DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
The Holiday season is here again. Let the joyful festivities begin.
Events coming up in December 2009.
A Magical Evening on Saturday, December 5, at 5:30pm. Dinner and entertainment.
Bunnye Brinson's Birthday Party� Saturday, December 12th, at 8:30am.
Cookie Exchange� Saturday, December 12th, at 6:00pm.
Light Up Saddle Oak Sunday, December 13th, at 6:00pm.
Show Palace December 20th.
Christmas Dinner� Friday, December 25th, at 4:00pm
Welcome In The New Year Thursday, December 31st, at 8:00pm.
If I forgot any, I apologize. A number of events to be enjoyed by one and all! Glady and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dick Ouimette
Informational Meetings During December 2009- Insurance Plans
December 1, Tuesday at 9:00am Preferred Care Physicians
December 8, Tuesday at 9:00am Freedom
December 15, Tuesday at 9:00am Physicians United Plan
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING
Board Meeting:
Tuesday, December 1st at 2:00 PM
Informational Meeting:
Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM
Submit a resume to any Board member by December 15th if you are interested in a position on the Board of Directors. Resumes should be posted in the January Newsletter (if we receive them in time).
Saddle Oak Club has a new WEB address!!
We now have our own domain:
www.saddleoakclub.net
-- Kathy Smith
The Federation of Manufactured Home Owners
Why We Need FMO?
By Marj Banczak
Having been a longtime member of FMO in addition to serving as its regional secretary for several years, I feel qualified to offer my opinions and suggestions on this worthwhile organization.
Historically, there was a time when Trailer Parks were owned and governed by that Mom & Pop ownership. Each had their own park rules and restrictions. Those rules and restrictions became complicated, unfair and unreasonable. Park residents are vulnerable when they place their homes on rented land.
In 1963 these mobile home owners began to band together for protection and support. Thus the Federation of Mobile Home Owners was formed. It was organized to support the park residents against unscrupulous land owners and unreasonable restrictions and rules.
But FMO needed help and it turned to legislators for assistance, advice and support. Finally in 1984, State Statute 723 was passed. Statute 723, initiated by FMO is a guardian of the residents of mobile/manufacture homes as they place their homes on rented land.
Mobile Parks have since expanded into a growing industry as we now know it.
We are indeed fortunate in Saddle Oak to have a reliable and responsible park owner and good management. Other communities have not fared so well.
Membership in FMO gives us a voice in the Legislature. We have lobbyists who monitor upcoming legislation, warning FMO members of detrimental legislation. It gives us representation and power. A warning from the lobbyist gives us an opportunity to contact our Congressional representatives and voice our objections.
At one point in time Park Owners, who also have their own organization, introduced legislation that would give Park Owners the opportunity to issue “month to month leases. Thus opening the door to frequent rent increases. With the FMO warning and calls to our legislators this proposed legislation did not pass. Recently, the proposed Sales Tax on mobile/manufactured home lot rent was put on hold as the result of FMO intervention. These are just two examples of FMO assistance and power.
Too many of today's manufactured home owners have taken this FMO protection for granted and are not participating or becoming members of that organization.
There is an old saying among FMO members. It states, You don't go out in the rain without an umbrella and you don't live in a manufactured/mobile home park without the protection of FMO.'
FMO needs your support! You need FMO! It is our watch dog!
If you wish to know more about and become a member of FMO, please contact our park representative, Bob Bull, for more information.
THE BLOODMOBILE WILL BE AT SADDLE OAKS THE SECOND TUESDAY OF DECEMBER.
( 12/8/09 ) from 2pm to 5pm.
THERE IS ALWAYS A DESPERATE NEED FOR BLOOD DONORS FROM THE VARIOUS HOSPITALS
IN OUR AREA DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON - THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH,
KWANZAA, NEW YEARS EVE - AMONG OTHERS
A blood test is done during your sign up process prior to giving blood. I know there are many in Saddle
Oaks who have tried to be HEROS and have come forward to give blood in the past but were unable to
donate because of a low iron count. PLEASE TRY AGAIN and see if the following list of foods will help
you bring that blood iron count up. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
I am including a list of FOODS HIGH IN IRON from the Florida Blood Centers.
BEETS, LIVER, LEAN MEAT, SEAFOOD, SPINACH, LETTUCE, BAKED POTATOES,
WATERMELON, GREENS ( TURNIP, MUSTARD, COLLARD, SPINACH ), RAISINS, PRUNES, BEANS, CEREALS ( IRON FORTIFIED ).
VITAMIN C AIDS IN THE ABSOPTION OF IRON!
