July 2013 Volume 31, Number 7 The To FREE Meadoword MeaThe doword PUBLISHED BY THE MEADOWS CO mm UNITY ASSO C IATION TO PROVIDE INFOR M ATION AND EDU C ATION FOR MEADOWS RESIDENTS MANASOTA, MANASOTA, FL U.S. POSTAGE PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT 61 PAID 2 The Meadoword • July 2013 MCA BOARD Notes From the OF DIRECTORS Bob Friedlander, President President’s Desk Dr. Bill Grubb, Vice President Marvin Glusman, Treasurer By Bob Friedlander—MCA President Bill Hoegel, Secretary Claire Coyle An Invitation… from a member standpoint is that the past, the Assembly has proven a most Jo Evans Assembly is to provide a community effective way to feel the pulse of the Joy Howes The MCA as you know it today forum for deliberate and responsible community. Give it a try and attend. Dr. Harry Shannon has undergone many changes since consideration of important issues Another alternative to John Spillane Taylor Woodrow Homes’ initial affecting the membership—thus, communicate your constructive ideas concept. That’s history. Today the giving guidance to the Board of is through a note to the Board or a visit COMMITTEES association has to operate under two Directors for future action or policy to the MCA Community Center. In Assembly of Property Owners major documents—Chapter 720, consideration. most instances, the response will not be Ginny Coveney, Chairperson Homeowners Associations, of the If you are unaffiliated with a immediate but one will be forthcoming, Claire Coyle, Liaison 2012 Florida Statues and the member- condo association or an HOA, your either verbally or written, generally Budget and Finance approved documents as amended. thoughts are equally welcomed and from a staff member. Jerry Schwarzkopf, Chairperson For those members who desire, more will also be taken into consideration. We look forward to your Bob Friedlander, Liaison specifics and information is available The Assembly is open to all unit participation so The Meadows can Community Activities on The Meadows Website at http:// owners. Hopefully, by attending you continue to be a great place to live. Ginny Coveney, Chairperson www.themeadowssarasota.org or the will also enjoy the speakers. In the Emergency Preparedness Official Internet Site of the Florida Dr. Harry Shannon, Chairperson Legislature for 2012 Florida Statutes Dr. Bill Grubb, Liaison in TITLE XL, Chapter 720. [ To access Maintenance EDITOR’S NOTE: Save the Date! Bob Friedlander, Co-chairperson the statute, go to http://www.leg. Jo Evans, Co-chairperson state.fl.us/Statutes/ and select Candidate Names for Nomination to the TITLE XL, REAL AND PERSONAL Memorial Garden John Spillane, Chairperson PROPERTY in the list to expand it. MCA Board of Directors are due Scroll down and click Chapter 720, Restrictions HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS to Bill Hoegel, Chairperson October 3, 2013, Noon view the law.] Joy Howes, Liaison This writer is NOT a lawyer, If you are a property owner interested in serving on the Safety thus the following is hopefully stated Board, please submit your name for consideration John Spillane, Chairperson simply to give the reader a better idea All candidates must complete a Personal Information Questionnaire Joy Howes, Liaison as to how all members can contribute For more information, call the MCA at 377-2300 Subscription Rates to achieve a successfully functioning The subscription rate for The Meadoword re- MCA. We truly depend on members flects a cost due to recent increases in postage, for their input on many aspects of the labor, and materials: USA ....................... $2.00 per month operation and policy decisions. Any Canada .................. $2.50 per month unit owner in good standing (all fees Foreign .................. $5.00 per month paid up-to-date) is automatically a member. Submission Guidelines There are fundamentally two groups Letters to the Editor working in harmony to ensure that • Letters must be signed and include MCA needs are met… a return address. • Issues must be of interest to a large These groups include the paid portion of The Meadows. • Obscene or derogatory remarks will staff of nine and many volunteers. The not be published. former takes its direction from The • We reserve the right to edit letters in Board of Directors or its designees the interest of space or to refuse (committees). publication. Candidates to the Board Articles and Monthly Columns of Directors are elected on an We welcome submissions from our individual basis by the overall MCA Meadows residents for publication in membership, following screening The Meadoword. Articles should be of general interest to the community. of the potential nominees by the We copy edit all articles for accuracy, Assembly Search and Screening content, and length and will not publish Committee and official nomination by articles that contain offensive material the Assembly. or inaccurate information. Articles must be received by the posted The Search and Screening deadline for publication in the following Committee