Shady Oaks Homeowners Association

The President's Report

Feb 23, 2004

President?s Report for Shady Oaks for February 2004

I am pleased to announce that our new Shady Oaks Neighborhood Directory for February 2004 is complete. Thanks to Cathy Sanchez for putting the master copy together. I can?t tell you how many hours she worked on it, but it was a tremendous effort. My wife Catherine and I will do the easy part of running off the copies and mailing them to all current members.

I would like to announce that Shady Oaks will have its next meeting at the Police Substation on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, from 7 to 8 pm. We look forward to seeing you at this meeting. We will have guests from the City Traffic division reporting on speed bumps and we will have a girl scout leader talking to us about greenbelt clean-up. We will have homemade refreshments. It`s a great way to see some of our neighbors and talk about common interests and concerns. We are all in this ?boat? together and the more of us working on common goals of safety, beauty, and community the more special our neighborhood will be. Please mark your calendars for this time.

At our last meeting we talked about the need to increase citizens participation in the election process of SOHA. Presently, one must join our association, then wait for 30 days before one can vote on officers.

The process in our constitution requires that a ballot be submitted in the April newletter and by the time some of the citizens act on their ballot and send it in with their dues, they were under the 30 day limit, and their vote could not be accepted.

Two changes to the bylaws will be submitted for final approval at the meeting in February. They are stated in the Secretary Minutes.

I clearly like the motion that allows a neighbor to participate once they pay their dues. This seems to me to be the most effective way to allow our citizens to particpate. Also, it encourages citizens to join Shady Oaks in order to get to vote.

Also on the Agenda is the need to plan for our Spring Greenbelt clean up. Last year we had two clean ups and carried away much trash and debris from our neighborhood. We also had two great hotdog lunches and a chance to talk to our neighbors. All cooked up by Wanda Thompson and her team. Isn?t this a great country!!

In May, we will vote on our new president and officers. My two year term will expire at that time, and our constitution requires new leadership after two terms. I will remain active in Shady Oaks and hopefully the new president can find a new service activity for me.

We need to continue to monitor our neighborhood for vandalism and crime. A crime against any of us is a crime against all of us. Please keep an eye out, pick up newspapers left in front yards and driveways and stow them in out of sight. Call 311 for concerns regarding city services. Help by particpating in our neighborhood patrol.

Also, while you are walking this great neighborhood, please take a trash sack and pick up trash. We know of at least 3 couples that are doing this on their walks, and it really makes a difference.

We are looking forward to seeing you and getting to know you better at our meeting and social on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at 7 p.m. at the Police Sub-station. Please come and socialize with us, join our association, and get your copy of our new directory.

And our last thing... a recipe from Sylvia Foster for Microwave Pralines.
Mix in a large Pyrex bowl: 1/4 cup of water
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light Karo corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
dash of salt
Cover and cook in microwave on High for 4 minutes. Open and stir. Cook 4 more minutes. Open and stir. Add 1- 1/2 cups whole pecans and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cover and cook 90 seconds. Open and stir in 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper to cool. Then bring them to the meeting on Feb. 24.

Respectfully,


Rodney E. Gillespie