Sunrise Bluffs Community Newsletter

CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES

PO-KE-NO
Want to try a new game? Each Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm we will be playing PO-KE-NO in the card room. Bring your pennies and join us for this fun game. Contact Madeline Schwalm at #238.

Community Breakfast by Dave Gussendorf
The Community Breakfast held on May 10 was attended by 20 people. Many thanks to Master Chefs David Paquet, Weldon Paxton and Warren Reynolds for their continued service.

We've not been able to assemble a crew for the June breakfast, therefore we are canceling the event.

Coffee & Donuts
First Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. Saturday, August 2nd, hosted by Done & Sharon White.

Potluck
Usually third Saturday at 5:00 pm Saturday, August 16 will be hosted by Bill & Laura Bird and Luci& Warren Reynolds. Bring a dish and beverage of your choice with your table service and take them home to wash.

Bridge
Every Monday at 9 AM. We are always looking for new members, either as a regular or sub. This is a fun group. Please call Linda Parry #152 for more details.

Ponytail Canasta
Every Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 pm and every Friday night at 6:00 pm.

Pinochle
Every Thursday at 9:30 am. Come and join the fun even if you haven't played in a while. Call Sandy Mayfield at #242.

Penny Ante Poker
The first Saturday of each month at 6:00 pm starting March 1. Call Irene Jollie at #105.

Mah Jongg
Come join us and learn to play Mah Jongg. We will soon be starting off with a brand new card and we'll all be starting from scratch. We play Mondays from 1-4 PM. Call Liz Paquet #204 if you would like more information.

Bingo
Following the monthly Potluck May 17th, beginning at 7 pm. Come on down and enjoy the fun!

Wednesday Poker by Linda Meadows
As shown on the calendar, 2-4 pm Wednesday Poker is being postponed until October 1. Anyone interested in playing when we resume in the Fall, please call Lee Meadows #104. We are always looking for new players!

Sunrise Bluffs Men's Club
The men's club of this community would like to invite all men to attend our Tuesday morning coffee at 9:00 am and our lunches at 1:00 pm the first and third Wednesday of the month. We go out to lunch at various places. This is an opportunity to meet new friends and discuss various topics.

For more information contact Paul Hasse at #303.

Singing Group
We meet Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm. All singers, would-be singers, and anyone else who has a musical bone in his/her body is certainly welcome.

Country Music Jam by Shorty Maddux
Are you a country music fan? Do you play an instrument or like to sing? Or maybe you just like to listen. Each Thursday, we will be having a jam of musicians from inside our community and from outside our community. Come to the clubhouse dining room about 9:00 am until about noon. Contact Shorty at #228 or for more information.

May 50/50 Drawing by Dave Paquet
We had a nice turnout at this month's potluck dinner with good food and lively conversation. We sold $45 in tickets, paying out $23 while retaining $22. The winners were Liz Paquet $12, and BIll Kepler $11. A motion was made and unanimously passed to donate the $150 towards the purchase of a new community grill. The grill will be purchased in the near future.

Belen Stitchers
Every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. This is a local stitching group. Anyone wanting to stitch with others, learn counted thread techniques, share and receive tips is welcome. Contact Linda Perry #152 for more details.

The Valencia Valley Girls
Second Thursday and fourth Saturday of the month. This local quilting group meets to share like interests in the art of quilting and new members are always welcome. We share tips, trade items, and have demonstrations. We participate in two annual exhibits at the local Harvey House Museum: The Fiber Arts Fiesta in February and New Mexico Quilt Association Show in August.

Lunch Bunch - by Georgia Lellos
The once-a-month Lunch Bunch will not be meeting in July and August. We will resume our monthly lunch in September.

FROM THE BLOCK CAPTAINS by Mike Cava
Until such time as a contract is entered into for street repair, all residents are encouraged to pull and spray weeds that are growing between the asphalt and cement in front of their homes. I would also ask each homeowner to check the sidewalks in front of their homes for errant weeds.

Tennis
Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9:00 am. Anyone who wants to play is welcome! For information, contact Larry Fisher #138 or Dave Gussendorf #201.

