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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2021 | 3 By Marsha Midgett As I write this, Charity Week is wrapping up and all the events have been fantastic! The generosity of our community is simply amazing. The time and talent of many residents made this week so successful. While the Charitable Trust is a non-profit organization separate from the HOA, the community is so supportive of seeing the need in the Pass area. During this special week, you have contributed significantly to raise funds that help organizations needing financial assistance to keep their programs running. There will be an open meeting later this year to disburse the money raised to various organizations throughout the Pass area. Look for information on this meeting through our normal communication avenues. Thank you to all those who organized the week's events and to those who supported them. The budget process is well under way. The first Public Workshop will be Mon., Aug.16, at 9 am. If you are interested in watching the process, you are most welcome to attend. However, only the Board and Committee will participate in the workshop. Please look for the location of the workshop on the website. We have many new residents who have not yet experienced the Sun Lakes "Life" due to the past year's restrictions. We are starting to get back to normal and it has been nice to see everyone out and about doing what we love to do best. While I would like to say that the restaurant and lounge are back to normal hours, opening completely has been slower than the Board and the FirstService Residential administration would like. It has still been difficult hiring restaurant staff to fill the positions needed. I ask for your patience and understanding as the process continues. We will post restaurant updates on the website, Good Sun Lakes, and Channel 97. I am grateful for being a part of our beautiful community. We have many activities available to keep us busy and active to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I walk my dog Missy most mornings and meet many friendly folks getting a good start on their daily step goals. What is more important though, is the smiles and waves from everyone passing, both on foot and in cars. These acts of kindness and friendliness start my day off with a smile. It is a wonderful thing to live in a community where people care. So if you haven't figured it out, my theme this month is "Gratitude." It is the quality of being thankful as well as the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. A kind word or a thank you goes a long way. Many of our servers in the restaurant and lounge are new; a smile and a thank you can make their day. The admin staff has worked through a year of restrictions like never seen before. A kind word will go a long way when you interact with them. I know they get paid to do what they do, but feeling appreciated by our residents solicits a positive reaction. As Ellen says at the end of each show, "Be kind to one another." If you are off on vacation this summer, please travel safe and enjoy your journey! Quote for the month, "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfrey From the President's Desk

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