Annual Hike To The Crested Saguaro
On Monday, November 26, hike master Marian Mundale will lead the EE Hikers on their 3rd annual hike in the West Desert Preserve to the Crested Saguaro. Meet at the gate at the end of Calle Excelso at 8:00 a.m. This will be about a two mile easy hike and should be finished by 10:00. You will only need to take water. This is private property, and you will need to have the free permit that you can download on http://wdtrails.com/request-a-permit/request-a-permit.

EE Holiday Party
EE will kick off the holiday season with the Hospitality Committee's annual Pearl Harbor Day potluck at the Ramada on Friday, December 7th, starting at 5:00 p.m. The committee will deck the Ramada with glorious holiday decor. Wear your holiday attire if you are feeling festive. The committee will furnish beverages and seasonal music.

Water Aerobics
The morning Water Aerobics group will be on hiatus until the weather warms up next year.
Still needing that body friendly workout? The afternoon Aquacise group meets at 3 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every "body" is welcome to participate.

Help Decorate Our Common Areas
Don't let the Esperanza Monument, Esperanza Estates Park and Sunset Park Monument look drab this holiday season! The Enhancement Team needs many volunteers to help set up the decorations. The Team will hold a planning meeting at the Ramada on Tuesday, November 27 at 1:30. If you are interested in helping out, you can attend the meeting or call Barb McCalpin at 867-8067. Each area will be decorated on a different day, so it should be easy to find one to fit your schedule.

Public Arts Club Meets This Week
The Public Arts Club meets Wednesday, November 28 at 1:00 pm in the Ramada. This bunch is busy planning for more art in our parks. Know the ideal spot for the baby snake or the chiminea tortoise? Stop by and join in the fun.

Last Chance for Directory Changes
Saturday, December 1 is the deadline for changes in listing in our HOA EE Directory for 2013. If you need to change a phone number, address or name contact Mary Beth Wallace at 399-0299 or merrymary7@q.com .

Enhancement Elves
Need help decorating your lamp post for the holidays? Call the Enhancement Elves at 260-7864 by December 15 for assistance. The cost is $10 if you already have decorations and $15 if you don't. There is an additional $2.00 charge if you need an electrical adapter for the pole.
 
What's Cooking?
Having a hard time thinking up a new dinner menu? Wonder how your neighbor made that great potluck dish? EE's chefs will reveal their secrets in the new EE cookbook to be published next fall by the Enhancement Team. Jane Ellingson (one of EE's best cooks) and Cindy Krantz (who has experience developing cookbooks) are heading up this project. The Team is asking residents to contribute their recipes along with any anecdotes about the recipes. If you have any you want to share, drop them off at the Ramada kitchen. Look for a large brown envelope marked Recipes. No leaving out that special ingredient!

New EE Book Group
It's been talked about for years, but until now no one volunteered to lead a book group. New resident Kathy LaVanway has only been here a few weeks, but she has stepped up and agreed to take on the task! If you are interested in joining, contact Kathy at kathylavanway@gmail.com. The group will start in January. We are sure this will become one of our most popular activities.
 
Bienvenidos Reception
A reminder to new residents that the Bienvenidos Committee reception to welcome you to EE is this Wednesday, November 28, at 4:30 at the Ramada.
 
Name Badge Orders
The order for EE name badges will go in the 28th of November, so if you would like to order, please contact Melodye at 399-0455, or email at melodye1@cox.net before that date. The cost for badges is $6.00 each. Badges are ordered once monthly.

Fa La La La La
Come on singers and non-singers! Get in the holiday spirit by joining a small group of your neighbors and strolling through EE caroling one night just before Christmas. Even if your school choir rejected you, we won't! All are welcome. If you want to join us, please reply to eemondaymorningmemo@gmail.com. We will hold a brief planning meeting shortly, but there won't be any rehearsals.

No Coffee & Donuts In December
Another enjoyable early morning get together at the Ramada last Wednesday. Due to its proximity to Christmas, the December coffee will not be held. When it resumes in January, it will be renamed the EE Coffee Klach, but will provide the same coffee, pastries, prizes and conversation. Congratulations to lucky winners Terry Shay and Don Fritson who won this month's door prizes.

