Image Up Advertising & Design

FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2016 11 By Len Tavernetti, Board President The Association is currently taking on a major project with a new process. This is the upgrade of the Ballroom flooring. In doing so, the new Community Planning and Transition Committee is defining the requirements before solutions are developed. This will enable the Facilities and the Finance committees to work with an agreed to requirement rather than back into the requirement based on the solution. In the past the process has sometimes begun with a single suggestion that did not undergo a rigorous scrubbing of other needs that could be addressed simultaneously, tradeoffs between temporary and permanent fixes or impacts on future plans. The Ballroom upgrade will address three requirements: need for new carpeting as the 10-year-old carpet has reached the end of its useful life, need to expand the hardwood floor to accommodate our increasing population, and acoustics in this room that often makes hearing difficult. We are constantly reminded that our facilities were designed to appeal to prospective home buyers and produce profits to the builder. To transform these facilities into our living spaces as active seniors requires changes. For example, the mirror tiles at the front of the Ballroom make the room look bigger (helps sales) but because sound ricochets off of them, a separate screen for presentations must be lowered and many uses of the Ballroom require the tiles to be covered. We constantly hear about the Reserve Account that we all contribute to monthly for replacement of items that we use. The carpeting is one of these items and our Reserve Account has funds for this replacement. We will likely want a better carpet than the "builder's choice" so it may cost more and we will make the difference with our existing operating funds. Our schedule is driven by the need to conduct an acoustic test of the Ballroom to gather data for reducing noise, contractual obligations for use of the Ballroom, time to refine the specifications for contractors, and making the improvements. We have contractual obligations for private events in the Ballroom and plan to have the work done during open times in either January or February. Observations from the Board TAKING ON MAJOR PROJECTS Changes in our Four Seasons Community By Claudeen Diaz, Board Chief Financial Officer Our community is seeing changes. The Board of Directors now consists of five homeowners from the community. Now wheelchair- bound residents are able to use the trails. A Community Ambassador was appointed. She will keep us informed on activities that have an impact on Four Seasons that happen within the city of Beaumont and surrounding neighborhoods. A committee was established to review and submit ideas on major improvements to our community and prepare for our total ownership of Four Seasons. Requests will be made to the standing committees to review and comment on a policy for term limits. The Social Committee will be getting ready for our holiday season and the New Year's Eve gala. Since I became involved in the Finance Committee four years ago and began to enjoy the activities in our community (pool, line dancing, Zumba, bridge, other card games, and the Wine Club), I have met many of our residents. We have a community in which there are many opportunities to participate in entertainment and the policy process. The committees have provided opportunities for us to meet each other and be a part of the future of this neighborhood. The separation of the Safety and Facilities Committee has opened up opportunities for you to become a partner in the Four Seasons policy process and get to know each other in a different light. Think about participating in the well-being of Four Seasons.

• Cover