Memorial Ashford News January 2010 Visit us online at: www.MemorialAshford.com Inside this Issue: • Security Report - pg 2 • Pet of the Month - pg 3 • Treasury Report - pg 3 • MATA Email List - pg 3 • Holiday Decoration Winners - pg 4 • 2009 Expenditures Chart - pg 5 • Energy Corridor News - pg 6 • Landscaping Flags - pg 6 • Pet Reminder - pg 6 • Annual Meeting Date - pg 7 • CMC info - pg 7 • Calendar and Contacts - pg 8 SNOW DAY!! On December 4, 2009 Houston got enough snow to allow for snow angels and snowmen to pay a visit to MATA! Later in the month, residents and friends gathered at the North Park to put on a real live Nativity Scene for onlook- ers. How special!
Transcript
Memorial Ashford News January 2010 Visit us online at: www.MemorialAshford.com
Inside this Issue: • Security Report - pg 2 • Pet of the Month - pg 3 • Treasury Report - pg 3 • MATA Email List - pg 3
• Pet Reminder - pg 6 • Annual Meeting Date - pg 7 • CMC info - pg 7 • Calendar and Contacts - pg 8
SNOW DAY!!
On December 4, 2009 Houston got enough snow to allow for snow angels and snowmen to pay a visit to MATA! Later in the month, residents and friends gathered at the North Park to put on a real live Nativity Scene for onlook-ers. How special!
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Security Report - December 2009 PIP MEETINGS
The PIP meetings will resume on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 7 p.m. at the Houston Police Department, Westside Station on Dairy Ashford. PIP stands for “Positive Interaction Program.” The following is a synopsis of what occurs at a PIP meeting:
• A presentation from a different police division or law enforcement agency each month. That presentation could be from a judge, district attorney, state prison warden, or a county boot camp director.
• A chance to meet the officers that patrol your neighborhood and get to know them on a first name basis. You even hear from the Captain of your sub-station.
• Crime statistics are given out at the beginning of each monthly meeting. There are seven categories of crimes listed, each including the date, time, block address and type of location where the crime occurred. The PIP Crime Statistics are also available online.
• After each formal meeting, a second, informal meeting is held (usually with refreshments). You will have an opportunity to network with other concerned citizens who attend the meetings.
I encourage all homeowners and residents to attend these meetings. They are held at the Houston Police Department ~ Westside Station ~ Tip Hotline 281.584.4232 ~ Individuals can call to inform police of any possible crime activity taking place in their community.
As always, our MATA Courtesy Patrol is doing an excellent job in keeping the homeowners/residents safe on MATA property and they will continue to do so. The presence of the police officers on MATA property does prevent A LOT of crime from occurring, however; we, as homeowners, should continue to be vigilant and secure our property the best way possible. Below is a summary of certain incidents handled by MATA Courtesy Patrol in the month of December, 2009.
• HPD unit on property for an open door call which turned out to be a false alarm.
• Suspicious Hispanic male on property. Said male did not live on property nor visiting any homeowner/resident. Officer escorted said male off MATA property.
• Two domestic disturbances on the Southside. Both were handled without incident.
• Large group of teenagers loitering on Lane 1 of MATA property. Officer advised the teenagers to immediately vacate the area.
• A black 2-door Honda parked on Lane 1 with 2 white males. Said males were not homeowners/residents nor visitors of MATA. Officer advised individuals to vacate the premises.
• Officer gave a pizza delivery guy direction to a unit on the Northside.
• Officer noticed a resident moving out of a unit on the Northside.
• Officer made contact with teenager on skateboard and advised him no skateboarding is allowed on MATA property.
• Officers observed normal traffic in and out of MATA property. We continue to have speeders throughout the complex; some of whom have been driving rather recklessly which can be a danger not only to the driver, but to the residents/children that are out and about walking/playing the property. Everyone is reminded that the speed limit is 10 miles per hour.
• Officers continue to see patio gates left opened with no visible sign of the homeowners being home at the time. Please DO NOT encourage crime. DON’T BECOME A VICTIM -- PLEASE LOCK ALL DOORS AND GATES EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME.
