The Results Are In
There was standing room only at the EE HOA annual meeting last Monday. While I was hanging around the lobby before the start of the meeting, a woman from another subdivision asked me if I knew what group was meeting. When I told her, she was astounded that so many people turned up for an annual HOA meeting. She said, "A lot of problems going on, eh?"  I was so proud to explain that "No, not at all. That's just how we are in EE. We're here because we care and want to show our support."
Here are the highlights of the meeting: Sam Barnard, Eric Ellingson and Joe McCalpin were re-elected to the Board, and all of the current officers will remain in their current positions.
Homeowners approved the following changes to the Bylaws and CC&Rs: action taken without a meeting (Section 4.6); restriction on street parking (Section 9.2.1); set up of a project committee (Section 10.3.1.2); create specifications/present to members (Section 10.3.1.3); and prospectus for member finance solicitation (Section 10.3.1.4).
The HOA recognized the significant contributions of Jim Lindberg, Ben Sheffield, and Kevin Welsh for their work on the construction of the restrooms at the tennis/pickleball courts.
(You can read the full minutes of the annual meeting on our website at: esperanzaestates.net/minutes.)

Nimble Fingers
If you are a talented fiber artist or wannabe, run (but not with scissors) to the next meeting of the very social EE Fiber Arts Group on Wednesday, January, 30, at 1:00 at the Ramada. Show your latest project and be inspired by others.

"War Horse" Showing Wednesday Night
Movie night is on again this week--6 pm at the Ramada. The movie "War Horse," the story of a young man who follows his horse through World War I, is scheduled. Having seen the movie, this writer can say that the director succeeds in portraying the horror of war without subjecting the audience to the gore of war. The $2 (or more) donation goes to the Art Club. Heaters, cookies and coffee will be available. Bringing your own tush cushion may be advised.

Grouting Party Planned
If you like playing in the mud, you'll love joining the Arts Club and/or the Gardeners in the grouting of mosaic pots and the giant tortoise. Both clubs will welcome old and new members at this Thursday's work session at 1 pm at the Ramada. It's suggested that participants wear old clothes and shoes and bring a set of rubber gloves.

Anyone for Hiking in Minnesota?
Our Fearless Leader, Marian Mundale, has apparently taken another wrong turn and is stuck in Minnesota for two Mondays. We're not about to believe that anyone in EE would intentionally go to Minnesota this time of year. Prior to her disappearance, our leader encouraged her entourage to strike out on their own. So far, no one has come forward to mislead the faithful. Have an idea for a hike for Monday, February 4? Contact Kris Bean at 777-8658 or delainekristin@hotmail.com.

Like Shopping, Planning Parties And Having Fun?
Then the Hospitality Committee may be for you. After seven years as chair of the committee, Scottie Blum announced that she will be stepping down after this year. She is willing to teach the ropes to anyone interested in the job. Norma Stanley and Lew Demuth will also be retiring from the committee this year, so there will be some big shoes to fill in the next few months. Call Scottie if you are interested, and she will give you the details.

We've Got Your Number
EE Directories sold like hot cakes at the annual meeting last week. If you still need one, contact Mary Beth Wallace at merrymary7@q.com or 399-0299. For a measly $3.00, you'll never have to look in one of the many area phone books, or online, when you want to call or visit someone in EE.  Directories also give you a handy way to find out who lives in a house when you just know the address. New this year is an email address list with the people who gave us permission to be included on it. If you didn't pick up the list when you purchased a Directory at the meeting, call Mary Beth. Thanks to Cheri Day, our database administrator, for keeping the database up-to-date and producing the Directories and various lists for the ballot tabulation and annual meeting attendance recording.

Watch Your Block
Be one of the 27 EE Neighborhood Watch Block Captains, and help your neighbors feel secure. Mary Beth Wallace is currently looking for captains for del Sur and Ensalmo. You don't need to live on those streets to be their captain, but it saves on shoe leather if you are. Contact Mary Beth at merrymary7@q.com or 399-0299.

Plant Elves
Fear not. You haven't lost your mind. Those cactus by the Ramada wall were not always there. The plant elves left them for us last Friday. Thanks to Bill Berdine, Bill Pratt, Dick Carver, Stacie Meyer, and Roberta Bower for working on this latest Gardeners' project. They also planted some grasses up at Palo Verde del Norte Park.