GOD BLESS EVERYONE, WHERE EVER WE AND OUR FAMILIES MAY BE!
Marge Putka
ARTS & CRAFTS
- Angie Bauman
How nice to have Kathy Smith back - her interest in crafts really stimulated me! She found instructions on the internet to make Roll or Cookie Baskets from your last year's greeting cards for your table which we will start the first Friday in December at 1 PM or before. She already showed Dorothy, Hazel and me how to make a beautiful 16 inch hanging New Year's star out of folded, cut and glued wrapping paper. A snowman ornament out of used or new golf balls with a black felt hat is a clever gift for a golfer. A hot glue gun is needed and I have plenty of recycled golf balls.
If you are interested in any of her projects or other Christmas ornaments displayed on our craft board, come and see them on Fridays and sign up on the sheet at the clubhouse. Any questions, call me, Angie Bauman.
BEREAVEMENT REPORT
Jim Griffith passed away on September 30. He is survived by his wife, Mickie.
--Fran Bolson
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU TO THE SADDLE OAK PLAYERS
THE DINNER AND SHOW ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS GREAT
A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO IT AND IT SHOWED
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE PLAYERS COOKS SERVERS AND ANY ONE ELSE WHO
WORKED ON THAT NIGHT
\WE REALLY ENJOYED IT
--SUE WHRITENOUR
COOKIE EXCHANGE
THE COOKIE EXCHANGE IS ALMOST HERE
SIGN UP AT THE CLUB HOUSE
COME AND ENJOY A NIGHT OF HOLIDAY FUN
THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGH UP
THE SIGN UP SHEET COMES DOWN ON DEC 7
COOKIE EXCHANGE IS
DEC 12 2009 600 PM
ANY QUESTIONS CALL
SUE WHRITENOUR
SO Craft Fair
-- Ginger Pace
I would like to thank everyone
who worked so hard to make the
Craft Fair a success.
Toots Lobe and myself advertised
in many places; The Star Banner,
The Citizen, Messenger, and lots
of flyers around town.
Thanks to the breakfast crew
hosted by Toots Lobe, Tony Pace,
and myself. The lunches prepared
by Shelly and Jim Westcott and
Tony Pace. Jo Gearin & Penny
Geneva made the sandwiches.
Thanks to Bonnie Armitage for
the posters, Bernie Kozlowski for
the shuttle service and all the
drivers, Bunnye Brinson and Betty
Cigrand for selling the 50/50
tickets, Mary Sitkowski handing
out tickets for door prizes, Rose
Bull and Elaine Baburek for the
bake sale, and all those who
donated a cake, also to Dorothea
Wiley for donating and raffling
her special Cassata cake.
A special Thank You to Maryann
O'Connell for MC'ing the
program. Also, thank you to Carol
Cerniglia for donating a Cook book
and Hair
Certificate that we raffled off.
Thank you to Carolyn Miller and
the Thursday evening quilters
for making a beautiful quilt that
was raffled off and won by a
S.O. resident, Bea Christophel.
It was a great day and a big
success. We had 17 tables of
crafty ladies selling their wares.
Again, Thanks to all!!!!
WANTED ALIVE!
Talent search! For the 7th annual talent show on January, 30, 2010.
Sing, Dance, Read, Comic etc..
Call Dorothea
Come Help Decorate the Tree!!
We will be decorating the Saddle Oak Christmas Tree on Saturday, December 5th at approximately 9:30 AM. (Right after coffee) in the clubhouse.
We will also be decorating the Memory Tree in the library.
Please sign up in the clubhouse if you would like to help.
Nancy Dougherty
Memory Tree
by Marjorie Banczak
Christmas is a time of memories. Memories of another time, another place, another person.
In Saddle Oak we help keep those memories alive with our Christmas Memory Tree.
Our Memory Tree holds ornaments in memory of that time, that place, or that person.
We welcome all community residents to contribute ornaments, hang them on the Memory Tree and write a short line concerning that memory in the log book provided.
The decorated Memory Tree stands in the library and is a treasure to be contributed to and shared by all Saddle Oak residents.
Stop, check the tree, read the log book and hang your memory ornament. The tree will be set up in the library in early December.
THANKS!
To everyone who helped make the Family Feud a happy one. You all worked hard to put this event together!
Dorothea Wiley
MANAGER'S DESK
1. Please exercise courtesy when parking at the Clubhouse. There are parking spaces which are designated as Golf Cart Only. Car pool whenever possible. If you and your neighbors are attending an event, please ride together.
