Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1344355
March is the month we leave winter behind. On the 14th we change to Daylight Savings Time and "spring ahead" one hour, giving us a seemingly longer day and more sunshine. It's a great time to be outside. This month also marks the one year point when our lives began to change. We've gone from "it will be over by summer" to "will it ever end?" and now hope that a vaccine will allow us to return to a somewhat normal existence. One news source stated that the pandemic is in tenuous retreat. Your Board will continue to use a common sense approach and do our best to act in the best interest of all our residents. To quote Sonia Ricotti, "Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be." Life can be full of surprises, and we experienced one when our insurance cost increased significantly. The reason for this relates to the fires that have occurred in recent years over much of California. Four Seasons is located in and near a "Very High Hazard Severity Zone," based upon vegetation density, slope severity and other relevant factors that contribute to fire danger. We use a broker who looks at many insurance companies to obtain the lowest rates with the best protection. Going forward, your Board will work with the Emergency Preparedness Committee to research fire mitigation methods to determine what we can do to minimize the fire hazards in and around our community. Hopefully this will result in a safer place to live and reduced insurance premiums. To maintain a balanced budget, we will work with all of our committees, especially Finance, and keep a sharp eye on expenses. Previous Board messages have stated that, while our income has remained constant, our expenses continue to increase. The main factor, of course, is the age of our facilities. We need to trim trees, repair sidewalks, and maintain The Lodge and Spa buildings among many other items. This will continue to be a challenge; however, the quality of our physical and landscape assets will be maintained. Recently we have lost several long time residents, folks who contributed their time and energy over the years to help make Four Seasons a better place to live. In late January, your Board lost one of our own, Ken Pounders, a good friend and colleague. Ken joined the Board in 2010, served as Treasurer for many years, and will be missed. As Treasurer his knowledge and experience benefited Four Seasons and helped build and maintain our fiscal strength. Looking ahead, in April we will have our annual meeting. There will be four Homeowner Directors elected. Three of the Directors positions will be for two-year terms and the fourth position will complete Ken Pounder's remaining term. We now know the names of the candidates. More information will be forthcoming regarding a "Meet the Candidates" event. In closing, with the recent political turbulence, it was interesting at the end of the Super Bowl to see the teams shake hands and congratulate each other, when a short time earlier they were locked in "mortal combat." We need more of this. We need to find common ground when we disagree. We should be slow to judge and look for the good in people. Stay safe! Message from the Board of Directors 2 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | MARCH 2021 | Sincerely, and on behalf of your Board of Directors, Greg Rockvam, Cliff Post, Tony Criscenti, Jim Hatcher, and Jerry Hawkins Jim Crase President