AUGUST 2015
Joseph Naffah’s love of golf brought the Venezuelan to the United States but led him down a DIFFERENT path.
history of the dominion
reflections on the creation of the dominion
palatial elegance
a look into the home of the walker family
the dominion women’s forum
gearing up for a Fun, Fun Season
A PUBLICATION OF:
THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
CONTENTS THE DOMINION MAGAZINE | THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2015
Joseph Naffah’s love of golf brought the Venezuelan to the United States but led him down an unforeseen path to love and business.
WELCOME 14
student 52
THE CLUB
dining 54
CALENDAR 16 CLUB HAPPENINGS 18
FROM THE HOA 28
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COVER 34
HOME TOUR 58 GOLF 64
STAFF PROFILE 30
community 66
This issue we talk with Controller, Lisa Fratangelo
good reads 68
Dominion’s history 40
54 54
social group 44
realtor 72 pet adoption 76
women’s forum 46 charity 48
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14 Kings Heath
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AUGUST 2015 | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 8
PUBLISHED By SMV Texas Design Group, LLC 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006 210-507-5250
SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com
Welcome TO
the Dominion Magazine Dear Reader,
We hope you are enjoying this glorious summer in The Dominion. It is so much fun to see the neighborhood and the Country Club alive with young people, all enjoying their break. Stroll around the Club and you will see our young ones in the pool, on the tennis courts, at the great camps, hitting balls on the driving range, enjoying lunch at the cabana or chowing down at Burger Night. What a vibrant community we share! The 4th of July Extravaganza was great fun for all who attended, with a delicious buffet, entertainment for children and adults alike, good times for all and the famous fireworks display. We hope you enjoyed it all. It is one of the several events at the Country Club when nonmembers are invited and everyone celebrates together. There is a lot happening at the Club in other ways. We have said goodbye to our long-time manager and friend, Erin Dougherty, who is moving to another club. At the same time, we welcome our new manager, Stephen Phillips, who is moving from the Lantana Country Club in Dallas. We hope you will enjoy reading about him in this issue and will find time to welcome him to The Dominion soon. Enjoy the remainder of the summer and rest up for lots of exciting HOA and DCC activities coming in the fall. And, as you are relaxing, on a trip, at the pool, or on your terrace, take advantage of our new feature, Good Reads, book reviews from our book clubs in The Dominion, to find a book to enjoy.
OPERATIONS MANAGER Kristine Duran kristine@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kayla Davisson kayla@smvtexas.com
THE DOMINION HOA OFFICE 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-1232 | www.dominionhoa.com
The Dominion Magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. The Dominion Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous
2015
2015
THE DOMINION | JULY
N | JUNE THE DOMINIO
JUNE 2015
JULY 2015
Jeff Lewis, Chairman Dominion Homeowners Association
DOMINION
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2 ISSUE 6
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7
VOLUME
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FOr Advertising opportunities call 210-507-5250
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history of the dominion
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AUGUST 2015
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information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Dominion and/or Schooley Media Ventures. Copyright 2014 Schooley Media Ventures, 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006
AUGUST
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photo sa camera club 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Learn a new aspect of photography each month! Cost is $10 per class, charged to your Member account. Please RSVP to http://www.meetup.com/PhotoSA/
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Birthday Happy Hour 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Celebrate the birthday babies with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, 1/2 priced cocktails and a delicious birthday cake, shared with your fellow Dominion members! The Birthday Happy Hour is the best way to meet your fellow members! Join us tonight!
Every Tuesday
Every Wednesday
Every Thursday
Every Friday
Every sunday
The Dominion Rotary Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This international service group meets at The Dominion every Tuesday
Mexican Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Enjoy delicious Mexican favorites, complimentary chips and salsa and $3 margaritas! Kids 12 and under will dine free of charge. RSVP to 210-698-3364
Men’s Bible Study 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. This group meets every Thursday in the Piano Lounge. Stop by this week!
Friday Night Happy Hour 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Kick off the weekend with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 1/2 priced cocktails with your fellow Dominion Members and Guests!
Mixed Grille Open 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Members will enjoy buy one entree, get second entree free (equal or lesser value) and 25% off all bottles of wine. RSVP to 210-698-3364
Burger Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Delicious, cooked to order and just $5! Treat the family, invite friends! RSVP to 210-698-3364
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Prime Rib Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Bountiful and delicious! $21.95 per person RSVP to 210-698-3364
THE
DOMINION CountryClub Happenings friday happy hour Franck Mannechez, new Dominion Catering Director and former and returning long-time Dominion employee, joined the weekly Friday Night Happy Hour!
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4 t h o f j u ly extravaganza Over 500 Members and Resident Guests enjoyed the annual 4th of July Extravaganza at The Dominion, full of kids’ activities, DJ music, All-American family dining, the beloved skydivers and the amazing fireworks display! Join us next year!
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board of governors meeting The Dominion Board of Governors convened for their regular meeting and enjoyed a happy hour with spouses afterwards. Present at this meeting was Dominion Golf Group COO, Steven Held, and new General Manager, Stephen Phillips.
Dear Dominion Members, It is with great pleasure that we introduce Mr. Stephen Phillips as the new General Manager of The Dominion Country Club. Stephen comes to us from our sister property, Lantana Golf Club, located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, where he has worked for the past 10 years, serving as their General Manager. With over 20 successful years in the hospitality industry, Stephen brings a strong Food & Beverage background to The Dominion, an eye for detail, and a passion for excellence. His success has been proven over the years with outstanding results not only with the Dominion Golf Group, but also during his tenure with Cobblestone Golf Group, Arnold Palmer Golf Management, ClubCorp, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. As the General Manager of The Dominion Country Club, Stephen’s leadership, commitment to exemplary service and focus on the overall Member experience will ensure a bright future for our Club and Community. Stephen is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he majored in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management.
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T H E E XC L U S I V E P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E D O M I N I O N H O M E OW N E R S A S S O C I AT I O N
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community drives our commitment to you as your Realtor. Our success is built upon the dedication we show and the trust we earn with each of our clients. As your real estate agent, you can count on us for our honesty, integrity, and expertise, not only in our neighborhood, but in all aspects of the home buying and selling experience. We bring a passion and joy for great design, great homes, and great people into the highly competitive world of ultra luxury real estate. See how a commitment to excellence can make a difference. RANDON HAYES, CELESTE HAYES Top Producing Realtors速 & Luxury Home Specialists, Over $46,000,000 in sales since 2011 2012 Keller Williams Top Producing Newcomer Team Nationwide & Canada Winner of Double Gold Production award in 2011, 2012 & 2014, Winner of Triple Gold Production award in 2013 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2104 Platinum Top 50 Finalist, 2014 Platinum Top 50 Award Winner
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42 GALLERIA | DOMINION Located at the end of a winding street in The Dominion, this private European-inspired estate offers a masterful blend of modern amenities and elegantly appointed spaces for luxurious living and entertaining. The property`s spacious interior imbues feelings of classic Mediterranean-revival styling, evident through its neutral, airy color palette, graceful columns, mouldings and intricate motif carvings. Multiple living and dining areas comfortably accommodate guests for intimate gatherings or divine sit-down dinners. State-of-the-art amenities make the kitchen a dream for the keen chef, featuring stainless steel appliances, gas cook top and custom antiqued cabinets. Suited for the discerning owner, the master suite is elegantly appointed with a sitting area, exercise room, spa bath and exquisite closet. Additionally, all secondary bedrooms are generously sized, while a game/media room could serve as a second master suite. A covered patio and expansive deck offers the ideal backdrop for both relaxation and gatherings alike, showcasing spectacular views of rolling terrain.
