July - Sudden Valley Community Association

Page 2
Summer is a prelude to
upcoming elections
Make an impact in
Sudden Valley --
Participate on Board
Lee Langdon
N & E Committee
It hardly seems right to bring up
the subject of “governance” while we
are all enjoying the long and sunny
days of a Sudden Valley summer.
But just as night follows day, so too
will fall come after our lovely summer.
Everything changes in the fall -- days
get incredibly shorter, joggers are fewer
and wear more layers, children start
going back to school -- and the Sudden
Valley elections take place.
This summer, while you barbecue
with neighbors or chat while watching
kids play, you will no doubt say
something about Sudden Valley. While
most of us comment on its beauty and
special qualities, and say things of the
“I-can’t-believe-I-get-to-live-here!” variety,
often a gripe or two will edge its
way in.
Maybe you gripe to your neighbors
about the amount of development
going on. Or about the state of the recreation
facilities. Maybe you are frustrated
with the Architecture Control
Committee. Maybe you are curious
about the move to become a city. Or
you are looking 20 years into the future,
wondering if Sudden Valley will still be
a special place.
You might be busy raising your
family, and think that civic duty is for
others. You might be beginning your
retirement, and looking back on long
meetings and controversy. You might
be a new resident, looking to meet more
people, or a long-timer here ready to
get more active.
Le t t e r s t o t h e ed i t o r Po L i c y
The Views welcomes letters to the editor. The deadline for submittal is the
20th of each month. Letters should be of a reasonable length. All letters must be
signed and carry a Sudden Valley address or Division and Lot number, as well as
a daytime phone number. Any property owner in good standing may submit up
to three letters in each 12-month period. Letters must reflect the viewpoint of the
author and should not contain personal attacks. Writers are requested to focus on
the issue and not the individuals involved. Letters are subject to editing only for
libelous material or statements.
Su d d e n Valley Vi e wS
Sudden Valley Community Association
4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229
Administration Offices 734-6430
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Pro Shop 734-6435
Golf Maintenance 734-6430, x333
Maintenance 734-6430, x232
Recreation 734-6430, x243
Security Cell Phone 319-8200
Dispatcher (after 5 p.m.) 715-2490
MANAGEMENT STAFF
General Manager Steve Grieser
Administrative Staff Kitty French, Kira LaRock,
Rosemary Tate, Sandi Cousins
Recreation Coordinator Cathy Poole
Architectural & Land Development Craig Ostrom, Lindsay Brandle
Maintenance Director Virgil Reed
Golf Course Superintendent Bryan Newman
Accounting Manager Jess Rudd
Security Chief Gordon Johnson
Golf Director Greg Paul
Su d d e n Valley Vi e wS
Po i n t o f Vi e wS
Summer ends, fall comes around,
and each of us realizes that participating
more fully in Valley life is good for
us, our families, and our neighbors. We
are fortunate to be able to govern ourselves
… but it does take people with
energy and insight -- and the ability
to turn potential gripes into positive
changes -- to keep Sudden Valley the
special place it is.
Every year, in November, Sudden
Valley residents elect members to the
Board of Directors. During the summer,
we look for candidates.
This year, four positions will open
up. Three positions have terms of three
years, while the fourth position is for
one year. If you have even a slight interest
in being on the Board, please pursue
it.
Do not wait to be asked, because
we do not know enough of the fabulous
people in the Valley to find you. If you
would like to explore what being on
the Board means, give a member of the
Nominations and Elections Committee
a call, or simply complete an application
form, available at Administration,
and we’ll call you.
A few dates will help you:
Deadline for submission: Sept. 6, 2006,
with a 70-word biography.
Candidate Forum: Sept. 17, 2006
500-word experience and vision statement:
Sept. 21, 2006.
Election Day: Nov. 4, 2006
N& E Members to call:
Scott Thiele 734-0554
Lee Langdon 738-4010
Bob Cooper 738-0954
Le t t e r t o t h e ed i t o r
Sudden Valley Exploration website up and running
Dear Editor:
The Sudden Valley Exploration
website is up and functional,
, and includes
detailed information about
the financial implications of proposed
cityhood as well as responses
to Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs). We would like to point Sudden
Valley residents to that website
for the best information available at
this time.
In response to a concern raised
about multiple levels of government,
let me say that those levels
of government already exist: Federal,
State, County, and Association.
Presently the County taxes Sudden
Valley property owners at the rate
of $3.475/$1,000 assessed valuation
and keeps the money. On a $200,000
AV house, that is $695 annually.
Under the City form of governance,
that $3.475/$1,000 AV
would no longer go to the County,
but would be remitted back to the
City of Sudden Valley to be applied
cL a s s i f i e d s a n d ne w s de a d L i n e s
editoriaL Gu i d e L i n e s
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JULY 2006
directly to city (read residents’) services
and benefit. The services and
benefits of the City and the association
would not overlap.
Given the rising costs that the
Sudden Valley Community Association
faces, we believe it is prudent
to take the necessary steps to
re-claim those taxation revenues for
Sudden Valley. This will continue
our services and quality of life with
no greater out of pocket cost to residents.
Our goal would be to reduce
Association dues used for expenditures
the Association presently
bears and for which the County collects
the revenues!
Questions? E-mail us at .
John Armitstead
Charles Rendina
“Pat” Curvin
Preston Burris
Mike Morrow
Classified ads cannot be published without evidence of payment. See the Classified
Ads page for size and payment information. Submit classified ads and payment
at the Clubhouse Front Desk, 4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA, 98229.
Property owners are encouraged to submit news articles and items of interest,
but please submit materials in compliance with the guidelines and deadlines.
The deadline for classified advertising and news items for the August 2006
issue of The Views is Friday, July 22, at noon.
DISPLAY ADS: For display advertising contact Mary Jo Lewis at 360-354-
4444. The deadline for display advertising for the August 2006 issue of The Views
is Thursday, July 21, at 5 p.m.
Submissions for The Views should be e-mailed to Andrea Fortney at . Both print and digital photos are encouraged with all submissions;
digital photos can be e-mailed as an attachment. Guest columnists are requested
to include a head-and-shoulders photo. Photos will be returned upon request.
Editorial cartoons are also accepted. All submissions are subject to editing by The
Views’ editor. Anything submitted after deadline cannot be guaranteed placement.
Placement is based on relevance, timeliness, and space availability.
President, Kalene Drummond; Vice-President, Dan Marantette; Secretary, Naomi Bunis;
Treasurer, Andy Schwartz. Members: Russ Harlan, Chuck McGroddy, Barbara Audley,
Roger Bull, Arthur “Mac” Carter, Scott Thiele; N & E Representative: Scott Thiele.
ACC Representative: Ken Enright.
Su d d e n Valley Vi e wS is the official publication of the Sudden Valley Community
Association. Published monthly, it has a circulation of 4,000.
Publisher: Sudden Valley Community Association
Editor: Lynden Tribune Print & Publishing Company
Managing Editor: Andrea Fortney, 360-354-4444,
Interim Advertising Manager: Mary Jo Lewis, 360-354-4444
The Views (U.S.P.S. 079-490) is published monthly for a subscription price of $12 per
year by the Sudden Valley Community Association. Periodicals postage paid at Bellingham,
WA and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes (Form No. 3579) to Sudden Valley
Community Association, 4 Clubhouse Circle, Bellingham, WA 98229.
The acceptance of an ad in The Views does not constitute approval of the Sudden
Valley Community Association. Comments expressed in The Views are not necessarily
the opinions of the SVCA, its officers or board of directors, but are solely those of the
writers. No non-advertising portion of The Views is subject to pre-publication review by
anyone but the editor.