March 28, 2011

The annual Esperanza Estates Volunteer Dinner was held yesterday at the Ramada, and was attended by more than 100 volunteers and their partners. The dinner was a catered affair, with a very nice menu selection, and all the accompaniments that go with a fine meal. Many thanks to the committee that put the whole thing together: Kay Miller, Melodye Cooke, Denise Roessle, Cynthia Surprise, and Mary Beth Wallace.

The unanimous choice for EE Volunteer of the Year was Scottie Blum. Scottie is and has been the chairperson of the Hospitality Committee for the past several years, has served on the EE Board of Directors, has been a pool monitor, and has helped Esperanza Estates in a myriad of ways over the years she and her husband Fred have lived in our subdivision. Her name has been engraved on the Volunteer of the Year plaque, which will be on permanent display at the Ramada. Congratulations Scottie! A well deserved honor.

There is a new and much larger bulletin board at the Ramada, courtesy of our Enhancement Team. The construction and installation work was done by Greg Gramstad, a very fine craftsman who has helped out the Team and the HOA in numerous ways in recent years. The old bulletin board was removed and placed inside the pool enclosure, to replace the board that was situated there. Many thanks to the Team and to Greg! This larger board has been needed for a long time, as the old one was too small and inadequate for the needs of the HOA.

On Tuesday, March 29, a group will meet at the Ramada to discuss the trash pickup issue in Esperanza Estates. The situation presently is that there are at least 3 different companies hauling trash in EE, and operating heavy trucks on our streets 4 days per week. Our streets are in sad shape, and the heavy traffic causes them to deteriorate faster than should be the case--in addition to the noise and traffic the trucks cause. The group wants to change this situation by making a change in the CC&R's of our subdivision to limit trash pickup to one company, and having the Board negotiate the best deal for all residents with the one firm. Anyone who has a point of view or any thoughts on this matter is asked to attend the meeting and express them. It is believed such a change would be in the best interests of everyone in EE, and that there is no need to have more than one trash hauler operating here. If you have a different point of view, this meeting is for you. Please attend. 

Saturday competitive pickleball will be finished at the end of April this year, and will be suspended at the EE pickleball court until this fall.

Regular pickleball will continue Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. until further notice.

The Water Aerobics exercise group will resume on Monday, April 4th, 8:30-9:30 am.

The Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers (SAV) has provided a useful checklist for anyone leaving their house in Green Valley unoccupied for all or part of the Summer.  Their checklist is attached at the end of this memo.

After our "snowbirds" leave, a lot of organizations that rely on volunteers are left short of help for the summer months.  I volunteer at Casa de Esperanza senior lunch program and know first hand how needed volunteers are to help out over the summer.

One day a week, (take your pick) Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 1 pm is all they need. The only requirement is a TB test which is provided at the facility at no cost to the volunteers.  If you think this may of of interest, please call me at 399-0455, or email to melodye1@cox.net

Have a good week.

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PIMA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS (SAV)

VACATION CHECKLIST

RESIDENTS LEAVING FOR VACATION OR THE SUMMER MAY BE LEAVING A WELCOME SIGN OUT FOR BURGLARS OR OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. CALL SAV ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU ARE LEAVING AND REQUEST HOUSE CHECKS. (CALL 520-351-6744.)  ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, SAVE WILL CHECK ALL YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS. THEY WILL ALSO LOOK FOR RUNNING WATER, BEE ACTIVITY, ETC. MAKE SURE YOUR STREET NUMBER IS ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE/GATE. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE.

2. MAKE SURE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE LOCKED. USE TRACK LOCKS, AND PIN ANY SLIDING WINDOWS. IF POSSIBLE, USE SECURITY BARS OR WOODEN DOWELS ON SLIDING DOORS. LOCK SECURITY SCREEN DOORS.

3. CLOSE ALL DRAPES AND BLINDS.

4. SUSPEND ALL DELIVERIES AND FORWARD YOUR MAIL IF LEAVING FOR THE SUMMER.

5. ARRANGE FOR AN EMERGENCY KEYHOLDER (2, IF POSSIBLE). MAKE SURE THEY HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

6. ARRANGE FOR YARD CARE TO KEEP WEEDS AND DEBRIS CLEARED AWAY, AND KEEP TREES AND SHRUBS TRIMMED.

7. TURN BUCKETS OR CONTAINERS UPSIDE DOWN SO THEY WON'T COLLECT WATER AND CREATE A BREEDING GROUND FOR MOSQUITOES. MAKE SURE PONDS OR POOLS ARE EMPTY OR PROPERLY MAINTAINED.

8. HAVE A NEIGHBOR KEEP WATCH FOR STRANGE OCCURRENCES. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.

9. WARNING DECALS ARE AVAILABLE TO PUT ON FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS.

10. IT IS SAFEST NOT TO DISCONTINUE YOUR PHONE SERVICE.

11. IF POSSIBLE, USE ELECTRIC TIMERS WITH MULTIPLE SETTINGS TO TURN LIGHTS, AND ALSO A RADIO, ON & OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO:

12. OUTSIDE MOTION SENSOR LIGHTING CAN ALSO BE A DETERRENT.

13. ALL VALUABLES SHOULD BE MARKED WITH YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER AND STATE.

14. HAVE A WRITTEN RECORD OF YOUR POSSESSIONS.

15. AN ALARM SYSTEM PROVIDES ADDED SECURITY.

16. ROLLING SHUTTERS ARE EXPENSIVE, BUT OFFER GREAT PROTECTION.

17. WINDOW FILM REDUCES GLASS BREAKAGE AND VISIBILITY FROM OUTSIDE.