May 31, 2015 | President's Message
Subsequent to the last newsletter in which I informed you about two board vacancies, I am pleased to announce those positions were filled at our last meeting. The 2nd vice president for security is Lawrence McKinney, who came to Memorial Northwest several years ago after a career with the San Diego, CA, police department. Lawrence served in a variety of positions and ultimately retired as Assistant Chief of Police for San Diego. Our new 3rd vice president for architectural control and deed restrictions is Ryan Pyle, who has lived in Memorial Northwest for almost ten years. Ryan is the sales director for Malin Industries, a material handling firm with warehouses all across the United States. His duties include oversight of not only sales but engineering of the warehouses, which brings him into contact with city and county building codes in numerous areas. Additionally, Ryan is heavily involved with the Memorial NW Marlins swim team. We welcome both Lawrence and Ryan to the Board and look forward to their contributions in these two, vital areas.
The Board was pleased to recognize one of our homeowners for her performance as a crossing guard near Theiss Elementary School. While we are happy to recognize her work and the work of other volunteers who perform this important duty, the circumstances that led to this recognition are of great concern. As some of you may know, on April 21st Carolyn was instrumental in preventing an accident that might have resulted in either serious injury or death to two school children. The driver of a vehicle came through the school zone with no attention or regard to both traffic laws and pedestrian traffic. It was only through the quick thinking and reaction by Carolyn that prevented one child from entering the crosswalk and ensuring that another, already in the crosswalk, ran safely to the other side. The driver of the vehicle subsequently crashed into the back of a day care van, and this accident led to ten people, mostly children, being taken to the hospital. Prior to the accident, as reported by a local news station, the vehicle driver ran a couple of stop signs and was speeding down a side street.
Although an ultimate tragedy was averted in this instance, obeying traffic laws in our subdivision seems to be difficult for some people, both residents and nonresidents. There are daily occurrences of drivers going through stop signs and speeding. The incident related above must be a warning to all that these laws serve a distinct purpose. We have asked our sheriff’s department deputies to continue doing their utmost to enforce traffic laws in every respect. That said, however, we can never afford to have enough deputies present at every location to stop and ticket violators. Obeying traffic laws must become second nature to all, but of greater importance is the need to watch out for our children as they go to and from school. A driver can be driving within acceptable speed limits and still cause serious injury, or death, to a child on a bicycle, or walking out into the street. To put it bluntly, it’s a matter of putting someone else first, other than yourself, when you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Last month’s newsletter highlighted a need to conform to deed restrictions, particularly those that have an impact on the appearance of our subdivision to both residents and visitors. Just to make sure everyone is on the same page, lawn bags and other detritus from cleaning up our yards are not to be put curbside for pick-up until the late afternoon of the day before the scheduled pick-up by the waste company. Doing otherwise will result in sending a written notice of the violation to the homeowner. While much less noticeable, backyard pools can also become the source of violating deed restrictions. The lack of routine maintenance can lead, and has led, to several complaints in the past concerning mosquito outbreaks. The subdivision has a mosquito spraying program, but it cannot overcome the problem when a huge, mosquito breeding ground exists in a homeowner’s pool. The forecast for this summer calls for a wetter than usual summer, and controlling mosquitos and other pests will be difficult enough without any of us adding to it. I urge each of you to do your part in making MNW a better place to live.
Roy May
MNW Board President
May 1, 2015 | President's Message
With the return of spring, Memorial Northwest has come alive with color: trees leafing out, azaleas in full bloom, and green lawns. All of this, and more, combines to make MNW an attractive neighborhood. Coincident with this natural beauty, though, is the need to cut grass, trim plants, and all of the other chores such as spring cleaning that goes with home-owning. The down side of these activities is the amount of trash and debris that comes from maintaining our homes and property. Since a number of us do this work, or have it done, on a Friday and Saturday, there is a natural accumulation of lawn bags that remain until the next schedule trash pick-up day. Left curbside for several days, the bags present an unsightly picture of MNW. Deed restrictions require that we put out all trash no earlier than the evening before scheduled service. Here are some of the things that can be done to make an immediate, visible impact on our neighborhood:
• Take lawn bags to the curb on the evening before scheduled service
• Keep trash cans and lawn bags out of public view on non-service days
• Instruct lawn care personnel to either remove the debris or place it out of sight until you can move it to the curb
• Keep roofs and gutters clean and free of debris
• Pressure-wash the exterior of your home, driveway, and other places that accumulate dirt, mildew, and algae
A committee was formed to address the swimming pool issue, and it is comprised of four homeowners and three Board members. Sandy Remson, Area 7 Director, will chair the committee. The homeowner members are Michelle Eubank, Pamela Evans, Vince Glocksien, and Kay Hughes. The other Board members are Eileen Koscho and Bryan Thomas. I have asked the committee to present two options for homeowners to consider in the upcoming months. Under any circumstance, homeowners will have the opportunity to vote for a specific option. A tentative time frame is by the end of the summer, and sooner, if possible.
