Page 11 - July August Cascadian

A message from your General Manager
Diane Blakeman, LCAM
A message from Tricia Gragg
Vice President District 6
Greetings, Cascadians!
Welcome to summer in the sub-tropics. Reports say that we’ll have a hotter than normal summer, with more storms than usual, so hopefully everyone who has remained here in the community has gotten all their storm preparations completed as our management company has, and we’ll be good to weather whatever the changing climate throws at us this year.
We’ve made progress on the projects front, with the paving of Springview and Breezy Point Loops completed, the front and back entry landscape revamp well underway, the conference room conversion, and moving forward on preliminary steps to build new pickleball courts, bocce courts and shuffleboard lanes. Big thanks to all the volunteers on those task forces who have put in so much time and energy to ensure the needs of the community are met while holding the line on excess spending.
With so many changes going on in our community, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of conversations going on about the various projects. The good news is, we’re getting a lot done and staying within our annual budget! The bad news is, like everything else, not everyone agrees with how things “should” be done. We, as a Board, work closely with our professional management company, consult with their subject matter experts and our attorney as needed, and work with the Budget and Finance Committee to ensure we are staying within the legal and financial lines each step of the way, while honoring the vision of the involved task force. When conflicts arise, we bring together stakeholders to work towards a win-win solution.
Change can be exciting and, at the same time, change can be uncomfortable and, as we go through these changes, whether they are within our community, our country or the world at large, the most important thing we need to remember is our humanity and the importance of our connections with others. In my years working building community within the Air Force, I learned the importance of social connections.
Social connection satisfies our innate need for belongingness and companionship, especially as we age. It fosters feelings of support, understanding, and empathy, which are crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Acts of kindness, both given and received, can boost mood, reduce stress, increase overall happiness, and people will want to spend more time around you.
Research indicates that strong social connections are also linked to better physical health outcomes. People with robust social support networks tend to have lower rates of
Residents of Cascades,
Happy Anniversary to me! July marks one year of my hire as General Manager at Cascades with Campbell Management. Thank you to the Board of Directors. Your guidance in prioritizing projects, patience as I learned the policy and procedures, rules, regulations, Architecture Review applications and literally the lay of all the land is more than I had hoped for in my new position. There is always more to know, I am finding out. Our many meetings and conversations have brought the Association many accomplishments. We initiated Zooming Board Meetings, E-Voting and Notifications, passed the collection of four months of a capital contribution on the purchase of new homes, completed my first annual election at Cascades and paved a few roads while shortening a median at the clubhouse for safety.
We are on the second phase of tree re-plantings after the removal of residential oak trees were completed. Both front and back entrances have undergone landscaping removal and now are enhanced by new plants and flowers. The palm tree hurricane cut is also finished. We have closed in large beds with sod along the Boulevard for a more stylish appearance. We are not done, just getting better looking! Citations were notable, having inspected residences thoroughly. We have re-formed the Violations Committee and the Landscape Committee, which was once three separate committees, but now is one. The two sheds will be replaced with one...the permit came through in June! The media room is making headway to be a conference room. We anticipate starting the work at the end of the month.
General maintenance includes two HVACs that were replaced in the clubhouse. We have done shaving and pressure cleaning of sidewalks. The spa was resurfaced, pool motor replaced, and the pool fence will be painted. The Billiard Room was also painted, and the tables were refurbished with new barstools that were purchased too. Plans to improve the front entrance pavers are in the works. Improvements to the sound and lights in the Ballroom are anticipated to be finished in July. Two new pickleball courts have been approved and will begin construction this year. Plans for bocce courts are underway as we had several meetings with the task force for a scope of work that will improve upon the present courts.
Meeting residents has been an integral part of my journey. Thank you for welcoming not only me but our Campbell Team. I am blessed to have this management team who is supportive in every way imaginable. Until you walk a day in another’s shoes you just don’t realize the personalities you encounter, layers to a project and oversight to keeping
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