The Orchards at Sunblest News

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1 OCA April 2014 Reaching Out The Orchards at Sunblest News Over the course of the next few months, you may receive a visit from members of the OCA Board and/or Committee leaders. These representatives will be identified with highly visible buttons, and will introduce themselves immediately. Their brief stop will include an introduction and an invitation to attend an upcoming OCA Board meeting. Feel free to ask questions about the OCA or share some information about your time as a resident of Sunblest. They re looking forward to meeting you! Your housing association s Core 4 : Safety Keep your eyes open for yourself and for your neighbor. Accountability Have pride in your community. Value Keep your community clean. Camaraderie Get to know your neighbors. Note from the President Hello Orchard Residents, Spring has finally arrived and with the arrival of spring comes our annual newsletter. The past year has definitely gone by quickly although winter did seem to last longer than any of us would have ever expected. The warmer weather has brought many of you outside to do some spring cleaning. I have such a great sense of pride in our neighborhood when I drive through and see people taking ownership in their homes and community. My family and I have lived here going on 5 years now and we have always been impressed by how friendly our neighborhood is. Whether we are walking or driving past we are always greeted with a smile, a friendly hello, or a wave. This is all part of our core values and a part of our history that has made this neighborhood so rich. We are at a critical juncture as we approach the annual meeting. We have had minimal participation and for a neighborhood with 325 homes participation should not be so difficult to solicit. We need more new participation along with veteran participation, so that together we can create a new and better community. There are many who live in our neighborhood who have sacrificed time, energy, and resources to get the association and neighborhood to where it has come and I know from speaking with some of our veteran neighbors that there is a sense of sadness as they have seen the momentum slip away that once was here. I am asking for all to consider the following question, what caused you to make the decision to move to this neighborhood? Based on your answer what are you willing to do to help make this a place for others to want to move into? There are a number of things that have been put on hold or have ceased due to the lack of involvement. The association exists for a reason, one of the main reasons is to have standards by which all of us are to uphold and live by so that we all have a great neighborhood to live in. To keep our property values up since our homes is our largest financial investment. Another reason is to create a safe and friendly community. In order to accomplish this it takes accountability which takes the involvement beyond the Board and a handful of other people. I ask that everyone will come out to our annual meeting on May 12, 2014 at 6:30 PM, at the Meeting Room at Holland Park. I look forward to meet you and speak with you further and discuss the vision we have for the association moving forward. In closing I would like to thank the current Board for their service this past year as well as those who have served: Skip Thomas, Chuck Lowe, and Ron and Laura Jackson stepped in to help beautify the median by weeding, trimming trees, and planting flowers for the entrance to our neighborhood. Liz Freiher and Tina Sever for organizing the garage sales and helping with the annual picnic. Karen & Richard Cohn for their help with the welcome committee and participation. Paul Piltz for continuing to be the keeper of our signs and putting holiday decorations at the main entrance. Bob Shimer for maintaining our website. Robert Blondet

2 P a ge 2 T h e Orchards at S un blest News A pril 2014 Orchard Civic Association OCA - Budget For fiscal year ending 2015 Date: 5/1/2014 Income Expenses 310 Membership Dues 11, % Allowance for Doubtful (Residents) Accounts: 30% -3, % 320 Advertising % 515 Insurance (LVA portion) 1, % 9, % 510 Garage Sales: Advertising % Flyers/Delivery % Signage % 515 Insurance: 1, % 520 Postal Services: Postage % PO Box % 525 Printing: C & R Notices: % Directories % Invoices % Newsletters % 535 Professional Fees: % 535 Landscaping: Fertilizer % Tree Care 1, % Mulch/Weed Prevention % Sign/Lighting Repair % Mowing 1, % 540 Utilities: Sign Electric % 545 Website: 550 Other: Domain % Hosting % Office Expense % Gift Certificates % Meeting Refreshments % Business Entity Reports % Christmas Décor % Rental % Social Events % 8, %

3 ANNUAL MEETING MONDAY, MAY 12 AT 6:30 PM COMMUNITY ROOM AT HOLLAND PARK LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED. IF YOU CAN T MAKE THE MEETING VOTE BY PROXY. COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE FORM BELOW. Vote Proxy Ballot for 2104 Annual Meeting Cast your vote!! President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Cast your vote Yes No I vote to approve the 2013 Minutes I vote to approve the 2014/2015 Budget Name (Print): Name (Signature): Address: Either mail to: OCA at P O Box 463, Fishers, IN or you may also the ballot to orchardcivicassociation@yahoo.com. Only one vote per household.

