Interlaken Neighborhood Association

#1 November 2003

Apr 21, 2004

[newsletter does not copy and paste well into this format poor line wrap sorry] ed.


#1 - Nov. 2003
Interlaken Neighborhood Association Newsletter

Welcome to the first edition of the Interlaken Neighborhood Association Newsletter. This is your newsletter, and you are invited to participate in its production. Please submit all articles, news bits or items of interest that you would like to see included and rest assured the editor and staff (note: staff positions available) will do their best to have your submissions published in a timely fashion.

The genesis of the INA occurred in the summer of 2003 when a group of residents voiced a desire to promote an organization of their neighbors in an effort to foster community cohesiveness and identity. These desires led to the first formal organizational meeting on June 23 of this year. This meeting was attended by 86 interested persons as well as 6 city staffers and led to a second meeting where officers were elected and committees were formed. This meeting was held on August 11, 2003 and the ranks had grown to over 100 attendees.

Committees were chaired and joined and are listed elsewhere in this letter. Committee membership is open to all so please consider joining if you haven?’t, or you may join more than one. Please share your talent.

A Message from the President
This is the first edition of the Interlaken Neighborhood Association Newsletter. Our hope is that this newsletter will become a regular communication that will help us to all be better informed about our neighborhood and events and issues that impact our neighborhood. Many thanks to Rick Renardson and those of you who have contributed for your efforts in getting the newsletter off the ground.

The Board of Directors of the association will be meeting on November 11th. The various committees are getting organized and it is our expectation that all committees will be up to speed by early December. Projects for the year will be identified and plans generated for the coming year. The Social Committee is already off to a great start with the first annual Fall Fest. Thank you to all who helped make this event possible.

We live in a wonderful neighborhood that is unique in many ways. The lakes, the park, the trees, the proximity to downtown, and most importantly, the people, combine to make our neighborhood one of the best places to live in the Winter Haven area. The purpose of our association is to protect, enhance and improve our neighborhood in as many ways as possible and we will be working hard to achieve these goals.

I would encourage everyone to take an active role in the Association and hope that everyone participates. The committees and the committee chairpersons can be found on the following page. I would encourage everyone to get involved in a committee by contacting the chairperson and attending the committee meetings. The success of our neighborhood association will be determined by how much effort we put in to it. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Bud Strang

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INA Residents Directory
INA is going to have a neighborhood directory. It will include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the residents in our association and a map of the area.

Please stop by the INA tent at the Fall Fest to edit your personal entry.

We are expecting the cost of duplication will be around $1.00 per book. (That is xeroxed at Staples.) There are approximately 215 residences in our neighborhood.

In order to help pay the cost of production, ads will be sold at a reasonable rate - anyone wishing to place an ad may see me at the INA tent or may call me at my home.

I would love to have neighbors help with the folding and stapling when the book is printed. Please call me if you are willing - I am aiming for mid-November for the First Edition printing date.

Thanks, Jane West 297-9387 West9@earthlink.net



Promoting the Neighborhood Association?…How and Why?

A positive image contributes to a healthy neighborhood. Image is defined as
a mental picture of something or a visual impression held in common by
members of a group. When thinking about your neighborhood how would
most of your neighbors describe it? Is it quiet, attractive, clean and safe,
or is it perceived as being uninviting, busy or noisy?

The image of a neighborhood, good or bad, will determine who moves in and
out and how people will make their home investment decisions. If neighbors don't believe
that the neighborhood will improve or that their property values will increase they will not make investment choices that contribute to a positive image. This includes such things as painting the exterior of the home, fixing the roof or adding new landscaping. Instead, they will make the minimal social and physical investments in their homes.

Neighborhood associations can take an active role to ensure that the neighborhood
is being perceived by residents and non-residents in a positive fashion.

Promoting the Association is one way of contributing to the positive image
of the neighborhood. When an area has a perceived strong and active association neighbors and others will have positive mental images of that neighborhood. Additionally, a strong association will lead to an increase in participation, commitment and support from neighbors to their Association and their neighborhood. The INA welcomes your support and participation.

The INA is considering automobile decals that would display our logo and thereby identify residents. Please make your feelings known about this suggestion to a board member.



Real estate: It has been suggested that residents who are considering or preparing to sell their homes make this known, perhaps through this newsletter or by using the directory, to other current residents. Often, locals know others who are interested in moving into our neighborhood and this early information could serve to populate our area with residents who are anxious to join our community.


