ThiswonderfulWinterphotowassubmi edbyLarry Hand,writer,novelist,poet,andmostimportantly, Woodlandsresident!

Issue Quarterly Homeowners

24
2014

Association Newsletter

Jan/Feb/Mar

Wo odlands Living

In this issue:
1 Introduction 2 Annual Meeting 3 Board Updates 4 Committees & Clubs

From the Board of Directors

2013 has been a wonderful year in The Woodlands! We have finished our first full-year with our new management company, Heritage Property Management, and we can say that the transition has been a real success. Feedback has been very positive about the personnel and service provided by Heritage, and from the Board perspective, the property management office and our business matters are managed very professionally. We appreciate our partnership with Heritage. The Board has also continued our policy of financial transparency and fiscal responsibility. Our planned budget will

5 In Case You Wondered be achieved this year, proving that the changes made in 2012, if managed properly, are repeatable. We have also 6 Your Submissions 8 Taste of Woodlands 8 Kidz Stuff 9 Event Calendar
negotiated agreements with major service providers to keep costs at a predictable level for the next few years, ensuring that our expenses on major spend categories will not fluctuate and cause financial stress on our budget. Another major development is the decision to administer online elections this year when the neighborhood votes on new directors for the HOA. Our test run received excellent feedback and we hope that this will provide the broad access to homeowners that will ensure a quorum and a valid election. The system may also prove to be ideal for votes on amendments to the governing documents. Our community has continued a tradition of wonderful social events; and we have continued to make improvements in amenities, like the permanent shade umbrellas at the Views pool, and improvements to the Nature Trails, which have permitted neighbors to see parts of The Woodlands that they might otherwise have avoided in the past. We really have a wonderful property that continues to mature. We thank you all for engaging with us in meetings, online on Facebook, and in person. Its been really fun to meet many of you and hear your compliments and constructive comments. Thank you. The Woodlands Board of Directors wishes you and your families a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and a happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2014! David, Michael, DJ, and Kellie

Board of Directors
David Fortin, President Michael Espriella, Vice President Vacant, Treasurer David J. Kirklen, Secretary Kellie Simpson, Director

Congratulations to Woodlands homeowner Larry Hand, who submitted the winning Winter photograph featured on the banner of this newsletter. Each issue we will accept photographs submitted by homeowners and feature an outstanding one in the newsletter. Thanks, Larry!

It was brought to our attention by the author of an article about the Woodlands Wave, that a swimmer that participated in the District swim tournament was not mentioned in the write-up. Connor Morrow participated in the Districts last June as well in the Team Medley. We apologize for the omission and congratulate Connor on his accomplishment! Go Wave!

Committee Chairs
Architectural Committee Kellie Simpson, Acting Chair Newsletter Justin Ismach, Editor Social Committee Laura McQuillan, Co-Chair Stacey Garbow, Co-Chair Sports Committee Todd Black, Tennis Liaison Heather Castle, Woodlands Wave Woodlands HOA Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting will be held on January 27, 2014 and the election to fill expiring and vacant Board seats will be held at that time. There are two positions that will expire and will be up for election for a two-year term. There is also a vacancy that was created due to a resignation that has one year remaining in the term. The Board has decided to treat this vacancy as a special elected position this year, and include it to be voted on by the membership, as opposed to the Board appointing the seat. In total, three seats are available to be elected for terms as mentioned. the HOA; learn valuable life and business lessons and improve leadership skills and, most importantly, to meet, work for and with your neighbors and to have fun! We invite any homeowner who is interested in serving, and who is current with their annual assessments and in good standing with the Association, to contact the Property Manager to complete a Candidacy form. Please include a brief bio that will be used to introduce you and your qualifications or interest to your neighbors. Interested homeowners can submit their Candidacy forms from now through December 28, 2013. Candidates may introduce themselves and answer questions from homeowners on January 6, 2014, with the election (on line and proxy) period lasting from January 7, 2014 through January 27, 2014. At the annual meeting, the ballots will be submitted and election results will be tallied and announced, if quorum is met.

