Thursday, March 24, 2005
Remember Time....
from an email sent by Blaine Kalar (Kay-ler)...
I haven't thought about "fender skirts" in years. When I was a kid, I considered it such a funny term. Made me think of a car in a dress. Thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice.
Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs." Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.
Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."
I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed."
Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house?
Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore "store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy.
"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "worldwide" for granted. This floors me.
On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.
When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way" or simply "expecting."
Apparently "brassiere" is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just "bra" now. "Unmentionables" probably wouldn't be understood at all.
It's hard to recall that this word was once said in a whisper -"divorce." And no one is called a "divorcee" anymore. Certainly not a "gay divorcee."
Come to think of it, "confirmed bachelors" and "career girls" are long gone, too.
I always loved going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation.
Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure-'60s word I came across the other day "rat fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down!
Here's a word I miss "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? "Coffeemaker." How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.
I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" and "ElectraLuxe." Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with "SpectraVision!"
Food for thought Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil anymore.
Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most "supper." Now everybody says "dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.
Someone forwarded this to me, and I thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these. Those of us that are not old enough just learned something.
I haven't thought about "fender skirts" in years. When I was a kid, I considered it such a funny term. Made me think of a car in a dress. Thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice.
Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs." Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.
Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."
I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed."
Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house?
Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore "store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy.
"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "worldwide" for granted. This floors me.
On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.
When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way" or simply "expecting."
Apparently "brassiere" is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just "bra" now. "Unmentionables" probably wouldn't be understood at all.
It's hard to recall that this word was once said in a whisper -"divorce." And no one is called a "divorcee" anymore. Certainly not a "gay divorcee."
Come to think of it, "confirmed bachelors" and "career girls" are long gone, too.
I always loved going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation.
Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure-'60s word I came across the other day "rat fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down!
Here's a word I miss "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? "Coffeemaker." How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.
I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" and "ElectraLuxe." Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with "SpectraVision!"
Food for thought Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil anymore.
Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most "supper." Now everybody says "dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.
Someone forwarded this to me, and I thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these. Those of us that are not old enough just learned something.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
A Catered Mother's Day Meal...
ron thomas
At the Social Club meeting a vote was taken to have a catered meal on Mother's Day. The way it will work is. .... There will be a $10 per person charge.
As it stands now the clubhouse can only have 80 people seated. That means there will only be 80 tickets sold to this event. Tickets must be bought before the event.
Also, if you cannot come to the clubhouse.. there will be provisions made for unlimited take out dinners and the price for ordered takeout dinners will be the same.. $10.00... Volunteers will deliver them.
The committee selling the tickets will be Jean Hart, Betty Hanus and Gloria Mazzeo.The cutoff date for ticket purchases will be April 30th in order that we get the money to the caterer on time
You may want to consider that the restaurants in town are likely to be crowded on Mother's Day. Also, the price for the meal is extremely reasonable.
Why a catered dinner? Well moms just deserve a day off from cooking don't you think?
The meal will be served on May 8th. 1:00pm social hour.... Dining at 2:00pm. This repast will be catered by our local 4 star restauranteur... Shirley's on de Bay.
The menu will be:
At the Social Club meeting a vote was taken to have a catered meal on Mother's Day. The way it will work is. .... There will be a $10 per person charge.
As it stands now the clubhouse can only have 80 people seated. That means there will only be 80 tickets sold to this event. Tickets must be bought before the event.
Also, if you cannot come to the clubhouse.. there will be provisions made for unlimited take out dinners and the price for ordered takeout dinners will be the same.. $10.00... Volunteers will deliver them.
The committee selling the tickets will be Jean Hart, Betty Hanus and Gloria Mazzeo.The cutoff date for ticket purchases will be April 30th in order that we get the money to the caterer on time
You may want to consider that the restaurants in town are likely to be crowded on Mother's Day. Also, the price for the meal is extremely reasonable.
Why a catered dinner? Well moms just deserve a day off from cooking don't you think?
The meal will be served on May 8th. 1:00pm social hour.... Dining at 2:00pm. This repast will be catered by our local 4 star restauranteur... Shirley's on de Bay.
The menu will be:
- Roast Beef
- Pork
- Chicken stuffed with shrimp
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Baked beans
- Salad and desserts
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Jim Jobb's home from Deer lane....
ron thomas
On the 19th we had some hefty winds 45 to 60 miles an hour according to Newport Airport weather. Looks to me like the siding on Jim's home wasn't phased in the least.
You might remember from the last article that Jim's is the first home in our community to have a plastic siding. It looks great and is guaranteed for the life of the home and never needs painting. Best of all it cost him only $7000 installed. Jim said it is guaranteed to stand up to 130mph winds.
Previous reasons sited for disapproval of this type of siding were that it could not withstand our winds. Looks good to us....
ron thomas
On the 19th we had some hefty winds 45 to 60 miles an hour according to Newport Airport weather. Looks to me like the siding on Jim's home wasn't phased in the least.
You might remember from the last article that Jim's is the first home in our community to have a plastic siding. It looks great and is guaranteed for the life of the home and never needs painting. Best of all it cost him only $7000 installed. Jim said it is guaranteed to stand up to 130mph winds.
Previous reasons sited for disapproval of this type of siding were that it could not withstand our winds. Looks good to us....
Hmmm... Four of us were having a conversation about computers.....
ron thomas
Last night at the impromptu birthday/Social Club party... four of us Dale Rice, Jim Rose, Wayne Hill and myself found ourselves staring at each other when the subject of computers came up.... There was a lot of experience there and we shared ideas about networking, Firefox, digital pictures and all sorts of stuff. One subject just rolled into another... From basic conditions to more complex things and the locations of places to buy stuff to bragging rights about how our computers were built. We talked of Wi-Fi and networking and where to find a cable.... I enjoyed it immensely.
So I'm thinking what we need is a computer club where we meet and talk computer... Help one another... not a class just an informal get together where we celebrate our interests in computing. Those that have Notebook computers could bring them and we could use them to illustrate what we are talking about. You could come with answers and with questions and we could work and play together for fun.
If it developed into something that gathers a following we could get high speed internet piped into the clubhouse and try new ideas out.
4 guys talking and having fun is one thing but a club well, I don't know. Anyone interested? I could set up a meeting... What do you think?
Monday, March 21, 2005
Social Club meeting gaveled to a close and then....
PIXS BY RON THOMAS
As Ben Davi gaveled the March Social Club meeting to a close... Wife Donna and daughter Lisa announced that it was Ben's 65th birthday today and that all present were invited to stay and celebrate his birthday with a spaghetti dinner and birthday cake. Many trays of cheese and Italian Salami were also served with dinner rolls and a fresh, crisp salad. Celebrants of who there was 37 left around 7:30 after dinner and wine and a lot of talk.