GV Fire District Lock Box Program
At the annual meeting, many of you were interested in the GVFD Residential Lock Box Program. The program makes key boxes available at a nominal cost, and provides a secure method for firefighters to access your home when no one can open the door. Even if you don't need one for yourself, you might have a neighbor who lives alone and would get peace of mind by having this device. Contact Mary Beth Wallace at 399-0299 to get more information.

Search The MMM
Know you saw something in a Monday Morning Memo but can't recall which week?  You can always search for this valuable information by going to the MMM section of the EE website and clicking on "Search All Back Issues" at the bottom on the list. Then just enter a search term and voila!

Calling All Bridge Players
Pat and Dick Schmuck are looking for bridge players in EE. Contact them at 399-3063 or patschmuc@gorge.net.
Is an EE bridge club in our future?

The Wearing O' The Green
No, not an early St. Patrick's Day celebration, just our common areas covered in their coat of green pre-emergent weed spray. In anticipation of rain last Friday evening, our intrepid weed sprayers, Tom Cooke and Boyd Morse, began spraying in the most prominent of the common areas on Friday morning. Watering increases the effectiveness of pre-emergent, and an application before a rain storm is ideal. As our HOA now owns its own spray equipment, we can move rapidly when conditions are right to accomplish this task.

Be An Eco-Warrior
The next Green Valley Hazardous Waste Collection Day is scheduled for March 23.  Joe McCalpin is looking for volunteers to help out at this important event. Contact Warrior Joe at 867-8067 or bmccalpin@cox.net. Training is provided.

EE Common Area Property Taxes
In response to a homeowner question from the floor at the annual meeting, Treasurer Joan Moreaux sent us this information: EE common areas consist of 21 separate parcels, and the total bill property tax bill for those parcels for 2012 was $106.47.

What's In The Devil's Cache?
If you aren't afraid to find out, just hike to the Devil's Cache Box in the Santa Rita Mountains.  Hikemaster Marian Mundale has provided directions to that and other popular hikes in the area.  If you can't join the EE Hikers on their weekly excursions, you can still visit the places they explore. Our webmaster, Craig Surprise, has placed Marian's descriptions and photos on the EE Website (esperanzaestates.net/trail.htm.) Click here to view them.

Want To Win $10,000?
It's not a scam, it's the grand prize for the first hole-in-one at the GVC Annual Benefit Golf Tournament on March 13th. Contact EE's GVC representative, Joe McCalpin (867-8067), for details.

The GVC Foundation, Inc. was established to enhance the Green Valley Community, its citizens, homeowner associations, and charitable organizations. The Foundation aids and assists in providing education forums, programs and services provided by qualified community organizations that serve senior, retired, and disadvantaged residents and other deserving purposes that enhance the quality of life for all of the Green Valley Community.

Need A Passport?
Passport Day in Green Valley will be held on January 30 from 9:00 to 3:00 at the East Social Center, 7 South Abrego Drive, where passport applications will be accepted. For information about fees, forms, and required documentation, etc., visit travel.state.gov.

Webinar
On Monday, January 28 from 11:00 - 12:30, the Land Use Planning Community of Practice Members is offering a free webinar that will provide an overview of the partnerships and assistance opportunities offered by EPA/FEMA to states and communities for community planning (green infrastructure and sustainability).
To view the webinar, you'll need a computer with an internet connection and speakers. You can access the webinar by logging in as a guest at: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/landuse . Test your connection before the webinar starts at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect/

What's Up in EE?

PBALL/ADVANCED	1:00 PM	MON, WED, SAT	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
PICKLEBALL/ ALL	10:00 AM	TU, THUR, SAT SUN	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
AQUASIZE	3:00 PM	TU, THUR	POOL
FIBER ARTS	1:00 PM	WED	RAMADA
MOVIE	6:00 PM	WED	RAMADA
ARTS WORKSHOP	1:00 PM	THURS	RAMADA
PBALL/LADIES BEGIN	1:00 PM	THURS	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
TENNIS	8:00 AM	FRI	TENNIS/PBALL CRT