Hate to be a Scrooge, but it's ...

... dues time again.  Please see the notice below.  Also, expect to receive a copy via US Mail.  Seriously though, thanks to everyone for being timely with their dues payments and for supporting the neighborhood the way you do.  Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

=======================================================================

Grapevine Meadow Park Homeowners Association, Inc.

December 24, 2010

Dear Neighbors,

This letter is to remind you of the upcoming HOA dues.

Semi-annual dues for the period January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011, are $350 per household.  Dues are to be paid by December 31, 2010, but will be considered timely if received by January 15, 2011.  If your payment is not received by January 15, 2011, a late fee of $25 will be assessed.  All checks will be cashed on or after January 15, 2011.  Please be timely with your payments.

Checks should be made out to “Grapevine Meadow Park Homeowners Association, Inc.” and sent by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the residence of Melvyn Foster, your friendly neighborhood HOA treasurer.  Alternatively, if I am unavailable, checks can be hand-delivered to the residence of Mike Bothwell.  Please do not leave your dues payment in the mailbox or at the front door.  To receive confirmation that payment was received, please provide an email address or telephone number.

If you have prepaid your dues, your payment status will be annotated on this letter with the hand-written phrase “paid up.”

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Melvyn Foster

The Results are In

Thanks to everyone who attended our special meeting as well as those who handed in their ballots ahead of time.  We collected ballots from 18 different homeowners.  All 3 measures passed with the 2/3 votes necessary.  What is next:

1.  Updated versions of the Bylaws & Declarations will be made with the approved changes.  The board will sign them and the plan is to get them officially filed by the end of January 2011 (Once filed they will be posted on this website for reference).

2.  The dues increase will not go into effect until June 2011.  The dues for December 2010 will remain at $350 (based on $700 annually).  Expect to be getting your dues notice shortly.

Thanks again to everyone in helping to get these mattered settled, and Happy Holidays to all.

Ballots Added for Special Meeting on December 8th

Here is the information promised for the Special HOA Meeting in December 8th.  All of this information will be discussed in depth during the December 8th meeting.  As required we are providing the documented proposals 10 days ahead of time.  Please plan to attend, thanks in advance for your participation.

Below are the proposed changes:

1.  Proposed Bylaws Changes

2.  Proposed Declarations Changes

Below are ballots for the meeting, we hope you will join us for the meeting, but if you cannot attend just download and fill out a ballot and drop off at 1716 Wildflower before the 8th.

1.  Bylaws Change Ballot

2.  Declarations Change Ballot

3.  New Business Fence Funding Ballot

For comparison, the original Bylaws & Declarations are posted on our Documents Page.

If you have any trouble downloading/viewing the documents or have any questions feel free to Contact Us.

Thanks for your participation!

The Original Meeting Notice is posted Below, you should have received a copy via regular USPS Mail:

Grapevine Meadow Park Homeowners Association

****Notice of Special Meeting***

The Homeowners Association will be hosting a Special Meeting:

Wednesday December 8th, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.

Merlot Community Room

4500 Merlot Avenue

Grapevine TX

On the Agenda:

A Ballot vote on HOA Board recommended changes to the Declarations & Covenants and Bylaws.  Some of the particulars:

o    Required to have a special meeting to change the documents

o    Would like to properly file an updated version of the documents with Tarrant County

o    Would like to remove out-dated wording referring to Cary Clarke in the documents

o    Would like to properly incorporate changes that have been voted on at the last few annual membership meetings

o    There are multiple line items each requiring an individual vote (Note: an all "yes" or "no" option will be available on the ballot)

o    There will be one vote per household, and a 2/3 affirmative vote is needed to pass each item

A New Business Motion concerning the perimeter fence surrounding Meadow Park

Ballots will be available at the meeting and available online at our website http://grapevinemeadowpark.blogspot.com/ on or before November 29, 2010.

Absentee Ballots may be printed from the website, voted, and given to a proxy in attendance at the meeting.  Absentee ballot drop off is also available at the home Mike Bothwell, Communications Director of Meadow Park HOA

Garage Door Stain Website

Cary Clarke used the following type of stain on our garage doors

TWP 100 | TWP Stain | Total Wood Preservative | TWP Series 100

if you can't find it locally, you can order it here:

http://woodsealants.com/twp-100-series.htm

Check out our Companies, Contractors, Vendors page for more information.

Crime Alert: Car Break-in on Wildflower Trail

On Saturday (11/6) night there was a car break-in on Wildflower Trail.  A car window was broken and some items were stolen from the back seat.  The officer on the scene said there was a similar incident in the neighborhood on the other side of Baze Rd as well.  

Just a reminder not to leave items in plain view in your parked car even if it is in your driveway or other well lit area.  Also, please help keep a look out for anything suspicious in the neighborhood and to contact the Grapevine Police if you see any type of criminal activity.

