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STONEBRIDGE RANCH HOA NEWS December 2014
Vol. 2, Issue 12
Contents IN EVERY ISSUE 5
From the President by Jon Dell’Antonia
8
In the News by Sherine George
10
Inside the HOA by Michael Lesku
12
This Month’s Feature
15
From Your Neighbor
16
Community Calendar
18
Compliance Tips by Nate Russell
19 Lifestyle 20
Your Neighbor by Sherine George
24
Around the Ranch
26 www.stonebridgeranch.com by Sherine George
28
Social Scene
SPECIAL SECTIONS 14
Bits and Pieces
30
Pet Page
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News © 2014 is published by Moonlight Graphics. All rights reserved. It is individually mailed free of charge to all residents of Stonebridge Ranch. Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807. Visit www.allenimage.com.
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from the presIdent STONEBRIDGE RANCH HOA NEWS
Great news for our homeowners The October board meeting was all about
approving the 2015 budget. The board approved the budget with no increase in the annual
publisher/editor Barbara Peavy
assessment. It will remain at $740. This is the fourth year in a row with no increase in the
annual assessment. This is a tribute to the fiscal accountability of this board and good
office administrator Carrie McCormick
management practices by our Association Director. There are not many items in our
personal budgets that have had no increase in the past four years.
contributing writers Jon Dell’Antonia Sherine George Michael Lesku Nate Russell
cover photo Kwik Image
Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas will soon be here. I hope you will make
plans to attend our annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony scheduled for Thursday, December 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
October 9 Board Meeting
The board meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. All board members were
present. The meeting began with a Homeowners Open Forum. No homeowners appeared.
As I mentioned above, the meeting was all about the budget for 2015. Our
annual budget to operate the association is over $7 million. The board reviewed the current 2014 budget variance report in preparation for the discussion of the
proposed 2015 budget. We reviewed in detail all of the items in the proposed budget with appropriate discussion and made several changes. Due to the increase in the
number of homes in Stonebridge Ranch (we now have over 9200 homes and more to come), the board decided to approve the addition of two additional compliance
coordinators to the staff during 2015, as needed. At the conclusion of our budget
deliberations, the board approved the 2015 budget with no increase in the annual assessment. It will remain at $740.
Old Business
There was no old business.
New Business
The board reviewed the 2015 Social Calendar and the annual status report of the
association. It also reviewed a five-year budget comparison, the Commercial
Association cost sharing report (the Commercial Association does contribute to the overall maintenance of the common areas owned by the association) and the 2015 Reserve Budget.
The board approved a renewal of our directors and officers insurance policy and
the annexation of phase 1b and 2 of the Wynn Ridge Village. This will add an additional 113 homes to Stonebridge Ranch. For information or to place an advertisement, please contact: Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, or call 972.727.4569.
Executive Session
There was no executive session.
The meeting adjourned at 4:57 p.m. Jon Dell’Antonia President Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
5
Stonebridge Ranch Community Association Professionally managed by Community Management Associates (CMA) 6201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, TX 75071 214.733.5800 • fax 214.778.0595 Courtesy Patrol 214.794.4945
Association Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Association Staff Michael Lesku—Director of Operations Shannon Sheriff—Assistant Manager Candace Rickman—Community Service Coordinator Nate Russell—Compliance Coordinator Maria Ford—Compliance Coordinator Rony Peterson—Compliance Coordinator Joyce Martin—M.A.R.C. Compliance Coordinator Sherine George—Communications Coordinator Michael Cawley—Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Torres—Maintenance Assistant David Wiest—Lifestyle Director Lynette Rowell—Administrative Assistant
Board of Directors Jon Dell’Antonia—President Ron Ferris—Vice-President Richard MacFee—Treasurer Michael Yon—Secretary Norm Counts—Director Tom George—Director Bill Campbell—Director Stonebridge Ranch Homeowners Association News is the only authorized and official monthly publication for the residents of the Stonebridge Ranch community, with news and calendar of community events endorsed by the Stonebridge Ranch HOA and its members. Stonebridge Ranch HOA News is published for the residents of Stonebridge Ranch for informational purposes only. The Stonebridge Ranch HOA does not guarantee any work or claims made by the advertisers and claims no responsibility or liability for statements made in the publication. Stonebridge Ranch does not in any way endorse or support, nor does it take any credit or responsibility for the services, paid or volunteer, nor statements made in articles or letters published herein not endorsed by the Association or the group decision of the Board of Directors.
