You can choose to sit still and feel frustrated, because you are stuck, Or, you can get out and push!

James V. Cech (Oct 2007)

As I begin this letter, my thoughts are filled of my upcoming walk down the aisle with Elizabeth. On that day, Tina and I will witness our little girl joining with Guy on their new adventure together.  I find myself reflecting upon the Montclair influences that have helped shape the caring and community minded young teacher that Liz has become.  I know people often snicker at my unabated enthusiasm for our Montclair community but I do not mind.  I look at Liz and think back over twenty years of Montclair events that filled her full of wonder. We are deeply grateful for all of the volunteers and caring neighbors who through their example touched her heart, imparted to her a sense of community, and taught her to think outside her own selfish interests.  So go ahead and snicker if you must, for I will remain steadfast and thankful we were led to settle here.

What a great summer we had in Montclair.  With the return of Oktoberfest to September, we enjoyed a warm fall evening and great entertainment. By now you should be seeing the fall landscaping activities gearing up as well as our massive dredging project.  Please take your children down to the lake to see this activity and while you are there, share with them how our efforts directly affect the Chesapeake Bay water quality. 

I'm happy to report to the Membership that our onsite General Manager, Ted Wessel, was successful in his efforts in finding a new broker for our insurance needs.  This consolidation of policies and shift of agents has netted a return of over $70,000 of pre-paid premiums to the MPOA.  Well Done Ted!  It is my hope that by the time you read this article the Board will have supported my request to use some of these funds to help some needed landscaping repairs and improvements.

Now is the start of the budget season and I want to share thoughts in regards to our Members who must also fund the various sub-associations.  The developers choose not to deal with the established MPOA.  It is likely that we would have demanded greater contribution to the sub-associations reserves for their streets, sidewalks and common grounds.  Instead they created new corporations with Boards that duplicate many of the functions and cost of the MPOA.  Most often the role of Board members fell to our most inexperienced homeowners who lacked the staff support available to the MPOA.  Further, instead of contributing to a community pool, that would support all of Montclair, the departing developer complicated things even more.  The approach to building and deeding the Southlake Recreation facility thrust the life-time cost of this facility upon a relative small number of homeowners with a membership they can not escape. Many of you do not realize that the consequences are that some Members face three different assessments every year with mounting pressures to keep abreast of cost.  Those of you who remember my previous terms as President know my articles often spoke of efforts to merge all of the Associations into one body.  I'm bringing this reality to your attention, now, for several good reasons.  First, I would like to encourage all of our sub-associations to get involved.  These Boards needs volunteers to take an interest and not leave the responsibility to the few same individuals who serve year after year.  Secondly, I would ask both the MPOA Board and the sub-associations to take a critical look at the assessment drivers. We need to ask what things could be done mutually to reduce cost, redundancy and waste.  My last reason for writing is that I want to assure all Members who must pay the sub-association assessments that the Montclair Board is aware of the mounting pressures on their reserves.  We do care and we understand, when you are asked to support the proposed MPOA assessment, you will be making your decision based in part on the sum total of all of the assessments you are being asked to pay. 

In closing let me share something exciting.  We are one budget cycle away from our 40^th anniversary:  Montclair (1969 - 2009), 40 Years YOUNG! Besides planning for this significant celebration, I have asked the Board, staff, our committees and now YOU, the Membership, to think about what we are going to do to keep Montclair competitive in the future market place.  What new amenities are we prepared to build in order to keep up our property values?  What steps are we prepared to take to keep the sub-associations properties from being priced out of the market due to duplicate and excessive assessments?  How do we showcase the unique Montclair community lifestyle that promotes more community-wide activities than any of our competitors?  Please, give it some thought and share with us your ideas.

Every day, many of our Members still in uniform await their trip to DC.  Next week, next month or even next year it may be their turn to again face the enemy "over there" to keep us safe "over here."  Please take time to just say thank you and God bless you.  They will appreciate knowing you recognize their commitment and their sacrifice.

James V. Cech
President, MPOA