Farkel Day
The first and third Thursdays of the month at 1PM.. Come to the Clubhouse and enjoy this fast-paced and fun dice game.

Ping Pong
Each Thursday at 6:00 pm. Some call it Ping Pong, some call it Table Tennis. Contact Frank De Planche at #207.

CALENDAR INFO by Lora Cave - Calendar / Scheduling
I’ve had to abbreviate some events because of limited calendar space. Also, a reminder - Before contacting the Newsletter Team to have your clubhouse event scheduled, please contact me first to make sure the date and time is available for you to use. If there is a change or cancellation of your event, please let me know so I can remove it from the calendar. Lora Cava #122

Belen Food Pantry by Liz Paquet
The Belen Food Pantry needs volunteers. If you are able to give 1 - 1/2 hours of your time once a month or more, please call Mary Rau at 864-6932. They need help stocking shelves and bagging food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Compassionate Friends by Mel & Char Ragsdale
We are seeking assistance from other bereaved parents or grandparents in starting a new chapter of the Compassionate Friends for the areas of Belen, Los Lunas, points east and south.

The Compassionate Friends is a support group for bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings. It is non-profit, non-denominational and part of a nationwide network of chapters that offer support, friendship, understanding and hope. the secret of TCP’s success is simple. As the seasoned bereaved reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been directed inward begins to flow outward and both are helped toward healing. The Compassionate Friends vision is that everyone who needs them will find them and everyone who finds them will be helped.

If you are interested in helping form this new chapter, and/or want more information, please contact Mel & Char Ragsdale at #218 by phone or email. Thank you.

Cuddly Bears of Stuffed Animals - Becky Chrisman
Do you ever wonder what that box of stuffed animals in the card room is? When that box is full, the animals are taken to the Belen Police Department for their use in domestic disturbance calls. If there is a child in he house, the police give them a teddy bear or stuffed animal. Or when a child comes in to the station, a stuffed animal is also given to them. Since 2004, the Sunrise Bluffs community has been helping with their cause by purchasing either a teddy bear or stuffed animal and placing them in the box provided in the card room. This is an ongoing project. When the box is full, we’ll take it down to the police station. Remember...it must be a NEW stuffed toy. DO NOT bring a stuffed toy you want to discard. Please help this worthy cause. Thank you.

SAVE THE LANDFILL! Recycle Newspapers - by Larry Fisher
The FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH all newspapers placed on your driveway tied, bagged or bundled will be picked by the newspaper person. I will still pick up your plastic and aluminum on the first week of each month.

KUDOS by Mike Cava
A hearty Thank You goes out to Adelyn Grudier (aka Betsy Ross). She has sewn our community flag and has made necessary repairs to it and to our State flag. She has offered to make further repairs to our various flags when needed.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES by Liz Paquet
We will again be requesting donations of school supplies for Belen students in need. Please bring your items to the bin in the Clubhouse by August 28. Supplies needed include: loose-leaf paper, spiral notebooks, blunt-ended scissors, 24 count boxes of crayons, colored pencils, Elmer's glue, pencils, pens, rulers, tissues, binders and backpacks. Thank you for your help.

VP/MANAGEMENT REPORT by Mel Ragsdale

The reporting to the homeowners via the Sunburst consists of items that have been discussed, approved or tabled during our meeting for that month. Both Block Captains and Management Team have the designation of VP's of the HOA and as such we have decided to jointly meet at the same time for efficiency. The Management Team is responsible for the maintenance of the common areas, while the Block Captains have the responsibility of rules enforcement. The next meeting is scheduled for 10 AM on Tuesday August 12 in the club house.

HOA Managers and Block Captains (VP’s)
Block Captains:
Phase I, block 1 Mike Cava #122
Phase I, block 2 Bob Power #149
Phase II, block 1 Dave Paquet #204
Phase II, Block 2& Kim Bloom #333
Phase lll (all)

Managers: (MIC schedule) Each Manager takes a two month term to manage maintenance of the common areas.
Bill Kepler #111 Jan – Feb 2008
Bob Moran #137 Mar – Apr 2008
Paul Eddy, #214 May - June 2008
Mel Ragsdale #218 Jul – Aug 2008
Bill Kepler, #111 Sept - Oct 2008
Dave Grussendorf, #201 Nov – Dec 2008

The Management Committee met on July 8, 2008. The following items were discussed: maintenance report from Rick Schneck about the repair of cracks in our roads; problems with the pump motor for the swimming pool; the purchase of a new grill for the club house, and a survey of the community about a piano for the club house. For more information, please read the minutes in the computer room.

