Inside this Issue: • Shred Day September 22 • National Night Out October 2 • Harvest Fest & Car Show October 13 • What To Do About Feral Cats • Governance Information ASSOCIATION UPDATES COMMUNITY ADS New Territory Residential • BABYSITTER: Hello, my name is Anita. I am a 17 year old student currently Community Association attending my senior year in Austin High School. I am a very active and fun person and I am Team Captain for both our track team and cross country team at my school. I am also a responsible A student and am part of the National Honors Society in my school. I am very productive and very good at managing my time with school, extracurricular activities and my job. • CPR, First Aid, and Babysitter certified • Bilingual English/Spanish 6101 Homeward Way • Have a car and license Sugar Land, Texas 77479 • Availability - All day Weekends and Holidays: Weekdays - 5pm-11pm • Have many references • Cell: 832-605-6876 / Home: 713-320-2010 Association Phone Numbers Association Office..........281-565-0616 NEW TERRITORY “SHRED DAY” IS COMING! Association Fax..............281-565-0188 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon The Club.........................281-565-1070 Parking lot by the Association Office & Ellis Creek Recreation Center The Club Fax...................281-565-1130 Time to clean up and clean out all that old paper. Tennis Pro Shop..............281-565-5355 Paper clips and staples are OK to leave in. Association Office Hours Mon., Tues. & Thurs. 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. STAY CONNECTED TO NEW TERRITORY! Wednesday 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Association office would like to obtain residents e-mail addresses so that we have updated records and can include you on the many e-mail notifications that Friday 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. are sent to the residents throughout the year. At this time, out of 4600 homes our Saturday & Sunday Closed e-mails are only reaching approximately 1700 residents. This information will be kept in the Association office and not shared with any outside sources. So if you would like to submit your e-mail information, please Club Hours submit your email, name and address to [email protected] Business Hours 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday - Friday 5:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. NEWSLETTER POLICY FOR Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. ADVERTISING AND ARTICLES Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Article Guidelines: All articles must be submitted by the 5th of the month prior to the month of publication. Due to the excessive number of articles submitted no exceptions will be made. NTRCA Editorial Policy If you would like to place an advertisement online only, the cost is $25.00 The newsletter’s editorial content, up to 150 words along with a picture. Please contact Donna Lane at including advertising, is determined [email protected] at the discretion of the Executive Director, under advisement by the Your ad will be run for 30 days, you can stop by the Associations Office in order to make your payment. Board of Directors. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote New All NTRCA articles will take priority over all other articles. Territory and inform its members of Advertising Disclaimer: New Territory Residential Community Association activities, issues and events. The (NTRCA) assumes no responsibility for the content, warranties and representations NTRCA also utilizes the newsletter made in advertisements within this publication. All warranties and representations to inform members on issues which, made are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content in its opinion, may directly affect our should be addressed directly to the advertiser. members’ property values and quality New Territory Residential Community Association (NTRCA) of life. 6101 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, Texas 77479 2 OUR COMMUNITY GOVERNING BY REPRESENTATION ommunity associations are a representative form of government founded on BOARD REPORT FOR Cthe principle of elected individuals representing the people. Much of our country JULY, 2012 is based on the principles of representative democracy. It starts with organizations like community associations and progresses through our Schools Boards, city ollowing is a summary of Board governments, county governments, state governments - all the way to the federal Factions at the June Board meeting: government. We vote for a person, or persons, who will act on our behalf, and in the • Heard a presentation by the Ft. Bend case of New Territory, the residents vote for a Neighborhood Representative, who Grand Parkway Toll Road Authority will ultimately vote for Board members, and will represent your neighborhood at the on plans for the section of Grand monthly Board meetings. Parkway that traverses New Territory. Some might advocate that a Board should not take action without a vote of the In addition, Fort Bend ISD Board members to find out what the people want, but that would be counter-productive. President Jim Rice and several staff If Association members were to vote on every issue before a decision was made, of the Ft Bend ISD were in attendance there would be no need for a Board, but simply someone to send out ballots and tally and notified the residents about the results. However, Boards find out what their constituents want in other ways. New plans for providing bus service for Territory has a special time set aside during the beginning of each Board meeting students that will not be able to walk (on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Club, 1200 Walker School Road) under SH99 to get to school. to hear from residents. But it’s up to you to attend meetings, voice your opinions and participate in the exchange of ideas with the Board. We encourage your involvement • Approved a contract for the and participation. Perhaps you would consider joining a committee. We want your replacement of picnic tables at input, ideas, thoughts and opinions. locations throughout New Territory As the season for community association annual meetings and annual Board in the amount of $16,796.73 to Game elections approaches (held in January), consider carefully which candidates you Time. would like to see representing you on the Board - including yourself. Think about that now, as the elections will be here before you know it! If you know someone • Approved a contract for the that you think might be a good Board member, encourage them to attend Board replacement of two pedestrian meetings now to see what happens there, so they can make an informed decision bridges at Ellis Creek in the amount about running for the Board. And make your thoughts known to your Neighborhood of $14,431 to Gateman, Inc. Rep. You might also consider running for the Board to help shape the future of New • Approved an RFP for the Territory! replacement of basketball goals at Watch for announcements in this newsletter, and on our website, www. the Club. newterritory.org, if you have an interest in or are considering running for the Board. And be sure to attend some Board meetings to see what happens there, so you can • Approved the replacement of control make an informed decision! valves for work on the Spray Park. • Approved an extension of the WHAT IS A BOARD RESOLUTION? contracts for landscaping and tree Board resolution is a motion that follows a set format and is formally adopted by services by adding an additional year Athe Board. Resolutions may enact rules and regulations or formalize other types to the contract, with no increase in of Board decisions. There are four types of resolutions for a community association: the fees for either. 1. Policy Resolutions affect owners’ rights and obligations such as rules for the use • Approved the replacement of two 12 of common areas and recreational facilities, architectural guidelines and enforcement ton HVAC units at the Club through a procedures. contact with Hartford Mechanical in 2. Administrative Resolutions address the internal operations of the community the amount of $25,950. association. Examples include operating procedures, collection procedures and where • Approved the installation of an Board meetings will be held. additional street light on Birch Hill. 3. Special Resolutions document Board decisions that apply a policy or rule to an individual situation, such as a decision about an alleged rule violation. • Approved the transfer of surplus funds from 2011 in the amount of 4. General Resolutions involve routine events, such as adopting the annual budget $388,907 to the Capital Reserves. and approving a contract. The Executive Director maintains all adopted resolutions. They are available • Approved a request for a business to association members for review in the manager’s office, or on the New Territory activity within a residence. website, under NTRCA Docs, then click on Association Documents, then Resolutions. 3 OUR COMMUNITY WHY DO WE NEED RESERVES? ABOUT THE quipment and major components (like roofs, playground equipment, and ASSOCIATION’S Epumps and sprayers for the lakes) must be replaced from time to time, regardless of whether we plan for the expense. We prefer to plan and set the INVESTMENT funds aside now. Reserve funds aren’t an extra expense—they just spread out POLICY expenses more evenly. There are other important reasons we put association monies into reserves each year: ust like homeowners, the JAssociation saves money to 1. Reserve funds meet legal, fiduciary, and professional requirements. A cover large future expenses - replacement fund may be required by: like new roofs, pool repairs, park • Any secondary mortgage market in which the association participates play structures, or replacement of (e.g., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA).