New Years Day Dance

On New Years Day, Happy Days will entertain from 8pm til midnight in the clubhouse. Tickets are a mere $5.00, and food and drinks are free because you bring your own. Bring a nice snack to share at the the snack table.
If you are looking for tickets, call Mary Willsey or Guy Hislop (in the directory). What a deal!

These guys are great, with impersonations of Blues Brothers, Tom Jones, Elvis, and the greatest pop dance music of the last 50 years. This is a great night of fun and dancing and drinking with your friends and neighbors. Come join us for a New Year tribute.

"Praise and Blame Are All The Same"

At 10am on Saturday morning, the Board of Directors will finally receive a recommendation from the independent Seawall Committee to vote on whether to repair the seawall in places where it is needed, or to replace the seawall with a new one. This is a very formidible, if not unpopular topic today in Regency Cove. I'm sure every Director on the Board has heard from friends, neighbors, and other residents who are not usually involved with us, who give us their opinions.

As a Director, we are always in the uncomfortable position to make decisions that represent all of the shareholders of the park. I would like to share the following exerpt with my fellow Board members, and with all of you shareholders. Feel free to comment at the end.

An exerpt from the New York Times #1 Bestseller Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson Ph.D


"One of the most unavoidable lessons in life is having to deal with the disapproval of others. Praise and blame are all the same is a fancy way of reminding yourself that you'll never please all of the people all of the time.Even in a landslide election victory in which a candidate secures 55 percent of the vote, he or she is left with 45 percent of the population that wished someone else was the winner. Pretty humbling, isn't it?

"The sooner we accept the inevitable dilemma of not being able to win the approval of everyone we meet, the easier our lives will become. When you expect to be dished out your share of disapproval instead of struggling against this fact, you'll develop a healthy perspective to assist your life journey. Rather than feeling rejected by disapproval, you can remind yourself, "Here it is again. That's OK." You can learn to be pleasantly surprised, even grateful when you receive the approval you're hoping for."

I hope tomorrow that all our Directors vote their conscience. In the event of a seawall catastrophe in the near future, all of us will be be held accountable. If the new seawall continues hold firm and barricade us from storm damage in the future, we will no doubt become anonymous fixtures in Regency Cove history.

I personally long to live in anonymity

Fishing is Great

No, this fish was not caught in Tampa Bay...it was caught off Marco Island, Fl. Its an 80lb "Goliath", formerly called a "Jewfish"...in the grouper family, and protected, so I had to release it...but what a fight.

Outlook Rebuttal

On December 18, 2007 or shortly thereafter, the members of the Board of HORC received a copy of the following letter, requesting that it be published in the January 2008 Outlook, as a rebuttal to an article published (mistakenly) under the Club Regency heading. Let's see what the Outlook editor chooses (or is ordered) to do with it, in the January issue. Are we indeed a democracy?





"I recently read the column under the heading of Club Regency in the December Outlook. The last paragraph was a personal opinion.



Who is she referring to, as the "Devil and His Disciples"? My wife and I, and several other residents, moved into the park about three years ago. Some of these residents feel that she is referring to them. I feel that she is very likely referring to me.



Upon our arrival into the park, I saw and was told about several things that I felt were illegal. After attending several CAI seminars taught by Ellen DeHahn, the park attorney, I learned that some of the issues were indeed illegal. With the help of the Division of Business and Professional Regulations, I was able to open the formerly secret pre-board, or "workshop meetings" which all shareholders can now attend.



These meetings are now held in the Recreation Hall, rather than in the small conference room, thanks to Mr. Russ Miller who was instrumental in making this meeting handicapped accessible.



I also worked to have ballots at the annual election counted in full view of all the shareholders rather than behind locked doors. I have worked to have our park adhere to the laws of Florida Statute 719, for the good of everyone.



I will continue to push for a strong Board of Directors to operate our park through the park manager, in the manner required by Chapter 719. Our park must not be run by just one or two individuals.