Remember rember the 5th of November ... Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

For those of you who don't know, November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day in England

Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot...

Guy Fawkes on Wikipedia

Lastly, if you haven't seen it check out the movie V for Vendetta with Natalie Portman & Hugo Weaving, one of my favorites of all time (a great plot especially around election day, if you are looking for a movie to rent this weekend, check it out!)

You don't find dialogue like this in most movies ...

V: Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
[carves V into poster on wall]
V: The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
[giggles]
V: Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

Save The Date Annual Meadow Park Neighborhood Garage Sale Nov 13th

Meadow Park Neighborhood

Garage Sale
Saturday November 13th  8:00 am- 1:00 pm


How it works: Set up in front of your own home, clean out the house and run your own sale. Then, make some extra cash just in time for the holidays! What a deal!

Participation cost: $10 Per household Covers Signs and advertising

RSVP and payment by November 7th

Nikki Nelson
Meadow Park Social Events Coordinator
Meadow Park HOA President

Save Those Box Tops!

Your local neighborhood elementary school, Grapevine Elementary is collecting box tops as a way to raise money to fund various school projects and programs.  Last year the school raised almost $2100 from the Box Tops program.  We ask that you save each and every coupon you see on your packages and turn them in all year long.  Check out the following websites for details on the types of box tops we collect:

boxtops4education.com

or 

labels4education.com

Email us here for pick-up/drop off information.

Thanks so much for you help!

Grapevine Trash & Treasures Community Clean-up Saturday Oct 16th

Received the following from the City of Grapevine, here's a link to their flyer

Grapevine Trash & Treasures Flyer

 

Hello HOA Families and Friends -

Your are invited on a TREASURE HUNT!!! Come out and try to find the hidden Mardi Gras beads. Then cash them in for prizes.

If your family and friends are available, please join us for our 2nd Annual Trash & Treasures Event coming up this Saturday. The event received rave reviews last year so we hope you can join us!

This time we are including a new twist - let's see what Homeowner Association can rally the biggest group!  At registration, tell the check-in clerk what HOA you represent and we'll keep track.  The winning HOA gets publicity on the Keep Grapevine Beautiful website AND a cook-out for 50 in their neighborhood park.

On the day of the clean-up, join us for the KGVB picnic. There will be AMAZING prizes, FREE food, drinks and giveaways. Live music. Scout patches. Gigantic trophy for the school with the most volunteers, too! 

The event flier is attached. Please, pass it on....

Hope to see you out there! Just an hour would make a difference for this 'Greener, Cleaner' cause!


Mary Jo Tellin
Manager Volunteer Services
Executive Director Keep Grapevine Beautiful
City of Grapevine Parks & Recreation Department

4th Annual Meadow Park Neighborhood Block Party

4^th Annual

 Meadow Park Neighborhood Block Party

Saturday, September 18^th 

6:30- 8:30 pm

Brook Meadow Court Circle

 Ticket Cost: $15 per family  $10 per single

Dinner to include:

Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Sides, Drinks and Dessert

 Courtesy of the Fabulous Lisa Ferrell

Wine Sampling

Provided by our Resident Wine Expert

Michael Benedetti

Please bring: Lawn Chairs or a blanket for your family

RSVP by September 13th

Mail or deliver your payment to:

Nikki Nelson

Brook Meadow Court circle will be closed at 5:00 P.M.

If you live in the circle of Brook Meadow Ct and will need your car during the party, please park your car on Sun Meadow Drive, thank you!

Support the CHHS Band with GoodSearch

See below about an easy way to support some of the students at our local High School.  Also, if anyone has other fundraising ideas for our local schools, send me the info and I'd be glad to post them.

GoodSearch = Painless Fundraising!

Think about how many internet searches you do in a day, week or month!  We have an easy way for people who regularly use internet search engines to help us raise money for the general band fund! 

GoodSearch is a search engine with a unique social mission.  It’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get great search results, and each time you search, GoodSearch makes a donation to the CHHS Band!  There is also a shopping component to this site called GoodShop.  If you take advantage of shopping through this site, we can earn even more money!  All of this just for doing the internet searches or shopping your would normally do!

What do you have to do?  Go to the GoodSearch toolbar page! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/

Search for the Colleyville Heritage High School Band and click “Verify” and then download the toolbar and start using it.

What’s next?  Spread the word!  Please ask your family and friends to start using GoodSearch as their search engine and every time they do, they financially support the band.  We need a lot of supporters!  Let’s get the word out!

From the GoodSearch website….

