President’s Message – June 2013

22 Jul

What a fun time at Cinco de Mayo in the IOP, we had great food, a piñata for the kids, and Dustin came back as a DJ for this party. Thank you Tim and Tami for preparing the main Mexican dishes, the awe- some flowers and decorating, we had very good side dishes brought. Everyone enjoyed the evening in the park. I met a long time resident and his wife for the first time they came out to enjoy this event.

I am really looking forward to the Father’s Day Fish fry let’s see who brings in the big bass this year. I wish all the contestants good luck!

4th of July in the IOP, we are working on the details for the best place to be this 4th of July. Lets see some patriotic creativity on those bicycles and golf carts and floats this year. Come to the party and if you can come help decorate the pavilion we never have enough help for any of our events.

Always use you key to enter the park and relock the gate. Our insurance company mandates all the gates should be locked at all times.

Let’s have a safe summer now that school is out, please drive slowly through the neighborhood, remind young drivers the speed limit is 35 and we share the roads with pedestrians, bicyclers and our animal neighbors.

See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens
President

President’s Message – May 2013

29 Apr

This newsletter is a community tool we use to provide information and advertising. If you have an interest in something from a hobby, tips, birthdays, favorite recipes, tools of your trade or just information you find you want to share please submit it via email, to the newsletter editor at iopnewsletter@yahoo.com. There is no charge for informational articles we need more content or the news- letter will become smaller and have mostly ads. I usually get asked when to send ads in, send them as soon as you think of it the deadline is the 20th of each month.

This year’s Rajun Cajun was a successful event. However, we did have some issues with long food lines and have already been working on how to make next year run smoother. I want to thank everyone that participated and especially those that worked non-stop to ensure our guests were receiving much needed attention.

The beach clean up had a great turn out and we awarded two lucky workers with Darden gift certificates. Additionally, everyone saved on next year’s membership dues.

Everyone is invited to the Father’s Day fish tournament, it is a great time to get together whether you participate in fishing or not come down for the weigh in and the fish fry.

Keep everyone safe and drive slowly through the neighborhood, remind young drivers the speed limit is 35 and we share the roads with pedestrians and bicyclers.

See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens
President

President’s Message – March 2013

4 Mar

What an exceptional turn out for this year’s Wine and Cheese Membership Drive, I really enjoyed visiting with so many neighbors. I am looking forward to serving as your IOP President again this year with an outstanding board, thank you for your support.

Many opportunities to get together with neighbors are coming up with the Easter Party and a park cleanup scheduled. Look on our website for all the dates of events they are posted through the end of the year. Let me know if there are events you are interested in seeing, perhaps we will have a Friday night social hour so we can enjoy the park together once the weather stays nice.

The IOP Newsletter is an important form of communication but as you know we are pro- hibited from delivering into your mailbox unless we pay postage, which would be costly. At present the newsletter is delivered and left on the ground, we would like to have a hook or nail on your mailbox post so we can hang them, we will even supply the hook. Send an email to iopnewsletter@yahoo.com if you need a hook. If you don’t receive your newslet- ter and would like a copy, there will be extra copies placed in the large sign next to IOP Construction.

Enjoy your park, plan your parties and come to events! See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens,
President

President’s Message – January 2013

14 Jan

Dear Neighbors

As many of us look into the New Year we are evaluating what is important to our families and us. Our com- munity is important in many ways; we can rely on each other and raise our family in a peaceful environ- ment.

Recently I heard of acts of kindness to fellow neighbors by providing a Thanksgiving meal with the help of the local Fire Dept. Not only was the turkey donated but also it was prepared into a full meal for those that would have gone without. There were three families in our neighborhood that were taken care of by such acts of kindness. There are quite a few neighbors that look after their elderly neighbors too.

At the membership drive on January 19, there will be a sign up sheet for next year’s events and suggestions for more ways our community can interact. Let us know what you would like to participate with.

There will be a “LOST AND FOUND” box by the grill area in the pavilion, I will be placing many cooking uten- sils I take home and wash after our events. Please do not put shoes, towels or dirty items in the box, these can be placed on the ground.