2. Solicitation is not permitted in Saddle Oak Club. My office has NEVER allowed this practice.
3. Recently, there was an article published in the newsletter that was attributed to my office erroneously. I have not in the past, nor will I ever in the future, designate a mouthpiece for my office. If I have information to pass on to the residents, I will do so in this format.
4. Please be aware that next month is January 2010. If you have misplaced the Rent Increase letter that you received, please call Joanne for the exact amount owed in January. Also, if you plan to pay the pass-on in full this year, the payment is due no later than December 31st 2009.
5. As many of you know, there is a pigeon-hole� mail distribution center in the library of the Clubhouse. During the holidays, this gets used by residents to distribute cards. Please check this periodically.
My staff and I would like to wish each and every one of you Happy Holidays and
MERRY CHRISTMAS
ATTENTION
SADDLE OAK RESIDENTS!
There will be open Board Member positions this coming February on the SOCHA Board of Directors.
To be considered for a position please submit a resume/history of qualifications to any Board Member by December 15, 2009.
Elections will be held at the February Association Meeting. Volunteer to help make our community the best 55+park in Florida.
Also, we still need a Treasurer, to maintain monthly ledgers and a Phone Book Coordinator by February 2, 2010. These positions are not Board Member positions but they are important to our SOCHA and the community!
CHRISTMAS DINNER
Friday , December 25, 2009
Saddle Oak Clubhouse 4:00PM
Ham, Coffee, Tea & Place Settings will be provided by the Saddle Oak Community Association.
There will be a Host/Hostess for each reserved table. You invite your own guests or they sign up for your table. Tables can be decorated to your liking.
Host/Hostess will have each guest bring a covered dish to share with everyone at your table. Bring you favorite beverages if you wish.
The rest is up to the Host/Hostess and table guests. Relatives of the residents are welcome to join for dinner.
There is No Charge for the dinner but there will be a $5.00 gift exchange (not mandatory). We also have surprise entertainment.
We need to have everyone sign up to get an accurate count on attendance.
Chairpersons: Elaine Baburek, Linda Otto, and Kathy Smith
Sign up sheets by table will be posted in the clubhouse. Let a chair person know if you would like to help pass out food or do some light cleanup after the dinner!
Please think about your plans now as Christmas is rapidly approaching!
Show Palace Christmas Show
Bus will be leaving the clubhouse at 9:30 A.M. on Sunday December 20th.
Do not be late or we will leave without you.
Get your singing voices in tune as we will be singing Christmas Carols on the bus.
Maybe we will have a couple of games to play.
I am wishing all of us a very good time.
Thanks again for joining me in this pleasurable journey. (I Hope)
Happy Holidays to Everybody, Toots!
LADIES LUNCH
- Ruth Wheeler
We'll go to Bently's in Dunnellon for our Christmas lunch on December 17 at 1:30. For anyone unfamiliar with Bently's location, I'll include directions on the sign-up sheet. New residents are always welcome, as well as all of us "long-timers". It's a good opportunity to get acquainted.
Saddle Oak Singers (SOS)
SOS is not a cry for help, but the initials for a new vocal group, Saddle Oak Singers. Once upon a time, Saddle Oak had a chorus. Not that we plan on taking our talents on the road, but we would like to gather a group of guys and gals to join in voice for the holidays. If you would like to participate, our first meeting/rehearsal will be held at the clubhouse on Tuesday, December 1st at 4PM.
We would like the Singers to entertain after the golf cart parade during refreshments at the Clubhouse on Sunday, December 13th. If there is enough interest, the SOS could become a yearlong activity. Hope to see you there.
Kathy Smith
RANDOM IDLE THOUGHTS
I Wonder
I Wonder how old Robert Browning was when he wrote: Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be! Fifty maybe, when he still had decent teeth and eyes and ears, good knees and a strong bladder. And he still had his loved ones and his good friends.
Emotions
It's downright embarrassing the way some songs make me cry these days. I don't know if it's weakness or old age, but I puddle up easily. Patriotic songs do me in! Hymns get to me. Christmas hymns do it. So I blubber, but I am not alone.
Last Moments
George Bernard Shaw said, 'I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. Life is no brief candle to me - it's sort of a splendid torch - I want to make it burn as brightly as I can.'
There are memories that only we oldsters can know - of a time when the world was a sweeter place. When there was more politeness and less crime; more ballparks and less traffic, more modesty and less pornography. We remember when there were more things like hayrides and Sunday School picnics and cookouts followed by sing-a-longs, a time of more trust and less suspicion. We remember when the front door was never locked; there was not even a key. But then, life has its own rewards in new ways and new research and better communication. And life goes on!
