Maintenance Fees are Set at $645 for 2007

The maintenance fee for 2007 will be $645, with a $20 discount if payment is made by December 31. 

Annual General Meeting was held October 30

Elections were held with a record number of ballots and proxies (approximately 400) being submitted.  The task of verifying the documents took several hours, and it wasn’t until after the meeting ended that the results were available.  Incumbents John Cullinan and Beth Ann Lechmann were re-elected and candidates Richard Murphy, Mike Poetz, Gail Wescott, and Pat Wheeler are the newly elected members.  A list of Board members, their positions, and their contact information is shown in the information sheet distributed with this copy of the Westwind.  Please welcome our new Directors.

President Bids “Farewell” to Departing Directors by Don Markus

The October General Meeting is always a bittersweet gathering.  It combines the successful completion of the past year with the specter of a budget for the coming year.  It brings new candidates for election to the Board and says good-bye to Directors who have fulfilled their terms and are stepping down from the Board.  Three directors (Phil Bode, Jerry Butler, and Cindy Poetz - see the October Westwind for their farewell article) and the president (Ann Koelling) ended their terms at the General Meeting and their service is appreciated.

Ann Koelling joined the Board as Community Affairs Director and began a re-vitalization effort for our neighborhood-wide celebrations.  Her focus on involvement and having something for everyone was instrumental in increasing the number of participants in our 4^th of July and Christmas get-togethers.  Ann worked to increase the appeal of parties and gatherings so that we could all meet and get to know more of our neighbors.  She also had an eye for what worked and what didn’t, and used that knowledge to constantly improve both the quality of her efforts and the response to them. 

President Looks Forward to 2007 by Don Markus, WCA President

It’s hard to believe that November is already here.  Elections have been held, and new Board members and Officers are taking their places for the 2007 Board.  Newly elected Directors are Mike Poetz, Gail Wescott, and Pat Wheeler.  Newly elected Officers are Don Markus (President), Richard Murphy (Vice President), and John Cullinan (Treasurer).  New faces and new positions offer the opportunity to bring new ideas and energy to the Board.  We are confident that our new Board “personality” will continue to make Westador a great place to live.

All of us want Westador to be a good place to live, raise families, and benefit from the quiet enjoyment of their homes.  The Board has a fundamental duty to contribute to the realization of these desires.  That requires us to consider the good of the entire neighborhood in all cases.  Sometimes this creates controversy and occasionally it creates hard feelings.  The best way to avoid undesirable results is to become familiar with your Board and its members.  Talk to us about your interests, your ideas, and things that need improvement.  Read the Westwind to find out what’s going on in parts of the neighborhood not close to your home.  Get to know your neighbors and see what they think about the needs of your block, your street, or your favorite activity.  Bring those conversations back to the Board so we can consider them when making decisions that affect you.

November also means that we have the holidays coming quickly, followed by New Year’s Day and the deadline for paying homeowner’s fees.  The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to the residents when it comes to spending the fees that are collected every year.  All expenditures are carefully considered before they are made, but we need your help to have the funds it takes to provide all the amenities we enjoy.  As many of you know, there is a discount for making your payment early, so please take advantage of this benefit and send in your fees by December 31^st.  This helps us validate the budget and get a jump on collecting so we can quickly address overdue and delayed payments. 

Westador Welcomes New Residents

          On a monthly basis, Hays Utilities (contractor for the Westador Municipal Utility District) provides Bill Streidl with a listing of residences that have had their water turned on or off.  The purpose of this list is to assist the Civic Association in the maintenance of the Residents’ directory, the electronic version of which is distributed quarterly.   The process is not totally accurate for a variety of reasons.

                The most recent list follows, and Westador welcomes these newcomers to the subdivision.  These new residents have been reported by Hays covering the month of October 2006.  Telephone numbers often are subject to change since many new residents have the water turned on before move in and their new telephone numbers have not yet been obtained. Therefore, new residents are urged to contact Bill Streidl to update their information for the directory.  In any event, welcome to -

Some Homeowners Have Not Paid Their Annual Maintenance Assessments as of November 10, 2006

Homeowners who are delinquent on the annual maintenance fees incur interest, collection and legal fees, have lien notices filed on their property, and are prohibited from using common facilities such as the tennis courts, pools, and clubhouses.  This month four addresses were deleted where the homeowner paid in full.  The following list of addresses reflect only those homeowners who have a Lien Notice filed on their property or are delinquent for more than one year as of November 10, 2006 (and are not making regular payments). 

Also, the Board has authorized stopping the trash and garbage collection service for homeowners who are delinquent for more than one year.  If delinquent homeowners are making monthly payments in accordance with an arranged payment plan, that homeowner’s address will not be listed and trash and garbage collection service will not be suspended unless they cease to comply with the arranged payment plan.

All homeowners who have not yet paid their maintenance fee are urged to do so promptly.  The billing for the 2007 fee, due January 1, 2007, is to be mailed to homeowners before month end. 