You never know what is going to happen at a Social Club meeting.
Left click on a picture to make it larger and then come back to this page with your browser's back arrow.
As Ben Davi gaveled the March Social Club meeting to a close... Wife Donna and daughter Lisa announced that it was Ben's 65th birthday today and that all present were invited to stay and celebrate his birthday with a spaghetti dinner and birthday cake. Many trays of cheese and Italian Salami were also served with dinner rolls and a fresh, crisp salad. Celebrants of who there was 37 left around 7:30 after dinner and wine and a lot of talk.
You never know what is going to happen at a Social Club meeting.
Left click on a picture to make it larger and then come back to this page with your browser's back arrow.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Jim Dodds building site for you...
Jim Dodds by email...
Jim has been building a website based on the comments from our readers over what they might like to see as a feature for our residents. Though he has not completed the site, it's under construction. The browser you use may affect what you see. For instance Jim says Firefox doesn't seem to understand what he has written in a few instances. At any rate a little kibitzing from our readers may help him with what you would like to see or what you saw that you really liked. Leave him a comment.
Here is a link to the new pages he is designing.....
New site
Jim has been building a website based on the comments from our readers over what they might like to see as a feature for our residents. Though he has not completed the site, it's under construction. The browser you use may affect what you see. For instance Jim says Firefox doesn't seem to understand what he has written in a few instances. At any rate a little kibitzing from our readers may help him with what you would like to see or what you saw that you really liked. Leave him a comment.
Here is a link to the new pages he is designing.....
New site
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Social Club Dinners Have a Problem...
ron thomas
The St. Patrick's Day dinner experienced a problem that could affect quality for future dinners and breakfasts.
Here is how a dinner works...
You have noticed when a dinner is being advertised that it usually has a sign up sheet? We think some of our folks don't understand the importance of that sheet.
That sheet tells the committee running the dinner how many tables to set up and how many place settings to put out . In the case of this dinner (St. Patrick's) it also was used for determining how much food was purchased by the Social Club and how much help would be needed to serve the dinner.
The sign-up sheet was taken down by the shoppers the day before the dinner and it was calculated how much food the Social Club would need to buy and then they went shopping and bought it. 21 people signed up for the dinner. 35 people showed up for the dinner and 2 dinners were sent home to folks who were laid up. 37-22=15 people who were not signed up. Fortunately, our shoppers overbought and everyone did get a dinner... Barely.
Sign up from now on ok?
The St. Patrick's Day dinner experienced a problem that could affect quality for future dinners and breakfasts.
Here is how a dinner works...
You have noticed when a dinner is being advertised that it usually has a sign up sheet? We think some of our folks don't understand the importance of that sheet.
That sheet tells the committee running the dinner how many tables to set up and how many place settings to put out . In the case of this dinner (St. Patrick's) it also was used for determining how much food was purchased by the Social Club and how much help would be needed to serve the dinner.
The sign-up sheet was taken down by the shoppers the day before the dinner and it was calculated how much food the Social Club would need to buy and then they went shopping and bought it. 21 people signed up for the dinner. 35 people showed up for the dinner and 2 dinners were sent home to folks who were laid up. 37-22=15 people who were not signed up. Fortunately, our shoppers overbought and everyone did get a dinner... Barely.
Sign up from now on ok?
RED LIGHT SEMINAR
Don't miss the coming red light seminar on the 29th of March at 1:00pm. You need to be there if you are new and want to understand the system. If you don't understand the system or you are having problems with it. Or, you are contemplating buying it.
This will be the time to learn. For years now Jim Rose and I have been going on free calls to fix simple things that residents have caused to the system and could have fixed themselves. It's always easier to call someone for free than to sit down and learn how to yourself.
Now calls are coming in about lights that don't have anything to do with the red lights but with the post lights.. Everything from changing light bulbs to why wires are brown or why some folks have sockets with tape on them or globe repair or replacement or fixing mounting brackets or rerouting wires or replacing worn out sockets or defective photo cells. These are the free calls that Jim and I have been doing for 3 years. Now the time has come for you to take responsibility for your own system. This seminar will show you how.
Larry Henson, as manager, is responsible for changing light bulbs in your post light. Now he doesn't understand the red light system nor does he understand any problems beyond changing a light bulb. Nor does he want to.. He contends it is the homeowner's responsibility.
I would like to emphasize that your red light system has absolutely no effect whatsoever on your post light... For instance it is impossible for it to effect how soon a post light burns out. The red light does absolutely nothing until activated. It just sits there doing nothing. It consumes nothing it just sits there.
This does not mean that good neighbor Jim Rose or I won't be there for you but we want you to shoulder the responsibility for your light by learning about its upkeep and cut down on the nuisance calls we are getting. Free is a good price for everyone but Jim and I want you take more responsibility for your light... because your free means work for us.
This will be the time to learn. For years now Jim Rose and I have been going on free calls to fix simple things that residents have caused to the system and could have fixed themselves. It's always easier to call someone for free than to sit down and learn how to yourself.
Now calls are coming in about lights that don't have anything to do with the red lights but with the post lights.. Everything from changing light bulbs to why wires are brown or why some folks have sockets with tape on them or globe repair or replacement or fixing mounting brackets or rerouting wires or replacing worn out sockets or defective photo cells. These are the free calls that Jim and I have been doing for 3 years. Now the time has come for you to take responsibility for your own system. This seminar will show you how.
Larry Henson, as manager, is responsible for changing light bulbs in your post light. Now he doesn't understand the red light system nor does he understand any problems beyond changing a light bulb. Nor does he want to.. He contends it is the homeowner's responsibility.
I would like to emphasize that your red light system has absolutely no effect whatsoever on your post light... For instance it is impossible for it to effect how soon a post light burns out. The red light does absolutely nothing until activated. It just sits there doing nothing. It consumes nothing it just sits there.
This does not mean that good neighbor Jim Rose or I won't be there for you but we want you to shoulder the responsibility for your light by learning about its upkeep and cut down on the nuisance calls we are getting. Free is a good price for everyone but Jim and I want you take more responsibility for your light... because your free means work for us.
McKinley Services....
ron thomas
EDITORS COMMENT:
This article has a large on-going COMMENT conversation and is becoming difficult to follow as it approaches the bottom of the site and goes off into the ARCHIVES. Since it has not reached a conclusion yet we have moved it to the head of the webpage and put the comments from indivduals below. Afteter you read the comments you may want to put your 2 cents in too.
When you have a good experience with a contractor ... You ought to tell everybody about it. This is a fella that goes under your home and fixes level problems. In addition to that he found a water leak and fixed it. He came out with several recomendations. From instructions about air vents.. when to close them and when not to. Drainage ideas. And excellent suggetsions about what to do about your water heater to keep it from damaging your subfloor should it leak. These were all things I didn't know about with these modular homes since we had never had one before this experience.