If this qualifies me to be the park devil, I would accept the role gladly and wear the horns and spiked tail with pride."



Pete Chambers

Peace on Earth

Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin right in our backyard. Its the Season of Brotherhood and Love. Those of us freezing up North are glowing in the Love of the family with whom we have chosen to share the holidays.





For all of you who remain in the Park for this holiday season, please share your blessings with your neighbors, and don't allow anyone to be alone this Christmas. Always remember the half-century history of this community based on friendship and camaraderie. Many, many of you have had family members who helped build Guernsey City, and later Regency Cove, into the present, financially sound, multi-million dollar resident owned community we now enjoy.

It IS a wonderful neighborhood! There is nothing that will destroy that, unless you allow it. Steer to the happy and stay away from the Bad News.

God Bless Us All! Merry Christmas, Regency Cove!

Revised 2008 Budget Passed

At a budget workshop this morning, the HORC board passed the revised 2008 budget and maintenance increase, despite so many negative comments that were expressed at the Dec. 12, 2007 meeting.

Last night, each member of the board received a written statement from residents Rose Reis and Paul McCumber about their concerns after spending several days reviewing the financial records. The letter stated that "several pieces of information were found to be missing" and some information was "incorrect".

Both Rose and Paul were invited to report at the beginning of the meeting. Paul said that he wasn't expecting to be given the opportunity, and wasn't prepared, but gave a well-spoken, sincere and informative description of their findings. It would be difficult to give adequate justice to his concerns in just a few phrases, but the highlights include issues with the reserve accounts, an over-spent miscellaneous reserve, that capital projects were not listed, a financial plan for the seawall and other major expenditures is necessary, water and sewer lines should be better funded, and the clubhouse roof was never mentioned in the budget.

He closed with the bottom line: it is our money. Decisions shouldn't be made in isolation for fear of alienating the membership. Comments were allowed at this point.

It soon became apparent, however, that the board president was intent on passing the revised budget, after making reference to the letter from the board attorney. A motion was made to pass the maintenance increase of 15%. It passed unanimously. A second motion was made to pass the revised 2008 budget. Five voted FOR it: Ellen, Ron, Ed, Chet, and Father Bob. Four voted AGAINST it: Walter, Sandy, Marie, and Susan. The motion carried.

Casting a Line

A annual fishing report from the vessel Salty Dog "2". !!

Year 2002..68 trips..caught 928 fish..averaged 14 per trip
Year 2003..124 trips..caught 2624 fish..averaged 21 per trip
Year 2004..78 trips..caught 2217 fish..averaged 28 per trip
Year 2005..87 trips..caught 1970 fish..averaged 23 per trip
Year 2006..89 trips..caught 972 fish..averaged 11 per trip
Year 2007..62 trips..caught 890 fish..averaged 14 per trip

Totals...508 trips..caught 9601 fish.. averaged 19 per trip

If there is enough interest, will attempt to give a monthly report for 2008 showing detail as to time fished,where we fished, bait used, time of day, number and kind of fish caught, tide, fisherman aboard, ect.. ect. I do have COMPLETE records of all the years listed above if anyone is interested.

casting a line

If there is enough interest, from time to time I will attempt to publish a "fishing report"..will appreciate you fisherman commeting with any additional news you may have. While many of you don't fish, you may have snowbirds coming down to visit that wish to fish.....Here's the license scoop...don't get caught without one.
Florida non-resident..freshwater 3 day...$17.00
7 $30.00
saltwater 3 $17.00
7 $30.00
annual $47.00
Florida resident..freshwater annual $17.00
saltwater " $17.00

To purchase a license, simply call 1-888-347-4356..pay with credit card. If a warden asks for your license you give him the number they assign to you, and you're clear to go. For a ALOT of fishing info. to to www.myfwc.com Hope this helps.

Merry Christmas

To help you ease into the Christmas spirit, here is a little ditty recorded by the Drifters in 1954.

http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

A Word from Honduras

There's people starving down there!
This is a building that housed a grandmother with 19 children in her care. The parents have died of AIDS, or have run off to the city to work on catching it.

