December 2013
NEWSLETTER Woodland Lakes Preserve
Community Reminders Towing There is no overnight parking on the streets starting at midnight. Vehicles will be towed without notice. Vehicles must park in the garage or driveway. No parking on the grass is allowed. If your vehicle is towed please contact Dynamic Towing at 407-273-5880.
Covenant Violations In order to keep the community at the highest aesthetic look and the property values up, the management company has been directed to send letters to the residents that are not abiding by the rules. Some of the violations being enforced are basketball hoops that are not being put away when not in use, trash cans that are visible from the street, weeds in the grass or in landscaping beds, dead areas in the lawn, pressure washing of sidewalks and driveways, parking on the grass, trailers, commercial vehicles,
boats, and RV’s. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact management.
Leasing
All gate codes, clickers and directory access should be working. We recently added a new function to the gate to be able to utilize long distance numbers (like out of area cell phones) to open the gates remotely. If you need a new or additional remote the cost is $50 each. Please contact management if you need a form for additional remotes or gate/directory access.
The Declaration of Covenants Conditions and Restrictions of Woodland Lakes Preserve has a detailed policy of leasing the residences. Leases are restricted to only two (2) unrelated adults, and background checks must be performed by the association. The association’s lease application includes releases from the adults and it must be submitted with a $75 per adult processing fee. Please contact management for forms and processing.
Architectural Review
Watch your Speed
Alterations to the exterior of the home (such as stone work, pools and enclosures, fencing, painting, and landscape enhancements, among others) need to be processed and approved through the Architectural Review Board before work starts. Please contact management for the proper forms and submittal.
The Orange Country Sheriff's (OCS) office have been hired to patrol the community and set speed control surveillance. OCS has been performing speed checks. They have been also ticketing residents or guests that are not complying with DOT rules.
Gate
Pick up behind your pet
Assessments
We do not know anyone that enjoys walking on their yard or sidewalk and stepping on doo doo. Please pick up behind your pet; it is the law and fines can be imposed by Orange County Animal Control.
You can pay your assessments, view your account, and download copies of forms and rules from the community website at orlando.sentrymgt.com. You will need your 16 digit account number from your payment coupon to register the first time. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Sentry Management. The accounts receivable department is open from 8:30am to 7pm Monday through Friday and they take checks by phone, at no charge, if you need assistance while paying assessments. The phone number is 407-788-6700, ext. 402.
Neighborhood Watch Program Pool There have been many questions about pool usage for private parties. The pool area is for the enjoyment of everyone in the community and because of the size of the community it is very difficult to reserve this area for private events. Please follow the rules posted in the area and pick up all your belongings including trash before you leave. If you need additional pool keys, please contact management for the property form. Additional pool keys are $10 each.
During the last meetings there was some interest in starting a neighborhood watch program. The purpose of the program is neighbors watching out for neighbors to help prevent crimes. This program is not intended to create heroes or have people act like some have seen on the news recently. The purpose is to know your surroundings and notify your neighbors and the police when something, or someone, looks suspicious. Never confront anyone; CALL THE POLICE! If you are interested, please contact management to get the proper OCS forms.
MANAGEMENT COMPANY Sentry Management Inc. Joey arroyo, LCAM 407-788-6700, ext. 337 jarroyo@sentrymgt.com
pearls of wisdom 130 Cultured Gems for Community Association Living and Leading Published By Community Association Institute (CAI)
In
preparation for the upcoming transition from the developer to the homeowners we are presenting some points that will help to run a successful community. CAI is an international organization dedicated to building better communities. CAI provides information, education, and resources to all community association stakeholders, including community managers and homeowner leaders.
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr., wrote Life’s Little Instruction Book to provide his son with wisdom he could refer to as he lived his life. In that same spirit, CAI leaders throughout the years have shared their advice and pearls of wisdom for better community association life. Here are 130 tips to guide you and to ensure that your community association experience enhances your life and your community.
11. 12. 13.
BE A GOOD HOMEOWNER
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
1.
15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
2. 3. 4.
Review the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and other association documents before you buy a home. Read them again when you move in. Pay your assessments—on time. Attend the annual meeting.
14.
Read the newsletter and the minutes of association meetings. Follow the rules. Serve on a committee. Serve on the board or, at a minimum, attend board meetings. Don’t expect someone else to do it for you. Help organize a community event (a food drive, holiday gift drive, or social event). Vote in community-wide referendums. Volunteer to serve your community. Consider how your particular knowledge, skills, and experience can help the community. Remember that you are a member of the community association. What is good for the association is good for you.
Curb thy dog. Keep televisions and music at reasonable volumes. Park in your own space(s). Don’t be a six-car family. Take care of your property.