My personal rating on a scale of one to five stars..... 5 stars. Price was $125.
Don't lose his phone number. Have already heard wonderful things about him. And we do need more people like him because Lee is getting older and Ron is swamped. Thank you for his name!
NancyLee Moore
Ron: I may have sent my first comment accidentally, and wasn't finished. Sorry folks if this is a repeat. I just paid for round trip ticket for my son-in-law to do a bunch of little odd jobs around my home. I have not personally, up to now, met but ONE honest, ethical, GOOD "licensed" contractor since I came here, and was doubting one existed. I have stories about plumbing contractors, electrical contractors, carpet installers, and contractors, in general, that would make you sick to your stomach. Recently had rubber seal replaced on my garage door, and that was an experience that cost me $140, 2 trip charges, and the man messed up the once perfect operation of my garage door because he didn't put the screws back in that held the door sections together. Ha Ha Ha, Oh my "I forgot to put the screws back in"! Oh, it was REALLY "funny". Remember, this was just to install a rubber seal, as this was the ONLY problem I had. Two trips! Two weeks apart. I am to the point of making the mistake of letting things go for lack of any faith in anybody who works in this area. I am happy to hear that someone is pleased with any contractors work! The state of Oregon seems to be interested in taking the contractors money for license, insurance bonds etc, and am not sure they really care if the contractor is worth his/her salt, or not. I can recommend one person, so far, and that's the person who repaired my roof after another group made a big mess of a repair, and the first big wind, my neighbor called to say my shingles on the ridge were flapping in the breeze. Ho Hum. Story of my life with contractors! I'll not lose this number. Thanks and thanks again.
Ruthanne Carson
Just so there's no misunderstanding here. I'm talking "licensed contractors", which I think may be what Ron was referring to. ??? I have no complaints about Cleda's Ron. But thought the reference was to licensed contractors. Maybe not.
If anyone wants to know who NOT to call, let me know.
Ruthanne Carson
And so we have here a kernal of an idea... Who would like to start a column here on the website devoted to keeping track of our folks' experience with contractors? Maybe a rating system or what have you? It would all be on one page with ratings anyone could look up when they are looking for somebody.
I have too many irons in the fire but am willing to set someone up to do it. Email me.
Ron Thomas
Previously, left a question as to whether or not we could do that...name names etc., without getting into some kind of hot water? I like this idea, and think it might be good for us. Know it's difficult to get referrals as one persons' poison might be someone elses' delight. So the rating thing ought to work, if people knew to go there and check it out, etc. Am still hesitant because of what could be some liability involved? Am no lawyer and don't know any Oregon lawyers to find out. The Oregon Licensing Board expects one to give the offending person a chance to correct problems, however, if some company/person has screwed up a job, I don't want them back to further screw it up, which is what my experience was. Makes me want to toss in the homeowners towel.
Ruthanne Carson
Legality is an important issue.
I've spoken to Jim Dodds about that issue on the site he has created and have been thinking hard about it since.
What we might do to get rid of any legal issues is to only rate those that we like. This would result in a list of contractor experiences rated from average to excellent. Also, a box could be put in for checking if the resident used the contractor but does NOT want to rate a contractor for some reason.
This could result in a list of rated contractors and a list of contractors that were not rated for some reason.
The homeowner could then choose what they wanted to do. Go with a rated contractor or venture into unchartered waters.
Ron Thomas
The site I created with the rating poll allows you to input anything you want, for the example that is posted on the site I used:
Poor
Below Average
Average
Good
Very Good
However you can add anything you want or change it entirely. You can have 50 choices if you wish...so the poll format is up to you. You could have:
Would Recommend
Would Not
Dig them a grave
Give `em a pot of Gold
everything in the poll format is open..
Jim Dodds
I like the idea of a no holds barred type of site..after all, a LOT of contractors have made a LOT of money from the residents of Longview Hills, over the years, and we ought to have the right to blast them if we feel they deserve it, or praise them to Heaven, if they deserve it. Maybe if some of them read it, they might get the idea that they can't pawn off inferior work on people and continue to get work! Now, I realize that just because I'd like to kick a few hind-ends, based on my own bad experiences, doesn't mean it's the thing to do, nor does it make it "legal" if one of them wants to get a little "testy" about it! So, if it's not a matter of liability, I say "don't be bashful". Jim, your ideas sound just fine to me! Will this be coming up at the next meeting?
Ruthanne Carson
If it's decided that other people think there is a need for this sort of page, I'd offer to do it, but would need some help getting it set up, etc.--sounds like Jim has a plan already.
Ruthanne Carson
The Social Club is for Social Activities. This is out of their purvue but the Comunity Mediating Committee has brought this up and it is the reason that the link to the Oregon State Contractor Board appears on the web page. It was also requested by them that we research a way to do this that would keep us away from legal problems.
As far as attending a meeting on the subject you can call Blaine Kalar (KAYLER) the current chairman and request it be put on the agenda and ask for a meeting date and time.
What gets put on the webpage is more of a what people want type of thing. We hear enough positive requests and it will be put on. The Social Club never has provided any help to this page. However we have spent countless hours helping the Social Club. For that reason the content of the webpage is upto its contributors and editor. Right now that would be those that write comments and those that write articles (3) . That would be Cleda Hampton, Jim Dodds and me that write articles. You are all cordially invited to be a team writer on the web page just email me.
Ron Thomas
Ruthanne,
The software that is used is "very" simple, the poll wizard is easy to create for each contractor. If you decide you would like to give it a whirl, it will take about an hour to walk you through the software functions.
Jim
Jim Dodds
EDITORS COMMENT:
This article has a large on-going COMMENT conversation and is becoming difficult to follow as it approaches the bottom of the site and goes off into the ARCHIVES. Since it has not reached a conclusion yet we have moved it to the head of the webpage and put the comments from indivduals below. Afteter you read the comments you may want to put your 2 cents in too.
When you have a good experience with a contractor ... You ought to tell everybody about it. This is a fella that goes under your home and fixes level problems. In addition to that he found a water leak and fixed it. He came out with several recomendations. From instructions about air vents.. when to close them and when not to. Drainage ideas. And excellent suggetsions about what to do about your water heater to keep it from damaging your subfloor should it leak. These were all things I didn't know about with these modular homes since we had never had one before this experience.
My personal rating on a scale of one to five stars..... 5 stars. Price was $125.
Don't lose his phone number. Have already heard wonderful things about him. And we do need more people like him because Lee is getting older and Ron is swamped. Thank you for his name!