Denise Graves
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YOU’VE MADE GREAT CHOICES IN YOUR LIFE. NOW, PROTECT THOSE CHOICES.
L AW F I R M B O E R N E , T X : : 8 3 0 - 2 4 9 - 9 3 5 8 : : N E W L O C AT I O N O C T O B E R 1
committee update By rob mcdaniel, general manager of the dhoa
The Neighborhood Outreach Committee (NOC) is enjoying the summer and taking a break from planned events. The committee will begin working on the plans for fall events to include the Labor Day – Close the Pool party at The Club, National Night Out scheduled in October, the New Resident Patio Party also scheduled for October, and our Halloween festivities of the Doggie Costume Party and Trunk or Treat. We hope you enjoy the summer with your families and look forward to seeing you at all of our amazing fall events. The Security Committee discussed the new City of San Antonio pet chip policy. The HOA will be filing a new Dominion policy which will require that residents adhere to San Antonio’s new law requiring all pets living in the community be chipped. The Committee also discussed a traffic issue at the main entrance at Dominion Dr. and the IH10 access road where non-residents are using the Dominion entrance as a u-turn to avoid turning traffic. 28
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The Landscape Committee is busy working on reviewing projects for the fall season and a three-phase project for the Reserve area. This three-phase project would extend from Aue Rd. to the SAWS Pump station. The Finance Committee reviewed the financial statements for the month of May. We are still within budget for 2015. The 2016 budget is being drafted by HOA staff, and committees are asked to submit their budgets to Lisa Fratangelo by September 1st. Annual vehicle renewals have been billed to all residents through August 31st. If you still have a white sticker or black license plate bar, please come to the HOA office at your convenience to receive your replacement headlight sticker at no charge. REMEMBER to call the HOA office whenever you sell any vehicle so we can delete the vehicle from our system.
in the neighborhood
UPCOMING HOA EVENTS Landscape Committee Meeting Thursday, August 6 at 8:00 a.m.
neighborhood outreach Committee Meeting Tuesday, August 11 at 8:30 a.m.
development committee meeting Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 a.m.
security committee meeting Tuesday, August 18 at 9:00 a.m.
Finance Committee Meeting Thursday, August 20 at 1:00 p.m.
board of directors meeting Wednesday, August 26 at 4 p.m.
Architectural Control Committee Meetings Thursday, August 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th at 4:30 p.m.
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HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR FIELD? In 11th grade, I signed up for an Accounting class because my older sister did. She was 1 year older than me and I had always heard teachers say, “Oh, you are Kari’s sister, she is so smart.” I wanted to compete with her on an equal playing field and ended up thoroughly enjoying Accounting. I signed up for Accounting II and knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I dream about debits and credits. How long have you been WITH THE DOMINION? 2 ½ years What is your favorite aspect of working at The Dominion? My favorite aspect about working at The Dominion is my boss, Rob McDaniel. (I promise I am not being a brownnoser!) He takes into account what is not only best for the residents of The Dominion, but also his employees. He encourages us to collaborate as a team to improve service to our residents and continuously pushes us to learn more about our industry.
Lisa Fratangelo
STAFF PROFILE TITLE: Controller Hometown: Spring, TX
EDUCATION Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Sam Houston State University. I recently became a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) with the the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB)
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What has been your most rewarding experience in your business? My most rewarding experience in accounting is the same as it was when I was a 16 year old in my high school Accounting class—being in balance. Whether it’s the annual budget, monthly financial statements or daily cash receipts, I love when I balance!!! My most rewarding experience at The Dominion is listening to the residents tell their stories. The stories range from when they first moved to The Dominion and how it was back then to hearing about and meeting their kids and pets. We are always running to the front reception to meet some cute pooch or baby. What do you like to do in your free time? Shopping with my 15 year old daughter, Sophie, eating out with my husband, Joe, and when I have time, I love to watch golf on TV. Favorite movie and why? One Fine Day with George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer because 1. He is so fine and 2. she was clever, resourceful and used initiative to get through an extremely hectic day. Favorite feature at The Dominion? My favorite feature at The Dominion is the exquisite Texas native landscaping. Nature surrounds our office---I always see deer, cardinals, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and a few weeks ago I saw a Mama and Daddy duck crossing Dominion Drive with their babies. It was so cute! I truly enjoy driving and coming to work every day.
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BY Kristine duran & PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN WEBER
Lebanese by blood, but born and raised in the eastern Venezuela town of MaturĂn, Joseph Naffah began playing golf at a very young age. Early on, he fell in love with the game and became increasingly gifted at it, competing in many junior events. By the age of 14, Joseph was good enough to begin thinking about playing golf professionally and decided to move to the United States.