Were online www.woodlandsliving.com Find us on Facebook

facebook.comTheWoodlandsHOA

Serving on the Board is a rewarding way to We wish all candidate the best of luck, and contribute to your community. It affords the thank you for caring about The Woodlands so ability to be involved in protecting your commuch! munity and home values; participate in solving problems; gain a better understanding of the rules and expectations of homeowners and Community Managed by: On-site Property Manager

Woodlands Homeowners Assoc. 800 Woodlands Pkwy Woodstock, GA 30188 phone (678) 445-2441 fax (678) 445-2910

Heritage Property Management Services, Inc. Teresa Kissell 500 Sugar Mill Road Building B, Ste. 200 Atlanta, GA 30350 manager@woodlandsliving.com

MessagesFromTheBoard
This January will mark the completion of my 2-year term both as a mem- Whoever wins will fill a spot that can feel both rewarding and thankless at ber of the Woodlands HOA Board of Directors, and as President. It has times. Whichever version the days ahead bring, my advice to you is lead been my honor to have served a community that I love. In this period of with balance and reason, not emotion. Seek out and listen to those who time I have seen significant improvement and change, both in ways that are not heard as much as those who's voices cannot be ignored. Comcan be calculated and valuated, and ways that are less obvious but no municate openly; if you are doing the right things, there is nothing to hide. less important. As a homeowner it is your right to participate in the gov- And always remember that you are a neighbor. There will seldom be a ernance of the community, and I encourage any of you that are interested decision that you make that will satisfy everyone, so serve with conviction in being involved to consider running for a Board position in the 2014 honor and you will do well. The tangible results are what has made this election, which will be held at the 2014 Woodlands HOA Annual Meeting position fun and rewarding. Thank you for letting me serve the Woodon January 27, 2014. lands.

For the period ending Nov. 30, 2013. Total funds = $633k, decrease of owners, as well as accounts no longer residing in The Woodlands remains $58.4k from Q3-2013, equivalent to period operating expenses. YTD a concern area, with a total amount owed of $184k. The Board of Direc-

operating expenses are only $6k over budget and should fall within the tors has directed our management company and collection agent to take budget at year-end. YTD capital expenditures and projects $5.7k over more progressive approach at colleting these long-outstanding sums, and budget, resulting from additional remedial work on the detention ponds. We have received $604k in assessment payments (HOA dues) or about 80% of the budgeted 2013 dues. By count of households, the number of Funding of the capital reserves is $30k short, with a total of $139k contribdelinquencies has dropped from as high as 22% at the start of the year, to uted towards the annual $185k total. This will be approx. $50k at year an all-time low of 6%, or approx. 65 households. The actual amount owed end. This is due to the income shortage mentioned above. by this minority of homethis should remain a priority of the new Board in order to alleviate an shortfall of income to the Association.

Its Winter and while we may find ourselves doing more things inside, we continue to enjoy the amenities that you take advantage of and that draw still have some nice days that we can enjoy the outdoors; and what a new owners and help to maintain and increase your homes value. Please beautiful community to enjoy it in! Your home is typically your single most do your part by promptly paying your assessment when it comes due. expensive investment and while we cant control or speed up the slowly increasing values, you can take steps to ensure that its value is maintained both aesthetically and in real dollars. No one likes a bill; however, please be reminded that statements for 2014 HOA assessments are on their way. It is vital that every owner pay their assessments in a timely manner as these are the funds that the Association draws from to maintain the community throughout the year (landscaping, pool management, utilities, etc.). The Association is a business, and , it has financial obligations to meet. The Association is dependent on each dollar that comes in every year to ensure that you may And the biggest thing you can do and a completely free option - VOLUNTEER!! The association runs completely on volunteers. Giving up a While taking care of your home can be expensive, there are smaller, less expensive or even free things you can do to help maintain the appearance of your home and your community.

weekday night here and there or a weekend is deeply appreciated by all those owners who can see how smoothly their community runs and who enjoy the social activities and special events that are offered! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Commi ees&Clubs
Atlanta Winters are unpredictable. One year it will feel like Spring, the A couple of other things that are easily overlooked are to change the rotanext it will feel like the next Ice Age. Nevertheless, it never hurts to be tion of your ceiling fans and to properly test all smoke and carbon monoxprepared for what can happen. We all remember the deep post-Christmas ide detectors. freeze of a couple of years ago. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your home is ready for the cold, if the cold decides to visit:

Reverse the fan. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here's how you know the fan is

Checklist: Clean your gutters Insulate walls and attic Caulk and weather strip doors and windows Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside Insulate any water lines, and winterize irrigation to avoid freezing Have chimney and flue inspected

ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise

Check the alarms. This is a great time to check the operation and change the batteries on your home's smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Many homes in the Woodlands are coming up on that milestone.