NancyLee Moore
Ron: I may have sent my first comment accidentally, and wasn't finished. Sorry folks if this is a repeat. I just paid for round trip ticket for my son-in-law to do a bunch of little odd jobs around my home. I have not personally, up to now, met but ONE honest, ethical, GOOD "licensed" contractor since I came here, and was doubting one existed. I have stories about plumbing contractors, electrical contractors, carpet installers, and contractors, in general, that would make you sick to your stomach. Recently had rubber seal replaced on my garage door, and that was an experience that cost me $140, 2 trip charges, and the man messed up the once perfect operation of my garage door because he didn't put the screws back in that held the door sections together. Ha Ha Ha, Oh my "I forgot to put the screws back in"! Oh, it was REALLY "funny". Remember, this was just to install a rubber seal, as this was the ONLY problem I had. Two trips! Two weeks apart. I am to the point of making the mistake of letting things go for lack of any faith in anybody who works in this area. I am happy to hear that someone is pleased with any contractors work! The state of Oregon seems to be interested in taking the contractors money for license, insurance bonds etc, and am not sure they really care if the contractor is worth his/her salt, or not. I can recommend one person, so far, and that's the person who repaired my roof after another group made a big mess of a repair, and the first big wind, my neighbor called to say my shingles on the ridge were flapping in the breeze. Ho Hum. Story of my life with contractors! I'll not lose this number. Thanks and thanks again.
Ruthanne Carson
Just so there's no misunderstanding here. I'm talking "licensed contractors", which I think may be what Ron was referring to. ??? I have no complaints about Cleda's Ron. But thought the reference was to licensed contractors. Maybe not.
If anyone wants to know who NOT to call, let me know.
Ruthanne Carson
And so we have here a kernal of an idea... Who would like to start a column here on the website devoted to keeping track of our folks' experience with contractors? Maybe a rating system or what have you? It would all be on one page with ratings anyone could look up when they are looking for somebody.
I have too many irons in the fire but am willing to set someone up to do it. Email me.
Ron Thomas
Previously, left a question as to whether or not we could do that...name names etc., without getting into some kind of hot water? I like this idea, and think it might be good for us. Know it's difficult to get referrals as one persons' poison might be someone elses' delight. So the rating thing ought to work, if people knew to go there and check it out, etc. Am still hesitant because of what could be some liability involved? Am no lawyer and don't know any Oregon lawyers to find out. The Oregon Licensing Board expects one to give the offending person a chance to correct problems, however, if some company/person has screwed up a job, I don't want them back to further screw it up, which is what my experience was. Makes me want to toss in the homeowners towel.
Ruthanne Carson
Legality is an important issue.
I've spoken to Jim Dodds about that issue on the site he has created and have been thinking hard about it since.
What we might do to get rid of any legal issues is to only rate those that we like. This would result in a list of contractor experiences rated from average to excellent. Also, a box could be put in for checking if the resident used the contractor but does NOT want to rate a contractor for some reason.
This could result in a list of rated contractors and a list of contractors that were not rated for some reason.
The homeowner could then choose what they wanted to do. Go with a rated contractor or venture into unchartered waters.
Ron Thomas
The site I created with the rating poll allows you to input anything you want, for the example that is posted on the site I used:
Poor
Below Average
Average
Good
Very Good
However you can add anything you want or change it entirely. You can have 50 choices if you wish...so the poll format is up to you. You could have:
Would Recommend
Would Not
Dig them a grave
Give `em a pot of Gold
everything in the poll format is open..
Jim Dodds
I like the idea of a no holds barred type of site..after all, a LOT of contractors have made a LOT of money from the residents of Longview Hills, over the years, and we ought to have the right to blast them if we feel they deserve it, or praise them to Heaven, if they deserve it. Maybe if some of them read it, they might get the idea that they can't pawn off inferior work on people and continue to get work! Now, I realize that just because I'd like to kick a few hind-ends, based on my own bad experiences, doesn't mean it's the thing to do, nor does it make it "legal" if one of them wants to get a little "testy" about it! So, if it's not a matter of liability, I say "don't be bashful". Jim, your ideas sound just fine to me! Will this be coming up at the next meeting?
Ruthanne Carson
If it's decided that other people think there is a need for this sort of page, I'd offer to do it, but would need some help getting it set up, etc.--sounds like Jim has a plan already.
Ruthanne Carson
The Social Club is for Social Activities. This is out of their purvue but the Comunity Mediating Committee has brought this up and it is the reason that the link to the Oregon State Contractor Board appears on the web page. It was also requested by them that we research a way to do this that would keep us away from legal problems.
As far as attending a meeting on the subject you can call Blaine Kalar (KAYLER) the current chairman and request it be put on the agenda and ask for a meeting date and time.
What gets put on the webpage is more of a what people want type of thing. We hear enough positive requests and it will be put on. The Social Club never has provided any help to this page. However we have spent countless hours helping the Social Club. For that reason the content of the webpage is upto its contributors and editor. Right now that would be those that write comments and those that write articles (3) . That would be Cleda Hampton, Jim Dodds and me that write articles. You are all cordially invited to be a team writer on the web page just email me.
Ron Thomas
Ruthanne,
The software that is used is "very" simple, the poll wizard is easy to create for each contractor. If you decide you would like to give it a whirl, it will take about an hour to walk you through the software functions.
Jim
Jim Dodds
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Editors note: I goofed the first time around on the coding of these pixs. That is what made the web page out of shape. You can help in the future by telling me when you see a mistake. Thanks to Jim Dodds for catching the error... Sorry, this is a learn as you go operation. :)
Left click a picture to enlarge it. Use your browser's back arrow to come back.
We wore the green..
ron thomas
25 people signed up for the St. Patrick's Day festivities... 35 showed up for dinner and 2 dinners were sent home... Despite that there was plenty for everyone not to mention the green beer (a personal favorite of mine).
If you weren't there and have been thinking about joining in park activities you missed a good time but fret not because the Easter Potluck Brunch is coming up on Saturday the 26th...
A lot of folks showed up to help today at high noon and the dinner was set up in nothing flat as well as a re-arranging of the storage room.
Hope you found a 4 leaf clover we did.
25 people signed up for the St. Patrick's Day festivities... 35 showed up for dinner and 2 dinners were sent home... Despite that there was plenty for everyone not to mention the green beer (a personal favorite of mine).
If you weren't there and have been thinking about joining in park activities you missed a good time but fret not because the Easter Potluck Brunch is coming up on Saturday the 26th...
A lot of folks showed up to help today at high noon and the dinner was set up in nothing flat as well as a re-arranging of the storage room.
Hope you found a 4 leaf clover we did.
Left click a picture to enlarge it. Use your browser's back arrow to come back.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
A Volunteer Opportunity for a person that can use a computer...