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In the news Tis’ the Season for Giving Give your time to your community by Sherine George As the holiday season approaches, we tend to be a bit more mindful of our contribution to the world around us. The season seems fitting for introspection and more importantly, the act of giving. Before slipping into the flurry of holiday shopping and endless celebrations, consider giving your time to the community you live in. If you are looking to make a positive and impactful difference in the community, why not run for a seat on the board of directors? Homeowners elect seven individuals for a term of three years. Board members may fill specific positions, such as secretary or treasurer, and with the exception of the board president, they all serve as liaison to one of six committees. This year, two board positions are up for election, which means in March homeowners will be voting to fill these two positions. Stonebridge Ranch President Jon Dell’ Antonia encourages homeowners to run for the board, while keeping in mind the magnitude of such a role. In spite of his remarkable resume, Dell’Antonia, the former mayor and councilman of a large, midwestern city, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was surprised ”at the magnitude and complexity of the things
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the board needs to consider to facilitate the operations of the association.” But don’t let the enormity of the job deter you. ”For me, being on the board is a very rewarding experience. I am able to use my management background to help direct the affairs of the association. It keeps me energized, and I feel like I am contributing positively to help the association be as good as it can be. Serving as president of the board for almost three years has allowed me to use my previous business experience to help our board continuously improve,” adds Dell’Antonia. Our most recently elected board member explains why he ran for the board after serving the Amenities Committee for two years. “Having a hand partnering with the other board members in offering attractive amenities and lifestyle activities can be personally rewarding, while representing my fellow owners’ interests,” shares Norm Counts, board member and liaison to the Communications Committee. There is no better way to ensure that your homeowners’ association is appropriately and efficiently running things than to be part of the association’s leadership. “The board is the focal point for protecting the property values of the
In the news residents and financial health of the association,” says Counts. Those interested in seeking election will find additional information about the election in upcoming issues of HOA News and in the annual meeting notifications that will be mailed to property owners in the spring. Running for the board may be a little more than what you had in mind. Consider exploring an opportunity to volunteer your time as a committee member. Currently there are two committees that could use your time and expertise.
Landscape and Grounds Committee
The Landscape and Grounds Committee is looking for new members. There are several important projects that have significant homeowner visibility and the committee would like to have greater homeowner participation to ensure the best possible outcome. The Virginia Road entrance to Stonebridge Ranch and the Master Landscape Plan are two examples of high visibility projects. Potential candidates do not need landscape experience and should be interested in active participation over the timeframe of the projects. Typically, the committee meets the first Wednesday of the month in the association office at 7 p.m. This accommodates homeowners who are working and have families.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is also looking for new members. Potential candidates do not need communications
experience. According to committee co-chair Bill Williams, the committee has two primary roles. “The first is to gather and report ’voice of the resident’ information to the board and committees (through the annual survey, focus groups, occa sional pop-up surveys and word of mouth from residents to the association office). The second role is to manage the design and content of the community information channels: the website, monthly HOA News magazine, neighborhood signs, etc.” The only requirement to become a member is to be a Stonebridge Ranch homeowner in good standing—a homeowner who is current on all assessments and payments to Stonebridge Ranch. If either of these opportunities pique your interest, please locate and download the volunteer form on the website, www.stonebridgeranch.com, in the Documents and Forms Library. F
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
9
InsId e the hoa 2015 Assessments by Michael Lesku
It’s that time of the year again. Your 2015 annual assessment statement will be arriving in the mail soon with a due date of January 1, 2015. The board of directors voted not to increase the assessment fee for 2015, therefore, the amount remains the same as your 2014 assessment ($740). Each and every owner of a platted lot is obligated to pay an annual assessment. It is important that assessments be paid in a timely manner in order to avoid additional fees. Please refer to page 26 for details on how to receive an e-statement. Listed below are payment options that are accepted by Stonebridge Ranch Community Association: • E-check—Available through www.stonebridgeranch. com at no additional cost. Processed in 1-2 business days. Double check all payment requests with your bank to be sure your information was entered correctly, and verify with CMA that your account was credited with the payment. • Credit Card—Available through www.