(click on photos to enlarge them. Use back button to return)




I have been reluctant to write about our experiences in Central America last week, but I can't sleep tonight. Here's just a short recap. The Bedores and the Rosses joined the South Tampa Fellowship on a mission to Honduras, Dec 1-8, 2007. The purpose was to minister to the children in the rural village of El Porvenir, in preparation for the Christmas season.

Each day we visited another church for morning and afternoon sessions of song, bible stories, games, a craft activity, and giving away presents.






Ed and Dee managed to entertain the mobs of kids with hot monkey puppets on their arms for hours on end, and between activities.







Most of the activities were done in churches under construction, looking little more than concrete bunkers with corregated metal roofs. One still had a dirt floor. We sat on the floor, or stooped over passing out supplies. Our poor old bodies sure had a workout!

Each day the numbers of children increased. The first day we had 90 youngsters in each session, but by the last day, the number swelled to 269. Obviously the word got out in the community!

We slept in dorms, not in private hotel rooms. We had 7 women in our dorm, the men had just 4. There was no hot water, showers ran cold. We were warned about shaking out our shoes in the morning for scorpions and tarantulas. I gotta say that the spiders grow very large in the rain forest community. I have returned with the obligation to continue to help the starving people of the world. We are not anxious to return soon, so I will rely on the Christian organizations to distribute the food, but I will attempt to collect some donations. I am collecting ink jet cartridges which are recycled by http://www.foodforthepoor.org/ to provide for the basic needs of the people of Central and South America. I won't ask you for your time, your money, or even for cans of food. Please help me by bringing your discarded ink cartridges to the Office. You can still donate food and clothes to the South Tampa Ministries boxes in the clubhouse. Every little bit helps. God bless you all.

Christmas Caroling

December 18, 2007


Time to experience the reason for the season.

Join your friends and neighbors in an evening jaunt through the park, singing Christmas carols for those who are unable to get out. As usual, we will gather afterwards for some treats and a gift exchange.

Sign up in the Information Room, and please remember to sign up any shut-ins who would enjoy the visit.

Christmas Magic

The season is quickly coming upon us.

Christmas Magic is the theme for the potluck supper on December 17. Make sure you sign up in the Information Room, and remember to wear your badge.

Budget Meeting

There was an interesting turn of events at the budget meeting on Dec. 12 at Regency Cove. Manager Tom Merriwether recapped the highlights of the workshop budget reports, the income summary, and the expense sheet. The flat rate maintenance increase was changed to 15%, but Merriwether didn’t even get to that part of the presentation.

Many questions and concerns were voiced, from expensive uniform laundry service to a missing itemized expense projection sheet for 2008. One resident stated that share income should be placed against the loan, and not be used to offset operating expenses. Another resident felt that there are too many maintenance men, with too little work to do. Another asked where the expenses for the new apartment building and new bathroom are reflected in the current 2007 budget. No one seemed to have that answer. One resident felt that the carry over surplus was too large to reflect the need for such a high maintenance increase. There were many questions asked and comments made, but the general tone of the meeting was of concern for the park. Some question the way things have been done, and others are pleased with the history of the finance committee and the park in general. Everyone present was polite and orderly.

A concern about the proxies was voiced, since the information mailed out has been revised, some thought that the whole package needed to mailed out again with corrected maintenance fees and other figures.

Mrs. Nimon informed the audience that a budget meeting of this nature is not required to pass the budget, and that it was being done to keep the people informed. She said that there would be a remailing of revised budget reports, but may or may not include proxies. She later said that perhaps everyone would vote with a proxy. ( I guess she means a ballot.) There was some discussion on this. She made the decision to adjourn the meeting and to reschedule for the second Wednesday in January. The day may have to be adjusted later, to allow 30 days for the people up north to respond. I'm sure we will hear more soon.