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“It’s the best country in the world to pursue a golfing career and go to school at the same time. I also wanted to get my education,” Joseph says. In 2000, he officially moved in with a cousin living in San Antonio, who assured him that San Antonio was a great city for golf, where he could play year round. Joseph enrolled in English classes for a year to learn the language before beginning his college career at UTSA, where he was on the golf team for a year. During his first year at UTSA, Joseph met his wife, Samantha, at a local church. The two began dating immediately, and Joseph started building many of his future relationships through that same community, rich in Lebanese culture. After a one-year stint in Houston, playing golf for a junior college, Joseph returned to San Antonio and landed a spot on the St. Mary’s golf team, where he played for a few years before graduating with a degree in Business in 2005. He was still on a quest to pursue his golf career, but severely injured his back after graduation. Joseph had planned to get surgery, but during an internship with an oil company in Houston, his injury only got worse. His doctor advised him to return home
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to Venezuela for a nine-month period, where he could be cared for daily by family as he needed to be heavily treated with antibiotics. “I had to quit playing at a high level for a few years. I actually kind of hated the game for a little bit because it never gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream, which was to play professionally.” After his injury healed, Joseph wasted no time and opened up a trucking company dedicated to the oil industry in Venezuela for three years. He also found a new hobby in flying to get his mind off of golf. “I had always been fascinated by planes, so I kind of fell in love with it at the time. I got my pilot’s license and invested in a plane with my dad’s partner.” Meanwhile, he was still dating Samantha, traveling to The States every other month between 2007 and 2010, spending one month there and one month here. The couple had full intentions of starting a life together in Venezuela, until the political situation became treacherous. So in 2010, Joseph moved back to the United States and married Samantha. A year before the couple married, Samantha’s father passed away, leaving his local uniform company, Ameri-Form, to be inherited by her mother. Since Joseph’s
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first-choice career was on the backburner, he saw the company as an opportunity to invest in a business in town; one his wife had been involved with for over 10 years. The couple purchased the business from Samantha’s mother six years ago. The two have been growing the business together, with many large contracts in town including SAISD and SAWS, and serving about 5000 customers. Newly married with a business to boot, Joseph began looking in the area for a place to build their first home from scratch. “We both always liked this area, and we wanted to build a nice house. We looked into The Dominion, but we decided to start slow first,” Joseph says. So the couple began building their current home off of Boerne Stage Road, a mere five minutes from The Dominion. Golf was a very real passion for Joseph, still. After four years of not touching a club, he picked up the sport again at the request of his best friend. “My best friend, who plays on tour now, pursued the dream. I told
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him, ‘if I don’t make it, you will.’ I supported him a lot and he actually made it on tour. He’s the one who brought me back to the game. He told me, ‘you love the game too much to quit for good.’” It was an important turnaround in Joseph’s life that inspired him again. He is very involved with his friend’s career, traveling to see him play on tour at least eight times a year. After coming back to the game, Joseph was playing all over town and in Houston, until he realized that he needed a regular place close to home, where his family could socialize as well. He remembered the Dominion Golf Course from his days of playing for St. Mary’s in 2004. He’d always been fond of the course, so the couple became members of The Dominion Country Club in 2012. “I love the course and facility and it’s down the road from me. You can’t beat how close it is to my house. Sometimes I actually get there before the guys that live there!” laughs Joseph. He was so pleased with the benefits of becoming a member that he convinced his father and Samantha’s cousin to join the Club as well.
“I feel very lucky that I’ve met the Viejos (old men) at The Dominion that I golf with,” Joseph says, poking fun at the age difference. “They’re a bunch of great guys and so much fun to be around. I feel privileged that they let me be part of the group and have fun with them.” Although the Naffahs don’t currently live in The Dominion, they have their sights set on the beautiful community for their future. “Moving to The Dominion is actually my plan of attack after this house,” Joseph says. “I’m very open to moving there, hopefully within the next couple of years, when we outgrow this house.” The community will suit them better when their two young children, Sophia and Anthony, are old enough to enjoy all of its wonderful amenities. Sophia is currently attending a Spanish immersion preschool in town, as the couple hope to raise both children bilingual. Joseph’s parents are also teaching his daughter a bit of Arabic. Whether the passion for golf runs in the family, the jury is still out. He says, “I have exposed Sophia to golf a little bit. I didn’t want to force it upon her; I want her to fall in love with it like I did. If she wants to play it, I’ll support her.”
With Samantha’s large family residing in San Antonio and Joseph’s parents living here half of the year, the couple gets away when they can. Typically, their vacations are golf-related, but the family also tries to visit Venezuela twice a year. Recently, the visits have become fewer due to Venezuela’s current political situation. “I haven’t had the desire to see my country completely deteriorated; it’s sad for me to see it like that. I have a lot of roots there and my family is still there. I really want to take my kids so they can experience a little bit of my culture and get to know where I’m from.” Joseph’s aspirations might not have played out as planned, but he doesn’t regret following his dreams. “It’s taken me a long way, but I never knew it was going to take me this way. Golf is a beautiful sport and it’s great for the human race because it’s so much like life. There are some ups and down and you learn from it. It keeps you very grounded.” He and his wife are completely focused on making Ameri-Form a household name and using their status as local business owners to make a difference in the community.
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By Wayne Wright, original Managing Partner of The Dominion
Wayne wright’s REFLECTIONS ON THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOMINION Don’t let it be forgot That once there was a spot For one brief shining moment That was known as Camelot! Sung by King Arthur (Richard Harris) from the movie…. Camelot (1967)
Those inspiring words from the movie Camelot are still freely shared among many residents and club members to describe the early years at The Dominion. From the beginning, it was extraordinary… a place so wonderful that only Camelot dare be compared. Families flocked to be a part of this unique lifestyle community. It promised something special for each member of the family—tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, biking, lakes, green surroundings, and plenty of social activities for the whole family—all in a secure and safe, guarded community. It was more than just beautiful physical structures. It was a philosophical statement for what a good life could encompass: raising children in surroundings of safety, caring, commitment, love 40
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and camaraderie among equals and friends. This philosophy infected the visionary partners, sales team, employees, designers and residents and members alike. Sales were brisk from the very beginning. Many future homeowners were so anxious to begin this unique lifestyle that they opted to buy a lot and begin building their dream home even before the streets and infrastructure were finished. Gene Canavan, brilliant salesman, infectious personality, and a partner in The Dominion, conducted daily tours in his Suburban, escorting prospective residents off road without a finished street in sight. They bumped along the rocky terrain attempting to decipher
cryptic markings scribbled on wooden stakes, finding a match to similar markings on a wrinkled and stained lot map that Gene always carried in his truck. It was an adventure. Gene and his captive audience loved every minute of it. Very seldom did Gene return from one of these tours without a signed contract from a future resident. It seemed like everyone wanted to live in this new and exciting promised lifestyle. In 1985, The Dominion earned the status as the fastest growing luxury golf course master-planned community in the State of Texas. During the first two years of development more than 600 lots were sold to individuals and builders. Homes were being built at a rapid pace all over the Estates section, Cottages and the Gardens area. Even before the grand opening of the magnificent Renaissance-Mediterranean styled clubhouse, the golf course had already garnered national attention. Golf course designer, Bill Johnston, along with partner Rich Luders and club pro, Buddy Cook, lobbied for more than two years with PGA officials to host the first ever Dominion PGA Seniors Tournament to coincide with the grand opening of the clubhouse in May of 1985. This was a first for the PGA. Previously, they only selected a golf course for a national tournament if it was mature and seasoned after years of professional and member play. Not only did the PGA agree to The Dominion’s unusual request, but also the ESPN TV sports network signed on to nationally televise this maiden national Seniors tournament on a maiden course. The PGA’s decision was a testament to Bill Johnston’s national reputation for designing golf courses that were not only member friendly but easily modified. His unique and simple system of arranging variably positioned tee boxes controlled difficulty, yet accommodated the most skilled PGA professional players. The remarkable 50,000 square foot Dominion clubhouse, designed by Ralph Bender & Associates Architects, was an instant hit with both members and professional golfers. During the first Dominion PGA Seniors Tournament, Arnold Palmer was asked by a reporter where he planned to live when he retired from professional golf. Palmer thought for a moment and then replied, “When I retire I want to live in the men’s locker room at The Dominion.” Mary Bender (no relation to Ralph Bender) designed the elegant award-winning interior of the clubhouse.
MASTER-PLANNING THE DOMINION Prior to developing The Dominion, years of intensive master planning resulted in many unique and pioneering methods aimed at perfection in large-scale community planning. The developers refused to blindly adopt the standards of the day for master planning. The Dominion was special and would be treated as such. The developers viewed every aspect of planning as if the current industry standards were suspect. This resulted in a unique system of decision-making that rewarded creativity and improvement. Many developers
since have copied these trendsetting techniques. Just a few of the progressive decisions that made The Dominion master planning unique are: •Protecting the environment from harmful downstream pollutants and controlling flooding onto adjacent lands: Optimizing storm water drainage to capture and displace all drainage water within the boundaries of the development. More than 10 years later the City of San Antonio adopted similar planning techniques. •Pledging to never allow sewage water to enter the environmentally sensitive Leon Creek watershed: Despite being granted governmental permission to discharge more than one million gallons of processed sewer water daily into the Leon Creek, the developers kept this vow. This method is now a standard design procedure of all largescale master-planned communities with sewer plants. • Instituting stringent architectural controls, protecting the aesthetics of each neighborhood and home values, while encouraging creativity and diversity of design. • Incorporating an abundance of various sized green belts to promote a feeling of openness and living within nature. • Designing larger than normal lots for single-family homes, allowing vast green spaces for enjoying nature. • Surveying each lot with boots on the ground to avoid the destruction of mature oak trees: Developers imposed a regulation that fined any builder who destroyed oak trees, and required the builder to replace destroyed trees with similar sized mature trees. More than 20 years later the City of San Antonio adopted a similar regulation for preserving trees. • Pioneering the use of GPS coordinates technology to improve survey accuracy. This is now the standard for all developments. • Planning streets and home sites in the Estates section so that house numbers were never larger than two digits. This concept ensured uniqueness of environment and promoted a small town atmosphere within a larger community. • Restoring all historical structures on the original ranch including the Big Red Barn (as it was affectionately known) located behind the tee box on the 15th hole. There are hundreds of more examples and stories of pioneering efforts that went into the final Dominion master plan. Each decision was the direct result of the developer’s attention to extraordinary detail and refusal to accept mediocrity or past industry standards as the norm. The developers were adamant about adopting the latest green-based environmental designs throughout the community master plan to benefit both the environment and future generations of residents. One such green design was to insist upon using reclaimed water from the on-site sewer plant to irrigate the golf course. As strange as it may sound today, using reclaimed sewer water to irrigate a golf course was almost unheard of at that time in Texas. There was not a permitting process either locally or at the state level to allow for this. Undeterred, against professional advice, and at great expense the developers adopted a sophisticated system to pump reclaimed water from the sewer plant located near the 5th hole three miles north underground to a series of specially T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m
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designed gravity fed lakes beginning at the 14th hole of the golf course. A pumping station near the 16th hole pumps the water to underground irrigation stations throughout the golf course. Over the years the system paid for itself a thousand fold, saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in water fees, and helped protect San Antonio’s precious aquifer resources. This environmentally friendly concept, once ignored, is now the gold standard for green friendly golf course communities everywhere. The developers did not limit their brand of innovations to master planning. The biggest innovations focused on identifying what was missing from other country club developments of the time— exceptional customer service. The developers were committed to changing how members and residents of other clubs were often times treated like a number. That would not be the case at The Dominion. Every aspect of member services was tackled up front with a focus on details, details, and more details. Employees were challenged to be creative and suggest ways that each member or resident could be made to feel special. That process started with every clubhouse employee memorizing the names and faces of all members and addressing them by name. A common theme in employee training sessions was, “Think of how you would like your favorite family member to be treated, then do the very same thing. Don’t be afraid to do whatever it takes to make your family happy.” It was a system dubbed, “Family Friendly Service—treat everyone like a family member.” Employees loved the fact that they were empowered to make decisions without consulting management. This was their family also. That is exactly how policies like not charging for golf balls on the practice range came about. If you invited a family member to play golf with you, the last thing you would do is ask him to pay for practice balls. And, you would not let a family member carry his own golf clubs. You
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would be waiting in the parking lot for him to drive up so you could help carry his clubs onto a waiting golf cart, and then you would clean his clubs and make sure he was ready to play again. That goes for free golf shoe cleaning and polishing after the game also. A member should never have to ask for his golf shoes to be cleaned and polished. The developers recognized that one of the biggest complaints of golf club members at other clubs was the necessity to reserve tee times days in advance in order to play. It takes a lot of fun out of the game to plan so far in advance. In order to solve that problem the number of golfing members would need to be curtailed, negatively impacting club profits. But that is exactly what the developers did anyway. Any member could show up for golf anytime during the week and would be playing within the hour—guaranteed. Members loved it. These and hundreds of other service innovations instituted at The Dominion were the backbone of its resounding success. Members and residents loved the attentive service and they reciprocated by being exceedingly loyal to the club, making it the most profitable club in town. It was a lesson that the developers used in many of their other business ventures to great success—always treat your customers like family.
FINANCING THE DOMINION Immediately after they purchased the undeveloped ranch land from the Lou Moorman family trust in 1981, the developers set out to find the best financing arrangements to support what would surely be a long term development effort. Luxury developments of this magnitude can be very profitable and The Dominion proved profitable from the very beginning. But such large projects require large sums of long-term capital to develop the land and maintain the infrastructure. Large luxury developments in particular require years and sometimes
decades before they realize their maximum profit potential. The developers estimated that The Dominion would take more than 20 years to fully develop. Therefore a financial partner committed to the long view was mandatory. Before the developers found an acceptable lender, President Reagan’s Congress in 1982 passed the most sweeping deregulation legislation in the history of banking. The legislation transformed the stodgy savings and loan industry from a marginally profitable business model of making fixed rate mortgage loans into semientrepreneurial institutions that were permitted to fund long-term residential developments as a full committed financial partner and not just in a lender capacity. This fit perfectly into the developers’ demand to find a long-term financial partner committed to the same philosophy. A well-known, adequately capitalized Texas institution was chosen as the financial partner. Favorable terms guaranteed The Dominion would have a long-term financial partner with deep enough pockets to bridge any potential future market variables. The developers felt confident that they had made the best choice not only for themselves but also for future residents and club members who would rely on the financial partner’s commitments to maintain the high quality of the many amenities in the community. For the next 5 years The Dominion’s relationship with their financial partner was exceptional. Everyone understood each other’s role and the institution remained committed to the needs of the community. The Dominion thrived and was profitable. Then, in late 1986 and early 1987 events began happening that
were out of the developers’ and the institution’s control. The economy dramatically cooled and home sales fell off a cliff all over Texas. It was these very types of market variables that the developers believed they were protected against by partnering with a strong institutional financial partner. But more bad news was coming. During the height of the housing recession federal regulators did two things that drove a stake into the heart of the savings and loan industry and consequently hampered growth of many long-term community developments like The Dominion. First, they changed long standing accounting rules under which S & L’s traditionally operated. Those overnight changes dramatically devalued all assets on the books of institutions, some to the extent of making them instantly insolvent. Then regulators went one step further. They demanded owners of all institutions raise immediate capital to make up for their arbitrary regulatory imposed paper devaluation. Of course, raising capital in the middle of a housing recession proved almost impossible. Several court rulings would later hold that such federal manipulation of asset valuations was illegal. But those court decisions were too late to help most institutions. As this national tragedy was playing out, the developers of The Dominion worked on their own plan to save The Dominion rather than bet that their financial partner would survive the fate of so many other institutions. During the spring and summer of 1987 the partners met with investor groups from all over the country. All of them loved The Dominion and had faith that the future was a bright one. Many offers were made and evaluated. The developer’s goal in all negotiations was a simple one; Make sure that The Dominion thrives and that all commitments made to residents and members were fulfilled. In the end the developers, with the blessings and participation of its institutional financial partner, chose to sell to a Texas investor group the clubhouse, golf course, sewer plant, sales pavilion and several hundred acres. The sale closed in September of 1987 with the promise that the original dream and commitments of The Dominion partners be fulfilled to every resident and club member. For the next few years the new owner funded and operated The Dominion Country Club and development. Eventually, unable to raise additional capital as a result of the insolvency of its institutional financial partner, The Dominion was sold to a foreign investment group in the early 90’s that operated the club for many years. The Dominion club facilities were later sold to an investment group from Austin that still operates the club today. But, through all the years since 1981 and through all the many changes, The Dominion survived and thrives today because of its strong foundation of innovations, commitment, and a philosophy of perfection. Today, The Dominion still commands a reputation as the premier master planned golf course community in Texas. And residents still proclaim The Dominion’s virtues. At this year’s 30th anniversary hundreds of residents attended a party hosted by The Dominion Homeowner’s Association. They met in a spot that was precious to all of them—the Pecan Grove, where parties and plans inspired them so many years ago. Today, numerous residents have lived at The Dominion for three decades. The new generations and the old all praise their home and lifestyle. To hear them talk, there still is a spot where shining moments are not brief, but reside at The Dominion. The dream came true.
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The Dominion Women’s Golf Association by Jacqueline Rothe, dominion resident
The DWGA was formed over 20 years ago to encourage women’s participation in golf. The mission of the DWGA is to promote social golf, balancing competitive play with a fun, pleasant atmosphere for the pursuit of the game. Many of the ladies who participate are just beginning to learn the game of golf, while others have played for years and are perfecting their game. No matter if you are just starting out or have played for years…come join us! Through weekly organized play formats, special tournaments and other planned activities, the DWGA organization promotes a friendly atmosphere for all golfers and general good golf camaraderie for all DWGA members, with the opportunity to learn additional skills, rules and etiquette. Any woman who is a golf member of The Dominion Country Club in good standing or lives with a significant other who is a golf member of The Dominion Country Club in good standing shall be eligible for membership. The annual membership dues are $50 and each round played on Thursday is $5 which is awarded for prizes each week in a fun atmosphere. There are two groups that play each Thursday: the Futures who play 9 holes and The Classics who play 18 holes. To play with the Futures no handicap is required to start out with. To play with the Classics, you must have a handicap of 36 or lower. The start times are 9:00 a.m. for each group and sign up is easy once you join the DWGA. Some ladies choose to play often, while others drop in from time to time. Many 44
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stay for lunch after playing on Thursdays for socializing. The DWGA has something for everyone! For the more advanced golfer who likes to compete, the DWGA sponsors a team roster who play at 9 different clubs around San Antonio. The format is Match Play format with 3 teams of 2 ladies from each club. The DWGA hosts a different club once a month. The overall scoring is a point system and the clubs are ranked by how many points earned for the year for gross and net scores. The other competitive format that is sponsored by the DWGA is called stableford where the best 6 players available, travel to other clubs once a month. The stableford scoring system is used and the ladies compete grouped by handicaps and low net is only used for scoring. It’s a way to meet new friends from the other clubs and participate in friendly competition on another level. Please contact any of the board members if you want more information about this wonderful group of ladies. We welcome those new to the game or anyone who just wants to have fun, socialize and work on their game. For more information, please contact Jacquie Rothe at rothe.jacquie@gmail.com; Gloria Wheeler at gloriagolfer@aol.com; Linda Mayfield at travelfidget@gmail.com; Anne Evans at ajoff225@aol.com; Tracy Lewis at traci@tracilewis. com or Laura Flores at lauraflores@floresgroup.com.
2015 Women’s Forum Board of Directors: Catrina Kendrick, Cheryl Ernst, Patricia Mitchell, Traci Lewis, Norma Reed, Marilyn Farello, Sandy Marquez, Barb Burger, Loy Thompson, Lori Harper, Lyn Hicks. Not pictured: Cindy Clark, Theresa Hines © 2015 Landers Photography, San Antonio, Texas, USA
the dominion women’s forum
September brings the start of the season for The Dominion Women’s Forum events and it is shaping up to be an exciting year! The Women’s Forum is a social group, one of the “club within the club” of The Dominion Country Club, and is open to all women club members. It is a great way to meet and socialize with women from the neighborhood and beyond. The Forum organizes many types of events throughout the season and there is something for everyone. Membership is only $50 and that covers access to all of the wonderful events and so much more!
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Traci Lewis, incoming DWF President, says, “The mission of the Forum is to promote friendship among the ladies of the Club. Many of us have become lifelong friends. We love and support each other and always have so much fun.” Traci, who has been a DWF member for over a decade, adds, “When I came to my first meeting I didn’t know anyone at the Club. Everyone was so gracious and welcoming and by the end of the luncheon I had new friends and those friendships continue to grow deeper and stronger. Best of all, each year we meet new friends and have all kinds of adventures!”
Monthly Luncheons Luncheons are held the first Friday of each month, September through May, at The Dominion Country Club. They begin with a social and cocktail time and always have a marvelous menu from Chef Jay. Many of the luncheons offer shopping opportunities with offerings from great local vendors. Each month there is an interesting speaker or program. This year, Catrina Kendrick, the Vice Chair of Programs, has planned an amazing lineup of speakers and entertainers, including the always popular Julian Gold Style Show in October. Holiday Bazaar Everyone looks forward to the exciting Holiday Bazaar held in December, this year December 4, where the Club is transformed into a fabulous holiday shopping mecca. The theme this year is “Holiday Magic at The Dominion”, and is open to Forum members and non-members alike. Shoppers can stroll through over fifty displays of beautiful merchandise while enjoying holiday cocktails, appetizers, and small bites. What could be more fun? And it is perfectly timed for you to bring your shopping list and leave ready for the holidays. Bazaar chairman, Lori Harper, is looking for interesting merchandise that will excite us all. Cocktail Parties, Couples Events, and Special Events In past seasons Forum members have enjoyed several ladies cocktail events, some with casual modeling of fun fashions, a horse racing party, where you and your spouse/ partner could bet and go home a winner, a Food from Around the World evening with spouses and exciting cuisine, a couples Halloween party with music and costumes, a Chili Cookoff - the list goes on. This year’s Social Activities Organizer, Barb Burger, is planning for it to be another year full of fun. While bringing back some of the favorites, she is working on new events, including an Oscar Party. See the calendar and watch The Dominion Magazine calendars for upcoming events and be sure to join in on the merry times. Women’s Forum Gala
2015-2016 Women’s Forum Events September 4
January 15
Luncheon Featuring Angela Malek, Opera Singer
Chili Cook-Off
September 10
Luncheon with SA Rodeo Hall of Fame Winner, Jackie Van De Wall
Welcome Back Champagne Happy Hour in the Piano Bar with Guest Pianist
October 2 Julian Gold Style Show Luncheon
October 16
February 5
February 11 Valentine Cocktails and Buffet, with Partners, of Course!