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InsIde the hoa stonebridgeranch.com. Processed the next business day. It is the responsibility of the owner to pay any additional charges by a third party for these types of payments or for charges due to information that is entered incorrectly. • On-Site Office Payment—The association office, located at 6201 Virginia Parkway (Beach & Tennis Club), is equipped to accept payments via check or money order only. The association office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Mailing a check directly to the bank’s lockbox—We recommend mailing your payment well in advance of the due date (at least 10 days). • Automatic Bill Pay Service—When you choose to pay online through your bank, the payment amount typically is drawn from your account on the same day, however, your bank may not cut and mail a paper check until your indicated “deliver by” date. Different banks have different timelines; please check with your bank for further information. Please allow sufficient time for your bank to process and mail your payment. This payment process differs from e-checking. If you are having difficulty meeting your financial obligations, please contact the association office at 214.733.5800.
Unfortunately, making a partial payment will not stop the collection process. Please be aware that all charges associated with a delinquent account are the owner’s responsibility. The hard costs charged by banks, management or attorneys are billed to, and paid by, the association even if we have not received your payment. Your association board addresses these issues every month. Assessments are the foundation upon which the association operates. Our association is financially sound and has an average delinquency percentage. In an effort to maintain the amenities we all enjoy, we ask for your assistance. F
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
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thIs month’ s feature How Well Do You Know Your Board Members? Test your knowledge for a chance to win a $25 gift card!
We asked our board members to submit three facts about themselves. Take a look at the facts on the following page and see if you can match each group of facts with the respective board member. There are seven groups of facts and seven board members. The first three people to match the facts to the respective board members will win $25 Starbucks gift cards! Please email the answers to sgeorge@ cmamanagement.com.
Bill Campbell
Rich Macfee
Michael Yon
Jon Dell’ Antonia
Ron Ferris
Norm Counts
Tom George
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thIs month’ s feature • I am a native Texan. • My degree is in business finance. • My first employer was Texas Instruments.
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• I have lived in Stonebridge Ranch for 15 years. • I have over 8 years of experience as a Planning and Zoning commissioner, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman and city councilman. • My brother and I were selected as one of the first sets of Double Mint twins when we were 18 months old.
• I am retired after 38 years with a major retailer. • I am a family man with seven grandkids. • I am a Kansas Jayhawk basketball fan.
3
• I have twin boys that look nothing alike. • I have hiked to the tallest peak in Colorado (Mt. Elbert). • I love to cook and make a really mean chocolate cake.
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• I have my undergraduate degree from Jouchi Daigaku, Tokyo, Japan. (Jouchi Daigaku is known in the United States by the name of Sophia University.) • In my life, I have lived overseas for fifteen years in Libya (3 yrs.), Japan (4 yrs.), Thailand (1 yr.), Netherlands (3 yrs.) and Spain (4 yrs.). • I met my wife 45 years ago on September 17 and we got married two-and-a-half months later on December 11, 1969.
• I have been active in the Stonebridge Ranch HOA for six years (4 with the Communications Committee and two on the board) • In my career I have traveled to many places: 24 countries and 42 of the 50 states in the U.S. • I was in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam conflict.
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• I am the former mayor and councilman of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. • I was named by Computerworld Magazine as one of the top 100 premier Information Technology leaders in the U.S. in 2001. • I was an R.O.T.C. distinguished military graduate.