Note from the HOA Board:

We want to express our gratitude for all the volunteer block Captains, Managers and Directors that make up the management team within the Sunrise Bluffs Community. In expressing this gratitude we want to remind all residents that any complaints or concerns need to be made in writing, signed and placed in the suggestion box within the clubhouse.

As our management team consists of volunteers helping in the community and giving up their personal time for such, all consideration needs to be given to them so that Social Events do not ever become the occasion for sharing concerns or problems within the community. They all do their best to address concerns or complaints according to the procedures outlined and should not be subject to dealing with issues at anytime or anyplace outside of their respective meeting times.

RECREATION AND TRAVEL COMMITTEE REPORT
Georgia Eddy Kate Grussendorf, Co-Chair

June 18. Jose Campos from the Belen Senior Center gave a presentation to about 25 Sunrise Bluffs residents. Did you know that you can get a meal, play billiards, and line dance at the Center as well as numerous other activities? Did you know that the Stat has nutrition and legal services available to seniors? Did you know that Valencia County as 5 Senior Centers? If you would like to participate or have questions, please call the Belen Senior Center at 864-6739.

July - What a GREAT 4th of July Celebration!!! Weldon Paxton, Paul Eddy and Dave Grussendorf flipped burgers and brats for 56 hungry residents. the sides brought by the attendees were so abundant, delicious and beautiful, you would have thought we were having a gourmet cooking contest! truly a culinary delight! thanks to everyone who participated and special thanks to all the "Worker Bees" who setup, served, and cleaned.

July 14th the Isotopes beat the Iowa Cubs, and we were there! twenty of us met at the stadium for the noon game. With the Isotopes at the bottom of the league Iowa was slated to win. Early in the game each team scored 2 points. then the action slowed to a crawl and it seemed as if the score was tied at 2 to 2 forever! hen in the 7th inning the Isotopes caught fie and ran away with the game! And we were there! What fun we all had!

August - The Road Trip to Madrid was so successful last year we decided to do it again. this year we leave from the clubhouse at 9 AM on Friday, August 22. the sign-up sheet is in the clubhouse. Waivers will need to be signed by anyone traveling with us.

September - Labor Day is Monday, September 1st - The Catered BBQ was a huge success last year so we plan to do it again. More information coming soon.

October
Balloon Fiesta. As we approach that time, we'll find out if we can make a Rail Runner trip to the Fiesta. Look for more info in upcoming newsletters.

The October Potluck will have a theme: Southwest October Fest. Everyone will be asked to bring some kind of Chile, Red, Green, TexMex, beans or no beans ... whatever ... and a side or condiment such as salad, tortillas, bread or chips, etc. Cooks will be encouraged to label their dishes (Mild, Medium or Hot).

On the 31st of October there will be a Halloween Party. People will be asked to bring snacks to share and their own beverage. There will be music, karaoke, dancing, trivia and perhaps a costume contest.

November & December we are planning Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Dinner and a Holiday Open House.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Community Breakfasts have been cancelled for June, July and August. They will resume in September.

We held our third quarter meeting July 8 at 10:00 am. Under discussion for that meeting was the subject of the committee status, which has been meeting on a quarterly basis as needed, and for special meetings when called upon by the board or block captains. After much discussion, it was decided that the need for quarterly meetings is no longer necessary. The motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously that this committee will now meet as an ad hoc committee. We will also have one meeting a year on the second Tuesday at 10:00 am to organize for the coming year.

The recommendation was presented to the board and passed unanimously as well. Our guidelines for the Rules and Regulations Committee will be adjusted to reflect these changes by October.

There was nothing to report for the month of August.