March 4 Luncheon (Program tbd)
Halloween Costume Party for Couples, “Dynamic Duo” Theme
March 9
November 6
Academy Award/Red Carpet Happy Hour
Marilyn Farello, Gala Chairman, has already started making plans for a fabulous evening next spring. The gala date has been chosen, April 2, and the theme will be “Diamonds and Pearls”. With glamourous guests, a sophisticated scene at the Club, elegant food, and an exciting band, this is sounding like an event you will not want to miss. Mark your calendars now! Join Now!
Luncheon with Donna Fuller, Comedian and Author
December 4
May 6
Membership forms are available at the Club, or you can email the Membership Director, Loy Thompson, loy@ theislandmail.com, to receive a form. Join now and enjoy a full year of fun events and start having great times with old and new friends right away.
Christmas Magic at The Dominion, Holiday Bazaar
Luncheon (Program tbd)
January 8
End of the Year Party for Couples
November 12 Fall Happy Hour, “Vintage” Night
Luncheon with Magician Mark Travis
April 1 Luncheon (Program tbd)
April 2 “Diamonds and Pearls” Gala
May 27
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Joe reinagel golf
tournament by Pat Bodet, Community Development Manager, Arthritis Foundation
On June 26, the Dominion Country Club was host of the Joe Reinagel Golf Tournament, presented by KENS 5 and Top Golf. The proceeds of the tournament went to the Arthritis Foundation in honor of Joe’s daughter, Kassidy Reinagel, one of over 2,400 children in the San Antonio area with a form of Juvenile Arthritis. Diagnosed at 14 years old with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and Lupus, Kassidy is passionate about her role as the 2015 Walk to Cure Arthritis honoree. “JIA and RA are so misunderstood!” stated Kassidy. She continued, “There are children as young as three months old being diagnosed. In most cases, Pediatric Emergency room doctors do not understand how to treat our symptoms. Schools do not understand how to accommodate us. It’s time to hear our voices! The Arthritis Foundation has given us the platform to speak out and be heard! The Arthritis Foundation has also advocated on behalf of all of us regarding research, awareness and medication. They were the place my parents called when I was diagnosed for more information. Thanks to the Arthritis Foundation, I am not afraid anymore; I am fighting the good fight!” The Joe Reinagel Golf Tournament raised over $30,000 with teams from across the area having a wonderful time on the warm Friday afternoon. The day started with a live shot on KENS 5 with Chris Nieto, Board Chair for the South Central Region of the Arthritis Foundation and Joe Reinagel. Child honoree, Chloe Kiest, and Medical Honoree, Dr. Gerald Rosenberg were also in attendance. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America. It affects 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. Without appropriate interventions, the number will increase to 67 million Americans within the next 20 years. The Arthritis Foundation provides funding for research and resources for doctors and patients to improve sufferers’ quality of life The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Arthritis Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through lifechanging information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. For more information, go to www.arthritis.org or contact Pat Bodet at pbodet@arthritis.org or 210-680-8171.
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tournament photos
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Awards and accolades related to those activities? Football Awards: 3-year Varsity Letterman, All-District Quarterback Honors, Team Captain Lacrosse Awards: 3-year Varsity Letterman, 2 years AllDistrict Honors, All-State Honors, Texas T99 All-Star Tell us about the best game you ever played: The best lacrosse game I ever played was during my sophomore season. My team was down the whole game, and the fourth quarter rolled around and we found ourselves down by two, with a little under two minutes left in the game. One of my teammates scored a quick goal and we were down by one with thirty seconds left in the game. With fifteen seconds left in the game, another one of my teammates shot the ball and the other team’s goalie saved it. He threw it up with six seconds left in the game, trying to hit one of his defenders with a pass. I jumped the pass and scored the game tying goal with one second left on the clock. We went to overtime and ended up winning the game. Aside from the game tying goal, I had 3 other goals that day and 3 assists for a total of 7 points in the game. Outside of sports, what other activities are you involved in? I am in the Corps of Cadets at TMI where I hold the position of Battalion Executive Officer. I am involved with the PT team, Drill Team, Sabre Guard, Color Guard and I am the Orienteering Team Commander. Aside from the Corps, I am in the Interact Club, FCA, Priceless People, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and have just recently returned from American Legion Texas Boys State.
student spotlight Name: George West Bodden Jr. or GW Age: 17 School: TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas How did you start playing lacrosse and football? I started playing both sports at a young age in my middle/ elementary school.
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What college do you plan to attend upon graduation? I plan on attending Texas A&M University. I believe that there is no finer university in the nation, and the network that Texas A&M provides to its graduates is second to none. The rich tradition is unlike any other university, and that is something that I will enjoy being a part of. What do you plan to major in? I plan to major in Construction Science with a minor in Business. This would allow me to practice commercial real estate as well as to pursue a career in the field of construction, which is something that I have a great interest for. What has been your favorite part of growing up in The Dominion? I have loved growing up in a safe and secure environment where I could ride my bike to the pool and the tennis courts during the summer time. This, along with being able to play in the neighborhood with some of my friends who also live here, has made for an incredibly enjoyable childhood here in The Dominion.
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by Chef Jay Nash, head chef of the dominion country club
There is no doubt popular events at The Dominion Country Club are the frequent wine dinners and the most recent deconstructed Champagne tasting which was a hit. Creativity of food and wine pairing is the staple of these social gatherings, using not-so-common ingredients and cooking techniques. Another weekly event, $5 burger night, pairs simple food with a great price and adds the freedom of choice of sides and toppings to drive the most attended weekly event. Two very different events with contrasting ideas. There is no reason we can see, that fine wine cannot be enjoyed the same with simple foods, as with intricate foods or multi-course meals. We decided to pair up some wines with our burger night and let you be the judge. As most wine enthusiasts have discovered, 2012 was an outstanding year for wine, critically acclaimed as not only the best wine year in decades, but ideal production stemming from nearly perfect weather conditions (for grapes) in the Napa Valley. I had the privilege of touring Napa Valley in the spring of 2014, and the consensus of wine producers was that it was hard to make a bad wine and the quality was beyond their anticipation. With that in mind, we have chosen a couple wines to showcase through the month of August, and pair with none other than $5 burger night! First, we have chosen Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 2012. It is produced by the Quintessa Winery in Napa Valley from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from mostly Rutherford and Coombsville. It pairs very well with beef and hearty cheeses. Through the month of August we will be offering Faust Cabernet Sauvignon for $20 a glass. Next, we picked Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 bottled by Sterling Vineyards of Sonoma, California. This wine also pairs well with grilled meats with a medium fat content and other hearty foods. We will be featuring this wine by the glass for $14 through the month of August. You can make burger night an even better value through August with a glass of our featured Cabernet Sauvignon wines or come in anytime and experience the excellent 2012 vintages.