The Social Committee, headed up by Stacey Garbow and Laura McQuil- Please check the Woodlands HOA Facebook Fan Page and your e-mails lan, have done a wonderful job this year organizing fun events for the for updates on Social events. community. The annual Easter egg hunt kicked off the season, and everyone enjoyed Spring and Summer events, like pool parties, fun movie nights, like Dine-In Movie Night and Family Movie Night. We were Remember, these events are brought to you by volunteers. There is always room for more hands to assist. If you would like to join the committee, or even be involved in a single event, please contact these hardworking ladies to help by e-mail at social@woodlandsliving.com. Thanks, Stacey, and Laura, for all of your hard work!

pleased to see so many participants and tents at the Fall Camp-out event, and the year was closed out with a wonderful Holiday event at the clubhouse with refreshments and two special guest, Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Social calendar for 2014 is under construction, and we cant wait to see what next year has in store. Were sure it will be fun for all!

BOOK CLUB
In case you had not heard, The Woodlands has a great Book Club that meets on the second Monday of every month at the Woodlands Clubhouse at 7:30 PM. Why dont you join in, make some new friends, and discuss a book with the group? The next scheduled club meeting will be: Monday, January 13th at 7:30pm Inferno by Dan Brown Monday, February 10th at 7:30pm The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling Monday, March 10th at 7:30pm The House on Tradd Street by local

author, Karen White.

InCaseYouWondered...
Identity Change
With the issue of the last quarterly newsletter, we changed the theme to Woodlands Living, with a focus on life in The Woodlands. This change was very well received, and we have gone an additional step to 'brand' ourselves with this new theme. Effective immediately you are able to access the HOA website at http://www.woodlandsliving.com/, instead of the older and more cumbersome http://www.woodstockwoodlands.com/. All e-mail addresses have also been changed to be consistent with this new Internet URL. New web addresses and e-mail addresses: Website http://www.woodlandsliving.com Teresa Kissell manager@woodlandsliving.com Social Committee social@woodlandsliving.com Both the old and new URL's will work until the expiration of the old address sometime in 2014, but please set your bookmarks to the new address and update your address book to reflect this change; and feel free to begin using it immediately. We hope you enjoy the new theme, and please give us feedback! Remember: If you do not already have a valid account on the new website, please contact Teresa at the Property Managers office to get logged on. Your account will provide you access to online features like online payments, clubhouse scheduling, eBlasts and registration for the upcoming election. At last count only 5-out-of-10 homes were registered, so its important to get yourself online!
The Park Jan-June 2013 June-Dec 2013 The Views Jan-June 2013 June-Dec 2013 $128,833 $157,725 93.3% 94.8% 54 30 $181,566 $180,250 96.1% 96.7% 23 29

Know Your Neighborhood

How much is my home worth? A real estate agent living in the Woodlands was kind enough to assist us in providing an overview of home sales in the Woodlands in 2013. The results are interesting, and seem dependent on subdivision. The chart below gives first half and second half of 2013 average home sale prices, as well as number of days on the market and percentage of sell price vs. asking price. The trend is indicated with an arrow. Well continue to provide updates to this. The Woodlands remains an indemand location to live for home buyers!
Subdivision The Enclave Jan-June 2013 June-Dec 2013 The Glen Jan-June 2013 June-Dec 2013 The Court Jan-June 2013 June-Dec 2013 $208,900 $189,350 95.5% 94.6% 45 28 $248,090 $244,300 97.7% 96.6% 60 63 Avg Sell Price $263,914 $286,500 % of Asking Price 95.9% 97.4% Days on Market 24 32

