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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2023 13 By Steve Cooley Interested Four Seasons homeowners are welcome to serve on the Architectural Review Committee. Our skill requirements and background knowledge are probably the simplest to meet. All that is required is an ability and willingness to review all applications with an open mind and attempt to apply the Architectural Review Guidelines in a fair and impartial manner. We meet twice a month and our meetings last from one to three hours, with one and a half hours the most common. In addition, each committee member is asked to review a few completed projects to verify that they have been completed as applied for. The time requirement varies depending on how many reviews need to be done and how much time the committee members want to spend talking to the homeowners. I'll admit sometimes I hit it off with the homeowner and spend way too much time talking about everything other than their project. Here are some comments from our members on why they volunteer and the benefits they receive from their service. Steve Cooley - Chair: When I moved to Four Seasons Beaumont, I was relocating from another state and didn't know anyone. My thoughts were to find some place to meet people. As I looked for committees that I thought I might be interested in, a Board member coerced me to take a position on ARC. I have met some great people who serve and have served on the ARC committee, and I have met dozens of residents. My initial goal of meeting people was met. Since moving to Beaumont, I have served as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Gorgonio Hospital and for several years as a member and chair of the Beaumont City Audit and Finance Committee. However, my most rewarding volunteering is done on the Architectural Review Committee. I continue to serve for the opportunity ARC gives me to help my neighbors find ways to improve their homes and stay within the established guidelines. While our guidelines are not onerous, there are rules that must be followed to ensure continuity of design in our community. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I help a homeowner find an alternative that makes them happy and meets the guidelines. Eileen Escobedo – Vice Chair: My volunteering started when my husband endured and survived two bouts of leukemia in the mid '80s. I volunteered for the Hospice of Pasadena for over 10 years. I am an avid reader so helping others to have new experiences through reading made it easy for me to start volunteering as an Adult Literacy Tutor in the 1990s. I am currently tutoring adult literacy for Beaumont Library District. When I moved to Four Seasons, I retired from the electric sign industry after being in sales and project management for several decades. The Architectural Review Committee seemed to fit with the knowledge I had gained such as reading architectural plans and obtaining permits. It was also a way to get to know my neighbors and this community My newest venture into volunteering is that of a volunteer for the Beaumont Police Department as a CVP – Citizen Volunteer Patrol. This has proven to be a great way to get to know our city and the brave men and women of our police department. Ultimately, volunteering has always been a way for me to give thanks for the blessings I have enjoyed throughout my life. Denise Fleming – Member: I volunteer to better my community and stay connected with others. I looked for an area that I was familiar with and could offer assistance. Being a volunteer is a great way to strengthen my bond in my community and work with like-minded people. My skill set brought me to the ARC committee and I enjoy working with the membership. We talk through the applications making sure each applicant can achieve the goals they set out to accomplish per the HOA guidelines. Plus, being a part of our community can give you a sense of social connection and belonging, alleviating stress and feelings of loneliness. Allen Koblin - Member: Why did I volunteer to be a member of the ARC Committee? Rather than get philosophical, let me just say that it has provided me the opportunity to meet many of our neighbors while creating a very good feeling knowing that you are helping our neighbors stay in compliance with the guidelines as they improve the condition of their homes. Bernard Newcomer - Member: A little over four years ago my wife, MJ, and I took our first walk in the neighborhood to get ideas for our new home. Each home and yard was a pleasing expression of the people who lived there. I realized that there was a reason that things looked so nice. Our new neighbors were like-minded in their pride of ownership and in living within the HOA Architectural Guidelines they agreed to years prior. Earlier this year after my retirement, I was sitting in the Architectural Review Committee meeting waiting for my front yard landscaping request to be approved, when I was asked if I'd be interested in serving on the committee. Having experience in DIY home renovation and landscaping, volunteering seemed like a fun way to give back to our community. In this role, I've made new friendships, had fun, and have been exposed to how the committee helps our neighbors achieve their desire for a beautiful home and community. Zsuzanna Vincze - Member: I have been impressed with the kindness of my neighbors since the day I moved to Four Seasons two years ago. I am also very appreciative of the information published in the Breeze and the Daily Report. Reading the monthly management, committee, and activity sponsor updates inspired me to learn more about what it takes to run this facility successfully. A few months ago, I decided to dedicate most of my volunteer time helping our immediate community and joined three committees, the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) being one of them. I'm so excited about meeting neighbors who share their talent and expertise, genuinely care about the present and future of Four Seasons and value feedback from residents. I look forward to meeting more neighbors, helping many with the ARC process, and contributing to all great things that keep us a vibrant community. Meet the Volunteers of the Architectural Review Committee

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