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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2024 | 15 Lifestyles Magazine is the resource most residents turn use to find out what's going on in our community. At 80 pages, it includes pictures from residents plus articles from the Master Board, Delegate Assembly, FirstService, the Restaurant, the golf pro, and all the advisory committees. Clubs and groups send articles and photos about their activities to Sunlakesnews@yahoo.com by the 6th of each month. The Lifestyles Advisory Committee meets on the 7th of each month, unless otherwise specified, to review and edit the articles submitted for each month's issue of the magazine. We meet with Master Board liaison Beverly Simmons, Assistant General Manager Jason Ewals, and Recreation Manager Linda Vang to keep updated about events coming up in our community. We also publish want ads and for sale items from residents at no cost and hide a monthly joke for residents to find. Responses to our "Get the Joke" contest are put in a hat and a winner is randomly drawn, earning a restaurant gift card as a prize. Photographs taken by residents of areas within Sun Lakes are used on the magazine cover. We also post pictures of residents on their vacations, or of their beloved pets. If you're good at proofreading and are interested in joining us, please fill out a volunteer application form that you can get in the Main Clubhouse Lobby, and we'll put you on our waiting list. ~ Robin Warner, Chair, robincwarner@yahoo.com Lifestyles Advisory The Master Architectural Committee exists for your protection. When we review applications for "improvements" of landscaping or a home's exterior, we follow the Rules and Regulations. By following these rules, we protect the applying homeowner, ensuring that standards are met for installation, drainage, and particularly for artificial turf, workmanship, and warranties. The MAC works to keep Sun Lakes looking like the Sun Lakes that drew us to make our homes here. Following the rules also protects your neighbors (and common areas) from encroachment, usually from bushes and trees, that continue to grow and require maintenance. Our rules and regulations protect home values. The "curb appeal" of Sun Lakes depends a great deal on maintaining a harmonious appearance and standard of care within the neighborhood. I'm sure that some of us have decided to skip the requirements of submitting applications, particularly for areas of the yard that are generally unseen. Yet, every home and yard is inspected following a sale and often it is left to the new homeowner to deal with what you have left behind. Unapproved "improvements" need an application and approval. This causes extra work for someone just moving in. Some folks won't care that they have shifted this burden. Perhaps more should. For those of you who fill out the required applications, pay attention to the checklist of requirements. Without a diagram of a landscaping improvement, the MAC cannot figure out what you are trying to do, and cannot approve it. It will be returned to you as incomplete, and it will take two to four weeks before the MAC will even look at it again. The staff can assist you in making sure your application is complete if you simply ask them. Finally, these Rules and Regulations let us live in a civil society and hopefully reduce the tension and animosity amongst neighbors. There are enough things in the world to disagree about. Let's keep the appearance of our homes and yards something harmonious and a visible reminder that we can all get along. ~ Jerry Howell, member, Master Architectural Committee, jerry.d.howell@gmail.com Master Architectural The charter of the Finance Advisory Committee states, "The Master Board of Directors has determined that the best interests of the members of the association would be served by the establishment of a Financial Advisory Committee for the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the Board on matters pertaining to SLCC financial projects." We are responsible for reviewing the internal financial statements and to assist with the development, preparation, and review of the annual budget. There are 11 categories which make up the budget for Sun Lakes: Restaurant & Lounge Operations, Golf Operations, Administrative, Planning & Compliance, Recreation, Landscaping, Maintenance, Property Protection, Cable & Internet, HOA Utilities, and Reserve & Replacement. Annually, this costs $15 million and takes a lot of figuring to come up with sound business decisions and correct HOA fees. The important thing is that the needs of the community should be met first with a very careful review of expected revenues and expenses on all levels. In preparation for the budget review, we have made a list of contracts and their current cost, revenue accounts, expense accounts both over and under budget, and a Reserve & Replacement Fund review. The effectiveness of our budget has an impact on our HOA's financial health and the maintenance of our community. If you have financial questions, you can review the Treasurers' report in Lifestyles and also access the financial statements online. We also encourage you to come to our meetings on the third Wednesday of the month and are open to all residents. Our next meeting is Sept. 18 at 2 pm in the Multipurpose Room. We welcome your comments and or questions. ~ MaryJo McElwain, jomcelwain01@gmail.com Financial Advisory

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