At the time I am preparing this article, I want to inform the homeowners that we have two Board positions that need to be filled on an interim basis until the next election for that office. Oran Woody, 3rd Vice President for Architectural Control and Deed Restrictions, has resigned due to business reasons, and Bill Burton, who has served as 2nd Vice President for Security, is stepping aside for health reasons. Bill will continue to serve in that position until we find a replacement. I want to thank both of them for serving Memorial Northwest, and particularly, Bill Burton, who has poured a significant amount of time and effort over many years into our community.
As a final note, there is one issue outside of our more narrow concerns that will impact each of us in a significant manner. On May 9, 2015, a bond election for Klein ISD will be held, and voters will be asked to approve $498.1 million in bonds for Klein ISD use in building and maintaining existing facilities. I think it is imperative for each of us to participate in this election and express your opinion on the issue. Early voting commences April 30th, which will be shortly after you receive this newsletter.
Roy May
MNW Board President
Mar 24, 2015 | President's Message
Spring is close at hand with the evidence being redbuds, ornamental pear trees, and azaleas in bloom. The bareness and drabness of winter will soon be over, and many of us will turn our attention to doing whatever we can to add more color to our yards. One way you can do this without driving to many of the area nurseries is to come by the plant sale held by the Ladybugs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 28th at the Community Center. There will be a variety of plants for selection to meet just about any of your needs.
Simultaneously, we will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 28th from 10 a.m. to noon on that Saturday. For those who attended last year, we will have much of the same agenda, and I’m confident that our children will enjoy it just as much. One of the things that makes these events a success are the number of volunteers that devote both their time and efforts. I urge you to consider doing so; and if you are so inclined, please contact Ann Kidney at the Community Center. It is never too late to offer a helping hand.
The Board has voted to form a committee to address the needs and desire of the homeowners concerning the swimming pool and/or other amenities. This committee will constitute both board members and homeowners, and a majority of the committee will be homeowners. They will solicit input from a variety of sources in the course of their work. The results of their work will ultimately be presented to all homeowners for their consideration. This will be accomplished by both a general homeowners meeting to fully explain the committee’s report as well as an opportunity for each homeowner to voice their preferences for any recommended course of action. The committee will be formed prior to the next board meeting. Contact information for the committee will be provided so any homeowner may express their views. The committee will not have a deadline for completing their work, but we can reasonably expect it to be concluded in sufficient time to permit any potential work on the existing pool to be completed prior to the 2016 swimming season.
As I write this article, I’m disappointed to report that we are in the middle of making approximately $4,000+ in plumbing repairs for a restroom in the tennis court area. These repairs are necessary because some users of the facility ignored the cautionary signs about flushing items in the toilet. As a result, the pump was completely clogged and the motor burned out. We plan and budget for replacement of items based on their expected life-cycle, but we cannot anticipate these types of repairs. We will put up additional signs but, ultimately, the real solution is for everyone to adhere to the printed signs.
For card aficionados, there is now a poker night at the club. If you are interested, please contact Ann Kidney or Tim McWilliams and they can give you some additional information.
We are also taking steps to make our website more current and representative of the interests of our homeowners. I think you can expect to see additional information in both written and graphic forms in the weeks and months ahead.
Roy May
MNW Board President
Mar 1, 2015 | President's Message
Our February 3rd general homeowners’ meeting was well attended despite some disagreeable weather outside. I believe everyone who signed up to address the meeting was afforded that opportunity. Homeowners voiced a number of views and opinions concerning the MNW swimming pool. After listening to homeowner input, the Board deferred making a decision regarding the pool until more information is obtained about the various options. Ultimately, we want the MNW community as a whole to indicate their preference for repairing/refurbishing or replacing the pool. Therefore, the Board will solicit homeowner input at least one more time before deciding the best course to follow with regard to the pool.
During the February general meeting, multiple homeowners expressed a desire for more timely communication of issues affecting the community as a whole. Years ago, the Board would communicate this information by mail or posted signage. Today, the vast majority of communication occurs through electronic means. It is difficult for the HOA Board to rely on this means because: (a) email addresses for most homeowners have not been provided to the HOA; and, (b) some homeowners may not have, or use, email. Considering the number of homeowners in MNW, compiling a complete email database does not appear to be a viable option. Therefore, available options include posting signs, communicating through area directors, using our website, or by direct mail. Only the latter method comes close to guaranteeing each homeowner receives information from the Board. “Snail mail,” as we are wont to call it, is also the most costly of all options. Part of the Board’s challenge is to improve communication with homeowners, and we will look at that more closely as we go forward.