has guidelines to month’s edition. accomplish the selection prior to the Assembly vote on the suggested slate The Meadoword of candidates. One consideration is the past experience of a candidate in a Community News Source of The Meadows Initiated in 1983 similar organization such as an MCA Publisher, MCA, Len Smally, Manager committee, condo association, or other Editor & Advertising Manager outside managerial and leadership Mary Jo Gord areas. Distribution The total MCA membership is Ernie Fortin continually encouraged to submit Contributing Proofreader their names or those of acquaintances Ginny Coveney MEADOWS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION to the Assembly Chair or the MCA 2004 Longmeadow Community Center for consideration. Sarasota, Florida 34235 This step is a most important function Phone 377-2300 • Fax 377-2248 of the Assembly. Give it some [email protected] thought! http://www.themeadowssarasota.org An equally important function The Meadoword • July 2013 3 MCA Manager Len CERT Team in Sarasota County, First Implementation of Sarasota Smally celebrated County’s Emergency Management 15 years with CELEBRATING Plan, and Hazardous Waste Collection Program award. The Meadows “We’ve also had a great Community relationship with Sarasota County and the Benderson Corporation Association on 15 Years of related to the development of June 22 and was Nathan Benderson Park and the completion of North Cattlemen surprised with a Road,” he says. “and, that will cake at the June 13 Accomplishments bring a lot of good things to the area and improve all our property Board of Directors values.” meeting. Len is the oldest staff member Len Smally Hasn’t in terms of years with the MCA Len says he was looking for and has hired every staff member a job when he came to the MCA currently working at the MCA. in 1998. He had been Director of He considers the staff another Public Works and City Engineer on Had His Last Hurrah great accomplishment and says, Longboat Key when he answered “they are all dedicated to the MCA the newspaper ad. The job was and its well-being; they’re all “written for me,” he says. Al knowledgeable in their individual gutzmer (President), Jack Cardozo fields and all good people.” (Vice President), Frank Reuss “And, the residents here (Treasurer), and Evelyn Shore are wonderful,” he continues. (Secretary) were officers serving “They are responsible and great on the MCA Board of Directors at volunteers. In a deed-restricted the time. community,” he says, “there are Len brought his engineering always a few unhappy people skills to the MCA table, here and there, but those deed eliminating the need for restrictions are what keep our engineering consultants and related property values up.” He adds that expenses for surveys and drafts. low resident attendance at the He knew (and still does) the right Board of Directors and Annual contacts and how to get things Meetings indicates that people, in done. The Meadows drainage general, are happy. system is just one example. He After retirement, which is still is also authorized to sign and down the road, Len and his wife seal the periodic documents sent Dede would like to travel, though by Southwest Florida Water that might not come right away. Management District (SWFWMD). But staying busy, I doubt, will be a Len considers the MCA problem for him. A former member Community Center the biggest of the Sarasota County Water and accomplishment of his tenure. The Sewer Advisory Board for 12 years building was put into planning in (until he termed out), he currently 2003 and moved to completion, serves on the Value Adjustment under the direction of then MCA Board (the county advisory President Kirk Jordan, in January board that examines property tax 2005, when the MCA moved its value complaints and decides offices and meeting rooms into the adjustments) and the Coastal current location on Longmeadow. Advisory Committee (which deals In 2004, the MCA was renting a By Mary Jo Gord—Editor with distribution of tax money space in The Meadows Shopping designated for the West Coast Village with rent approaching BELOW—Len was surprised with a 15-Year Anniversary Inland Navigation District between $100,000 a year. The current cake and card at the June Board of Directors meeting environmental improvements, building—similar to the Shopping (PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT—MCA Board member John boating safety, and navigational Village site, though larger and Spillane, President Bob Friendlander, and Len Smally improvements). more customized to the needs of “What I really would like the Association—was completed to do,” he says, “is work on my and paid for with money from the house. Reserves Fund. Through smart His last hurrah? “Well, it’s budgeting of funds that would going on now—paving the roads, have otherwise gone toward rent, though that’s been planned for the Reserves were completely years.” But, with achievements reimbursed—with interest—just behind him like completion of the three years later.