"We Love Esperanza Estates" Green Valley, Arizona 85614

Owners...
Information for Homeowners

Periodico de Esperanza
Homeowners Newsletter
October 29, 2002

Board Notes
– By Dave Lantz

Few surprises at the meeting of October 21. This is the time of year when activities shift to planning for the next fiscal year although we still have to continue normal functions for the current year.

Sheila Bennen has accepted the chair of the nominating committee. This group solicits nominees for the board positions to be filled by the homeowners at the annual meeting in January. Other members of her committee are Lance Ewing and Melodye Cooke. Please give serious consideration if you are asked to stand for election. We would not have much success were it not for the volunteers.

Some Green Valley associations, both larger and smaller than ours, have hired or considered hiring professional managers because of inability to solicit volunteers. In addition to the added expense, such arrangements are generally not noted for responsiveness to homeowner concerns. The pay isn't great but there is no better way to get to know your neighborhood than by serving on the Board of Directors.

The Board approved an increase in the transfer fee from $50.00 to $100.00 to reimburse for all the activity and paperwork involved in transferring title to a new owner. This is to take effect for all closings after January 1, 2003.

Preliminary budget plans were discussed. With no increase in annual dues, we could probably cover all general operating and minor maintenance functions for fiscal year 2003. There would not be room for any significant increase in our reserve fund. This year, we tapped the reserve fund for about $2,500 to partially cover the renovation at the pool and resurfacing of the tennis court.

The Board has started a general survey of our major maintenance/capital needs and it is evident that additional revenue will be needed in the next few years. There is a variety of needs -more quad driveway repair, rebuilding/repair of the bathhouse and associated ramada, painting of the walls along our south boundary, erosion control and other needed projects to preserve or enhance the area. To this end, the board authorized the hiring of an attorney to prepare proposed revisions to the By-laws and CC&Rs so as to initiate a New-Homeowner's assessment, to be paid by the buyer at closing. This would be vaguely similar to the GVR transfer fee. All funds so generated would be dedicated to uses other than normal operations. These proposed revisions to the governing documents would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the homeowners. If approved, such changes would delay any increase in annual assessments. Initially, the amount of any such transfer assessment would probably be about the same or somewhat more than our usual annual assessment. More about this later.

Last Chance! All Homeowners
– By Charl Petry

Every February a new edition of the Green Valley Coordinating Council directory is distributed to all residents. October 31 is the deadline for all entries, changes, and deletions to the directory to appear in the next edition. (The cover of the present edition has a watercolor desert scene painting by Tim Allen.)

Please phone me (Charl Petry 648-2541) with whatever changes and new entries you have BEFORE OCTOBER 31. If you don't get me the first time, please keep trying.

Going To Be Away?
– By Charl Petry

The Periodico is delivered to every home in Esperanza Estates during the fourth week of every month. Frequently the Periodico deliverers can't tell if you are away or not. We want to make sure everyone gets a copy but we don't want to leave the Periodico if you are away lest it be obvious no one's home. THEREFORE, if you know you are going to be away during the 4th week of any month please give me a call (648-2541)so the Periodico will not be left at your door. Thanx!

Christmas Mailbox Decorations
– By Sheila Bennen

We hope that all residents will decorate their lampposts for Christmas this year. The volunteers will do those posts when the resident is unable. There will be a $7.50 charge if you have the lights and a $15 charge if they supply them. We must know in advance of your needs. Please call Sheila Bennen 399-0501 or Melodye Cooke 399-0455 to make a reservation.

If anyone has extra lights or decorations they wish to donate call Sheila Bennen 399-0501.Deadline for reservations is November 15th.

Esperanza Estates Garage Sale
– By Tess Ewing

The "Volunteers" garage sales are fun community projects held to raise money for improvements to the common areas. Our Fall Garage Sale will take place on Saturday, November 16, at 8 a.m. in the tennis court area.

Donations of household and patio items – in good condition– are needed For more information or pickup of donations call:

Tess or Lance Ewing 625-7353
Mary or Dick Zindrick 393-7499
Joan or Don White 648-2243
Joan Zebroski 399-1053

Look around your garage and cabinets for any unwanted waste items that should be destroyed. There will be a collection made on Saturday, Nov.16th,2002 at the Valley Presbyterian Church. (2800 S. Camino del Sol)8:00 a.m. to Noon. They are accepting Ink and Toner Cartridges for the first time this year. This is a good time to clear out all of your dangerous substances.
 