This year I have had a wonderful experience with the 2012 IOP Board Members in which I would like to thank them for their time and efforts in our association.

“I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody. ”
–Lily Tomlin

Have a prosperous New Year in the IOP.

Terry Aikens
President

President’s Message – December 2012

8 Nov

This year’s Halloween Party almost became a Hurricane Party, thankfully the weather got better by Saturday evening and we had a great turnout. We brought back the raffle drawing for prizes thanks to Nickie and Jackie, one of my favorite prizes were sunset photos of our lake donated by Lily Worcester. The Jack-o-lanterns were very creative and the costumes were awesome. Thanks to DJ John and all the volunteers for set up and decorating we had a successful event.

Looking for an old fashioned Christmas Party? Come to our IOP Party we will start with decorating the Pavilion to await Santa’s arrival at 1:00 pm. Volunteer at this or any event and take $5 off your annual membership for 2013.

The 1st Annual Boat Parade is coming to Lake Mary Jane this December, you can participate or come down to the association dock to view it.

Next year’s social occasions are being discussed at the board meetings such as a chili cook off and a family camp-out. Come to a board meeting or let someone on the board know what would interest you in the upcoming year.

See you in the IOP,
Terry Aikens

President’s Message – October 2012

11 Oct

There are a lot of IOP events coming; this month will be the Halloween Party it’s got scary and fun costumes, pumpkins, a scavenger hunt and great fun for adults and kids.

There is still time to join the IOP and participate in the Halloween and Christmas party. If you want to wait and join next year you can do that at the Annual Membership Drive in January.

Our website www.isleofpines.org is a great tool, put it in your favorites so when you want to look up who to contact to rent the pavilion or to know bout an upcoming event or to re-read one of the awesome articles you will be able to go right to it. Also tell me what you want to see on the website we are looking to add more content to it.

I had heard from people regarding the newsletter content and information, so there have been some changes to it. Let me know what you want to see in it and give me your information to be in History of the Isle of Pines. Send me your favorite things about our neighborhood, why you chose this neighborhood and how important it is to you.

See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens
President

President’s Message – September 2012

6 Sep

The local deer inhabitants have been busy and now there are quite a few twin fawns and adult deer grazing from street to street. As we share our rural environment with the woodland crea- tures please drive slowly and with your bright lights on. One fawn was killed recently in the neigh- borhood and it would be sad to lose anymore.

Every IOP Board meeting is open to the general membership; we meet at the south beach the first Tuesday of every month. This September we will meet on the second Tuesday. We are going to have some new events so watch for future announcements.

The IOP Board is planning on some needed repairs done within the park. We have a committee that has addressed repairs that need to be done: Updating the electrical boxes and receptacles, replacing the roof on the pavilion and the retainer wall by the dock, build- ing or placing a water pump house over the well.

Thank you to all the below volunteers these things could not have been accomplished without you!

I want to thank who ever put a new basketball net up.

Replaced boards on the dock, by Nat Worcester and his friend

Updated website take a look @ https://isleofpines.org designed and managed by Josh Starcher

Welcome baskets for new residents by Domenique Lombardo

Replaced the swing set seats researched and purchased by Jennifer Hislop and in- stalled by Josh Harriger

Replaced Christmas lights on the inside of the pavilion with rope lights. Purchased large fans that were helpful at the 4th of July party by Terry Aikens

Top boards on the dock and upkeep, by Albert Cichra

Also for triathlon volunteering, Shawn Kraznik, Sheila Cichra and her mom, the Worcester family, Hugh and Nancy Blair, Kelly Dunn, Jennifer & John Hislop, Al Eastburn, Dana Aikin, Mike Bull and Terry Aikens.