Facebook
The Woodlands is on Facebook. The mission of our page is to promote good will and cultivate a sense of community in the Woodlands. Visit us here, and Like Us in order to stay up-to-date on community events, happenings around the neighborhood, great photos and submissions from your friends and neighbors, and discussion on everything Woodlands. Visit us here: http://www.facebook.com/TheWoodlandsHOA

Last Summer we took the opportunity to ask homeowners what amenity they loved about The Woodlands. The results are displayed below. Overwhelmingly homeowners and residents L-O-V-E the swimming pools. But amenities like the Nature Trail were as valued as the tennis courts. We will continue to use feedback like this as an indicator of where to focus attention. Thanks for your feedback!

YourSubmissions
New Year, New Landscape Beginnings
We look to this time of year as a New Beginning, whether to break from temperature and retain moisture. Removing this barrier could potentially old habits or to begin new routines in our lives. This can apply for your stir up more weed seeds in that soil or in that existing mulch and now you landscape too. Out with the Old and in with the New will be my Land- have another battle on your hands. scape Mantra for 2014. IN WITH THE NEW if you have never used a professional landscape OUT WITH THE OLD Begin the year with Corrective Pruning. This company to assist you with your landscaping, whether its maintenance or type of pruning really means deep, hard cutbacks of your plant material to a large project, I urge you to at least seek out an estimate for your needs. help reclaim a space this plant may have overgrown. Some hedges can In the month of January, companies will be scheduling out their chemical tolerate being cut back as much as half, as the plants growth cycle is at a applications for control of pesky crabgrass. Dont delay in setting an apminimum. Your plants will not be as appealing after these cutbacks, but pointment with your friendly neighborhood landscaper, because as March with spring 2 short months away those plants will fi out with warmer and April nears their phones begin to ring a little more. Take the time to weather. This also applies to knockout roses and spirea. I like to use 18 continue to enhance your landscape and let 2014 be the BEST YEAR OF for height of knockout roses after cutback, ensuring we get inside the plant YOUR LANDSCAPE. removing dead branches and general thinning of the plant. This is also a great time to use those NEW landscape gloves as those roses will tear your hands up. A common question this time of year is whether to remove the old mulch before applying new mulch to my beds. Absolutely not. The reason is that the old mulch has actually created a barrier and helps control weeds,

Micky Eubanks is co-owner of Lawnsmith, landscape contractor for The Woodlands. 678-445-4283. micky@lawnsmithinc.net or kirk@lawnsmithinc.net

Staging Your Home For Sale

There is a reason why a whole industry has sprung up called showing, put the lids down on all the toilets and wipe out all the Home Staging. It works. There is proof that a well staged home sinks. Of course, the challenge is to maintain this throughout the stays on the market fewer days and with higher priced offers. How listing timeframe. Try to think back to when you were a buyer. you live in your home is not necessarily how you want to present it Wasnt it easier to picture yourself moving into a home that apto the market. If you can wrap your mind around the idea that peared more like a model home than a lived-in home with your dwelling has become a product for sale, it makes it easier to strewn clothes, wet towels hanging off the shower door and the eliminate the personalization that you have lovingly cultivated smell of last nights dinner of shrimp touffe? while you have lived there. Pre-packing your home is a great way at looking at staging. It

Some staging techniques include removing artificial flowers/trees would be better to reduce the extra stuff you have accumulated (they just always seem to appear dusty no matter how fastidious and have it stored in boxes or bins neatly stacked in your garage/ you are) and collectibles that could prove to be distracting and basement/storage area than lose a buyers interest. That way you perhaps broken if not contained in display cabinets. Taking down will be ahead of the game when you do get a signed contract and your wall of family pictures and cleaning out closets so that they the real packing begins in earnest. look larger. Clearing your surface areas and limiting your decorative items to 3 or 5 (odd numbers work). And lastly, perhaps your refrigerator should look like a refrigerator and not a bulletin board. The number one complaint buyers have is related to smell. Clean Julie Smith is a real estate agent and new Woodlands resident. Thanks for your great submissions for this newsletter, Julie!

your house like it has never been cleaned before!!! Before a

KIDZ STUFF
1.