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
13
bIt s & pI eces Residents Respond You’ve probably already heard the news—Money
Magazine ranked McKinney as the #1 Best Place to Live in America! To determine rankings, Money Magazine rated
each city’s employment, schools, crime and safety and also evaluated the overall quality of life. “With excellent schools, beautiful natural parks and open spaces,
affordable and diverse housing, plenty of jobs and a
vibrant downtown, McKinney has become one of the most
desirable places to live, not just in the metroplex, but in the United States.“ – Money Magazine
So what do our Stonebridge Ranch residents have to
say about living in the number one place in the nation AND the number one community? “We
moved to
Stonebridge Ranch in
McKinney 22 years
ago. With all of the
changes we have seen over two
decades, it
is nice to know we live in a place where we can take our
2-year-old grandson to the local fire department and have them roll out the red carpet for us. May we (McKinney) always maintain the spirit of caring we have come to cherish.” -Erin and Bob Botsford
“We
moved to
McKinney
because of our family and
we’ll settle in
McKinney for the quality of life, the
community
amenities and the wonderfully friendly people. We love the numerous hiking trails, the Beach Club and the beautiful golf courses. McKinney is a beautifully maintained
community. We now understand why McKinney was
chosen the number one city in America in which to live. “ -Penny and Howard Hawkins F
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from your neIghbor Culinary Classics From Your Neighbor that small town feeling of ’community.’ We live in
Thornberry Village and we are happy that it consists of
small families along with empty nesters like ourselves.”
We feel that Stonebridge has always done a wonderful
job of maintaining the common areas and amenities. The Beach Club and Aquatic Center are such fun places to
spend with family. What a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of such a beautiful community!” -Renee Mooney F
We are working towards a Stonebridge Ranch
cookbook. Please join in on the fun and share your favorite recipe with us—and the story behind it! Did you serve it at your wedding? Was the recipe in your family? Maybe you discovered it while on vacation? We want to know! Please email your recipe to sgeorge@cmamanagement.com, and we will try to include it in an upcoming issue.
Mooney Pie Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown one pound of
ground beef (or you can use ground turkey and a couple of tablespoons of olive oil) with onion and fresh garlic cloves, salt and pepper. I like to add any herbs from my garden to
season the meat (oregano, chives, cilantro, basil, rosemary, etc.)
Press one tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls in the bottom
of a pie pan. Place ground beef mixture on top of the
dough. Slice a small zucchini or yellow squash in thin slices (I use both) and place on top of the hamburger mixture.
Slice a couple of tomatoes and place on top of zucchini/
squash. Top with Monterey jack cheese (I also add a touch
of shredded cheddar for color) or any cheese that you like. Bake uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes. We like to add Cholula hot sauce to ours when we eat it!
“My husband Rob and I have lived in McKinney for the
past 20 years and have lived in Stonebridge for three years. Even though McKinney is growing daily, it still maintains
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
15
ARC Meeting, 8 a.m. (BR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby (CR) 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Back (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby (CR) 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Back (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tenn Select Tennis Academ 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Bac
MARC Meeting, 8 a.m. (BR) Modifications Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (BR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
ARC Meeting, 8 a.m. (BR)
Visit www.StonebridgeRanch. com for event details.
Travel Club, 9 a.m. (CR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby (CR) 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Back (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby (CR) 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Back (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby (CR) 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Back (CR)
1 6 www.stonebridgeranch.com
Coffee Talk, 8:30
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Coffee Talk, 8:30
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tenn Select Tennis Academ 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Ba
Coffee Talk, 8:30 Social Committee 9 a.m. (BR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tenn Select Tennis Academ 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby
7:30-8:30 pm—Body Bac
MARC Meeting, 8 a.m. (BR) Modifications Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (BR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller 6:30-7:30 pm—Fit4Baby 7:30-8:30 pm—Body Ba
a.m. (CR) Strides (BTC)
nis Classes, my (BTC) y (CR) ck (CR)
0 a.m. (CR)
Tree Lighting Ceremony and Photos with Santa, 5:30 p.m. (BTC) 3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Board of Directors Meeting, 1 p.m. (BR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
r Strides (BTC)
nis Classes, my (BTC) y (CR) ack (CR)
a.m. (CR) e Meeting, Strides (BTC)
nis Classes, my (BTC) y (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Communications Committee Meeting, 9-10 a.m. (BR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
Visit www.StonebridgeRanch. com for event details.
