Volume 11, No. 4: January 2007

When You Gotta Go . . .

            “Hey Larry, can I use the toilet in the Club House?” Jerry Owens asked as he entered the building.

            “Yes, you can,” answered Larry Eginoire. “It is now ready to handle anything you can deliver! You can even take a shower, understanding that if the ceiling tiles are delivered while you are showering,  you might get thrown out without your clothes.” He went on to explain the ceiling tiles and the handicapped doors haven’t been delivered, but everything else is finished. “We’re just waiting for delivery so we can finish the job.”

            When Larry returned to Sunscape in September, he expected the bathrooms and showers in the Club House to be completed by the contractor who, he thought, had been hired to do the job.  Obviously, he was wrong. Part of the work had been done, such as tearing out walls and making room to get to the water pipes. But it was far from being a usable facility for park residents.

            So, Larry got together with Herb Ganske, Jim Grimes, Cliff Grife, Larry Gingrich, Gene Nieuwenhuis, Bob Marsh, Ken Macomber, Gerald Higgerson, Dan Booker, Roland Rouleau, Ray Higgerson, Nels Pierson, Marcey Grimes, Janelle Eginoire and many, many others who provided the needed supervision and the labor for the design and the final product.

            “We’re not quite finished,” he continued. The two doors with locks cost $3,500 and will be a nice addition,” he said. “That way we meet all the Federal American Disability Act requirements,” he added.

            “By the time we get it totally completed, we’ll come in about $7,000 to $8,000 under the budget projection,” Larry explained. “We saved some here and some there, like in getting the plumbing completed. We didn’t cut any corners with the fixtures and the plumbing, but the crew did most of the work, so that sure saved loads of money.”

            Sunscape Coop owes Larry and the volunteer crew a great big round of applause and an even bigger THANK YOU, BOYS for a job well done

COME ON AND JOIN THE FUN!!!

What?  Beginners square dance lessons

Where? Community Center

When?  Every Monday beginning Jan. 8

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Questions?  Call Jan Byrum 723-3265

Sign up at the Club House

Update on Construction

            The County Inspector approved the floor layout for the Maintenance Building. By the time The Sunscaper goes to press the concrete floor will be poured and work will be beginning on construction. Then we will be able to actually “see” the progress being made.  The guys have had to jump through a lot of hoops to get necessary approvals for the various stages, but now they are poised and ready move ahead.

            Herb and his crew have met with architects for the plans for the Office Building. One message they get loud and clear is the costs keep going up, just like everything else. That will be the next big project after the Maintenance Building.

You are not a dynamic person simply because you blow your top.

Volunteers for Park Party

            We are in desperate need of volunteers for the Park Party. Arlene, the Activity Director and Linda Willowy have agreed to work together and try to develop a frame work for this year’s party, but no one has stepped up to chair the Park Party or any of the committees. They are in desperate need of leadership and for “worker bees” to get this year’s party off dead center. They have a meeting scheduled for January 5 at 10 a.m. in the Community Center to try to put the Park Party together.  They need all of the volunteer support they can get to carry this party forward. Please attend!!

One of the advantages of bowling over golf

 is that you seldom lose a bowling ball.

Millie’s Memories

            It was 15 years ago, January 1992, that we pulled our Bronco II behind our motor home and approached the “guard shack” at the end of the gravel road.  It wasn’t dusty that day, because it had rained.  We were directed to join the 99 who were already parked in the mud on the “south acreage” with no electricity, water, or sewer hookups.  Lucky for us, the first couple we met were Leonard and Jackie Wersinger, who suggested we pull up beside their lot (#92) and hook to their electricity.  We were there a week before moving to  Lot 73.  (The park’s southern border extended from 21MN eastward thru 92 IL, 199 AL, 283 Tha and 344 IN, stopping at Wisconsin Dr.) It rained and rained.  After George started working on the then being built Activity Center, we were allowed to stay beyond our 3-week limit.  And it rained. I joined the crafters doing plastic canvas in spite of the fact that I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia.  At night the Clubhouse, the only common building available, was crowded with card and dominoes players.  Tables were “at a premium.”

