From The Board Room

FROM THE BOARD ROOM BY LOU

A Very Happy New Year from your Board of Directors

We encourage all members to attend the annual meeting of the Tara Woods Homeowners Association on Monday, January 13 th , at 7:00 PM. You will be voting on three items.

1. Election of six Directors 2. Annual Budget 3. By-law amendments

If you cannot attend the annual meeting and your 2020 dues are paid, you can still make your vote count. In mid-December you received the Annual letter from your HOA which included an absentee ballot. You can sign the proxy and vote on the Directors, budget and amendments. Then return the signed proxy and absentee ballot in the addressed envelope via U.S.P.S. mail or drop in the mailbox slot at the Homeowners Of ce in the Clubhouse. All the candidates’ bios are on the bulletin board in the Clubhouse and on the website for your review. If you have any questions, contact me at 239-240-5847 or Bill Loveday at 313-220-0622. HEADS UP – If you haven’t already, we request you pay your 2020 dues prior to the Annual Meeting and/or prior to sending in your proxy. Bill Loveday will be at Saturday Morning Coffee and Tuesday Night Bingo with his smiling face waiting for you. Please do not wait until Monday night’s meeting to pay these dues of $15.00 per household. If you are unsure whether or not you have paid, ask Bill and he will answer that question.

DID YOU KNOW THAT – your Homeowners Association is sponsoring the  rst ever Tara Woods Health Fair on Tuesday, January 14 th , from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM, just a few days from now! All residents are invited and encouraged to attend. Admission – free, information you will gather – priceless! Space does not permit me to list all the different health areas that will be there for you. You don’t want to miss this. You will see over 36 different Health related participants in addition to the blood mobile. A hardy thank you goes out to Dave Lindon, Hilda Dienes and Barbara Werner-Lubich for spearheading this initiative.

Your HOA is also sponsoring the AARP Safe Driving course right here in Tara Woods on Wednesday, January 15 th , from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Details and sign-up sheets are on the back bulletin board and on the website.

Lou Dunning President loudunning2@gmail.com 239-240-5847

FMO NEWS - TARA WOODS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION NEWS Those of us who pay monthly lot rents are governed by FS 723 and our voice in Tallahassee is the FMO. The owners of the developments we live in have the FMHA.

Recently, the FMHA has, with the assistance of State Senator Hooper,  led Senate Bill SB 818. This bill would give an unfair advantage to the owners of our communities and have a negative impact on our way of life.

This bill would permit the changing of the current prospectus without disclosure to the homeowner or proper authorities. It prohibits an experienced negotiator or attorney from attending negotiating committee meetings. It removes the right to assume a lease and receive the initial prospectus that goes with the lot in accordance with the DBPR decision in 2011.

There are other negative issues that affect all of us and I encourage you to contact your Senator and urge them to VOTE NO on SB 818. On the back bulletin board is additional information about this bill as well as contact information. Please email and or call the Senators listed, and encourage them to VOTE NO. Be sure to advise how this bill will negatively affect your current lifestyle.

Also, on the back bulletin board are applications to join FMO. Your future is what you make of it. Now more than ever you need FMO and FMO needs you. You only have yourself to blame if things don’t go your way.

The January meeting of the FMO will be held Friday, January 10 th , at The Heritage. All meetings start at 1:00 PM and you are encouraged to attend. Thank you. Stuart Berman

COLUMNS STAFF EDITOR: Linda Beaulieu 239-560-0768 (lindabluetw@gmail.com)

ASSISTANT: Linda Engel PHOTOGRAPHY: Lou Dunning, Donna Erhardt CALENDAR: Judy Lanpher

CIRCULATION: Linda Hoos, Manager COMMUNITY DIRECTORY: Haywood Gandy, Manager

COORDINATORS: Stu & Belle Berman, Agatha Breen, Pat & Lou Dunning, Peggy Gamble, Lloyd & Carolyn Kelsey, Bob Kuhns, Sharie & Norm Libby, Diane & Bob Nunn, Ed Simko, Nancy Schoeppner, Lori  omas, Julia Wehrung, and Sue Van Sickle.

STUFFERS: Barb Simonson, Gene Dickie, Jackie Nadean, Donna Phillips, Pam Harrington, Linda Janis. ALTERNATES: Frank Millette, Mike & Sheila Harris, Bill & Lorraine Milligan, Dave Lindon, Angie D’Alessandro, Victoria Sharps, and Al Dion

REPORTERS: Reporters will be noted by their bylines at the end of each article.

Chris Olson, Tara Woods Homeowners Association Liaison

To advertise in print, contact: Bob or Emy Stein at 941-349-0194 or email us at islandvp@verizon.net. Contributing writers are acknowledged with bylines accompanying their submissions. Attribution for photos are not included unless supplied. We sincerely thank everyone for their contributions. Your articles help showcase the strong and diverse community that makes up Tara Woods. The Columns is published monthly from October through May. Summer issues are condensed: June/July and August/September. All ads are subject to the approval of the publisher. It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in The Columns to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town, county and state codes in fi rst obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property. DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that when you hire an unlicensed/uninsured person to do work at your home, you accept the liability. Island Visitor Publishing is not responsible for claims made by advertisers

NOW AVAILABLE TARA WOODS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S COLLARED SHIRTS, HATS AND LANYARDS On sale at the Clubhouse at Saturday Morning Coffee. Contact Keith Schuelke for assistance: 262-389-8663