3:30-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
ck (CR)
r Strides (BTC) y (CR) ack (CR)
Merry Christmas!
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
december 3, 10 & 17 coffee talk 8:30 a.m. (CR) december 4 Tree lighting Ceremony & photos with santa, 5:30 p.m. (btc) december 16 travel club meeting 9 a.m. (cr)
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x September December 2014 2013
17
complIance tI p s Is Compliance Puzzling You? by Nate Russell As the year comes to a close, we want to thank everyone for working so hard to make Stonebridge beautiful. We are all looking forward to another wonderful year working with you. As always, please feel free to come see us at the office or give us a call regarding any questions or concerns you might have. Please enjoy another complimentary crossword puzzle from your compliance team. Same rules as last month—the first three people to send in the correct answers will win a $15 Starbucks gift card. All answers should be sent to nrussell@cmamanagment.com. Good luck! Thank you for your compliance! Rony Peterson, Maria Ford, Nate Russell, Joyce Martin CMA Compliance Coordinators Stonebridge Ranch Community Association, Inc.
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lIfestyle McKinney Ladies Association The community is invited to join the McKinney Ladies Association (MLA) for the annual ornament exchange in December to kick off the holiday season. MLA’s general meeting for December is set for 7 p.m., Monday, ceDecember 8, at Methodist McKinney Hospital, 8000 W. Eldorado Parkway in McKinney. The public is welcome. In addition to the holiday festivities, the women’s service group has a special community outreach planned. Members of the public are invited to donate wedding dresses to benefit NICU Angel Gowns. MLA will accept wedding gown donations at the meeting and throughout the month of December. NICU Angel Gowns repurposes wedding dresses to provide families experiencing the loss of a newborn with beautiful apparel for the babies. WFAA Channel 8 featured this group in a newscast last March. “We are all aware of families who have experienced such a heartbreaking loss, and when we heard of this wonderful organization that helps families pay special tribute and say goodbye to their angels in such a beautiful way, we knew that MLA had to help,” says MLA President Cynthia Nelson. MLA will collect wedding gowns throughout the month of December. If you cannot make it to the meeting, please bring your donation to Travel Leaders, located at 2960 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 25, at the corner of Hardin Boulevard and Eldorado Parkway behind Sonic.
McKinney Area Newcomers Club If you are new to the McKinney area, come join us for fun, information and friendship at our monthly Coffee Meeting. Every month we have great speakers, nice door prizes, tasty refreshments and lots of good socializing with new friends. For more information on Newcomers, visit www.mckinneynewcomers.com. Get ready to be serenaded by Harmony, the McKinney High School choir vocal jazz ensemble. These talented singers are sure to put a smile on your face and get you into the Christmas spirit with delightful songs of holiday music. Please join McKinney Area Newcomers at its meeting at 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 16, in the Eva Joplin Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 Virginia Parkway in McKinney. Social time with refreshments will begin at 9:30 a.m. F Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
19
your neIg hbor Resident Spotlight: John Campbell, Lt. Gen., USAF (Ret) by Sherine George Tell us about yourself. Marky and I will
celebrate our 45th
anniversary next year. We grew up together in
Henderson, a small town in
western Kentucky, and both attended the University of Kentucky. I was
commissioned a second lieutenant through Air
Force ROTC and entered
active duty in 1971. I spent
most of my career in flying assignments and we
traveled and lived all over the world, including
Iceland, Saudi Arabia,
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your neIghbor Germany and Italy. I was lucky enough to fly the Air Force’s hottest fighters and ended my career as the
senior military officer at CIA from 2000-2003, which was
a pretty interesting time. We retired from the Air Force in 2003 and Marky and I both worked in the Washington D.C. area until 2012 when we decided it was time to
spend more time with the kids and grandkids and do some things we have always wanted to do.
Tell us about your family. After a full career of being an Air Force spouse,
What are your family’s favorite things to do in the community? Aside from being close to family, we really enjoy the
central location of McKinney as a base for our travel and a great place to host friends and family. One of my
favorite things is to take the grandkids fishing in Nora Haney Park Lake.