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SIMPLY DIVINE Jewelry with a Texas attitude
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by KRISTINE DURAN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN WEBER
John and Jennifer Walker moved to The Dominion seven years ago. John, a San Antonio native, and Jennifer, who is originally from the Philippines, were in pursuit of a home they could spend the rest of their days in. Overall, The Dominion won them over with its great location, security, enjoyable activities for the whole family and friendly staff and residents. The building process of their dream home was difficult at times, but well worth the beautiful end result.
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KITCHEN
With a long and spacious bar and island, the kitchen is ideal for entertaining. Great lighting and five comfortable bar stools allow for comfortable congregating while a meal is being prepared or while enjoying hors d’oeuvres.
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LIVING ROOM
Rich reds and browns accent the living room where the grand fireplace is the focal point. The large wooden beams overhead add an element of rustic warmth to the traditionally elegant dĂŠcor.
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office
The Walkers’ office is classically charming, enclosed by floor to ceiling bookshelves complete with a rolling ladder. The tall, sophisticated drapes allow for lighting versatility.
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By Bryan Ledesma, Head Golf Professional, Dominion Country Club
The Dominion Country Club would like to thank everyone who participated in the Flag Day Tournament! Congratulations to Larry Harper on winning first place! 2nd Place-JM Pain, 3rd Place- Scott Lewis, 4th Place- Mo Saidi, 5th Place- Jeff Lewis, 6th Place- Tom Stephenson. We have The Dominion Junior Club Championship coming up on August 4th and 5th, and the tournament will be flighted by age group. Also, every Wednesday night for the next two months we are starting Men’s Night Out up again. It is a 6:00 p.m. shotgun and the format changes week to week. The cost is $25 plus a cart fee and we will pay out only net and gross winners each week.
Dominion Napa Valley Trip Join your fellow Dominion residents on September 9 - 13 touring wineries and playing golf. We have reserved rooms at the fabulous Silverado Resort and Spa and hope you will join us for winery tours, wonderful dinners and some golf, if you are so inclined! Very limited spaces are available, so sign up today! Price per person is $1255 for the four-night stay at the resort (airfare is on your own). Specific winery tours and dinners will be set for the group, with details following once the spaces are filled. Golf tee times are on hold for our group for the PGA North Course on Thursday, September 10th and the South Course at the Silverado Resort on Friday, September 11th (optional golf fees extra). A $640 per person deposit is required to hold your space, with remaining balance due thereafter. To sign up, or for more information, please call Tony Re in the Pro Shop at 210-698-1146 or email anthony@the-dominion.com. Let’s go to Napa!
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Bunker Tip I’m sure everyone has heard the key is to hit sand first and skimming the wedge underneath the golf ball. In essence you’re purposely hitting the ball fat. The problem I see a lot of amateurs have is that there is no consistency to where they make contact with the sand, and therefore there is no repeatability to their shots. How you SET UP to the golf ball makes a world of a difference! With an open stance (feet aimed left of target), play the ball off of your left heel, but make sure your belt buckle is closer to the target than your sternum. Your left leg should be bent, and you should feel a lot of pressure in that thigh muscle. When you swing maintain that feeling of pressure. In other words, keep supporting your body weight with your left side. The mistake is to hang back on your right side in efforts of getting the ball over the lip of the bunker. This will make it difficult to replicate where the club bottoms out in the sand, and you run the risk of blading the ball due to a shallow angle of attack.
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Training
Now Booking for Summer Vacation 9440 Dietz Elkhorn Rd., Boerne, TX 78015
830.981.2273
wagmorepetresort.com
update:Dominion Drive to Ralph Fair Road (FM 3351)
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ast October, we enlisted our friends at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to tell us about the major construction happening along Ralph Fair Road. A lot of progress has been made since then. This project, announced in January 2014, is a part of the $825M plan, and is designed to be carried out in two phases. The first phase of construction has been approved and estimated to begin by the spring of next year. In this phase, I-10 will be expanded to eight lanes, four going each way. All major construction will happen between FM 3351 and La Cantera I-10 Managed Parkway, which is about a 5.7 mile stretch. The second phase will expand the area from La Cantera Parkway to Loop 1604. Laura Lopez, Public Information Officer for TxDOT, told the San Antonio Express News, “the city of San Antonio and Bexar County leaders have unveiled a plan to allocate more than $800 million to fund expansions of I-10, U.S. 281 and Loop 1604.” In a presentation by TxDOT in May, experts reported that “the [Interstate 10] corridor was the seventh busiest sub-market in the entire United States in 2014.” In other words, San Antonio, especially this area of I-10, sees a ton of traffic per day. TxDOT researchers approximated 123,348 vehicles per day driving this stretch, but who’s counting? Because the
highway transports so many vehicles, it was in dire need of managed lanes that would help clear up some of the congestion. A managed toll lane, according to TxDOT, incorporates a combination of pricing strategies, vehicle eligibility, and access control to create a more safe and efficient route. Within five years, when the second phase of construction is estimated to be complete, there should be two fully operational lanes like this going in each direction of I-10 between Ralph Fair and Loop 1604.
Lanes Project - Typical Sections
I-10 Managed Lanes Project - Public Meeting
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by Marlene Neslund, Dominion Resident, Book Club Member
If you are looking for a delightfully amazing read, The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion,w is the right book for you. It is difficult to believe that this is the first novel by Aussie Simsion, who is in his 50’s. The main character of this fast-moving romantic comedy is Don Tilman, a socially inept university teacher and scientist at a school in Melbourne. He feels that it is time in his well-organized life to get married. The “Wife Project” is formed, based on an internet questionnaire. Hilarious scenes of attempted speed dating follow. Then we meet Rosie. Don mistakenly thinks she is responding to his questionnaire, but she is in search of her real biological father. Don is a specialist in genetics and thus he forms “The Rosie Project” to help her out. The novel reads as a screen script, with one dramatically funny scene after another - a dinner jacket incident, dinner on the balcony, bar tending at a country club, dancing at the faculty ball, a mad cap trip to NYC. The reader is exposed to one explosive episode after another, each funnier than the last. But this novel is not pure fluff. There are universal thoughts underlying the fast moving narrative (Is society over burdened with a preoccupation of image? If you really love someone, should you accept them for who they are?) All of the characters are well drawn, some more sympathetic than others. I can easily see why this novel is a New York Times bestseller. Hopefully Graeme Simsion’s sequel, The Rosie Effect, will be as entertaining. It is always good to smile and laugh when one reads.