4 T h e Orchards at S un blest News A pril/may P a ge 4 Spring Yard Cleanup It s that time of year again. Time for a little spring cleaning. Clutter control Overall, how does your yard look? Get rid of stuff that has accumulated around your yard, home, garage and shed during the winter months. Curb appeal How does your yard look from the street (or from the neighbor s view on the side or back of your home)? A fresh eye can spot a number of items needing your attention since last fall. Color, soil consistency and sun exposure Spring flowers can add color and interest to your garden areas. Knowing the consistency of the soil in your garden areas is wise as you plan or expand your flower and plant choices. Also, when planting in the spring, be sure to consider the effects surrounding trees may have on sun exposure once their canopies are in full bloom. A true lake vista OCA Board Focus The board s focus areas for the upcoming year will be to complete the migration from voluntary to mandatory plats within our association. If you are or know of a notary public that would like to assist us in this effort, please contact us at orchardcivicassociation@yahoo.com or reach out to a member of the board. Also, we will be renewing our efforts in enforcing the covenants and restrictions within our neighborhood. Below you will find an excerpt from the C & R for Plats A & B. These are the kinds of things that we will be paying more attention to in order to improve the overall landscape of our neighborhood. or boat trailers), or any disabled vehicles shall be kept or parked upon any lot or street in the Subdivision except in a garage or other approved structure. may become an annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood. on the lot in such a manner as to present the lot improvements from becoming unsightly; and, specifically such owner shall: a. Mow the lot at such times as may be reasonably required in order to prevent the unsightly growth of vegetation and noxious weeds. b. Remove all debris and rubbish. c. Prevent the existence of any other conditions that reasonably tends to detract or diminishes the aesthetic appearance of the Subdivisions. d. Cut down and remove dead trees. e. Keep the exterior of all improvements in such a state of repair or maintenance as to avoid their becoming unsightly. Rubbish, garbage or other wastes shall be kept in a sanitary container out of public view. All equipment for storage or disposal of such materials shall be kept clean and sanitary.

5 T h e Orchards at S un blest News A pril 2014 P a ge 5 Orchard Civic Association Treasurer's Report - Interim July 1, June 30, 2014 Date: 5/1/14 Income Expenses 310 Membership Dues 7, % 320 Advertising % 515 Insurance (LVA portion) % 8, % 510 Garage Sales: Advertising % Flyers/Delivery % Signage % 515 Insurance: 1, % 520 Postal Services: 525 Printing: Postage % PO Box % C & R Notices: % Directories % Invoices % Newsletters % 535 Professional Fees: % 535 Landscaping: Fertilizer % Tree Care % 540 Utilities: 545 Website: 550 Other: Mulch/Weed Prevention % Sign/Lighting Repair % Mowing % Sign Electric % Domain % Hosting % Office Expense % Gift Certificates % Meeting Refreshments % Business Entity Reports % Christmas Décor % Rental % Social Events % 5, % 3,050.51

6 Orchard Civic Association OCA P.O. Box 463 Fishers, IN us: We re on the web! Resident «House #» «Street Name» Fishers, IN Like us on Facebook! DUES NOTICES WILL BE MAILED SOON Ten Reasons to Volunteer for the Community Protect your self-interests. Protect your property values and maintain the quality of life in your community. Correct a problem. Has your car been towed, or do you think maybe maintenance has been neglected? Be sociable. Meet your neighbors, make friends, and exchange opinions. Give back. Repay a little of what s been done for you. Advance your career. Build your personal resume by including your community volunteer service. Have some fun. Association work isn t drudgery. It s fun accomplishing good things with your neighbors. Get educated. Learn how it s done we ll train you. Express yourself. Help with creative projects like community beautification. Earn recognition. Your contributions will be recognized and celebrated. Try some altruism. Improve society by helping others. Upcoming Calendar of Events Annual Holland Park Monday, May 12 6:30 pm 8:30 pm Neighborhood Garage Sale Saturday, May 31 8 am 2 pm Quarterly OCA Meeting Delaware Twp) Tuesday, July 8 6:30 pm 8pm