Winter is here! It has been twenty-five years since I last shoveled snow in Philadelphia, PA. You see, they don’t get much snow where we’ve been on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and when they do it’s still hard to call it snow. In east Tennessee we get a little bit of everything, and although I may be sore tomorrow, I’m happy to be able to enjoy the experience.
The snow was not without its downside, however. The new HOA Aesthetics & Environmental Committee’s inaugural event, Wildflowers of Tellico Village and the 2023 Open Space Restoration Initiative, presented by Randy Vogel, had to be cancelled due to the snow. Randy is our very own “Tellicologist,” as well as a retired Professional Ecologist who has led various ecology studies all across the US, as well as restoration efforts from prairies to forests and from streams to wetlands. This informative presentation is about the ecology of the region, specifically the forest resources here in the Village and restoration efforts launched in 2023. The free event, open to HOA members and non-members, was a sellout, and it was even moved to a larger space to accommodate the demand. It will be rescheduled in the near future, so keep an eye on Tellico Life for the new date.
Last month I talked about the wonderful and dedicated HOA team consisting of hundreds of volunteers that make it successful. Now I want to talk about the team’s 2024 five goals. They are:
#1 – Grow the HOA membership. Currently only 35% of the property owners belong to the HOA. Our motto, “Be Engaged, Be Informed, Be Heard” is for every Villager and every Villager should take advantage of what our HOA offers. Remember that the Tellico Village HOA is not your old neighborhood HOA – it’s a fun, social organization that will keep you informed of what’s going on in Tellico Village. So, if your neighbor or friend is not a member, bring them to a social and sign them up. It will only make the HOA that much better.
#2 – Sustain and increase the attendance at monthly socials. The socials, held on the second Tuesday of every month in the Yacht Club at 5:00 PM, bring people together to have fun and learn about the scheduled events and programs the HOA has planned. It’s a fun time with games (last month a Singo game was the feature) and lots of door prizes. The socials are the signature HOA event that is the information hub for all other events and advocacy programs.
#3 – Have more events and more event coordinators. Each year the HOA conducts scores of events including games to play (bowling, hand & foot, Singo, axe throwing, bunco, mini golf) and watch (UT football, Smokies baseball), music events (history of rock & roll, dueling pianos), symposiums (Wildflowers, UFOs, forensic anthropology) dining out at area restaurants and dining in, wine tasting clubs, holiday parties, picnics and hikes and trips to local attractions and distant cruises. Go to Tellico Life for a full list. Each event requires a volunteer event coordinator. It’s work, but you meet the local businesspeople, plan and enjoy the details of the event, and have fun hosting it. It is truly satisfying. See Betty Fortune to learn how to become an event coordinator.
#4 – Collaborate with POA & New Villagers. The HOA holds several Open Village Meetings each year on the state of the community, local governments’ status, and election candidate forums. The HOA will work with the POA to avoid duplication and ensure the topics are relevant and desired by the Villagers. The HOA will work with the POA and New Villagers Club to ensure the Village Welcome Orientation is comprehensive for all attendees. And finally, the HOA will work with New Villagers to ensure events are full and at the lowest possible cost.
#5 – Continue to support Advocacy Programs. A fundamental mission of the HOA is to act as an advocate for its members and all the residents of Tellico Village. The HOA supports and sponsors Neighborhood Watch, Litter Angels, the Highway Safety Committee and the A&E Committee. It also supports the library and StayinTV. The HOA also has liaison representatives to all POA Committees and has acted as advocate for the Bowman historical property and short-term rental issues. The HOA is always open to issues a Villager may have and strives to find a fair and equitable solution for the community.
These goals will make the HOA a better organization and Tellico Village a better community. Our strength and the fun we have is in our numbers, so please, come to the socials, join in the events, recruit your neighbors and let’s have a great 2024!
Harry Rucker
HOA President