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Operations Summary: February saw income exceeding expense by $137,498. For the two months income now exceeds expense by $200,598. The budget (plan) had assumed an excess of $168,728 so, for the two months, the Association has a positive variance to plan of $32,870. Non-Operations: Property transfers recorded in February totaled 11 bringing the YTD total to 17. Transfers in 2013 averaged 17 per month so this year is off to a slow start. Interest Income for the two months is $840 short of plan. Salary and Related expenses: This group of accounts is $28,453 under budget for the two months. Approximately 50 percent came from HOA operations, the balance split equally, approximately, between the Golf and Food and Beverage operations. HOA: The correction to Bad Debt expense referred to in the January report was made in February and the expense is now on track with the budget. Golf Operations: Revenue was $20,314 over budget in February, however $17,214 is a result of the way annual dues are recorded and will self-adjust over the course of the year. Daily green fees, after a slow start in January, came in 8.5 percent better than budget in February. Irrigation expense was $21,300 over budget in February, less than January, but still significant. Year to date the expense is now $56,800 over. Overall the operation has a negative variance to plan of $1,344, a combination of annual dues revenue over budget, irrigation costs over budget, and reductions in expense areas such as labor costs and the greenbelt allocation. Food and Beverage: Revenue was short of budget in February but is on budget in total for the two months. Expenses were under budget for the month in all five major expense categories by a total of $10,201. Year to date, the operation has a positive variance to plan of $11,434. Funds: The largest single expenditure in February was $63,030 for initial costs to finalize the new mail box installation project for the complex. The total of all funds increased by $194,711 in February. The increase is largely due to the low level of current activity not offsetting the monthly contributions to the funds. In response to a question 'HO Equity' is simply the current amount of surpluses accumulated in prior years plus (or minus) what has been accumulated this year. Finally, an April Fools' Day quotation from Mark Twain – "Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." Enuf: Comments, etc., to jdclark@dc.rr.com Thank you to everyone who supported the organization by purchasing our "Buddy Biscuits." Two good deeds for the price of one; (a) your acquisition benefits the animals in general, (b) your own Buddy rewards you with vigorous tail wagging. Thank you too to the volunteers who minded the sale tables. May 19, Meeting: We are preparing an interesting and great event, which will take place in the parking lot of the Main Club House. More details in next month' article will be forthcoming. However, note that an officer from the Beaumont Animal Control will be there to answer questions, discuss licensing as well as giving you the opportunity to obtain a license for your dog on the spot that day. As explained in previous article, our main goal is to reunite a lost pets with its owner in Sun Lakes, but because it is known that the group as a whole care for most animals; we receives inquiries or requests about all kind of four legged creatures. In this case the notice is for no-leg creatures: Kathie, "the snake lady," ask that you please call her if you see a snake. Do not kill it. After all you do not have rats or mice do you? Quickly put a box with a couple of holes on top of it to secure it, then call Kathie at 217-0007. She will come and remove it from your property. As always… thank you for your donations of towels, blankets and food. Helen Mathias distribute them among the different local shelters that she visits regularly. You may bring the items directly to Helen, at 6181 Solama Way or call her at 797-0583. Info., 769-4934. See you on the May 19. Let's face it, we are all owners of the common areas besides owning our home. It means we own a portion of the buildings, pools, golf courses and all of the other assets within the walls of our complex. In many of the complexes similar to ours, the original builder still owns some of the revenue generating assets, such as, the golf courses or the restaurants, or these entities are concessions to be operated by outside agencies. In our organization, we own everything within the walls of our confines. Therefore, we are responsible for the total operational gain or loss. Now we must face the reality of our present position in regards to two major problems. The escalating cost of water and the declining revenue from our two golf courses are getting more serious as time marches on. Sit back and tell me what your solutions are. How are we going to handle them in the future? What kind of an impact will it have on our financial position, on our lifestyle, on the way we operate our complex? We are sure many of our residents will comment, "We elect the Board to handle problems like these" or "don't bother me with things like this, I don't know what to do." And yet, when the Board or others make comments or enact decisions to attack the problem, there are those up in arms opposing them but with no real solutions of their own. These problems are very real. But how many of our residents have reduced the watering of their lawns. Drive down any street and you will see water in the gutter flowing to the sewer. Over watering is chronic, but there are people who will not cut back or don't know how to cut back and will not get assistance because they don't want to be seen as not knowing what to do. We are beginning to control better the usage of water in our common areas. In the near future some portions of our golf courses will have drought resistant planted areas to reduce water consumption and will use a selective system of watering to help the situation. The next weighty problem is the operation of our golf courses. The revenue from the courses is falling off each year. It appears, as the years go on, fewer golfers are moving in as our golfing community is getting too old to continue to play. What is your solution to this tough problem? There might be some little things that can be done that haven't already been put into operation, but there is one big solution offered by some that will become a major bone of contention. It has been offered recently, "Let's sell social memberships, whereby we offer to outsiders the use of our golf courses and restaurants for an annual membership fee." Who knows, we may be able to gain a few hundred thousand dollars each year. Think about it, what's your answer. Delegate assembly RepoRt Joe Formino, Chairman, District Delegate Assembly 4 | sun lakes lIfestyles | aPRIl 2014 | CommunIty news CommunIty news | sun lakes lIfestyles | aPRIl 2014 | 5 from the treasurer By John Clark, Master Board Treasurer EPAP ANIMAL RESCUE Sun Lakes Emergency Preparedness Organization has designated June 13 as the date for its annual disaster drill, a community wide exercise designed to respond to the effects of an earthquake or any other natural disaster in the area. The scenario this year is as follows: At 1:40 pm on Fri., June 13, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has occurred on the Banning Fault, with the epicenter located approximately two miles North and East of the intersection of Wilson and Mountain Avenues. The 10 and 60 Freeways have sustained significant damage and are closed between County Line Rd. and Whitewater until Caltrans inspectors have investigated the damage and determine when they are safe to re-open. Highway 79, through Lambs Canyon is also closed due to severe rock slides. Prior to the quake activities in the Pass area is normal with schools in session and businesses operating. The temperature is around 80 degrees and a mild breeze is blowing from the East. The resulting effects from this drill scenario and EPAP's responses include the following: Partial building collapses are being reported from Banning High School, Central and Hoffer Grade Schools, and from Beaumont's 2nd Street Marketplace Shopping Center. All local emergency services are committed to search and rescue operations at those locations. In Sun Lakes electrical power and land line telephone service has been interrupted. All the traffic lights between Sun Lakes Blvd. and Wilson Street are inoperative. The Sun Lakes EOC has been activated and is starting to receive requests from District leaders for assistance with injury assessment. Numerous sources are reporting extensive structural damage to homes and common properties including the Main and South Clubhouses. The EOC has received a request for the Animal Rescue Unit to take custody of a pet dog so that the injured owner will agree to be transported to the hospital for treatment. The scenario described is a realistic probability, and it is therefore imperative for all Sun Lakers to take the Drill seriously and follow the instructions of EPAP personnel in your Districts and Zones. EPAP Disaster Drill Set For June

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