Thank you.
Rainier Vista HOA

NOTICE OF ANNUAL HOMEOWNERS MEETING
For
Rainier Vista at Jenkins Creek
Home Owners Association

Saturday September 18, 2010
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Covington City Hall
16720 SE 271st Street, Suite 100 (behind Petco)

Agenda

1. Approve 2009 meeting minutes
2. Review of 2010 projects
3. Discuss proposed 2011 projects
4. Present 2011 Budget
5. Election of Board of Directors
6. Homeowner Forum / Presentations

The Home Owners Association Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to learn about the concerns and accomplishments of our community. It also provides an opportunity to see how your HOA annual assessments are being used and a chance to meet your fellow community members.

The Rainier Vista at Jenkins Creek Board of Directors urges all homeowners to exercise their vote by attending the meeting or by submitting a proxy. If you will not be able to attend, please participate by completing the enclosed proxy. You may choose anyone attending the meeting to represent you. Proxies can be mailed to P.O. Box 9522, Covington, WA 98042; if they are carried to the meeting they need to be delivered to the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting.

Please visit our website at www.rainiervista.info for more information, or send an email to board@rainiervista.info.

• 1 PM: Crafts and pictures with the Easter bunny
• 2 PM: Easter Egg Hunt!

Festivities will be held rain or shine. Please have each child bring a basket for the egg hunt.

RSVP to treasurer@rainiervista.info with the number of children participating and their ages. We look forward to seeing you there!

See the HOA meeting schedule page for the agenda and historical minutes.

Road Paving
You should have received a flyer outlining the planned clean up and paving of the roads during the week of September 21st. Download the schedule and map.

Download the letter that has gone out to every homeowner.

Thank you to all the people who attended the Annual Meeting. It was a really useful meeting that gave the Board the opportunity to hear about the priorities for homeowners for 2009.

So, we’ve gathered together articles on how to deescalate any issues that may arise.

Ways to be neighborly:

• Welcome new neighbors with an introductory note or a friendly chat.
• Maintain the area around your home so that it’s neat and attractive.
• Be conscientious about noises that might disturb your neighbors, such as vacuum cleaners, music, loud talk and barking dogs.
• End parties at a reasonable hour. While you’re at it, invite your neighbors to come, too.
• Return anything that you borrow from your neighbor, such as tools or appliances, as soon as possible. Express your gratitude when you do so.
• Replace anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil.
• Respect your neighbor’s privacy.
• Offer to collect mail, water plants and watch the pets while your neighbors are away on a trip.
• Learn from neighbors with cultural backgrounds different from your own.
• Invite your neighbor over for a leisurely cup of coffee or tea to discuss any problems you may have or just to share good news.

Why and How to Be A Good Neighbor

Being A Good Neighbor Is Its Own Reward

Do you live in a neighborhood where you feel safe and connected to others, or do you feel overcrowded, threatened, and otherwise unsafe in your surroundings? This, and other aspects of neighborhood life, can impact both your level of happiness and stress.

• Socializing: With our busy schedules, we don’t always see friends as often as we’d like. For a bit of socializing that takes only minutes out of your day, it’s nice to stop and chat with people for a few minutes on your way out to your car. And the more people you have available for shared social support, the better, generally speaking.
• Pooled Resources: I know people in some more-friendly neighborhoods who share dinners, minimizing the effort it takes to cook. Others trade fruit from their trees. A neighbor who borrows a few eggs may come back with a plate of cookies that the eggs helped create. Knowing your neighbors increases everyone’s ability to share.
• Security: Knowing the people around you can bring a sense of security. If you need something–whether it’s a cup of sugar when you’re baking cookies, or someone to call the police if they see someone lurking outside your home–it’s nice to know you can depend on those around you and they can depend on you.
• Home Pride: Knowing the people who live around you provides a strengthened sense of pride in your home and neighborhood. Coming home just feels nicer.

While you may not be able to change the neighborhood in which you live, you can change the experience you have in your own neighborhood by getting more involved with those around you and taking pride in the area in which you live. The following are some ideas and resources that can help you to feel more at home in your neighborhood:

• Get Out More: If you live in a generally safe area, I highly recommend taking a morning or evening walk. It’s a great stress reliever that also allows you to get to know many of your neighbors, get an understanding of who lives where, and feel more at home in your surroundings.
• Smile: It’s simple enough, but if you’re not in the habit of smiling and giving a friendly hello to the people you encounter in your neighborhood, it’s a good habit to start. While not everyone will return the friendliness immediately, it’s a quick way to get to know people and build relationships, even if you’ve lived close for years and haven’t really said much to one another.
• Host A Block Party: If you already know several of your neighbors in a superficially friendly way, you may want to get to know them better and meet the rest by throwing a block party. They’re surprisingly fun and easy.
• Start a Neighborhood Watch Program: To feel safer at night and build a sense of community at the same time, starting a neighborhood watch program is a great idea!

From http://stress.about.com/od/relationships/qt/neighbors.htm