Ron Thomas
We have clout and if we stand together as a group we can help one another in a variety of things. But this one is being championed now... We need a web page where folks can come and rate their experiences with contractors and local bussiness'. Such a site would guide folks to the business' that provide good services and steer us away from those that don't. I know the Better Business Bureau does that but it is to large and impersonal for a small community like ours. Because we do get older and are less able to do the things we used to we more and more have to turn to Services to get our things done. After seeing RuthAnn's experiences and seeing what Jim Dodds had to say I think it would be a great idea to have a place where you could go and read about how a work group performed in our community.
Our website is an ideal place for such an extension. We would create the site and take care of the technical aspect of it but another person here in the park would keep it upto date, categorized and organized. This is a job that a person with a computer could do. If you are disabled but want to help the park in some way and your neighbors this could be for you.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Residents fight park-sale law
from the stateman journal
Manufactured-home park owner says he won't evict anyone
CRYSTAL BOLNER
Statesman Journal
March 5, 2005
For-sale signs are posted on 16 homes in the Iris Village manufactured-home park, a 28-lot housing park off O'Neill Road.
The residents in the park are upset about a law that allows manufactured-home parks to be subdivided and individual lots sold.
Though residents are given first choice to purchase the individual lots, loopholes in the law could allow park owners to force residents off the property if they choose not to buy.
Donna Burleigh and her husband, Stephen, faced that choice four months ago when they received a letter from the owner of the park saying the park had been subdivided, and they had 60 days to decide whether they were going to buy or move.
The note said: "Please be advised that if you elect not to purchase your lot, we will be selling it to another buyer who will probably locate a new manufactured home on the lot. The sale of your lot to a third party who is interested in locating another manufactured home on the lot will result in your having to remove your home from the lot. We do not intend to own any lots in Iris Village in the future, so we recommend that you purchase your lot if at all possible."
Burleigh, then the assistant manager of the park, said that was when she began talking to her neighbors.
"It was scary," Burleigh said. "Where do I move this home? It doesn't have wheels underneath it, and I don't have the money to move it if I wanted to."
Manufactured home parks in Oregon are one of the victims of rising property values across the state, said Chuck Carpenter, executive director of the Manufactured Housing Communities of Oregon, a group that represents park owners.
Carpenter said that vacancy rates are an ongoing problem in many parks, and owners are facing the choice: either subdivide the parks and sell off lots or shut down the park and redevelop the property for other uses.
The law, passed by the Legislature in 2001, allows residents to purchase properties in the park, giving tenants a way to stay when the park might otherwise close, Carpenter said.
"For some manufactured (home park) owners in Oregon, the land has become extremely valuable, the rent simply doesn't cover that value anymore," he said.
The owners are required by law to offer the current renters of the property the chance to purchase the lots.
If purchased, the parks are treated as if they were a planned unit development, with a homeowners association taking on management of roads and utilities.
"By the time you figure the tax advantages of them owning their own land, they come out ahead," Carpenter said.
Not all residents in manufactured home parks see it that way.
In the case of Iris Village, the manufactured home park wasn't built to all the normal subdivision requirements, such as street width, sidewalk setbacks and sewer and water specifications.
So when owner Brian Fitterer of Newport Beach, Calif., tried to get residents to purchase their properties, some were leery of purchasing properties with utility systems that, once bought, would be their responsibility to maintain.
Sharon Forsell, 60, a teacher, who lives in Iris Village, told state Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, and Sen. Charles Starr, R-Hillsboro, in a town hall meeting last week that she worried if she purchased her lot and anything happened to the water and sewer systems on her property, she could not afford to fix them.
"Why can't the law require the owner of the park to bring everything up to code before he's allowed to sell it to someone else? I'm on a fixed income. I can't afford to get stuck with this problem," Forsell told Thatcher.
After hearing that residents were organizing against purchasing lots in Iris Village, Fitterer sent a letter to representatives of the Manufactured Home Owners of Oregon saying that he would not require residents of Iris Village to move and that he never intended to require them to move.
Interviewed by phone, Fitterer, who owns 25 manufactured home parks in Oregon and several others in California, Washington and Nevada, said that he was happy to keep the property if people don't want to buy.
"If they want to keep renting, that's fine," Fitterer said. "Obviously, some of these people flunked elementary algebra if they don't see the benefit of owning the land under their homes. Manufactured homes depreciate. The land's the valuable thing, not the home."
To avoid problems in the future between manufactured home park owners and tenants of the parks that are subdivided, the two lobbying groups working with the manufactured home industry in Oregon said this week that they plan to begin working later this year to revise the current law to close loopholes such as those encountered by residents of Iris Village.
They likely will introduce a bill in the next Legislative session, both groups said.
The current law was revised once already in 2003 to forbid park owners from building stick homes in manufactured home parks.
cbolner@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6967
An email from Jim Dodds faults local computer repair service...
An email from Jim Dodds...
As I am finishing up scanning "yet another" Longviewhills residents's computer that was returned "REPAIRED" by a local two initial computer sales and repair businees that I will not name, here is what I found.
SPYWARE/MALICIOUS PROGRAMS/BROWSER HIJACKS/AD-WARE
28 - Registery Key Values
11 - Registery Values
13 - Malicious Files
2 - Malicious Programs
1 - Transponder Parasite
8 - AdWare Programs
2 - Malicious ToolBars
5 - Internet Explorer Plugin Worms
6 - Browser Hijack Files
This is the 7th machine I have "re-repaired", that was just returned from this not named two initial computer company. I did not ask this customer what she paid this company but I would guess it was anywhere from $45.00 to $80.00. She might as well have tossed that money out the car window. Some of these Registery Key Values do have to be manually deleted, which even "very" experienced techs tread in fear when editing the Windows Registery Files, so I may understand why this local company might not have been willing to attempt the repair but, they "were" willing to bill the person for substandard or bogus work performed. Always ask your computer tech if they are Microsoft and Symantec Certified. If they are not, don't hire them. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate their repair at -20. I would even place it in the catagory of a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau.
Jim Dodds
As I am finishing up scanning "yet another" Longviewhills residents's computer that was returned "REPAIRED" by a local two initial computer sales and repair businees that I will not name, here is what I found.
SPYWARE/MALICIOUS PROGRAMS/BROWSER HIJACKS/AD-WARE
28 - Registery Key Values
11 - Registery Values
13 - Malicious Files
2 - Malicious Programs
1 - Transponder Parasite
8 - AdWare Programs
2 - Malicious ToolBars
5 - Internet Explorer Plugin Worms
6 - Browser Hijack Files
This is the 7th machine I have "re-repaired", that was just returned from this not named two initial computer company. I did not ask this customer what she paid this company but I would guess it was anywhere from $45.00 to $80.00. She might as well have tossed that money out the car window. Some of these Registery Key Values do have to be manually deleted, which even "very" experienced techs tread in fear when editing the Windows Registery Files, so I may understand why this local company might not have been willing to attempt the repair but, they "were" willing to bill the person for substandard or bogus work performed. Always ask your computer tech if they are Microsoft and Symantec Certified. If they are not, don't hire them. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate their repair at -20. I would even place it in the catagory of a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau.
