Numbers, numbers, numbers!!! Don't you just get tired of seeing them, hearing about them, working with them. Unfortunately they are a part of our everyday life, whether it represents how many candles on our birthday cakes, miles we travel to and from work, gallons of fuel pumped into our cars, or the dollars not being paid to OUR homeowner's association in a timely manner.

The numbers above represent the following:

$444.00 in postage to send out the approximate 1,200 notices annually reminding the members of Box Hill South HOA to pay their monthly dues.

$10,107.00 is the amount of dues owed to us by those members not in collection with the attorneys.

$10,706.00 is the amount owed that is in collection with the attorneys.

To put these numbers in perspective, added together they equal more than an entire month's budgeted income. This would be the same as your household not getting paid for a month. It requires having to go into savings that you had planned to use for something else. Without this income, it makes the operation of the HOA rather difficult. As I have stated in these messages in the past, the services being provided on a daily, weekly or monthly basis may stop if there isn't money available to pay the bills. In other words neighbors, the delinquencies are seriously affecting the association's cash flow and reserve amounts.

To this end, your board of directors will be looking at our current policy relative to the collection of dues in arrears. We currently send out "friendly" reminders after 30 and 60 days past due. After 90 days, a demand letter is sent advising that the account will be turned over to the attorneys for collection if payment is not received within 30 more days. After 120 days, that's about four months for those of you tired of the whole number thing by now, the delinquent account is given to the attorney and the first thing they do is to add $250.00 or more to the original amount owed as collection fees. Your board is currently looking at various ways to be more aggressive in the collection of overdue fees.

We realize that some of us run into financial difficulty at times and fall behind. If you know that you will not be able to pay your fees by the due date, do not hesitate to contact Sallie Foster or her assistant at TPSI to make arrangements.

Let's all do our part to continue to keep Box Hill South a vibrant and safe community that is a wonderful place to live and play.

Top

• Check out all of the Social Events coming up on page 3
• Community Yard Sale will be Saturday, April 17th with a rain date of Sunday, April 18th.
• Dumpster weekend will be Saturday, April 24th am to Monday April 26th am.
• Semi-Annual Open Board Meeting will be at the Abingdon Fire Hall on Tuesday, May 4th at 7:30pm.

  To be discussed:

  COLLECTION, CHANGE OF COLLECTION POLICY

  RULES & REGULATIONS & FINES

  Top

We are always looking for people to join some of our committees. If you have any great ideas you would like to share or would just like a reason to get out, join us. The following is a list of committees available to join.

Beautification - Have any "beautiful" ideas or just want to help keep your community looking great. A clean looking neighborhood not only gives everyone great curb appeal, but it can help to increase the value of all our homes. You don't need a green thumb, just the desire for an inviting community. Contact Dawn at (410) 569-5372.

Hospitality - Are you friendly and outgoing? Welcome new residents and new babies to our BHS Family. Organize meal preparations for new mothers or help out with chores and driving assistance for a neighbor who is ill or has been in an accident. It is wonderful when we can pull together and help each other as more than just a community but as a family. Contact Billie Jo at (410)569-1380.

Events - Want to get to know the people who live in your community? Got any great ideas on how to do just that? Don't be shy, come out and have some fun with your neighbors. Contact Jennifer at (410) 569-1999.

Do you have a lot of pictures to organize and put into albums? Then join us! We are forming a Scrapbooking Group to meet once or twice a month and get those photos out of boxes and into albums. We will take turns rotating houses each time. Just call Andrea at (410) 515-3150 so we can get started. Happy Scrapbooking!!

Welcome to all new BHS residents who have recently joined our community. We look forward to meeting you at any future BHS events.

Top

---

Let's Welcome Spring!!

Community Clean Up Day is scheduled for April 24th and 25th. Let's help clean up our community by trimming bushes, cleaning out garages, and sweeping our sidewalks and streets. The salt trucks left a lot of soot in the streets that gets tracked into our houses. Let's sweep it up and take advantage of those dumpsters!Also, we could use your ideas and assistance to help clean up the "Box Hill South" sign at the Emmorton Road intersection. Anyone interested in lending their green thumb, please call Dawn at (410) 569-5372. Have a great & warm spring!

Top

Every month, the board of directors and our property manager receive complaints of one kind or another - neighbors' dog barking, debris in neighbor's yard, garbage being put out too early, etc. A copy of the Rules & Regulations was sent out to all home-owners prior to the November 2003 meeting. Some home owners did attend the meeting to discuss their concerns. However, with the number of complaints that are received, we need to get many more residents involved.

The board of directors has discussed this issue at length and have decided that we need more input from our community. We have two options:

1) To enforce the rules and regulations through a committee that would be assembled with residents from both the town-homes and single-family homes. The committee would consist of volunteers that would receive community complaints, conduct follow-up inquiries, make sure the home-owner is abiding with the rules and regulations and assess set fines to those who do not correct the violation until the situation is remedied. This requires time and a certain amount of commitment amongst the committee members to ensure our community retains a standard to everyone's desired level of living and value to our properties.

2) To use the Rules and Regulations as guidelines. This means that complaints would not be pursued and there would not be any guarantee the problem(s) would be resolved. Your neighbor could leave trash out in the yard or paint their house purple.

We need your involvement to come together on a decision. We need your input. We need your involvement to help maintain a community we can all be proud of.

Please fill out the following form and include it with your next monthly dues payment. Then attend the Open Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 4th.

If you would like to announce the birth of your newest addition, please contact Jennifer at (410) 569-1999.

Top

Megan Skokowski - (410)515-3194

Sally Lake- (410)569-6617

If you are interested in listing your name, please contact Jennifer at (410) 569-1999.

The Board of Directors for BHSHOA does not accept any liability for the listings and information in this newsletter.

Top

Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 4th

Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt, Bunny Hop Dance and maybe even an appearance from a special guest! Could it be a certain furry creature with a fuzzy tail??Register your child(ren) by calling Jennifer at (410) 569-1999 by Friday, April 2nd. On April 4th bring a basket for your child(ren) to collect the hidden eggs.Where: Main Tot Lot on Windy Laurel Drive

Time: 2:00 pm 

Semi-Annual Informational

Board Meeting Tuesday, May 4th

Where: Abingdon Fire Hall; Time: 7:30pm

Open discussion on Rules & Regulations; discussion on Payment of Monthly Dues

Mother's Tea Friday, May 7th

Enjoy a Mom's Night Out with Live Music, Tea/Coffee or Cold Beverage, Soup, Sandwiches & Scones.

Where: Huckleberry's Coffee & Tea; Time: 7:15pm

Enjoy your first beverage on us! Cost is whatever food and additional drink(s) you decide to purchase that night.* Space is limited, so call Jennifer to reserve your spot (410) 569-1999.

*Due to the large volume of attendees, Huckleberry's has stated that if you are not purchasing drink or food for every 45 minutes, then the table must be cleared to make room for new customers.

Father's Day Event Saturday, June 19th

Don't get Dad another tie…Take him to a ball game!!! Grab the whole family to celebrate Dad at the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Each person will receive a baseball cap and 1 ½ hours of all you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, condiments, baked beans, cole slaw, Italian pasta salad, cookies and sodas. Seating will be on the open grassy area next to the Picnic Area so bring a blanket or chair and stretch out comfortably. Call Jennifer to register and the first 10 families will receive a $5.00 discount!

Game Time: 7:05pm

Cost: $20 per person

(Since our seats will be on the grassy area, seating is first come first served. So make sure to get there early!)

Top

Top