About 60 people attended the Hospitality Committee's Holiday Party last Monday night, December 7. Not a bad turnout for what was the worst weather in many months, with blowing winds, dust, and much colder than normal, but with the wind screens lowered and the heaters on, it was very tolerable. The food and drink was reported to have been superb. Thanks to the Committee for "toughing it out" and carrying on with the event despite the crummy weather. The weather conditions however, have validated the efforts of the Enhancement Team to be able to screen off the Ramada area to protect the occupants with the sun/wind screens and the heaters they have been purchasing with the proceeds of their fund raising activities. Without these, it is likely this event would have been canceled. The Team's goal is to be able to enclose the entire Ramada with these screens, and with the continued help of our residents, that goal should be attainable within the coming year--perhaps much sooner.

The missing propane tank has been located. It turns out it may not have been missing--instead only misplaced. At any rate it is back.

Remember the First Day Gathering at Sunset Ramada on New Year's Day at 2:00 p.m. A sign up sheet is available at the Ramada near the bulletin board. This is a no cost event, where you bring something to grill and a dish to share, such as a salad, side dish, or dessert. This will be the third annual of this event, which continues to grow in popularity. A fun way to spend a few hours with your friends and neighbors before the Rose Bowl, so plan on it and sign up.

Some good news: Our Enhancement Team has elected to take over the always popular Esperanza Estates Home Tour, to take place in the spring. This event has been one of the most popular in our subdivision. So far there are 6 residents who have agreed to open their homes to allow the rest of the community of EE (only) to have a look at how they have carried out their ideas for improvements and enhancements to their homes. By the time of the Tour, there will likely be more. The event always ends with a wine and cheese fest at the Ramada. Watch for details as they are announced in the future, but when the event tickets go on sale, move rapidly as this is always a sell-out.

The GVCCC Health & Human Services committee has found out that Flu Shots & H1N1 Flu Shots are being offered at Walmart on Wednesday Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two websites that you can check for availability of shots are: www.flushotsusa.com and www.findaflushot.usa which is for Maxim.

The Enhancement Team is now collecting items for the spring patio sale, to be held at Sunset Ramada in March. Kitchenware, patio items, home decor and furniture are wanted. If you have large items you intend to donate and would prefer not to store, let the Team know. A very generous person in EE has offered the use of his garage for storage and the Team will gladly pick them up. The annual patio sale is the Team's biggest fund raiser for the year and the "drive is on" to raise the money for the last three sun/wind screens needed to finish off the Ramada. For pick up, call Sandi (625-0039), Bev (625-7741), or Barb (867-8067). Remember, when you help the Team you help yourselves, as all Team proceeds are reinvested right back in EE.

Neighborhood Watch Block Captains:
If you have new residents in your zone contact me for a New Owner packet ASAP. The information form needs to be completed and returned to me prior to 4 Jan. for the resident to be included in the 2010 EEEHOA Directory.
Thanks for you cooperation. Mary Beth

If you have had a change in your phone number, be sure and let Mary Beth Wallace know, as the new directories will be printed in January and offered for sale at the annual meeting. Mary Beth can be reached at 399-0299.

To see some really interesting pictures of what the present Ramada and Sunset Park areas looked like before the Ramada was constructed, check out www.esperanzaestates.net/homes . They show what was actually the first effort to build some kind of gathering area for the use of EE residents, which was really just a bricked-over area of dirt, and the use of a couple of the previous shuffleboard courts as a place to set a few umbrella tables. It was pretty sad, but at the time it was all we had. The nicely landscaped area now know as Sunset Park was previously occupied by a large concrete slab which at one time had been a putting green, but which had been abandoned for many years. As you might guess, the group behind this effort was our Enhancement Team, whose consistent push toward improvement for our residents eventually led to the construction of our wonderful Sunset Ramada. Check out our website periodically, as our webmaster, Craig Surprise, is more-or-less continuously adding new content.

The Roadrunner's for L.I.F.E. Organ Club is having a Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 19th at 2 p.m. in the Upstairs Common Room at the Continental Mall. Admission is free, and all are invited. Refreshments will be served. This is the same group that has played for several of the EE events at the Ramada. Most are students, none are professionals!! No reservation is required, just show up and enjoy.

The Pima County Attorney's Office will hold its highly acclaimed Citizens Prosecution Academy from January 12, 2010 through February 2, 2010. The Citizens Prosecution Academy is a highly popular course that demystifies the criminal justice system and the workings of the Pima County Attorney's Office for members of the general public.

Our local elves Melodye and Sheila decorated 19 lamp posts this year, plus a couple of other things. Busy elves!

The final Board Meeting of 2009 will be held next Monday, December 21, at Sunset Ramada. An agenda will be published with the next issue of this memo. Watch for a mailing detailing the 32nd Annual Meeting of the EEHOA, to be held January 18, 2010.