Please note that accurate communication of any item concerning MNW HOA members must be recognized as coming from a means sanctioned and approved by the Board. Some confusion has arisen in the past about means that purport to represent the MNW HOA. The MNW HOA website is the official, electronic method, and direct mail is the other means. Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, and a number of other social media are both widespread and heavily used, but to date, the MNW HOA Board has not elected to use an electronic alternative to its website as a means of communicating with its members. Please keep this in mind as we continue to address topics of interest to the MNW community.
At our recent meeting, there also appeared to be a lack of clarity concerning homeowner voting. Our By-Laws, as well as Texas statutory law, are quite explicit concerning the process that must be used when a homeowner vote is requested. Each homeowner must be contacted with information about the issue under consideration, and this information must be communicated no less than ten (10) days or no more than sixty (60) days before a vote occurs. Each homeowner must be afforded the opportunity to vote as they see fit (e.g., by mail, email, in person at the MNW Community Center, or by fax). Proxies are permitted and may be solicited, but they must be within the guidelines of the Texas Property Code and the MNW HOA By-Laws. Relative to a membership vote, the Notice and Proxy/Ballot forms are generated by the MNW HOA and provided to all HOA members. I assure you that the Board will communicate with homeowners in an approved manner prior to any homeowner vote. As such, I fully expect we will solicit homeowner guidance before any vote is taken by the Board concerning the future of the swimming pool.
Finally, I want to reiterate something I said at the February general homeowner meeting. Any decision about the pool’s disposition will not find 100% universal favor just as virtually no other election, for any reason, ever shows this degree of acceptance. What I am committed to is meeting the stated charge to all Board members as stated in Article IV Section 7 of our By-Laws: “… When acting as a member of the Board of Directors, each person shall place the interest of the Association and its members before his individual interests or the interests of any other group or association of persons…”
Again, thank you for your participation and attendance at our general meeting. I look forward to receiving more input from you as we make an important decision about the swimming pool.
Roy May
MNW Board President
Dec 29, 2014 | President's Message
Our Evening with Santa on December 5th was a wonderful success in all respects. It was very well attended, lively, and thoroughly enjoyable by parents and children alike. The weather cooperated nicely and allowed us to show Frozen, one of the recent movies that is well received by people of many ages. None of this, however, was possible without the many volunteers that worked tirelessly to ensure all who attended had a memorable experience. It was especially nice to see a number of our teenagers manning the crafts, and even more gratifying to realize the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in a younger generation. Incidentally, if you missed out on the great cookies provided by The Ladybugs, then you also missed another one of the things that made the evening a night to remember. Finally, Santa was just perfect and enjoyed by all.
Before the days get more frenetic as December 25th closes in on us, remember that one week later the year will come to an end. I know from past experience that the last week of the year is a time to unwind and relax, reflect on the year, and make plans for the New Year. There will be no shortage of places to go and parties to attend throughout the Houston area, but really, can you relax and enjoy yourself if you have to fight crowds, disappointing food, and traffic? I invite you to relax and reflect close to home. The Memorial Northwest HOA New Year’s Eve party at the Community Center on December 31st from 7:00-12:30 a.m. is a superb alternative. Since seating is limited and reservations required, please don’t wait any longer to make your reservation and join us that evening. We are almost two-thirds booked, and don’t want you to miss out on this event. Please contact Ann Kidney at our Community Center office for more information and to make reservations.
The holiday cards are already flooding our mailboxes, but they are joined with some correspondence most of us would rather not receive at this time of year. (We might feel a wee bit better if Uncle Scrooge, at the very least, formatted his notices with a more festive design.) Like some (many) of you, I wasn’t all that thrilled to see the tax numbers for this year are up more than a little from last year. That said, though, it’s also nice to see that our HOA assessment remained at the same level as last year. Additionally, our new credit card payment option also allows you to feel a little less pain at this time of year.
It is probably safe to say that our desire to give everyone whatever was on their wish list for Christmas was tempered by the reality that our finances didn’t quite match up with the list. That is a common occurrence, though, and one that we face both as individuals and a community. Going forward next year, the HOA Board will continue to consider and evaluate those things that enhance life in Memorial Northwest. More specifically, we want to ensure that our decisions provide tangible benefits for the entire community. The Board not only welcomes but solicits your input as we go forward. Please contact your Area Director or any Board member with your ideas. We really do want to hear from you.
As a last matter, the holidays also tend to bring an uptick in accidents, many of them on the road. Whether these accidents are caused by drivers distracted with the many demands of the season, or by drivers whose celebrations were a bit too extensive, I ask that you remember to literally watch out for “the other guy.” You may not be able to control their actions, but you can mitigate the effects of their driving inadequacies. This becomes doubly important, and more so, within the confines of our subdivision.
The MNW Board wants to extend to each and every one of you our best wishes for a joyous, holiday season, and an exciting, prosperous, and wonderful New Year. I personally hope your greatest wishes were fulfilled, and you are anticipating what can be the best year of your life in 2015.
Roy May
MNW Board President
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