Periodico de Esperanza
Homeowners Newsletter
January 26, 2004

President's Report – By Ben Sheffield
We welcome back all of you who spent the Holiday's away with family and friends and to our newest neighbors Jonnie & husband Noe Authier, 820 Circulo Napa; Sam & Marvol Barnard, 1124 Calle Excelso; Kathy Marion, 270 Circulo Napa; Mary Wallace, 280 Circulo Napa and Bryon & Elaine Taylor, 841 Circulo Napa.

Our Annual Meeting, held January 19, 2004 at the East Center, was well attended. We received 153 Proxy's and had 103 members in attendance. Several of those attending had turned in their Proxy. There were 218 Ballots cast and the voting results were as follows: Steve Brown 103; Rick Ernst 56; Bill Haley 57; John Kennedy 79; Max Perry 60; Ben Sheffield 172 and Norma Stanley 98. The three vacant Board positions will be filled by Ben Sheffield, Steve Brown and Norma Stanley.

The meeting went smoothly with a synopsis of the years activities by the Committee Chairs in their reports. After the general meeting the Board met for and organizational meeting for the year 2004. The following officers were elected: President, Ben Sheffield; Vice President Norma Stanley; Secretary, Joe McMahon and Treasurer, Sheila Bennen. Committee Chairs remained the same as last year with the exception of Architectural Control and that is Steve Brown. We thank Paul Rowland for all of his fine work in that position these past years.

Financial Summary as at December 31, 2003
Cash in Banks:
Reserves $85,000
Unrestricted $66,124
Total $151,124
Assessments Received in Advance (254 members) $ 83,820
A full 2003 Financial Report will be in the February Periodico.
Just a reminder, if you have not paid your dues as yet they are now past due. They may be mailed in the envelope provided with your statement or dropped off at 201 S Circulo Napa if that is more convenient.

Common Area Maintenance – By Tom Cooke, Chair
Pat Greenig has donated a bench, to be placed in Esperanza Park, in memory of her late husband and former Board President, Bob Greenig. Bob, who passed away about 2 years ago, led the Association through some very difficult times following the serious flooding which took place here in the 1980's. We wish to thank Pat for her gift.

Jane Ellingson has donated two benches, one each in memory of Betty Grant and Dinnie Ellingson. We wish also to thank Jane for this generous donation. These will be the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth benches that have been donated to Esperanza Estates since the inception of this program. The program is ongoing, and we still have numerous places for more such benches. If you may be interested in such a donation, please contact me at 399-0455.

Our re-graveling program is ongoing, and by the end of January we hope to have spread about 200 yards in the refurbishment program for the common areas. We are trying to rebuild some of these areas as we go along, and the end product will be a much improved appearance. Try and take a look at our common area along Esperanza Blvd., which has undergone a major facelift with refurbished stones and reconstructed beds. Mesquite Park, Whigham Wash, Wishing Well Park, and several of the quad common areas have all undergone much needed improvement work, as have numerous small areas around the subdivision which had fallen into an unsightly state.

Our landscapers are engaged in the cutting back of Lantana and Birds of Paradise in common areas all over the subdivision, and the cleaning up of deciduous tree droppings now that the leaves are pretty well gone. There are many areas to work in, so please try and be patient if your area has not yet been worked on. We will get to all areas as soon as we can.

The program to repaint our perimeter walls, swimming pool Ramada and enclosure, tennis shed, and front monument should be getting under way about the end of January. The walls, which are in pretty rough shape in places, will be wire brushed and patched prior to painting. Brush removal, including some trees that were threatening the perimeter walls, has begun. From what we are able to tell, the areas that will be repainted have not been painted since originally constructed about 25 years ago, and are sorely in need of it. To get an idea of the condition of the old paint, take a look at the walls surrounding the shuffleboard court and Sunset Park, which were recently repainted by Volunteers Lance Ewing and Vince Brow, and contrast that with any of the other common walls.