Officers made contacts with numerous homeowners while patrolling. Officers are beginning to walk the property more in an effort to make the homeowners/residents feel more secure on MATA property. Vacation watch was utilized since several homeowners were on vacation or out-of-town for the holidays. As a reminder, Courtesy Patrol is not on property 24/7. If you call the Courtesy Patrol phone number (713.471.5882) and do not get a return call, and you are in fear of your life, please call 911. Mary C. LeBlanc Security Chair
RIP Kiko: 2008 - 2010 Name: Kiko Breed: Black Female Pekingese Age: 2 years old Favorite Snack: vanilla yogurt treats Favorite Toy: a squeaky seahorse Best Trick: rolling on her back like a little bear!
Kiko was one of many dogs who enjoyed getting out in the snow in early December!
If you’d like to show off your furry, feathered or scaly friend, please send in a picture along with some information to share. Email it to [email protected]
I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that ones goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. ~Isak Dinesen
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Southside 736 Thicket - Joe & Yolanda Trevino 742 Thicket - David Shaw 14619 - Stephanie Krietsch 14699 - Martha Daugherty 14703 - Ken & Lisa Arthur 14705 - Milenko & Nada Stojcic 14709 - Martha Smith 14741 - Jean Aviles 14745 - Catherine Gorskie 14751 - George & Ailta Orfali 14763 - Kelly Bellemans 14765 - Rita Kovich
Northside 14660D - Merle Warmington 14666B - Dorothy Trant 14668A - Cyril & Joan Lotzof 14670D - Pamela Adair 14672C - Jesse & Delores Martinez 14674A - David Lerman 14676B - Gitta Maysilles 14676D - Michael & Raylene Riha 14676E - Melanie Vollers & Kurt Vollers 14676F - Donna Montgomery & Hilda Mercantel 14678A - Tooraj Faridi 14678B - Caleb Roberts 14682B - Linda Gorman
14682G - Patricia Patty Russell 14684C - Frances Hebert 14684D - Cynthia & Vincent Cremona 14686B - Earl & Susan Montgomery 14688B - Eddie & Leah Snyder 14688C - Efrain Montes 14688D - Lori Jacobs 14688F - Kayla Puckett 14690A - Betsy Raybon 14702C - Benjamin & Sharon Borwick 14704D - Chad & Catherine Matlock 14708A - Myriam Touchard 14708G - Cunnie & Cynthia Dale 14712C - Fariba Amary 14714A - Marina Presley 14714C - James & Raquel Caylor 14714D - John & Adrienne Grunau 14716A - Mikhail & Valentina Semakova 14716D - Betty Ruby 14718B - Fernando & Aracelli Sader 14718D - Lina Corinth 14720B - Edgardo & Angela Comuyog 14724D - Sung Lee 14732B - Thomas & Janet Harryman 14732C - Tom Huynh 14732E - Rhoda Zelitt Balentine & Mac Balentine 14734E - Steve Geetan 14736B - Alvaro Tutia
Holiday Decoration Winners 742 Thicket - David Shaw 14705 Perthshire - Milenko & Nada Stojcic 14676B - Gitta Maysilles 14708G - Cunnie & Cynthia Dale Please contact Milbry for your prize! Runners Up: 14720B - Edgardo & Angela Comuyog 14688B - Eddie & Leah Snyder 14686B - Earl & Susan Montgomery THANK YOU to everyone who par-ticipated and helped make MATA a bright & cheerful place this holiday season!
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PET REMINDER Please keep your pets leashed at all times in the common areas & always clean up after them. This will help you avoid the $100, $200, or $300 fines and keep our community clean and safe!
THANK YOU to everyone who does their part & picks up after their dogs. Pick-up baggies are provided at each “Doggie Sta-tion” on the north & south sides.
Remember to keep your pets leashed at all times in the common areas or kept within the confines of the pet owner’s patio or unit.
Please do not leave your dog on the patio all day to bark, whine or otherwise annoy your neighbors. Plus, the Texas weather can be brutal on them.
We are all working towards an enjoyable, peaceful community!
If anyone encounters an unsafe or dangerous situation with an animal CALL THE POLICE immediately!