             Those were the days!   We often wondered why we ever came back, but we did.  And because we didn’t want to set in the mud again, we bought a lot.  We’ve never considered going anywhere else.  What do you remember about “the good old days”?

Desert Oasis . . .

Happy New Year!

            Is it possible that 2007 is already here?  It was such a short time ago that we were welcoming 2006. Doubtless, you like me, didn’t get everything done or said that you intended.  Probably, you like me, did and said things that you certainly never intended.  Now we have a New Year, a new opportunity.  We have another year ahead.

            The words of Uncle Mordicai to his niece, Esther (Esther 4:14 KJV) speaks volumes.  “Who knoweth, but thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

            As we look at our world, our park, and our families, remember, “We are not here by accident.” 

            “Lord, give us seeing eyes, listening ears, and attentive hearts to the needs of those around us.”  May I be a blessing to someone today.

            Let’s give it our best shot!!!

                        Love you,  G. H.

From the Desk of Sunscape Sunny

Advice Columnist

Dear Sunny,

            I would like to offer my personal thanks to the courteous person or persons that spilled all the styrofoam peanuts at the garbage bins and just left them to blow around, covering the area with a white blanket of beauty. I got some very good exercise picking up the soft little pieces.  I especially loved chasing them around the area. Again, thanks for the consideration.

                        Harold of Sunscape

Dear Harold,

            It just does my heart good to learn that at least one of our wonderful, inconsiderate, numb-brained neighbors still exists. I was beginning to think all the idiots had moved out of the park, but I’m sure glad you found one left. My best guess, Harold, is that he/she got to the garbage bins, emptied his garbage cans, then had to pull one of his/her hearing aids out, and BOOM… his/her head completely emptied right through the ear canal! All those Styrofoam peanuts you saw were actually the stuffing out of his/her head.

            And, Harold, thank you for picking up all the brain parts in and around the garbage bins.

                                                Sunny

We regret that Harriet, our manager, has resigned.

We wish her well.

Remarks from the BOD

Mary Anne  - I have learned a lot about our park finances in the past few months! Couple of things that strike me about the coming year is that, because of lots of ever-increasing expenses, we, as a park, must strive to stay within, or below if possible, our current budget projections. We’ve got to save every place we can.

Billie Herring - Why do we have such a glaring lack of volunteer help? What has happened to our sense of “community” and our pride in working together toward a common cause?  One of the very first things I noticed when I took the position as Secretary for the Board was the absolute VOID of written procedures.. We’ve got to get procedures and policies written, and be prepared to pass them along to our successors.

Mel Graves - We, as a Cooperative, are going to need to continue to build a RESERVE FUND.  Parts of our infrastructure, such as our roads, are beginning to show signs of failure and are going to require repair. Our water system is old and is showing signs of aging. We must begin to pay attention to these things.

Don Hanson - As a general rule the people in this park are friendly, cordial, and are a lot of fun.  There are, however, times when those same people can be very demanding.  I would ask that park members understand that our Manager isn’t on duty after certain hours, and we need to respect her need for personal time. 

Gene Curry - Once again, residents of the park are not following rules and regulations. relating to the number and types of vehicles that can be parked on lots, along with many other violations. We would like to get a communication system started where people would be made aware they are in violation and allow them time to correct the problem.  If they don’t, then we could send them a letter.

Gene Wallace – The biggest issue is the sewer system. We need to reach some logical solution that will benefit all the parties.

Herb Ganske could not be reached in time for the press.

·      If you change your e-mail address, please notify the Welcome Center and Charlie Fender at 26 MN, so it can be kept up to date.

·      If you want to donate medical equipment, please contact Mary Ann Fender at 26 MN.

·      If you have a shed that you want to give away, please notify the office.  The park needs to put a shed on one of the co-op lots.

Nancy has 12 more tickets available for the AZ Opry.  If needed, she will help with transport- ation.  See her at 141 IL.