How long have you lived in Stonebridge Ranch? In what village do you reside and how
Marky served as Senior Vice-President of the University
did you find your way to the area?
and still consults for them. We have three children and
Tanglewood Village. I’ve found that many folks in my
fulltime mom and part-time consultant and lives in
no exception. With two of our five grandchildren in
of Maryland University College for a number of years five grandchildren. Our older daughter Rachel is a
Houston. Our son, Matt, is in the Navy and lives with
his family in Portland, Oregon, where he commands the Navy’s northwest recruiting district. Our younger
daughter Elizabeth lives in Frisco with her two children and is an account manager with Prudential Insurance.
We moved to McKinney in 2012 and live in
demographic settled here because of grandkids, and we’re Frisco, it was pretty clear that North Dallas was going to
be the spot, and the research we did pointed to McKinney as our top choice. We looked at homes during frequent trips to the area and found one we liked so much we
actually bought it in 2011 in preparation for a 2012 move.
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
21
your neIg hbor What do you love most about the Stonebridge Ranch community? We like the variety of homes and the high standards
of maintenance and upkeep that are evident in the community.
Not only does this make Stonebridge Ranch a great
place to live, we’re confident that it will help property
values increase over time, which is something we’re all interested in. We’re also impressed with the quality of the leadership and financial management of the homeowners association, especially since we now have a Strategic Plan to address long-range needs of the community.
What are your hobbies or special interests? Marky and I still do some consulting work and love
to spend time spoiling the grandkids and traveling with friends.
We’re working on documenting our family ancestry
and writing down an account of the great times we had
while traveling all over the world. That’s something our parents tried to do late in life, and we have treasured
what they left us, and we’d like to do the same. I like to golf, garden, hunt and do woodworking.
Can you share something interesting about yourself that may surprise others? Although we’ve lived abroad in many interesting
places, there are many parts in the U.S. we haven’t
visited, so we’re trying to correct that. Having a son in
the Northwest has helped us fill that square, but we still need to do the Northeast and the northern tier of the U.S. We’re still amazed by the size and geographical
diversity of the U.S. and anxious to see as much of it as we can.
Why did you decide to volunteer on the Communications Committee? Shortly after moving here in 2012, I met Tom George
on the golf course and he recruited me. After a little due
diligence, I decided this would be a great opportunity to make a contribution and become more familiar with the community we live in.
How much time and effort is required of a Communications Committee member? We have one regular meeting a month with some
occasional homework on special projects. We’re lucky to have an exceptional group with both professional
corporate communications expertise and experience in
the local real estate market, which brings an important
perspective to our discussions. The CMA staff, of course,
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your neIghbor
does the heavy lifting and we’re fortunate to now have great folks who really do quality work.
What decisions made by the committee members have directly impacted the Stonebridge Ranch community? Probably the most visible change was the transition
in 2012 from a tabloid newsletter to a high-quality monthly magazine, which I think is a much better
product with much better content...and at no cost to the HOA. We’ve also spent a fair amount of time on
improvements to the website, including the recent
implementation of a search function which will make it easier to find documents.
Going forward we’re exploring what
communications products and channels make sense in light of changing community demographics. My kids
make fun of me when I read an actual paper newspaper, so we want to make sure we aren’t stuck in
communications channels that don’t reflect the preferences of our residents.
Is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on to new potential committee members? What would you like them to know? Serving on any HOA committee is a great way to
contribute to the community and learn more about a
very impressive organization. The communications
committee cuts across all the issues and initiatives of our HOA, and we’re always looking for new members who bring fresh perspectives. F
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
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around the ranch
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around the ranch
Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
25
www.stonebrI dgeranch.com Go Green With E-statements! by Sherine George You no longer have to limit “going green“ to recycling
soda cans and watching water usage. Cut down on that
heap of mail piling up on your kitchen counter by taking advantage of our e-statements.
What are e-statements? It’s your HOA statement sent to
you via e-mail. This is an easy, paperless way to receive your assessment statement. After receiving the bill via email, you can always choose to print a copy for your records or save one electronically.