Woodland Lakes Newsletter
20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
Help form a neighborhood watch. Walk softly. Share a smile with a neighbor. Offer to lend a hand. Welcome new neighbors into the community. Nurture relationships. Talk about problems. Direct conversation is more effective than sending a letter or banging on a wall.
50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.
Say thank you—send a note, make a call. Say please. Build consensus. Be an advocate. Encourage strategic planning. Execute with excellence.
BE A GOOD BOARD MEMBER 27. Serve because you care about your neighborhood, not because you have a hidden agenda. 28. Use CAI courses and information to learn how to run a community association and work most effectively with others in your community. 29. Study the documents before you enforce them. 30. Conduct a reserve study and update it on a regular basis. 31. Let the manager manage. 32. Focus on policies, plans, and objectives. 33. Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. 34. Seek the advice of qualified professionals. 35. Make decisions with the common good in mind, not self-interest. 36. Educate residents. 37. Stay on top of association management trends. 38. Build alignment and consensus within communities. 39. Anticipate and prevent conflicts. 40. Remember your fiduciary duty to protect, preserve, and enhance the value of the property.
HAVE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS 56. Distribute materials (financial reports, agenda, etc.) to board members at least a few days before board meetings. 57. Review this material. 58. Prepare a timed agenda and follow it. 59. Use the rules of parliamentary procedure. 60. Don’t let meetings turn into non-productive social events. 61. Listen. 62. Be polite. 63. Hold open meetings where all owners can attend. 64. Include an open forum on your agenda. 65. Make sure a quorum is present.
WORK WITH COMMITTEES
BE A GOOD LEADER 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
Provide community leadership. Establish and articulate goals. Define clear expectations. Don’t put things off. Set high standards. Make thoughtful and timely decisions. Do what is right, not necessarily what is popular. Ask others for help and input. Plan and save for the future.
December 2013
66. Define the committee’s purpose. 67. Support and encourage committee members—remember they are your future leaders. 68. Keep in touch with them. 69. Seek their opinions. 70. Ensure that they follow the rules of parliamentary procedure. 71. Work with committees to establish realistic objectives and deadlines. 72. Remember, committees typically offer recommendations, not solutions. 73. Offer them praise and acceptance. Cheer, thank, and recognize them.
DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL BUDGET 74. Obtain input from owners, board members, committees, and management. 75. Conduct research to ensure the budget is based on accurate information and projections.
76. Develop a month-by-month evaluation—don’t just divide by 12. 77. Talk with service providers and professional suppliers to estimate costs. 78. Be realistic. 79. Raise assessments when necessary, and explain clearly why this is necessary. 80. Communicate the budget to members in advance of the new fiscal year. 81. Look for ways to control expenses, but don’t reduce the level or quality of services without seeking input and advising the owners.
SEEK COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND DEED RESTRICTIONS 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95.
Give residents a voice when creating a rule. Communicate the rules to residents. Make rules specific and reasonable. Review the rules—new ones may be needed, old ones may need to be discarded. Make the first contact with violators informal and in person if possible. Never “look the other way.” Offer compromises. Hold a hearing. Try arbitration or mediation. Hold public meetings on controversial rules. Be consistent. Be reasonable. Give clear and proper notice. Practice due process.
TENANTS, KIDS, PARKING & PETS
99. Give children a place to play. 100. Tow cars only as a last resort, and after you have given notice. 101. Place parking signs where they can be seen. 102. Give pets a place to walk.
WORK WITH DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES 103. Remember, constructive criticism provides impetus to positive change. 104. Be diplomatic. 105. Listen. 106. Be interested. 107. Remain calm. 108. Work together—two people cooperating are more effective than one person telling another to change. 109. Never complain about complainers—your words will get back to you. 110. Invite them to volunteer.
FOSTER COMMUNITY SPIRIT 111. Recruit new residents to volunteer. 112. Promote volunteerism as a positive experience—and make it a positive experience. 113. Be enthusiastic. 114. Publicize the association’s accomplishments. 115. Recognize volunteers. 116. Give awards. 117. Meet people. 118. Hold social events and “meet your neighbors” night. 119. Offer motivation for serving. 120. Invite people to volunteer via the newsletter, in-house bulletins, and through face-to face contacts. 121. Make yourself available to new board members. 122. Continue to read the newsletter. 123. Pat yourself on the back. 124. Share the positive rewards of volunteering. 125. Print a community t-shirt. 126. Recognize children in the community who are on the honor role, in sports, or for other special achievements. 127. Conduct surveys to gauge community opinion and solicit input. 128. Use email and a website.
KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO 96. Tenants are not outcasts. Involve them in the community. 97. Publish a tenant’s handbook. 98. Invite children to help organize events.
129. Check your blood pressure. 130. If you’re burned out, get out. New volunteers can offer new energy and ideas.
Woodland Lakes Preserve 1423 Balsam Willow Trail | Orlando, FL 32825 | 407-278-0344