Jim Dodds
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Hello..a program that shares pictures fast for free!
ron thomas
A few posts ago I tried to stimulate interest in a program called Picasa. We were discouraged because there did not seem to be any takers. Well yesterday I found there is at least one. So, I wanted to tell any others out there about a second program that goes hand in hand with Picasa. It is called HELLO.
The below quote is from the home page of Hello and describes what it does
"Hello is a new way to look at pictures with friends and family.
When you use Hello, you get to see your photographs together with your friends online. You don’t have to wait for huge email attachments to download or upload your pictures to a public website. Just point at a picture and you can tell the person who sent it exactly what you think. With just one click, you can get the original high-quality, full-sized file to print.
Hello is easy to get going (as long as you have someone to share with). You’ll be talking about pictures in just minutes."
So we will be adding this free program to our list of downloads on the left side of the page. You will find a link there that will take you to Hello's Home page.
More on our St. Patrick's Day potluck...
ron thomas
We are going to need help at the clubhouse this Wednesday setting up for the party and with preping and cooking the food. This is an excellent way to meet the folks that serve our community on a regular basis. We would like to meet you. Come and play with us as we ready the clubhouse to usher in St. Patrick's Day.
We are going to need help at the clubhouse this Wednesday setting up for the party and with preping and cooking the food. This is an excellent way to meet the folks that serve our community on a regular basis. We would like to meet you. Come and play with us as we ready the clubhouse to usher in St. Patrick's Day.
From the article on Evolve the park....
ron thomas
Here is the second and third points in the form of a question about what would happen if we change the way the Social Club does business. Please remember that this is a discussion and not an attack it reflects only my opinion.
Well, this would be an operating point the Social Club itself would take up. In the past fund raisers and raffles have restocked the treasury well enough. We would expect that the Social Club would do as it always has and find the money in that way.
The direction the Social Club would take with earned money would be new and different. It would be dedicated to keeping up the activities that are shared by the clubs and to helping the clubs grow interest in the park.
Maybe the clubs would give a portion of their treasuries to subsidize the Social Club.
It might work as if the Social Club was our Federal Entertainment Government and the clubs as the States that it helps. Maybe not. How it would work would have to be worked out by an elected group of residents who would figure that out, we should think.
Here is the second and third points in the form of a question about what would happen if we change the way the Social Club does business. Please remember that this is a discussion and not an attack it reflects only my opinion.
- Who will fund those park activities like coffee, popcorn, equipment upkeep, etc.?
- Will the Social Club exist to fund clubs or will each club fund their selves?
Well, this would be an operating point the Social Club itself would take up. In the past fund raisers and raffles have restocked the treasury well enough. We would expect that the Social Club would do as it always has and find the money in that way.
The direction the Social Club would take with earned money would be new and different. It would be dedicated to keeping up the activities that are shared by the clubs and to helping the clubs grow interest in the park.
Maybe the clubs would give a portion of their treasuries to subsidize the Social Club.
It might work as if the Social Club was our Federal Entertainment Government and the clubs as the States that it helps. Maybe not. How it would work would have to be worked out by an elected group of residents who would figure that out, we should think.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY POTLUCK...
RON THOMAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 @ 5PM Social hour... 6pm dinner.
Come to the Irish potluck this Wednesday Social Club is providing Corned beef, Cabbage and Potatoes.
As the potluck part you bring appetizers, desserts, and your other St Patrick Day dishes.
Remember to wear green, bring your own plates and eating utensils. Bring your own refreshments
RON THOMAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 @ 5PM Social hour... 6pm dinner.
Come to the Irish potluck this Wednesday Social Club is providing Corned beef, Cabbage and Potatoes.
As the potluck part you bring appetizers, desserts, and your other St Patrick Day dishes.
Remember to wear green, bring your own plates and eating utensils. Bring your own refreshments
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Jim Jubb's home at509 NE 60th St. Click on each picture to enlarge them.
A new siding job in the park. Jim Jubb's home is the first home to be covered by plastic siding in our community. Previously this had not be allowed by management. Jim said that the entire job including the garage cost about $7000. The material is warranteed for the life of the home. Jim also said it will withstand winds of 130mph. It never needs painting and only needs to be washed off when dirty. Jim said the siding was put on with galvanized nails. The soffets can be seen in the above view and are now plastic also and the outside trim is anodized aluminum with a plastic covering pre-formed to fit.
He showed me a sample of it and it has a backing of foam which I presume is for insulation.
Still we would recommend that you check with the park manager before signing up with a contractor to do the job as you might conflict with park rules. Just a short time ago our neighbor across the street tried to do the same thing and was shut down by management. One of those folks suffered a heart attack and died shortly after that confrontation and his wife has sold and moved on.
ALWAYS CHECK WITH MANAGEMENT BEFORE STARTING ON A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
In the below article where folks expressed their opinions...
ron thomas
I promised to bring all the points back so we could look at them and have a more drilled down look at each point. So we could all decide if there is a good way to improve the point or let it stand as is.
That being said it is not the purpose here to create feelings of guilt. Nor, do we wish to challenge anybodies right to be an American and choose to do or think whatever they wish. Nor is one person's opinion to be taken as the way things must be said or done.It would be healthy if folks would not consider what is written here as a personal attack. If you really are upset about what you read let me invite you to sign on to this website as a team writer where you can write articles (called posts).This site is meant to be a forum, park news, and a fun entertainment place. It is continually evolving (changing) based on what is learned. The underlying rules for this place are follows:
Here is point number 1 from the article:
The park will experience a social breakup, disintegrating into small splinter groups and limit socializing.
In MY OPINION:
The actual Social Club is made up of about 30 people who attend meetings and about 2/3 of that amount that help with Club Activities on a regular basis. What is the bussiness of the club? Historically it looks like whatever group is in charge is responsible for the care and feeding of about 30 to 80 people depending on whether the feeding is free or not. The closer to free food we go the more eaters we can expect.
Would a social break up then equate to... If people won't volunteer to cook and serve food then the Social Club will break up.
Now if the Social Club's bussiness were to grow clubs and not feed people. What would that do toward dividing the park?
Clubs would grow and people interested in their activities would join. they would eventually need money to operate and they would most likely have fund raisers which could be dinners and breakfasts. It is likely they would have a member base to carry that out. So the result is the same as far as dinners and breakfast go but the chore is spread around in a more equitable way.