How GoodSearch Works

Here's an example of how much your organization can earn:

Charity or School Size	Number of Supporters	Average Searches Per Day	Estimated Revenue/Year from Search	Amount Purchased Per Person/Year via GoodShop	Average % of Sale Donated	Estimated Revenue from Shopping	Total Donation/Year
Small	100	2	$730	$500	3%	$1,500	$2,230
Medium	1,000	2	$7,300	$500	3%	$15,000	$22,300
Large	10,000	2	$73,000	$500	3%	$150,000	$223,000

The data provided herein is estimated. For example, the revenue does not reflect certain adjustments which may be provided for in the terms of service (e.g. adjustments due to fraudulent searches, or returned or cancelled merchandise). As a result, we offer no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of this information. This information is to be used as a guide only.

Street Light Poles Scheduled to be Painted Tuesday 8/24

The 5 black street light poles located in the neighborhood are scheduled to be painted this Tuesday (8/24).  Preparation work will start around 6:30 a.m. or so, the painting is scheduled to be finished by the end of the day.  Please do not park any vehicles in front of the poles and keep any trash left out for garbage pick-up away from the poles.  Reminder signs will be taped to the street poles on Monday.  Thanks in advance for everybody's cooperation.

Grapevine Meadow Park HOA

SAVE THE DATE - Block Party September 18th

SAVE THE DATE
 

Saturday, September 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Our 4th Annual Neighborhood Block Party will be held Saturday, 
September 18th in the Brook Meadow Court circle. This is a great way 
to meet our fabulous neighbors and reconnect after a busy summer.

Ticket information will be sent out in the next few weeks and 
volunteers for the event are always welcome.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Minutes for May 10, 2010 Board Meeting Available & Other News

All,

The minutes for the May 10, 2010 HOA Board Meeting are available here.

The main focus of this meeting (1st after annual meeting) was for the introduction of the new board and hand-offs of various duties, tasks, etc.  There were two other key topics discussed:

1.  how to save to pay for a new exterior fence and a timeframe for replacement

2.  how to properly update the Declarations & Bylaws

The board met again last week to review a set of proposed Declaration/By-Law changes, look for an official packet with proposed changes and general meeting to follow for ratification sometime in September (a copy will be posted on this blog as well).  The minutes to last week's meeting will be posted once they have been completed.

To reiterate, nothing with the fence or declarations/by-laws has been officially decided.  Any changes will require an official vote of the general members (not just the board), more details will be forthcoming, probably in early September.

Other news:

• The board has approved painting of the neighborhood street light poles, look for this to be done in the coming weeks.
• We will be replacing the lights that shine on the exterior neighborhood sign on the corner of Baze & Glade.  The current lights tend to leak and cause the bulbs to burn out prematurely.  Installation of the new lights will cost approximately $200-$225, but will hopefully result in longer lasting light bulbs.  A big thanks to Steve Papathopoulos for doing a lot of the leg work on this issue (and the street light painting as well).
• There is an issue with a "powdery mildew" on some of the common area Crepe Myrtles, one theory here is that because the sprinklers come on in the middle of the night, the Myrtles don't get a chance to dry out, we will try switching the watering time closer to dawn to alleviate this problem.
• There have been some issues with The Lawn Firm leaving the bags of grass clippings out after they mow (presumably for the Grapevine trash collectors to pick-up on Friday), we plan to address this with them as it violates the accepted neighborhood practice of putting out trash before 7:00 pm the night before trash is collected

Happy 7-11 Day!

Anyone Thirsty?

It's 7-11 day at well, 7-11.  Stop by any 7-11 today and get a free 7.11 oz Slurpee.  Here's a link with more details:

http://www.slurpee.com/

Thanks to Nikki for sending the info on this.

Car Break-ins Reported Monday Night/Tuesday Morning

At least two car break-ins happened last night (Tuesday morning) on Brook Meadow Ct., two houses apart.  Nothing was reported on Wildflower or Sun Meadow.  The homeowner who lives between the 2 houses may have heard a loud thump or thud around 2:30 am.  If anyone saw a suspicious vehicle in the general area around this time, please contact the police.

A camera and sporting equipment were stolen from one vehicle, not sure about the second.  Oddly, the one that lost the camera was parked very near a street light, so the area was well lit.  Grapevine Police were contacted and a report taken.

Also, from the police investigating the incident:

 ... the thieves use a red light to look for valuable items left in the vehicle, break out the window and enter through the window to avoid setting off the car alarm.

To all HOA members, the police advise to remove valuable items from vehicles at night if not garaged.

Crime Alert: Potential Mail Theft

Last Friday one of our HOA members on Brook Meadow arrived home from work to find a business card from a Grapevine Police Officer on their front door.  After speaking with the officer, the HOA member was notified that a potential mail thief was frightened off (a big thanks to the vigilant neighbor who noticed a dark vehicle with dark tinted windows driving slowly on Brook Meadow Court and was kind enough to alert the police).  The police found one piece of mail laying in the street, as well as several mail boxes with the fronts opened and hanging down. 