Board member Ken Miller will be in charge of the repainting project. Board President Ben Sheffield has a "connection" which will enable the Association to obtain Dunn Edwards paint for the project at a significant discount.

Owners are reminded of the CC&R prohibition against storing any personal property in the common areas. It has been noted that many households have stored bricks, blocks, landscaping remnants, etc. outside their back patio walls. Please check, and if you have such material, either bring it back inside your walls, or otherwise dispose of it. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Bill Milne, one of our regular benefactors, has donated a really nice, large barbeque to the Association. It has been placed permanently in Esperanza Park, for the enjoyment of our residents. Bill has also donated a number of useful tools and implements for use by our Volunteers in various projects around the subdivision. We want to thank Bill for
his generosity. As always, if you have or observe problems in the common areas, please ca\l me at 399-0455.

Long Range Planning -- by Robert Frost, Chair
As reported in the annual meeting, gravel, rip-rap, extensive repair and painting of perimeter walls, and painting in the pool area are forecast for this year. Looking ahead into next year and the following years, common area maintenance will become routine, enabling scheduling of these tasks. The pool solar panels will reduce the cost of heating the pool.

It has been suggested that the purchase of a house in Esperanza Estates for a Social Center might be feasible in the next year or two. A place to meet and have parties, office space, a card room, and storage space would be an attractive addition to the Association. [Ed note: see the "forum" for recent discussion]

I will be proposing an ad hoc committee to draft a budget for this long-range plan. Please let us know of any concerns you may have relating to capital expenses during this budget process. And, of course, Esperanza Estates Homeowners are encouraged to participate in the process.

Advertisements – By Sheila Bennen
We would encourage each of you to ask any "tradeperson" that you feel does an excellent job to place an in the Periodico. We would like our homeowners to have a list of reliable people to call. The cost structure for the first 3 months is as follows:
Full page -- 3 months -- $100
1/2 page – 3 months -- $ 50
1/4 page – 3 months -- $ 25
We would like a copy ready ad. Please call Sheila Bennen at
399-0501 or Robert Frost at 399-9003 for more information.

Distribution Committee – By Charl Petry, Chair
A great big "THANK YOU" is long over due for the dedicated Periodico deliverers who bring the Periodico to your door every month, deliver the Green Valley Directory every February, and have done this year after year. 2003 has been another year of successful, cheerful, harmonious activity for our group. We have several deliverers who have been at the job for a number of years. In no special order, they are: Arlene Riggert, Audrey Ware, Dorothy & Pat Sharpe, Sheila Bennen, Bob Thees, Dolores & Jerry McCall, Ginny & Jim Wulliman, Helen & Bob Fallon, Mary Zindrick, Ron Schoenfelder, Joan Zebroski, John Moore, Audrey Boffa. And we have a number of substitutes who serve frequently when "regulars" are away: Steve Hawley, Jim Dykgraff, and others who have recently signed on, or have come to our rescue at a last minute need. A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.

Hospitality Committee - Phyllis Johnson-Frost
Residents in Esperanza Estates have come together for some good partying this last year: Cinco de Mayo, Fourth of July, and Halloween! At our annual meeting, a resident inquired: "When is our next party?" See the announcement for our Third Annual Lunar Party in the Park, February 6 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

On Monday January 26, a busload of our neighbors will leave the pool area-- tagged, documented, provided with snacks-- to inaugurate a bus tour bound for Colonial Alamos, Mexico. We'll be back January 30 to share our experience with you! Special thanks to the McCalls and the Thompsons for planning our trip. You can expect we'll do a bus tour again. Any suggestions?

Esperanza Estates Forum – by Rod Pearson
There is now a place online to exchange a variety of information among our residents. The "unofficial" website for Esperanza Estates, now has forums for posting Announcements, Letters to the Board, Recommended Service People, Recipe Exchange, and General Comments. Other forum topics may be included later.

Anyone with a computer and internet access now has a place to publicly comment on a variety of subject matter of interest to residents of Esperanza Estates. You don't have to use your name, nor post your email unless you desire. I have been assured that the posting on the forums will be reviewed by our EEHOA Board. This is an excellent way to voice your opinion.