Let me site a current example.... The group that plays pool at the clubhouse feels it needs to re-felt the pool tables, an expensive proposition. They think it's not right for the Social Club to be asked to foot the bill because they have a small group. Dick Bellingham, who is one of their members suggested that they paint a home this summer to help raise the funds necessary to do the job. In this instance if the club were short after their fund raiser the Social Club would help. Now that is an example of what will happen if clubs are supported and helped to grow.
If the Social Club got out of the food service business and went into helping clubs that serve the interests of park residents. More folks would be served. Already the clubs that exist in the park provide more activity for more than double the residents that the Social Club does. I say put the money where that interest lies and encourage growth in clubs by becoming sponsors of the clubs.
I promised to bring all the points back so we could look at them and have a more drilled down look at each point. So we could all decide if there is a good way to improve the point or let it stand as is.
That being said it is not the purpose here to create feelings of guilt. Nor, do we wish to challenge anybodies right to be an American and choose to do or think whatever they wish. Nor is one person's opinion to be taken as the way things must be said or done.It would be healthy if folks would not consider what is written here as a personal attack. If you really are upset about what you read let me invite you to sign on to this website as a team writer where you can write articles (called posts).This site is meant to be a forum, park news, and a fun entertainment place. It is continually evolving (changing) based on what is learned. The underlying rules for this place are follows:
- Follow The Golden Rule.
- No political discussions of the Republican vs the Democrat type.
- No religious protelitizing.
Here is point number 1 from the article:
The park will experience a social breakup, disintegrating into small splinter groups and limit socializing.
In MY OPINION:
The actual Social Club is made up of about 30 people who attend meetings and about 2/3 of that amount that help with Club Activities on a regular basis. What is the bussiness of the club? Historically it looks like whatever group is in charge is responsible for the care and feeding of about 30 to 80 people depending on whether the feeding is free or not. The closer to free food we go the more eaters we can expect.
Would a social break up then equate to... If people won't volunteer to cook and serve food then the Social Club will break up.
Now if the Social Club's bussiness were to grow clubs and not feed people. What would that do toward dividing the park?
Clubs would grow and people interested in their activities would join. they would eventually need money to operate and they would most likely have fund raisers which could be dinners and breakfasts. It is likely they would have a member base to carry that out. So the result is the same as far as dinners and breakfast go but the chore is spread around in a more equitable way.
Let me site a current example.... The group that plays pool at the clubhouse feels it needs to re-felt the pool tables, an expensive proposition. They think it's not right for the Social Club to be asked to foot the bill because they have a small group. Dick Bellingham, who is one of their members suggested that they paint a home this summer to help raise the funds necessary to do the job. In this instance if the club were short after their fund raiser the Social Club would help. Now that is an example of what will happen if clubs are supported and helped to grow.
If the Social Club got out of the food service business and went into helping clubs that serve the interests of park residents. More folks would be served. Already the clubs that exist in the park provide more activity for more than double the residents that the Social Club does. I say put the money where that interest lies and encourage growth in clubs by becoming sponsors of the clubs.
Friday, March 11, 2005
McKinley Services....
ron thomas
When you have a good experience with a contractor ... You ought to tell everybody about it. This is a fella that goes under your home and fixes level problems. In addition to that he found a water leak and fixed it. He came out with several recomendations. From instructions about air vents.. when to close them and when not to. Drainage ideas. And excellent suggetsions about what to do about your water heater to keep it from damaging your subfloor should it leak. These were all things I didn't know about with these modular homes since we had never had one before this experience.
My personal rating on a scale of one to five stars..... 5 stars. Price was $125.
When you have a good experience with a contractor ... You ought to tell everybody about it. This is a fella that goes under your home and fixes level problems. In addition to that he found a water leak and fixed it. He came out with several recomendations. From instructions about air vents.. when to close them and when not to. Drainage ideas. And excellent suggetsions about what to do about your water heater to keep it from damaging your subfloor should it leak. These were all things I didn't know about with these modular homes since we had never had one before this experience.
My personal rating on a scale of one to five stars..... 5 stars. Price was $125.
Siding...
ron thomas
A few months ago one of the folks in the neighborhood had a new type of siding installed on their home. One that previously had not been allowed. Evidently this is a better product and the owner spoke to Brian Fitterer (one of the park owners) to get permission to install it.
We would like to know more about this product and if it is a better solution for the problems that affect home owners. Is anyone up on what this stuff is? If you are a reader and had it done could you share your experience with us?
If you would rather not write in the comments please email me at:
teckron@hotmail.com
and I will write about it here.
A few months ago one of the folks in the neighborhood had a new type of siding installed on their home. One that previously had not been allowed. Evidently this is a better product and the owner spoke to Brian Fitterer (one of the park owners) to get permission to install it.
We would like to know more about this product and if it is a better solution for the problems that affect home owners. Is anyone up on what this stuff is? If you are a reader and had it done could you share your experience with us?
If you would rather not write in the comments please email me at:
teckron@hotmail.com
and I will write about it here.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Evolving the Social Club, a vision....
Ron Thomas
There are loosely knit groups that come together to use the club house and provide entertainment for park residents. I think these groups would funtion better if they were clubs and I think that the Social Club would be the ideal body to support such groups and to have them take the lead in making park activities.
For instance, who knows more about cards? The Social Club or the Pinochle group? Let's just say the pinochle group became the card club. They have a weekly game that entertains 20 to 40 people and is open to all right now. In fact they probably entertain the most people in the park. Shouldn't they receive a large monetary support from the Social Club for doing a good job? What would they do if they were encouraged to grow their love of cards? Would they start having Texas Hold'em Tounaments? Maybe bridge would take a foothold.. Who knows what opportunities to increase park activities are being neglected?
For instance what if the Bingo group became a club? They already provide entertainment for about 14 people every two weeks but when the jackpots were around $50, 45 or so would come per night. If the Social Club granted them an extra stipend to increase jackpot size or provide refreshments what might happen? If that pot was $100 how many would come? What could be charged for cards? Even if the club was not capable of completely supporting itself 45+ people being entertained 2 times a month... I would call that a Social Club victory.
People like to eat... Why isn't there a diners club? Some people like to set up and cook meals at the club house but with a diners club local restraunts could be approached asking for discounts for club members who would visit their establishments on a regular basis. Using club power this group would garner savings.
There is a fisherman's club recently formed if the Social Club did something to help that group grow its membership what would happen? Maybe an all park fish fry.
There is a poker group.. What if the Social Club had a clear idea of how to help them and did... Would that increase the number of park people having fun?
Now imagine the Social Club providing seed money to folks wanting to form a new club like a computer club, coin club, stamp club, rockhounds, golf, gardening,wiffle ball, croquet, backgammon, checkers. chess, horseshoes, shuffleboard, sewing, quilting, bird watching.