~THANK YOU!
Landscaping Flags
For those “do it yourselfers” out there who love to gar-den, you can now manage your own flowerbed. If you’d like to trim, weed and maintain the flowerbed of your front yard, simply submit an ACC form outlining the du-ties you’d like to take care of and you will receive a Landscaping Flag to put in your flowerbed. This flag will let the landscaping crew know not to touch the flowerbed in front of your house. You must get the flag from the office, houses that use their own flags and do not submit an ACC form will have the flag removed and will still be under the care of the landscaping crew. Please note that any “changes” you make to your front yard will still require a new ACC form. That is, if you’d like to remove or add plants, mulch etc., you will need to submit a separate ACC form outlining those changes. Keep in mind that while we want our Homeowners to en-joy this freedom, MATA will still maintain responsibility for the yards and can/will intercede if the yard gets “out of control” or doesn’t stay maintained up to MATA’s standards. Please contact Milbry Smith with any ques-tions (page 8).
Energy Corridor District Receives Federal Funding for METRO 75 Energy Corridor Circulator The Energy Corridor District was recently approved by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration to receive funding through the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program, making the METRO 75 Energy Corridor Circulator a reality. The Circulator will run north and south along Eldridge Parkway between Westheimer and Memorial Drive and along Memorial Drive and I-10 between SH 6 and N. Dairy Ashford from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning January 25, 2010. This additional public transportation will increase accessibility to and within the Energy Corridor as well as connect five neighborhood bus routes to the Addicks Park & Ride Lot with connections to Uptown Houston, Texas Medical Center and downtown.
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Financial Management Company Since August 1, 2009 MATA has been working with a new finan-cial management company, Creative Management Company (CMC), to manage Homeowners’ accounts. You should have already received your coupon payment book in the mail from CMC. If not, please call them at 713-772-4420.
Your address is still your account number and your check will be made payable to “Memorial Ashford”, just like it has been in the past. Mail your payment to:
Memorial Ashford Townhouse Assoc. c/o Sterling Bank PO Box 4991 Houston, TX 77210-4991 If you wish to learn more about CMC, please check out their web-site at www.CMCTX.com.
If you have any questions, about your payment options, please contact CMC at 713-772-4420.
DO NOT mail your monthly payment directly to CMC’s office or to MATA’s clubhouse office. This will only slow down posting the payment
to your account. Mail your payment to the Sterling Bank address listed above.
Annual Meeting Date Thursday - April 15, 2010
7:00pm - sign in & registration 8:00pm - meeting begins
Westside HPD Station (Richmond @ Dairy Ashford) Two Board positions will be elected at this year’s Annual Meeting. Deadline to submit your resume is Monday, March 1, 2010 at 5:00pm. Please see your By-Laws for qualifi-cations.
Homeowners (those members in good stand-ing with the Association) have two ways to vote, per the MATA By-Laws (see page 3, Arti-cle VII). 1) A secret ballot will be given to you at the
Annual Meeting. Once CMC has verified you are paid in full on fees, fines and any monies owed to MATA, you can cast your secret ballot at the Meeting.
2) An official Absentee Ballot will be sent to all Members (postmarked 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting). Official, signed ab-sentee ballots must be received by the MATA clubhouse office three (3) days prior to the Annual Meeting to be accepted. Any Member’s official Absentee Ballot (not a photocopy) may be traded in for a secret written ballot at the Annual Meeting by that Homeowners. Cumulative voting is not permitted.
This means if you DO NOT plan to attend the meeting and want to cast your vote, your Ab-sentee Ballot must be received by 5:00pm on Monday, April 12th in the Clubhouse Office so that CMC has time to validate your Member-ship.
Call CMC now to make sure you are paid up and can cast a ballot! Even if you only owe one penny, YOU CAN’T VOTE. You must have a ZERO balance to vote.
Please also note that the By-Laws do not allow for bringing in “proxy votes” on behalf of other members as has been done in the past. This will not be allowed at future Annual Meetings because it causes too many problems in veri-fying Membership status “on the spot” at the Annual Meeting. Please refer to your MATA By-Laws for details.