Just point your browser to EsperanzaEstates.com and click on Forum. The success of the forum will increase with the continued postings by our residents. If you have any questions or suggestions, email me, rod@esperanzaestates.com.

Recent Forum dialogue addresses topics such as "reserve funding" and "a community center for Esperanza Estates." Join in!

Neighborhood Relations Annual Report--- By Norma Stanley, Chair
Several letters were sent and several phone calls were made during the course of the year. Most of these were regarding home and yard maintenance and involved painting, cutting of tree limbs, and general cleanup.

There were a few letters and calls made regarding parking violations with pickups taking first place----tho' there were some vans involved!! All in all, it was a rather peaceful year in Esperanza Estates as far as Neighborhood Relations were concerned with
"yours truly" being able to spend more time getting acquainted with new residents and enjoying time just
enjoying living in Esperanza Estates!! We are indeed fortunate to live in what I consider the greatest area in Green Valley.

Many thanks to those of you who voted for me in the election allowing me to work for the Association another term as your Vice President and Neighborhood Relations Chair. Please feel free to call if you have a problem or a concern. Phone: 393-6100

Announcing Our Third Annual Lunar Party

February 6, 2004
Esperanza Estates Park on Holgado
4:30 p.m.
Let's get together for hot dogs, s'mores, and bonfires!
EEHOA WILL FURNISH –
· CRACKED ICE
· PAPER PLATES AND NAPKINS
· PLASTIC GLASSES, HOT CUPS AND FORKS
· Hot dogs and fixings; s'mores; hot chocolate, instant decaf coffee, and fixings
YOU BRING --
· Snacks to share
· A beverage for cocktails of choice and/or brandy or rum if you want to "lace" hot drinks
· Folding chairs
· Some cash if you want to buy "50-50" lottery tickets at 50 cents for l or 3 for a $1.00. The winner gets half the takings and the Volunteers of Esperanza Estates get the other half!
· Our cookbooks ($8) and new Directories ($2) will also be available.

NOTE: In the event of inclement weather, the party will be rescheduled.
Sponsored by the Hospitality Committee
In our world full of strangers . . . we witness a . . . search for a hospitable place where life can be lived without fear and where community can be found. from Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen

Home Show Tour – By Karen Augustine, Committee Chair
It is time to begin planning for the 2nd Annual Esperanza Estates Home Show Tour. Our fIrst committee meeting will be on Saturday February 7, 2004, at the pool at 1 :00. Anyone who is interested in serving on this fun and exciting committee is welcome to join us. There will be lots to do to exceed our success last year.

If you have a home you would like to open to your neighbors and friends, please contact Karen Augustine at 399-2200 (W) or 625-1643 (H) or Sheila Bennen (399-0501).
The date for the home tour is Sunday March 28, 2004 at 2:00 pm. Due to huge demand, ticket sales will be in advance. We will advise you all of further details in our next Periodico! Best regards,

In Memoriam

Don Larson
1200 Camino del Norte

James Walsh
1118 Circulo del Norte
December 18, 2003

Jeanne McBride
861 Calle del Regalo

Margaret (Peggy) Wiley
Former Resident
December 21, 2003

Anna Ostergren
940 Circulo Napa
Mary C. Disher
Former Resident and
Secretary to Homeowners Board during 1983 flood
December 19, 2003 in Lawrenceville, GA

Shirley Bush
801 Circulo Napa

Updates – By Sheila Bennen
New Phone Numbers

Marion, Mary K. (Kathy)
393-1778

Wallace, Mary E.
399-0299

Authier, Jonnie
393-5579

Fairchild, Glenn
399-2596

Novak, Sylvia
906-8536

Rydall, Barbara
399-2215

Barnard, Sam and Marvol
648-5925

Spelling Changes

Larry R. and Tamara Gates Kempton
1210 Circulo del Norte