Everyone please be aware and on the look out.  If you notice a strange/suspect car and can get a license number let us know (and of course call the police if you see any illegal activity) and we will pass it along to the Grapevine Police Officer who has been investigating the incident.

Reminder, June 30th Deadline for Semi-Annual HOA Dues

As a reminder if you owe semi-annual dues (i.e. if you didn't paid for the whole year in December) please turn in your $350 by the end of June.  I am posting Melvyn's letter below, please pay promptly as being Treasurer is hard enough without having to send follow up notices for delinquent dues. 

Thanks again to Melvyn for doing such a great job as Treasurer!

COPY OF DUES LETTER

Note:  I have removed the addresses in the letter for privacy concerns, if you need the address info please Contact Us Here

 

Grapevine Meadow Park Homeowners Association, Inc.

June 20, 2010

Dear Neighbors,

This letter is to remind you of the upcoming HOA dues.

Semi-annual dues for the period July 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010, are $350 per household.  Dues are to be paid by June 30, 2010, but will be considered timely if received by July 15, 2010.  If your payment is not received by July 15, 2010, a late fee of $25 will be assessed.  All checks will be cashed on or after July 15, 2010.  Please be timely with your payments.

Checks should be made out to “Grapevine Meadow Park Homeowners Association, Inc.” and sent by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the residence of Melvyn Foster, your friendly neighborhood HOA treasurer.  Alternatively, if I am unavailable, checks can be hand-delivered to the residence of either Rick Packer or Mike Bothwell.  Please do not leave your dues payment in the mailbox or at the front door.  To receive confirmation that payment was received, please provide an email address or telephone number.

If you have prepaid the entire year’s dues, your payment status will be annotated on this letter with the hand-written phrase “paid up.”

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Regards,
Melvyn Foster

Reminder About Leaving Garage Doors Open - Car Stolen in Glade Crossing

According to the Glade Crossing message board (see www.gladecrossing.com for more information, note you will need to register to see the message board), a car was stolen overnight from a house on Chadourne Ct.  The resident thought they had closed there garage door when they came in for the evening, but for whatever reason the door malfunctioned and remained open.  The car was reportedly found about a mile and a half away parked at an apartment complex in Euless.

Just a reminder to remember to keep your garage doors closed when you are not using your garage.  Cars, lawn mowers, and other items are easy targets, especially during the summer months when burglars tend to stay out later.

Ideas for Summer Family Fun

One of our friends always sends out a list of ideas for Summer activities to keep the kids busy. Click here for the list. I have also added a Summer Fun page to the website with some links to the local libraries and movie theater deals. If you have other ideas for family fun stuff add a comment or send me an email and I will post them.

Added Website Page for Companies, Contracts, and Vendors

A new page has been added for companies, contractors, and vendors used by neighborhood residents.  You can get to the page by clicking the link below

Link to Companies, Contractors, and Vendors

or by navigating to the links section of the blog in the bottom right.

Let me know who else you want to add, I'm sure there are more.  Also, I've added a disclaimer stating that the comments on the page are by individuals and that their listing on the website does not constitute a formal recommendation by the HOA.  Finally, I think we should stay away from negative comments and reviews and only list those companies, contractors, and vendors with which we have had positive experiences.

Happy Pac-Man Day!

For you Pac-man fans out there, the Google home page is featuring a special version of Pac-man to celebrate its 30th anniversary.  Check it out at

Google Home Page

and click "Insert Coin" to play (it's probably today only so play while you can!)

DFW Connector Information

Based on your commute some of you may be interested in the DFW Connector website.  You can sign up for email alerts about lane closures and I think you get traffic updates as well.  Here is a link

DFW Connector Website

I am also adding a section for external links to the bottom right of the blog page and I'll put this link there.

Upcoming Neighborhood Events

Mark your calendars for the following Neighborhood Events!

4th Annual Neighborhood Block Party - Saturday, September 18th,  6:30-8:30 pm

5th Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale - Saturday, November 13th,  8:00 am-1:00 pm

More Info to follow ...

Election Results from 2010 Annual Meeting

Congratulations to the newly elected 2010 Meadow Park Board

President - Nikki Nelson

Vice President - Laura McClure

Secretary - George Carranza

Treasurer - Melvyn Foster

Communications/Website - Mike Bothwell

At Large Member - Jim Redding

ARC

Patty Gonzales

Steve Papathopoulos

Erik Nelson

Tim Newshott

Social Events

Kathy Papathopoulos

Nikki Nelson

Landscape Chair Person

Steve Papathopoulos

Also a big thanks to the following folks who have just finished terms on the board:

Rick Packer

Russell Cheney

Kathy Papathopoulos

Welcome to the New Grapevine Meadow Park Blog

Welcome to the New Grapevine Meadow Park Blog Site, prepare to be amazed!