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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2016 | 3 By Doug Swenson FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Wow, can you believe it is already the start of the second half of 2016? It seems that the older we get the faster time goes by. Just a short time ago I commented to someone that I thought a certain event took place here in Sun Lakes last year. They thought it had been 2014. In checking the records, it actually took place in 2012. What I thought was one year in fact was four years. This is the time of year for two Sun Lakes events. The week of June 20-26, which just passed, was the Sun Lakes Charity Week which has been going on for over 25 years. Each year a large number of Sun Lakes volunteers put together several venues in one week to raise money to support the Inland Empire organizations that have been established to assist those less fortunate than ourselves. The number of volunteers can reach well over a hundred with each of these volunteers putting in many, many hours of work to make sure their venue is the best it can possibly be. This provides the residents of Sun Lakes and their guests with a variety of activities to watch and participate in. My hat goes off to all the volunteers and sponsoring organizations who make Charity Week such a success. This process is overseen by the Sun Lakes Charity Trust which is also made up of Sun Lakes volunteers. Each year it receives requests from many charities needing monies to carry on their efforts. Those charitable organizations that meet the criteria established by the Trusts charter are invited to receive their funding in the Sun Lakes Main Clubhouse Ballroom. Please join us at 6 pm on August 31 to learn more about these organizations and see where your donation money goes. The second large event is the 4th of July celebration. Each year the Sun Lakes management staff, the Board and another group of volunteers headed up by the Recreation Advisory Committee put together a celebration like no other. The main venue originally was the golf cart decorating and parade. Added to it over the years have been a variety of entertainment, a car show, a wonderful lunch and many entertaining events on the Veranda and the driving range. Like any new event, this started small and has now grown to be a major event that takes up most of the day. If you are in Sun Lakes that day, please join us starting at 9 am in front of the Main Clubhouse. The parade starts at the main clubhouse at 10 am going clockwise on Country Club Drive, Riviera and then back on Country Club Drive to the starting point. The number of spectators continues to grow larger every year. Pick your spot early and enjoy a wonderful day following the parade. Happy Independence Day!