Pretzle Rolo Turtles

Directions
1. 2. minutes or until fragrant. 3. 4. 5. 20 miniature pretzel squares 20 unwrapped Rolo candies 20 toasted Pecans 7. 8. 6. Place them in the oven for about 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan and press one pecan on top of each Rolo. Let cool, and enjoy! Remove them from the oven. On a small baking sheet, arrange the pretzels. Place one Rolo on top of each pretzel Preheat the oven to 350. Place the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for about 7

Taste of The Woodlands

Ingredients

Paper Snowman Luminaries

little holiday cheer to the room. .

If you have some plain paper, a marker and a piece of tape, you

crafting supplies needed, just an LED tea light to illuminate them.

can make these luminaries in literally a few minutes! No fancy

Perfect for the holiday table, great as a night light, or for adding a 2.

1.

Directions

Sparkling Cranberries
Directions
1. Make a simple syrup by bringing the water and sugar just to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Let the syrup cool for a couple minutes and then pour it over the cranberries. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 2. The next day, drain the cranberries and toss them with larger grained sugar until they are well coated. Place the coated cranberries on a baking sheet to dry for a few hours. 3. Do a second toss with the regular granulated sugar, this typically takes care of any sticky spots on the cranberries. 2 cups of water 2 cups of fresh cranberries 3/4 cup superfine sugar 4. Let dry another hour Enjoy Makes 2 cups of Sparkling Cranberries

Tape

Scissors

What Youll Need

LED tea light candle

One sheet of white copy/print paper

nary over the top of the tea light. Done! Black and orange markers, crayons or pencils

snowman face in the center of the page

Ingredients
2 cups of granulated sugar

Fold the paper lengthwise, and use the markers to draw a

Tape the two ends of the paper together to form a cylinder.

Place an LED tea light on the table and set your paper lumi-

CommunityCalendar

January 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed 1 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 Thu 2 9 16 23 30 Fri 3 10 17 24 31 Sat 4 11 18 25 Jan1NewYearsDay Jan6HOACandidateMeet&Greet Jan13BookClub@7:30PM Jan20Mar nLutherKingDay Jan27WoodlandsHOAAnnualMee ng Jan31HOAassessmentduedate

February 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9 16 23 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 Feb14Valen nesDay Feb10BookClub@7:30PM Feb17PresidentsDay

March 2014
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 31 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 Mar9DaylightSavingsTime Mar10BookClub@7:30PM Mar17St.PatricksDay Mar20FirstDayofSpring Mar31HOAassessmentduedate

OurSponsors

Get Your Business Noticed by over 1,000 homeowners in

Wo odlands Living
AdSize
BusinessCard(1/8 page) 1/4page 1/2page Fullpage

Dimensions(lx h)
3.75x2.5 3.75x5 7.5x5 7.5x10.5

Rate(perissue)
$50 $95 $180 $350

The Woodlands Living community newsle er is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. The newsle er is mailed via. USPS approximately 1014 days prior to the issue date, and it is also posted online at woodstockwood lands.com. Artwork for ads must be submi ed electronically in JPG or PDF and be sized to t the ad size specied, including the orienta onnoted.Nodesignservicesareoered.

OurSponsors

SteveTuck
FinancialAdvisor 12050Highway92 Suite136 Woodstock,GA30188 Bus.7709265503Fax8772221465 Cell4042025119

NY PIZZERIA YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD $5 OFF With This Coupon Purchase of $30 or More Any Dine In or Take-Out 1/4page Cannot be combined with offers. 3.75 (l)other x5 (h)Offer good at any of the 3 Alessios locations! $95 31.2013WoodlandsLiving Expires: March
Monday
$3 off
16 Cheese Pizza

steve.tuck@edwardjones.com

Your Neighbor

Tuesday
Kids Eat Free
With each adult meal purchased or $10 minimum

Wednesday

Thursday Trivia Night 7-9

$5 off
Pitcher of Domestic Beer

Double Punch Day

AlessiosRoswell
Stonebridge Shopping Center

640 West Crossville Road Roswell, GA 30075

Phone: 770-640-8099 Fax: 770-640-5232