Pool Closure
Major work will be done shortly on the cool decking at the pool, which will enhance the appearance of our pool enclosure significantly. The work will require the pool be closed for about 7 days. As soon as we know the exact dates the pool will be closed, Tom Cooke, our recreational facilities chair, will send out a special notice to residents.

Activity Picks Up At Courts
There were 17 pickleball players at the court on a recent morning; all 4 pickleball courts were busy with games. This will be pretty continuous all fall, winter, and into the spring. Right now pickleball games are being held 4 days a week, but a bit later on this fall, pickleball will be played 6 days weekly, and tennis on Fridays. Our new restrooms are getting raves from the players and a fair amount of use, too! Players at all skill levels are always welcome.

New Sign At The Courts
Next time you are up at the Tennis/Pickleball Courts on Circulo del Sur, be sure to check out the wonderful new sign compliments of John Meek.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know
Has something you've seen around EE piqued your curiosity? Is there something about EE or its history you have wondered about? Send us your questions and the Periodico will look into it and respond in future issues. Just email cjsurprise@verizon.net.

Thanks From Ellie Franz
Ellie Franz would like to say a big "thank you" to all the EE residents who have contributed their aluminum can pull tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Tucson. The collection can for these tabs is on the counter at the Ramada.

Good Reads
Looking for a new book for yourself or for holiday gifts? Spend some time browsing titles at the Society of Southwestern Authors Book Fair on Saturday, December 1, from 1-4 p.m. at the Community Performing Arts Center, 1250 West Continental Road, Green Valley. EE authors Richard Chamberlin, Bob Hunton and Denise Roessle will be among the 40 local authors signing books. Denise's memoir, Second-Chance Mother, will be free for download to Kindle today through Tuesday, 11/27, on Amazon. Go to http://amzn.to/MWalYG.

GVC Golf Tournament
GVC has rescheduled its First Annual Benefit HOA Golf Tournament to March 11, 2013. The proceeds will help support the activities and services provided by GVC. There will be lunch and prizes and the winning HOA will receive a trophy. A few EE players have already signed up, but Joe McCalpin is looking for more. If you are interested, call Joe at 867-8067. We want that trophy here!

Sons of Orpheus Holiday Concert
The Sons of Orpheus Male Choir will perform its annual Holiday Concert on Friday December 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Green Valley Center for Performance and Art,1250 W. Continental Rd. Tickets are available in advance for $15, and at the door for $18. A cash wine bar will be available. For ticket information and reservations call 399-1750.

Report on November Board Meeting
At the Board meeting last Monday, the Board approved the 2013 HOA budget. There will be no increase to the HOA dues for 2013. The phenomenal efforts of the many EE volunteers greatly contribute to the HOA's ability to keep expenses down. The Board also endorsed several amendments to the CC&Rs and bylaws to conform to Arizona statutes. Full minutes of the meeting are available on the EE website esperanzaestates.net.

HOA Dues
Dues notices will be mailed to homeowners on November 30, and are due by January 1, 2013. Dues will remain the same amount as last year. Prompt payment of the statement would be appreciated. With the dues notice will be the government mandated compliance form which the law requires we have signed each year. Instructions appear on the form, and this must be returned to the HOA with your dues payment. Contact Joan Moreaux at 520-648-7515 if your statement does not arrive by December 10.
 
What's Up in EE?

HIKERS	8:00 AM	MON	GATE ON EXCELSO
PICKLEBALL	9:00 AM	TU, THUR, SUN	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
ENHANCEMENT	1:30 PM	TU	RAMADA
PM AQUACISE	3:00 PM	TU, THUR	POOL
PUBLIC ARTS CLUB	1:00 PM	WED	RAMADA
TENNIS	8:00 AM	FRI	TENNIS/PBALL CRT
MOVIE NIGHT	6:00 PM	SUN, DEC 9	RAMADA