Westador Civic Association has New Accountant

After many years of faithful service our Accountant, Nelson Jones, is leaving Westador.  To many on the Board he is the only Accountant they have ever known.  Nelson labored continuously for the neighborhood on everything from collecting fees, paying bills, tracking investments, and the list goes on.  Throughout his tenure he has also been an active in the Westador MUD.  His willingness to work for the good of Westador has contributed significantly to the betterment of the neighborhood.  Nelson has been a source of advice and counsel for the various Board Officers and Directors that had the opportunity to work with him.  He has become an institution in Westador and will be missed by all.  He is wished well in his new neighborhood, knowing he will also be a good neighbor to the residents there.

Outgoing Director Summarizes Trash Bids in Process by Jerry Butler, Outgoing Environmental Services Director

Well, this is my final article for the Westwind, as Mike Poetz will be taking over for me as Environmental Services Director on the reconstituted WCA Board.  While I have enjoyed writing these articles, I hope that you have found them interesting and useful.  Mike and I expect to make the baton toss in the very near future.  In the meantime, I am still collecting garbage proposals for the next two years after our current contract expires at the end of this year.

Besides Republic Waste, bids are coming in from Allied/BFI, Waste Management, and WCA Waste.  I requested that all service options be considered so that the Board can make the best decision for Westador.  We understand how much the current service is valued by the residents, but we also need to consider lower cost options to remain within budget next year.  It’s a tough decision, but the new Board will do an excellent job.  For now, everything will stay the same, at least until year-end.

Outgoing Director Encourages Working with Architechtural Control Committee by Phil Bode, Outgoing Architectural Control Director

I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you that worked with me and the committee in getting your home improvement projects approved.  I know it is another complication that we would all probably prefer to avoid.  But when people follow the rules we are all better off and hopefully the property values of our homes will escalate as well.

When I heard Mr. Taylor talk about how much he loved Westador at the recent general meeting, it made me realize how much I have enjoyed living here as well.  Every time I even suggest to one of our kids that we ought to consider downsizing to a smaller house, they always say the same thing.  You can’t. 

I encourage you to work with the committee in getting all of your projects approved, as failure to do so could present you with the unpleasant task of having to undue something that you have already done.  I am not sure, at time of this writing, who the new director will be, but am sure we will find out soon and know he or she will work with us to keep the neighborhood in “tip top” shape.

Speaking of which, now that I am leaving, I feel I can now point out that a very small percentage of you are not doing your share in keeping up your properties.  While general disrepair is not something that the committee has control over, if it serious, it can be a deed restriction.  And I have very intentionally volunteered to help Carl Mayes in reporting these deed restrictions.

So please, get those needed repairs done before we are forced to bring action against you.  For those of you that are doing a good job of taking care of your homes, I say keep up the good work.  For those of you that are not, “get er done!”.

Remember, keeping our homes in good shape not only helps the neighborhood and related property values, but it also retains the value of our individual homes in case we ever have to leave.

      

The Westador Information Sheet is Printed Quarterly

    The Westador information sheet is printed quarterly, or more often in the event of some major changes.  Of special interest are the teen helpers anxious to baby-sit, cook, and to do yard work while earning a buck, or two, in the process.  

General Election Had Good Turnout by Casey Westell, Presiding Election Judge

Senior Forum

Potluck Dinner Wednesday December 6, 2006 The Westador Senior Forum will have a covered dish dinner at 6 PM at the Cali clubhouse on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.  Entertainment will be a Christmas program by the Westfield High School Chamber Choir.  This has become an annual tradition that is much enjoyed by those in attendance.  The choir has asked to sing at 6:30 PM while forum members eat dinner and to have their own meal afterwards.  Attendees need to be prompt so that our plates are loaded by 6:30.

Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department Round Up

Food and toys donations The Ponderosa VFD is a drop off point for food and toys for the Northwest Assistance Ministries.  We will make a final delivery on December 18, so please attempt to drop off your items prior to that date.

Fireworks season is just about here.  Our recommendation is to NOT buy them.  But if you insist --- please supervise your children, and do not allow aerial devices near buildings.  We have had many events that have caused injuries and fires.  Also consider your neighbors with the noise and smoke, and please clean the area of debris.

Home heating unit It is time to prepare for our winter, and that means you need to have your home heating unit serviced by a qualified company.  It is important to assure your furnace does not have rust buildup.  Make sure and check your smoke detectors, and have a fire extinguisher available.

Carbon monoxide detectors are important for your family’s safety.  Do remember that a carbon monoxide alarm is NOT the same as a smoke alarm.  Unless you are experiencing nausea, a headache, or have skin reddening, please observe the detector and possibly reset to prevent a false alarm.  Read the instructions.

Voice Over Internet Protocol telephone service Our position has not changed.  It is a personal risk to use this product at this time.  Some companies have a 9-1-1 system that works, some do not.  In addition, if the internet quits working, so does your phone service!  It is simply not worth the few bucks of savings to NOT have 9-1-1 !

Westador Veterans’ Reception was on November 11

About 50 Westador military service veterans and their families celebrated Veterans’ Day at the Cali Clubhouse during the evening of November 11, 2006.  Westador resident Nana Midcap again provided the impetuous and spirit for carrying out this year¹s event.  Several Westador veterans shared interesting and informative stories of unusual events that occurred during their service.  Westador children prepared and displayed patriotic posters honoring veterans and received first, second, and third place awards for their creative efforts.

