New Board Positions

The new board positions are as follows:

A few words from our new Board Presi­dent:

First, I hope that the New Year brings all of you good health and much happi­ness.

The operable word for 2009 was "Change." Change became the buzz word, whether you welcomed the change or abhorred the change, it is here to stay.

An Association’s success is dependent on community involvement. A vibrant community exists when participation is encouraged. We are fortunate in that we have homeowners that take activism to heart.

One of the many changes we’re seeking is to encourage even more community activism, whether through committee work or through joining the many social activities taking place around our neighbor­hood. We encourage you to join in the neighborhood dinners, the social card games, the ladies book club, or better yet, start a new activity of your own. We are looking for ideas, so if you have any, e-mail them to the board (click here). We will make an effort to pair up the common ideas via our Website and future news­letters. Do you want to start a walking group? Get it going! Want to plan a bike run? Do it! You might be surprised by the response.

What is on the drawing board for Briar Cove in 2010?

Now here's what's going on in the neighborhood:

Loss of a Friend

We are saddened to inform you that our community lost a good friend this month. Mark Davis was involved in the commu­nity and was the Chairman of the Archi­tectural Review Committee. He is survived by his loving wife, Karen, and their two daughters, Lisa and Kim. Mark will be deeply missed by friends and family alike. Mark enjoyed boating and wearing his Santa's hat at our Christmas parties. Our community mourns the loss of Mark.

Holiday Decorations

Our governing documents state that Christmas decorations must be taken down one week after New Years Day (Second Amendment, Paragraph 1). Due to the extreme weather, the board has made an exception by extending the deadline to January 31, 2010.

Snow Removal

Please bear in mind that vehicles parked on the street play havoc on snow removal, not to mention that the Towns of Dyer and Schererville have a policy prohibiting street parking after a 2-inch snowfall. There are signs to this effect on Ludington Avenue, placed there by the Town of Dyer. The board is working with Tom Schmitt, our Town Council­man, to get similar signs placed at the main entrance to Briar Cove. Please also keep in mind that each snow re­moval is extremely expensive and that it is reasonable for there to be a time gap. Your patience is greatly appreci­ated.

Emergency Contact Form

Our security was shattered last year with the two reported break-ins. The break-ins brought to mind the need to update your emergency contact info with 1^st American. We encourage all home­owners with internet capability to make sure 1^st American has your e-mail address on file, along with updated emergency contact information. With your e‑mail address on file, we will also have the luxury of rapid notification of safety alerts and general information. A copy of the Emergency Contact Form is enclosed and can also be found on our Website in the "Management" link.

Amendment to Declaration

As you may recall, there is a pending Amendment to our governing docu­ments, which was mailed to you last year from 1^st American. 180 signed con­sents are required for this Amendment to pass, but to date we have only re­ceived ___ consents. This is an ex­tremely important Amendment. It will ar­range the terms of office of the board of directors to minimize the board turnover each year.

Most of you realize that the current board members don't want to be board members forever, but they do want the knowledge and history that they gain during their term to pass on to new board members. Undoubtedly, past board members will help the new board members, but if you have four or five new board members in any year, some of this knowledge and history will be lost. This Amendment, if passed, will eliminate the election of five directors in any year.

A copy of the Amendment is enclosed again, so if you haven't already, please sign your consent and mail it to 1^st American. This will benefit our whole community.

Board Meeting Minutes Online

Beginning with the January 2010 meeting, the minutes of board meetings will be put on our Website, in the "Meeting Minutes " link. A password will be required to open the minutes. Minutes will be put on the Website after they have been approved by the board, so look for the January meeting minutes shortly after the February meeting.

Architectural Review Committee

George Gadomski is the newest mem­ber of the ARC, and Eric Beddings is the new Chairman.

Refuse Collection Services

From the Town of Schererville's Website: The Town of Schererville does not collect refuse. Public Works staff only pick-up branches and leaves. Allied Waste, the Town's refuse contractor, will collect a limited amount of bulk items along with the regular pick-up. One large item per week (furniture, appli­ances, etc.) will be picked up. Please remember that all wood and carpeting must be cut into four-foot lengths and bundled. Construction and demolition debris (not to exceed one yard) must be contained and not exceed 50 lbs. Refrig­erators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers that contain Freon must be evacuated for removal. Before picking up any of these items, Waste Management must receive documenta­tion that all Freon has been removed from the appliance.

Pets

We need to remind everyone again that homeowners must restrain their pets when they are outside. Article XI, Section 10 (page 16), of our Declaration states, in essence, that pet owners must restrain their pet by chain or leash. There are other viable options for a back yard, such as long leash which must be properly anchored to the ground, or an electronic fence which prohibits the pet from wandering beyond its preset boundaries. But remember that coyotes have long been seen in our area, so you should never leave your pets unat­tended, even if they are leashed out­side.

Book Club

The next meeting of the Ladies Book Club is February 17.

Board Meeting