How do you pay an e-statement? The payment methods
are the same. They can be set up with your bank for automatic bill pay or through CMA for credit card, e-check, check or recurring electronic payments.
The move to paperless transactions
Many of our SRCA owners prefer to receive online
notifications instead of paper statements. They’re
convenient and eco-friendly. Additionally, Stonebridge Ranch reduces the expense of printing and mailing assessments.
If you already receive e-statements for your mortgage,
homeowner’s insurance and utility bills, converting to e-statements for your SRCA assessments is an easy transition.
Here’s how you set-up e-statements on the SRCA
website, www.stonebridgeranch.com. 1.
2. 3.
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Log on to your online account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one by selecting the Register button.
Go to the drop-down menu titled Homeowner Connection and select My Profile
Scroll to the second section of the form titled Statement Information.
www.stonebrIdgeranch.com 4.
Select the following option: Send eStatements to
5.
Enter your email address in the requested fields.
6.
the following.
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Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
27
socIal scene 16th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony December 4 Stonebridge Ranch Community Association 6201 Virginia Parkway (Beach & Tennis Club) •Activities will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. •Tree Lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Bring your family to this fun and festive event. Don’t forget your camera to take your child’s picture with Santa. Other activities include horse and carriage rides, a petting zoo, a toy soldier, Frosty the Snowman, storytelling, The Grinch, refreshments and a DJ playing all of your favorite Christmas music. Santa’s Mailbox…Have your child bring a letter to the Tree Lighting Ceremony for Santa to take back to the North Pole! Admission into this event is free. We ask you that you bring an unwrapped gift to be given to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Our goal this year is to receive 200 donated and unwrapped gifts from SRCA residents. We will also be accepting non-perishable food donations. If you cannot attend the event and would like to donate a gift or a canned good, the association office will be accepting the items in office Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join us for Coffee Talk Every Wednesday, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Community Room (next to the Beach Club entrance) New to Stonebridge? This is a great place to get your questions answered. Interested in meeting new people? Coffee Talk is the place to go to find others with common interests and for general conversation. Our regulars are a casual bunch, who range from parents with preschoolers to those that are enjoying the golden years. Come socialize with your Stonebridge neighbors. See you on Wednesday mornings! Starbucks coffee and water are provided.
2 8 www.stonebridgeranch.com
socIal scene 10 & Under Player of the Month Congratulations to Heidi Taunton for reaching the finals of her first two 10 & Under tennis tournaments! Heidi is nine years old and has been playing tennis for two years. When she first started to play tennis, she practiced 2-3 hours a week and now practices 6-8 hours a week! She says she likes tennis so much because it is fun, and she loves competing. Her favorite players are Roger Federer and Venus Williams. Heidi also loves basketball, going to the beach and socializing with her friends. Heidi loves her two dogs Daisy, a Blue Picardy Spaniel, and Koda, a Yorkipoo. She is also a Baylor Bears fan! Select Tennis Academy at the Stonebridge Ranch Beach and Tennis Club offers 10 & Under Tennis classes yearround for children ages 4 and up. For more information please visit TennisCoachDave.com. F
Upcoming January Events 13—Bingo 17—Women’s Self Defense Class 27—Travel Club 27—Stonebridge Singles 29—Cooking Class Coffee Talk every Wednesday Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x December 2014
29
”Shadow”
Hi! My name is Shadow. One of my favorite things to do is go for a car ride. The second you grab the keys, I’m at the door ready to be the best road buddy you could ask for. I did have a litter back in March, but all my babies are adopted so now it’s my turn. I love to get my belly rubbed, go to the dog park, go for walks and snuggle. I’m about two years old and weigh 52 pounds. I’m house trained and have had basic training. I love to play with my foster siblings! Since I am very active I will need a fenced-in yard, but I listen well and know basic commands. I’d love to be your new family member, so go online and apply for me—you won’t regret it! If you would like to meet me, please fill out an online application and my foster mom will be in touch! http://legacyhumanesociety.org/ adoptfoster/adoption-application.
3 0 www.stonebridgeranch.com