New Owners/ Previous Owners
– By Sheila Bennen

James Q. and Patricia M. Rodemeyer / Carla Armagost
762 W. Calle Ensalmo

New Phone Numbers
– By Sheila Bennen

Steven and Nancy Brown
743 Circulo Napa
648-7235

James and Jan Harvey
942 Regalo
648-2126

Hospitality Committee
--Phyllis Johnson-Frost

Last month I alerted the members of the committee that the chair was hosting an "English Tea" to honor the generosity of the members during our last couple of years. Invitations will be forthcoming, but mark your calendar for November 11 at 1:30 at my house. Elizabeth Jacobsen will be "pouring," (if her health permits), and newest member Norma Stanley will assist the chair in preparing authentic tea goodies. Our two men members, Sam Simonson and Robert Frost are welcome to the tea table, but you may prefer a beer on the patio! And see the attached flyer for details on our Welcome Back Nature Trail Event for all our residents.

Committee on Common Area Maintenance
– By Tom Cooke, Chair

Spraying for the monsoon weed crop has been pretty well completed. Although there may be a few late bloomers around, it appears we got most of them. If you spot any "patches. we may have missed, please report them to Tom Cooke at 399-0455.

We are now dealing with the dead weeds, and trying to get them removed from the common areas. That process will be under way for a while, as we have some rather large areas to deal with, and ifs a slow process to hand pull, "hula hoe" and "weed eat" them out. Because of the time consuming nature of this project, some of our regular maintenance may be deferred for a few days, so please be patient. Speaking of weeds, owners are reminded that (except in the Quads) it is their responsibility to keep individual yards weed-free and tidy in appearance. Owners who fail to do so will be receiving a "reminder" from the Board.

The common area palm trees were trimmed during the early summer, and are looking pretty good. We always seem to miss one or two, but we will get these taken care of in the near future. We still have a few in private yards, however, that need work. If you have a palm tall enough to be visible from the street, it is your responsibility to keep it trimmed and neat in appearance. A few owners will be receiving letters from the Board, requesting this to be taken care of. If you have a palm, please take a minute to check it out, and take appropriate action if needed. Your neighbors will thank you for it.

Our "Bird of Paradise" shrubs were magnificent this year, but are nearly done and those in the common areas will be cut back for winter over the next few weeks. We have tried to make sure those in the common areas have not encroached on sidewalks. If you have one in your yard, (or any other type of foliage) please make sure it does not grow over the sidewalks.

The coming years Board budget should allow for additional work on the common area regraveling program, and it is hoped this can be commenced about the end of the year. The gravel in many of our common areas is in pretty rough shape, and needs refurbishment. We have a long list of areas requiring attention, and hope to make a serious dent in these. This program will be continuous in the future.

This has been a bad year for both ants, and small ground burrowing mice. They cause no end of problems in our graveled areas by leaving piles of dirt, which we are then required to either cover up or rake out. Please bear with us on this problem.

We had the usual amount of sand washed onto our streets from the monsoon rains, but were fortunate enough this year to get on the County's sand removal list. Some residue remains, which we will try to deal with later on.

Our landscapers, Triple A Maintenance, have continued to do a good job for us. A Board representative meets with them twice weekly to assign cleanup and maintenance tasks, which are set up on a priority basis and then done in order. The help of all owners is solicited in calling to Board attention matters that need handling in the common areas. We try to cover all of our common areas on a periodic basis, but those in the more remote locations sometime escape regular scrutiny. But we will do our best to take care of all matters that are brought to our attention. Please call Tom Cooke at the number above for areas needing help.

Periodico on the Internet
– By Bob Fallon

Each issue of the Periodico is available on the Internet at the following address:

http://members.cox.net/esperanzaestates/index.html

You can also access the website by typing "esperanza estates" into most search engines. You will also find other items of interest at this same website, e.g., the trail, the parks, the weather.

Architectural Committee
– Paul Rowland, Chair

Just a reminder that any additions or improvements must be approved by the Architectural Committee.
Before painting, if you are not sure what color is required, check with Paul or Dave. Please check your rear gate and see if it needs a touch-up. There are several that are in need of paint. Let’s plan to keep our community looking beautiful for all to enjoy.
 

Esperanza Ladies Christmas Luncheon

When? Thursday, December 5, 2002
11 :30 -No Host Social Hour
12:00- Luncheon

Where? The Country Club of Green Valley
77 East Paseo de Golf

Menu: (A) Chicken Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce, croutons, Swiss cheese, Caesar dressing
Topped with grilled chicken breast

(B) Chicken a la King with garnish
Served on a patty shell
Dessert --Strawberry Parfait

Tea, Coffee, or Iced Tea
Cost: $15.85-- inclusive of tax and tip

Make checks payable to Elizabeth W. Jacobsen  Note menu choice A or B on the check
Drop checks off at home of: Elizabeth W. Jacobsen- 740 Placita Nueva

Deadline for checks: November 26
Program: A Holiday Story -Dinghy Sharp
Please bring a non-food personal item, such as soap, toothpaste, lotion, etc. for the Food Bank.

Questions? Call Pat Greenig at 648-0578