                Senator Jon Lindsay and Secretary of the Senate Patsy Sjau prepared individual Certificates for each Westador veteran which proclaimed in part that “The Senate of the State of Texas hereby honor and commend the men and women of the Westador Community who have served this nation in the armed services and join all Texans in paying tribute to them on Veterans day”.  If you are a Westador Veteran who was unable to attend the above reception, you may get your Texas Senate Proclamation Certificate by calling Nana Midcap.

      Special thanks are due to the following Westadorians for their participation in of this year’s reception.

o Organization: Nana Midcap, John Danner, Bill Streidl

o Food and Food Service: Ann Koelling, Greg and Tricia Weger, Sheila Otto, Jean Landwermeyer, Billie Danner, Julie Springer, Lucy Smith, Jackie Yarotsky, and Mary Ellen Streidl

o Awards: Jim Springer

SAFD Is on the Road for November by Pam Dube

Join us for a road trip to Southern Floral to design you own Thanksgiving centerpiece.  The hands on event will begin at 4 PM on Tuesday, November 21^st.  Southern Floral is located at 1313 W. 20^th Street, Houston, Texas.  There will be a cost associated with the workshop.  We estimate each arrangement will cost about $40.  Also space will be limited so you must sign up early.  If you just wish to come and watch, you are also welcome.  Hope you have made your plans to attend our Tabletop Gala on November 2^nd at Shirley Acres.

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Adult Halloween Boo-fest was at Cali October 28

Halloween 2006 in Westador was full of glamour, spooks, super cows, hippies, comic book characters, and politicians.  No, it wasn’t the ordinary Halloween party or trick or treating that our neighborhood usually has.  Instead, this social gathering was for the adults of Westador who came out to enjoy the festivities.  It was a small crowd with an immense good time at the Westador Adult Costume Party held at Cali.

Book Club is to meet November 30 at 1103 Romaine by Kathleen Wilson

At our meeting on the 19th last month, we discussed The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve.  We also selected our book for next month.  Our meeting next month will be on November 30 at 7 PM at Denise Landers home.  So get your books and start reading. 

If you are interested in the book club, or have any suggestions, please E-Mail or call me.  We are open to all genres.

Abundance Can be Positive or Negative

by Denise Landers

How much abundance we have in our lives and how much we have to be grateful for!  Yet that very abundance can become a challenge.  Consider three areas where abundance might develop into a negative quality.

ABUNDANCE and TIME  Having so many options means that you invest more hours in making a decision on what to purchase.  How else can you know you are getting the best price for the best quality?  Searching for the best price is not a negative in itself, but it can become a negative when you spend so much time trying to save $2, or $25, or $100, depending on the product, that you consume hours of your time.

ABUNDANCE and ENERGY  The technology that was supposed to provide you with more leisure time has instead become an energy drain for many of us.  Often that learning process is riddled with frustration.

                Constantly updating, whether technology, clothing, toys, sports equipment, or a clever new kitchen utensil, can lead to an accumulation of items that you no longer use but are reluctant to discard because they are in working order.  Then spaces become cluttered.  When you walk into a cluttered environment, you can feel your energy drain away.

ABUNDANCE and STRESS  The abundance available to us can cause an over-spending when we feel we need to have the latest items, and credit is so simple to obtain.  I add this pressure to the stress of knowing decisions weren’t made, or the stress of worrying about forgetting something because it was buried in the clutter. 

How can you keep the blessing of abundance from becoming negative factor?  Start by asking yourself these questions when considering buying something:

• Are you using the resources you already have?
• Are you purchasing something because you really need it?
• Will it make things easier for you? (Factor in learning curves.)
• If it is a replacement, can you donate or recycle the older item?

It is truly a joy and a blessing to live in a society where you have so much.  Choose carefully as you add more into your life and your surroundings.  The best gift ideas for any occasion may include: 

• more TIME to spend with others,
• more ENERGY for activities, and
less STRESS in your life!

WCERT to Consider Dealing with Elderly and Infirm in the Event of a Disaster at November Meeting by John Danner, WCERT Communications

                The regular monthly general meeting of the Westador Community Response Team (WCERT) will be held at the Cali clubhouse on Thursday, November 30 at 7:30 PM.  This meeting was rescheduled from the fourth Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

                The theme of this meeting will be dealing with the elderly and infirm in the event of an emergency.

Fifty plus NAM

Montgomery College Vocational Nursing Program Wednesdays November 29 8:30 AM.  Free blood pressure check.

Beginning Line Dance Class Wednesdays at 1 PM.  Cost is daily user fee.

One-Hour Exercise Class Mondays and Fridays at 9:30 AM.  Duplicate Bridge Group Class Mondays at 12 Noon. 

Country and Western Dancing Class Mondays at 10:45 AM.

Social Dance Class Tuesdays at 10 AM.

Yoga Classes Mondays and Wednesdays at 2 PM.  Cost is $85 for 17 classes and $1 daily user fee.

Arts and Crafts Class Thursdays at 10 AM.  Cost is $1 daily user fee.