On Cleaning Out and Throwing Things Away
Some letters tied with blue, a photograph or two, I find a rose from you among my souvenirs. You can throw things out but you can't keep your mind from looking back.
The Electronic Age
I have no interest in complicated electronics, preferring simple machines and switches that say off and on�. We oldsters find computers difficult even as our youngest grandchildren appear to have no problem. But, on the other hand, there are some of us who can write sonnets, work crossword puzzles, knit, sew and crochet. It's not all rocking chairs and Medicare.
On Mail Order Catalogs
I see a dress in a catalog. It has a certain air, a dash, a style, a careless grace. Jaunty and debonair, I order it. At last it comes. I try it on with glee. Alas! That girl in the catalog was jauntier than me.
Till next time
Marj Banczak
Roving Reporter
RECIPE CORNER
Crescent Cheese Squares
By Elaine Baburek
2 packages of Crescent rolls
2 8 ounce packages of cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 egg separated
� cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Pat one package of crescent dough in bottom of cookie sheet.
Mix cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk together.
Place second package of crescent dough on cheese batter.
Pinch ends to keep together.
Mix cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle on dough.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 or 20 minutes.
Polish Ice Cream Kolaczki
1 pint vanilla ice cream, melted
1 Ib margarine, softened
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp sugar
Pineapple, apricot, rasberry or other prepared filling Confectioners sugar
Thoroughly mix together ice cream, margarine, flour and sugar. Cover and refrigerate overnight. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out 1/8 inch thick. With a pastry wheel, cut into 2-inch squares. Spoon filling into center of each and fold two opposite corners of dough over center. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool, then sprinkle with confectioners sugar.
--Elaine Baburek
Bowling News
Saddle Oak senior bowling league is 6 weeks into our new season and doing well. Some terrific scores, but best of all, we're having a good time together. I would like to honor our bowlers of the week who are recognized and rewarded
by AMF with 3 free games of open bowling..
Oct 20 Marilyn Knowles +107 John Dawson +107
Oct 27 Grace Newman +65 John DeShayes +174
Nov 3 Lois Weberg +129 Ed Rawlings +102
Nov 10 Joyce McCracken +83 Jack McCracken +113
Nov 17 Grace Newman +91 Lenny Letendre +114
Three of our men had 600 Series
John DeShayes 696
Lenny Letendre 612
Kurt Tomlin 605
The following had 500 Series
John Deshayes 503
Gerry Salt 544,528,527
Mirta Harris 510
Ed Rawlings 516
Steve Stachnik 530
Jack McCracken 506
Howard Horner 549
Rose Robinson 548
Grace Newman 514
200 games were achived by the following;
John DeShayes 276 wow 236
Steve Stachnik 234
Lenny Letendre 225,222
Bob Knowles 200
Jack McCracken 213
Howard Horner 218,200,(2)
Split Conversions made by
Grace Newman 6-8
Gerry Salt 4-5-7
Walt Dougherty 4-7-8-10 & 6-7-10
Marilyn Knowles 3-6-8-10
John Deshayes 2-7
Barbara Simpson 6-7 & 5-7 & 3-7-10
Angie Bauman 5-6-7
Frank Hodowski 8-10,
Dick McCormick 5-8-10
Winnie Robinson 3-7, Multiple baby splits made 2-7 & 3-10
So that is our bowling news so far. There's practice bowling on Friday afternoons 3 PM.
Always openings for subs. Give me a call..
Thank You,
Ginger Pace
December Birthdays
03 Kenneth Watt
05 Mary Conroy
05 Paul Saeva
05 Honey Frisbee
07 Mickey Lossner
08 Barbara Simpson
08 Paul Anderson
09 Bunnye Brinson
10 Jeanne Kozlowski
10 Louis Desser
12 Betty Cigrand
12 Lillian Hodakowski
13 Al Krause
15 Ann Marie Carlyle
18 Mike Buckley
19 Ray Leger
19 Carolyn Jones
20 Tom Adamusik
20 Tom Krakenberg
21 Helen Wakefield
21 Nancy Webster
21 Sandra Preisch
23 Mary Godwin
25 Umit Bilge
25 Marjorie Banczak
26 Lorraine Dougherty
26 Max Russell
27 Susan Davis
29 Lorraine Berthiaume
29 Moe Jarest
31 Lois Pennington
31 Peggy Heintz
31 Jo-An Boardman
December Anniversaries
7 Harry and Terry Jansen
7 Henry & Nancy Webster
12 Ed and Helen Raczka
14 John and Carlotta Wells
20 Wayne and Rowena Wilson
22 Frank & Ann-Marie Carlyle
31 David & Diane Anderson