the birth of a book club In 2002 I returned to home sweet home after almost six years of off shore living. Having been in book discussion groups almost all of my adult life, I was dismayed to discover the book clubs at Dominion were at a max in membership. Not to be daunted, I put out a call to all interested readers to gather and form a new group. That’s how it all started almost thirteen years ago in my living room. Membership has changed a great deal but what remains constant is the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the ladies. We meet monthly on the second Monday afternoon, rotating the hostess duties. We all read the same book, each chosen at our December luncheon by a very democratic voting process. Each member presents two or three books to the group for consideration. We try to have a variety of readings- non-fiction, historical, mystery, etc. Our main goal recently is to avoid an over load of books dealing with concentration camps, dysfunctional families, suicides and any other dark, dismal theme. Reading is a true pleasure in life; sharing magnifies it.
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$3,850,000 | 35 Old San Antonio Rd | Boerne | 78006 14 acre Retreat in Boerne. 8,000 + living sq. feet. 2 main houses (one is a 1890 renovated stone paradise), 2 guest cottages, pool, out door entertaining, century-old oaks, and a workshop with RV storage. Commercial Potential. Do not miss out on this masterpiece.
Bluebonnet Realty C 210.912.8221 | p 830.816.2288 | f 830.816.5903
a n g e l a @ s m v t e x a s . c o m | w w w. b o e r n e t e x a s h o m e s . c o m
FEATURED PROPERTY
32 Eton Green Circle THE DOMINION 4 BED/ 5 FULL BATH CONTEMPORARY STYLING PRICED AT $1,795,000
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Hometown: Kansas City Describe your education and background: I graduated from the University of Houston with a BS in Education and taught high school art in San Antonio. I became licensed to sell Real Estate in 1983 and began working at The Dominion. How many years have you been in the business? 30+ years How did you get started? I have been a realtor in the Dominion since 1984 because Gene Canavan, one of the original developers, asked me to get my real estate license and work for him at The Dominion. I specialize in The Dominion but will and can sell anywhere in the state of Texas.
me empathize with buyers and sellers which I believe is one of my strongest assets; being able to work out the best deal for their circumstances. What are your biggest challenges in this business? The hardest part of the real estate business is balancing time for your clients and your family. There have been many times when I’ve had to leave dinner on Thanksgiving to help a client. One Christmas Eve, I had to go to four vacant homes in The Dominion that had broken water pipes because of a freeze to thaw and get the water shut off because it was coming out of the front door. What are the greatest rewards in this business? It’s all worth it when you know that you have done a great job and your clients are happy.
What sets you apart from the others? I have really had a lot of life experiences from being a widow, being divorced, having a foreclosure, building 4 homes, kids, grandkids and moving a lot of people in different situations. This has helped
Thank You Many thanks to Janet Key for donating her wealth of Dominion knowledge to this multi-part installment of Dominion’s History. It has been a treat to get a glimpse of how this wonderful community began.
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Try Koko FitClub for 30 Days with No Risk or Obligation Try us risk-free and prove to yourself that this time you WILL make it. Includes personal coaching, guidance and everything else you need to prove to yourself that you can win, you can get in shape and that Koko is the place for you. Come meet our staff, meet our members and try the Koko lifestyle. At the end of 30 days, if we haven’t earned your business, and you don’t believe you can do it, then we don’t deserve to have you as a member. I really like the personally tailored workout. It is really helping me get stronger and leaner. It’s as if I have a personal trainer, but at a fraction of the cost. In just 5 short months, I have no back pain and no chronic shoulder pain. I can run which I haven’t done in over 20 years, and I have so much more energy. Koko has significantly improved my fitness and health. Mette Blanton, Fair Oaks Ranch I joined Koko to prepare for snow ski season. I’ve increased my stamina, I’ve also gotten stronger and lost weight. I’ve definitely had more success with Koko than with past personal trainers, and I’ve been able to sustain a consistent workout routine. The convenient location and 24 hour access make it easy and effective. Joshua FlohrCrumpton, Alamo Heights
30 DAYS $30
An Open Letter To Our Community We opened Koko first in Alamo Heights, and now near the Dominion at The Boardwalk because I was one of those people who was unhappy many times at mainstream commercial gyms. I was one of those people who continually struggled with finding the right gym atmosphere. One of those people who lost pounds time and again - only to regain most of it back each time because I would stop working out. Where was the help in those other gyms? Where was the guidance I expected with my membership? Where was the support I needed to make fitness work for me not only in the gym, but on my own, too? The help and support the average person needs to stay fit and life a healthy lifestyle simply wasn’t out there. So, I became determined to open my own gym that would provide everything the typical person needs to get on - and stay on - the healthy path. At Koko, we specialize in people who have often struggled with weight issues, given up on fitness, or who just don’t feel like they fit into mainstream gyms or other fitness trends where everyone seems so much further ahead. We have seen far too many motivated people start a fitness program, one that might actually improve the quality of their lives, only to quit after seemingly little effort, time and few, if any results. I wondered: if the support was there, would these people still quit, or would they succeed? I realized that successful fitness is a combination of personal responsibility from the client, total support from the gym, and a personalized plan for success, at a reasonable price. You are responsible for your own life and how you choose to live it. Lose your fitness - and you love your mobility, agility, and the strength to do even the basic activities of life. Personal responsibility means you choose to value yourself and quality of your life. You have a choice every day - to walk, to come to the gym, to eat better, and to live better. Let us at Koko help you make these choices easier by helping you to become more consistent with your workouts. The more that exercise becomes a healthy habit, the sooner the other healthy habits will follow. Our job is to guide you, motivate you and support your personal fitness journey. We exist for one reason and one reason only: TO CHANGE LIVES. The Koko proven approach to fitness, base upon a personalized and structured program that can be done in as little as 30 minutes, just a few times per week, has worked for thousands of people who have not been satisfied in traditional mainstream fitness gyms. We know it works, and that is why we started this gym. There is a better way, and that way is Koko Yours in fitness, Leslie and Jason Edwards Owners, Koko FitClub Dominion
Dominion At The Boardwalk | 23535 IH-10 West | 210-994-6776 The Shops at Lincoln Heights | 999 E. Basse Road | 210-776-7773 www.kokofitclub.com
To find out more about these pets, contact Dominion Animal Advocates Group (DAAG) at 210-854-8055 or sadagg14@gmail.com
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lennie
amy
-1year old tuxedo male -loves laps and playtime, and his giant toy rat -neutered, current on immunizations, negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, micro-chipped
-18 month female -gentle, adaptable, & friendly -spayed, current on vaccinations, negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and micro-chipped
The Dominion Homeowners Association 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, TX 78257
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FULTON, MO PERMIT #38