Neighbor to "show the love" and bring you as a guest for lunch, dinner or a round of golf - ON US! - Golf,
- Tennis,
- Gourmet and Casual Dining,
- Special Events Weekly and for Each Holiday
- 24 fitness with over 12 group classes per week - new cardio equipment has been ordered and other upgrades are in the process
- Pool Access
- Kid's Programs
- Family Sports Social Membership $165 per month, $100 initiation fee
- Family Full Golf Membership $250 per month, $250 initiation fee
Call Shannon in the Club's Membership Department at 363-1604 ext 223 or email shannon.mcquarry@ourclub.com5-15-25 Deercreek Country Club Meeting Planner Special By Julie Bennett, Private Events Director Kick your year off right! Plan your next meeting at Deercreek Country Club and take advantage of our Special Meeting Planner Package! $5 per person for Continental Breakfast $15 per person for Lunch $25 per person for Dinner Plus, Complimentary Room Rental, Audio-Visual Equipment and Nonalcoholic Beverages all day! *Pricing valid until 3/31/12 Call to reserve your date today! 904.363.1604 ext 222 Julie.M.Bennett@ourclub.com
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