See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens
President

President’s Message – July 2012

1 Jul

The IOPPOA is very fortunate to have active board members, without them and their time the IOPPOA would be the same as every other association that I hear about that don’t do anything for their members. Here are your involved IOPPOA board members:
Al Eastburn : Vice President, what would we do without Al, you can usually find as the grill master at events, corner marshal, and has served many years on the board.
Janet Herrera: Secretary, my effortless co-coordinator on the many events we provide.
Hugh Blair: Treasurer, which has various challenging situations and coordinator of the Triathlon.
Nikki Worcester and her other half John have swapped places for terms on the board, the whole family is very active providing our DJ and many delicious meals to our events.
Shawn Krzanik and his wife Ana will have brought us a family fun 4th of July again this year, along with working on our database for Trade Listing to Keep it in the Hood.
Domenique Lombardo is energetic in promoting our community.
Mike “Fisherman Mike” is a great worker bee; he puts in 110% effort in our events.
Jennifer Hislop joined the board this year and is working with me on the IOP history. Also her family has been corner marshals for the triathlon. Great participation!
Rene Fossey-Dary joined the board this year and actively participates in events, has great enthusiasm. Suzanne Arnold is so diverse and her values, compassion, humor and energy can always be counted on. Josh Harriger and has made improvements to the park with his handiness and his suggestions.
Josh Starcher has joined the board this year and has kept us up to date on our website and is working on improving it.
Dave Patenaude and his wife Tammy have been effortless in participating at many of our events.
Mindy Nodorft joined the board this year and shows her spirit of neighborliness.
Carloyn Bird has joined the board this year and has great suggestions and input for our community.
See you in the IOP!

Terry Aikens

President 

President’s Message – June 2012

1 Jun

The 2012 IOPPOA Rajun Cajun was very successful this year. We had great attendance and many of the people that come have never missed one. I love to hear how enjoyable our neighborhood is and that they look forward to our event every year. I want to thank all the workers and the Crawfish Co of Central Fla for their commit- ment and expertise without them this event would not be a success. I especially would like to thank the volun- teers that help me out at the gate, they save me from the stampede of those so anxious to get to their favorite spot in the park.

The board has a committee that will look into doing repairs to the IOP Association amenities depending on quotes and necessity we may not do all of them at once but we feel that our fund raisers funds will be put to good use. The committee’s focus is getting the electric up to code and replace with commercial grade products. Providing a permanent cover for the well equipment. The pavilion roof is not leaking, but as far as anyone re- members it is the original roof. The retaining wall along the boat ramp replaced with new wood.

Come out to the Father’s Day Fishing tournament it is for all members. If you are interested in getting up early and fish either from the dock or from your boat. Or you can sleep in and come to the weigh in to cheer as the fish are weighed for each participant. We then have Dana’s famous fish tacos and other great food.

Since we don’t get RSVP for a head count we never know how many members will come to each event, so we ask everyone to bring a side dish. This way we have a variety of food and snacks for all that come.

Look for more interesting IOP history in the newsletters to come and keep emailing me regarding what events and information you are interested in seeing in your newsletter.

See you in the IOP,

Terry Aikens

President 

President’s Message – April 2012

1 May

How long have you been a resident in the Isle Of Pines and what changes have you seen?

How many generations have made the IOP their home, such as Gardners, Eastburn, Whitfield and Cox family? Do you have some interesting stories of what it was like way back when?

If so email me or Bill Anderson at andersonwta@yahoo.com or set up a time to get together so we can share this infor- mation with the residents in the IOP. We will use the newsletter for sharing the information and we would like to pull from the archives some information to do a timeline of the history of the IOP. I just heard today from Dana Aikin that they used to collect sap from the pine trees to make it into turpentine. There were camps set up and some old pine trees still show the cuts from this process.

Our neighborhood is unique in that there are no two houses exactly alike and that there have been many people that have left impressions of their lives in the IOP. When you move into the IOP you hear your house is referred to by the last owner of the house. Especially if the last owner had lived there a long time, or had done some improvements or that they were well known in the neighborhood. Of course over time the next owner will leave their impression on the house and its referral may change to that owner.

No matter what changes have been made with new houses being built or improvements it is the lives of its residents that leave their mark the most.

Share some of your earliest memories you have of the IOP and let’s keep making memories of our own! See you in the IOP!

Terry Aikens

President 

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