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Crime watch: There have been several areas in Interlaken that have formed or are in the process of forming Neighborhood Crime Watch groups. Jim VandeVelde of the Winter Haven police department is available for consultation and advice. Also, we have a local crime watch committee, chaired by Rolf Jaehnigan, that is available for assistance.



The INA Wellness Committee would like to ask for your input concerning health and wellness information for the neighborhood. There are plans to map out a couple of walk/run courses of varying distances. We are anxious to get some ideas from you about what you think should be included in the Wellness segment of the newsletter. You can contact me at: Krenson@aol.com or call me at 299-2525.
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Geography: the boundaries of Interlaken are clearly demarcated, yet membership in the Association is open to all interested persons. The boundaries are: 8th Street NW from Lake Howard Drive to Mirror Terrace on the east; the canal from Lake Mirror to Lake Cannon on the north; the canal from Lake Cannon to Lake Howard on the west (including the 2 homes on the west side of this canal); and Lake Howard Drive on the south. This area is comprised of approximately 215 homes.

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New neighbors: Please make known to the editor any new residents so we may
welcome them publicly in the newsletter


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Please take a moment to thank your social committee, chaired by Liz Craig, for organizing and promoting the first annual Interlaken Fall Fest. Like the Easter parade and egg hunt in the spring it is sure to become another wonderful Interlaken tradition.


All committee chairpersons please report any news to the editor for newsletter inclusion.
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The Newsletter will be adding a ?“personality spotlight?” section to coming issues. Send any suggestions for this to the editor.

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The Newsletter is anxious to publish items on the history of Interlaken. Please consider offering any information and/or photos you may have for this section to the Historic/Park committee or the newsletter editor.


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Judy Denlinger a member of our INA and owner of Ambiance Interior Design in WH is the designer of "Christmas at Pinewood" at Historic Bok Sanctuary. (Judy has the ghost circle in her yard across from the triangle park on Orange Ave.)
Her theme this year is "Making Spirits Bright". Judy will transform Pinewood into a spectacular holiday showcase with each room decorated to represent a different "spirit". Volunteers are working weekdays November 3 - 19 under Judy's direction to create the "spirited" displays. If you are interested in helping with this project, contact Judy or Bok's Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Allen at 676-1408, Ext. 24.


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Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County is sponsoring a "All Women's Build" in Winter Haven on a beautifully tree shaded lot on Orangewood Avenue (Between Lake Shipp and Recker Highway near the Sertoma ball parks) anyone interested in helping with the construction or support in this project please contact Jane West or the Habitat Office at 292-2256.


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Interlaken Neighborhood Association Organized: August 2003
Meets various locations in neighborhood = Beymer Church, Interlaken Park, private homes Quarterly Meetings
President: Bud Strang1340 E Lake Cannon Dr Strang1340@aol.com 294-1613
Vice-President/Treasurer: Jane West1125 N Lake Howard Dr West9@earthlink.net 297-9387
Secretary: Cyndi Threlkeld1324 E Lake Cannon Dr Ctmst@earthlink.net 295-5708
Committee Chairs
Beautification - Code Enforcement: Carole Miller1009 N Lake Howard Dr Feather@peoplepc.com 294-3053
Crime Watch - Traffic: Rolf Jaehnigan900 Howard Terrace 293-4944
Historic - Park: Liz Murchison1325 N Lake Howard Dr Dink1325@aol.com 293-1338
Lakes: Connie Lyons1320 S Lake Mirror Dr 293-0508
Newsletter: Rick Renardson908 Perrin Ave. NW Rrenardson@aol.com 299-2525
Welcome - Social: Liz Craig1220 Howard Terrace Lizmail@tampabay.rr.com 299-0049
Wellness: Kristie Renardson908 Perrin Ave. NW Krenson@aol.com 299-2525
Board: Rev. Bob Hornback809 Howard Terrace Rfhornback@hotmail.com 293-1410
Kelly Larrea1300 E Lake Cannon Dr Sleep2eat@earthlink.net 291-3103
Bob Gernert1433 N Lake Howard Dr Bobg@winterhavenfl.com 299-3548
Tom Lyons1340 S Lake Mirror Dr lakemirror@yahoo.com299-0056
Carol Carter1312 Lake Mirror Terrace c.carter28@verizon.net 299-4253