Happy Thanksgiving to All Our Loyal Readers

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP,
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN,
FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE,
FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

I GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING,
FLOATING INTO THE SKY
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING
AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL
AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL –
PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

Attn: Line Dancers

Time to dust the cobwebs off your dancing shoes. Come have some fun and learn many dance steps and moves that you can enjoy at functions at Regency Cove and in the city.
Men and women are invited to learn the Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, and Elvira (just to name a few).
Dance classes start Dec 5, 2007. Every Wednesday.
Location: Friendship Hall
Time: 10-11 am
Instructor: Cheryl Farnell
Cost: $3.00 per session

Any questions call Gail Horvath 837-9370 or Andrea Sencich 805-9172.

Monday Potluck Supper

Scarecrows Night Out is the theme for the first Club Regency potluck of the season. DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR BADGE! They will send you home to get it. Price for non-members and guests is $3.00, with a dish to share.

Our wonderful cooks Matt, Noel, and Joe are preparing turkey and dressing, and we all bring the sides, drinks, and desserts. Coffee will be provided. As usual, bring your plates, cups, and silverware. The Committee is expected at 4:30, and doors open to the general public at that time. The meal will begin at 5:30 sharp. Andrea Sencich and Sara Comley are the co-chairs who have organized the feast. There will be a short Club Regency meeting during dessert. Mary Lou Mittel has hired an entertainer with a singing saw for an after-dinner treat.

Dress like a scarecrow.

Security Issue

At today's Board meeting, resident Dee Bedore brought to light an important security issue. Late at night recently, she was awakened to a phone call demanding that she "press the button" to let the caller in. Dee was alert enough, at that wee hour, to demand identification of the caller, rather than press the number to allow their access. The caller immediately hung up.

After the meeting, other residents came forth to say that they too have received late night gate access requests. Please be advised of this dangerous situation. Do not, under any circumstances, allow access to any individuals calling from the gate that you do not know.

If you are a resident with a non-working gate clicker, please go to the office and talk to Peggy for a replacement clicker. Never, under any circumstances, allow a caller into the park unless you are certain of their identification. The security of this park is dependent on every member. We are in this together! Let's take care of eachother!

How to Make a Change in the Park Rules

Two days ago, a very unobtrusive question came into the comments under another post and was quickly buried under a flurry of other comments. An anonymous resident wrote in to ask "How does one go about making a change in the rules of this park?"
My computer sevice was down so I couldn't respond after reading this honest and simple question on my cell phone. You gotta understand, folks, I am certainly not an expert. As of today, I am the SECOND newest member of the Board, with a desire to communicate and respond to all/ most/some of your comments.
This one, I feel, needs to be addressed.
I have been studying the FL statutes for the last few months, and I learn something new everytime I open the book. Its a tough read.
To Anonymous, Here are my suggestions:
Attend the Board meetings. Speak out when the time is right. Request acknowledgement from the Chairperson (Ellen). We try to follow Robert's Rules of Order. There is a right way to present at the meeting. If Ed or Chet are wandering around with a microphone, that is the time to present.
If you are like me, uncomfortable speaking at assemblies, write out your concerns and submit them to a Board member. (Throw it in my mailbox, 15-28, or any other Board member you trust.) Ask that it be addressed at the next Board meeting. Today Ed Bedore presented a request from an individual for a public pier. It WAS addressed, and hopefully will be brought up again in the future, after Ed investigates the cost. I want to investigate federal grants on that topic.

Changes to Official Rules and Regs Documents occur at our March Shareholder meeting. Things are voted by the shareholders at that meeting. Changes to our documents require correct postings and a majority vote. These things are delineated in the FL statutes, and we are trying to stay current with all the regulations. The first step is making your intentions clear. Don't wait too long. Remember that every rule affects every shareholder in the park, and this is nothing to be taken lightly.

New Board Member Announced

At the Board meeting today, it was announced that Marie Avant (13-24) was selected by a blind vote of the members of the Board to fill the recent vacancy. Marie is well known by members of the Yacht Club for her ability to organize events, and get people involved. We look forward to working with her as a member of our team. Her position will run til the March elections, when she will become a candidate in the 2008 elections. Welcome aboard, Marie.

Service Interrupted

Sorry about the delay in responding to and posting comments on the blog. We lost our Brighthouse service 2-3 days ago: no phone, no computers, no front gate controls. Sometimes I can access your comments on my Blackberry phone, and publish them. Sometimes it doesn't work.

When we called the company we were informed that there were major Brighthouse interruptions all over Hillsborough County. Sounded like a major city-wide terminal meltdown. Just after the Board meeting today we waited for the technician to arrive to tell us that it was a minor repair right around the house. What a crock!

We would have waited for another 4-5 days had we not bitched about our inability to control the front gate, the fact that we are senior citizens who need access to telephone for our health and well-being, yadda-yadda.

It was just after the Board meeting last month that we waited for the technician to come to trade off to the correct modem that would actually control the front gate from our phone. It is a well-known fact that the older modems don't work on the phones in our park, and yet Brighthouse continues to install them to keep up with their work schedule. Or something like that.

If you have a telephone issue, and they stall your repairs to 6-7 days, rely on your delicate age and conditions to demand quicker service. We are senior citizens with health concerns. It is time to hold these utilities accountable for their promises to us.