In this manner the Social Club does not find itself locked into the outfit billed to provide dinners and breakfasts, and decorations but becomes the driving force behind helping all Social Activities park wide while the clubs support themselves for their own interests with members and their own money eventually. Meanwhile the Social Club gives them a start and later they maintain the social club perhaps with a member from each club on the board.
This approach is not meant to divide the park but provide more interests for the greater number of people thereby increasing more participation by more people.
This is a uniting idea, not a dividing idea.
What if the Social club lined up entertainment for the park instead of trying to do it? Paid for it. Should they get the local High School band, acapella chior, artists and donate to them for entertainment here at the park. What the hey! How about the band leading a parade up and down our streets?
That is my vision of the Social Club.... a body that helps our clubs organize events for the community. Clubs have the manpower to attain goals of interest to their members. The Social Club assists with money and advice. Eventually, the members of the clubs supply a member to the board of the Social Club and the clubs then run the Social Club.
Now I haven't asked anybody to feel bad. I don't mean you can't choose to do just what you want and when you want to do it. I'm not attacking your right to be an American. To those that feel that way I would say this article is not written for nor about you. This is simply an idea for changing the way the Social Club works... A different view of how it could work. I bear malice toward no one nor do I think my way is necessarily the only or right way. This is an idea I had and that's it. I would like comments exploring the why it may work or not. I would like to see your ideas added to this. I'm not to crazy about statements like, "I don't think this will work." with no explanation of why you think that.
One thing I would like to say is that I.... Me, personally will never grow tired of thanking and appreciating the many people who have helped the Social Club and its projects. I will never weary of holding them in the highest esteem. I will toot their horn every chance I have even if folks are tired of hearing it.
There are loosely knit groups that come together to use the club house and provide entertainment for park residents. I think these groups would funtion better if they were clubs and I think that the Social Club would be the ideal body to support such groups and to have them take the lead in making park activities.
For instance, who knows more about cards? The Social Club or the Pinochle group? Let's just say the pinochle group became the card club. They have a weekly game that entertains 20 to 40 people and is open to all right now. In fact they probably entertain the most people in the park. Shouldn't they receive a large monetary support from the Social Club for doing a good job? What would they do if they were encouraged to grow their love of cards? Would they start having Texas Hold'em Tounaments? Maybe bridge would take a foothold.. Who knows what opportunities to increase park activities are being neglected?
For instance what if the Bingo group became a club? They already provide entertainment for about 14 people every two weeks but when the jackpots were around $50, 45 or so would come per night. If the Social Club granted them an extra stipend to increase jackpot size or provide refreshments what might happen? If that pot was $100 how many would come? What could be charged for cards? Even if the club was not capable of completely supporting itself 45+ people being entertained 2 times a month... I would call that a Social Club victory.
People like to eat... Why isn't there a diners club? Some people like to set up and cook meals at the club house but with a diners club local restraunts could be approached asking for discounts for club members who would visit their establishments on a regular basis. Using club power this group would garner savings.
There is a fisherman's club recently formed if the Social Club did something to help that group grow its membership what would happen? Maybe an all park fish fry.
There is a poker group.. What if the Social Club had a clear idea of how to help them and did... Would that increase the number of park people having fun?
Now imagine the Social Club providing seed money to folks wanting to form a new club like a computer club, coin club, stamp club, rockhounds, golf, gardening,wiffle ball, croquet, backgammon, checkers. chess, horseshoes, shuffleboard, sewing, quilting, bird watching.
In this manner the Social Club does not find itself locked into the outfit billed to provide dinners and breakfasts, and decorations but becomes the driving force behind helping all Social Activities park wide while the clubs support themselves for their own interests with members and their own money eventually. Meanwhile the Social Club gives them a start and later they maintain the social club perhaps with a member from each club on the board.
This approach is not meant to divide the park but provide more interests for the greater number of people thereby increasing more participation by more people.
This is a uniting idea, not a dividing idea.
What if the Social club lined up entertainment for the park instead of trying to do it? Paid for it. Should they get the local High School band, acapella chior, artists and donate to them for entertainment here at the park. What the hey! How about the band leading a parade up and down our streets?
That is my vision of the Social Club.... a body that helps our clubs organize events for the community. Clubs have the manpower to attain goals of interest to their members. The Social Club assists with money and advice. Eventually, the members of the clubs supply a member to the board of the Social Club and the clubs then run the Social Club.
Now I haven't asked anybody to feel bad. I don't mean you can't choose to do just what you want and when you want to do it. I'm not attacking your right to be an American. To those that feel that way I would say this article is not written for nor about you. This is simply an idea for changing the way the Social Club works... A different view of how it could work. I bear malice toward no one nor do I think my way is necessarily the only or right way. This is an idea I had and that's it. I would like comments exploring the why it may work or not. I would like to see your ideas added to this. I'm not to crazy about statements like, "I don't think this will work." with no explanation of why you think that.
One thing I would like to say is that I.... Me, personally will never grow tired of thanking and appreciating the many people who have helped the Social Club and its projects. I will never weary of holding them in the highest esteem. I will toot their horn every chance I have even if folks are tired of hearing it.
Monday, March 07, 2005
EVOLVING....
ron thomas
For those involved in or have read but not commented on the below article on Evolving the Social Club. I want to point out we are trying out something new... As commenting on the idea happens we pick up the negative features that folks are finding wrong with the idea and put them at the bottom of the article so you can easily see what folks think. This means the article may change several times a day. So even if you don't care to say anything you might want to take a look at the bulleted concerns at the bottom of that article to keep up with the discussion.
For those involved in or have read but not commented on the below article on Evolving the Social Club. I want to point out we are trying out something new... As commenting on the idea happens we pick up the negative features that folks are finding wrong with the idea and put them at the bottom of the article so you can easily see what folks think. This means the article may change several times a day. So even if you don't care to say anything you might want to take a look at the bulleted concerns at the bottom of that article to keep up with the discussion.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
FIREFOX has a new security upgrade for users of this cool new browser...
from an email by jim dodds
In an email Jim Dodds wanted you Firefox users know that there is a new security update that is available for you to download. All you have to do is visit the below link and simply download the current version of Firefox which has the new fix. After it is done you will find a new icon on your desktop that says Firefox setup. Click it and follow the instructions... Problems give me a call.
Firefox
What's happening on the hill?
not so good pictures by ron thomas.. who would like a photagrapher to join the web page...hint
See a Visitor From Outter Space....
ron thomas
Accrding to the NASA web site we can expect to view the International Space Station in our sky... Check out this site for date and times (table is for Portland but should work here).
International Space Station
Accrding to the NASA web site we can expect to view the International Space Station in our sky... Check out this site for date and times (table is for Portland but should work here).
International Space Station
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