This Week in Westcreek 
 
P ublished Weekly by the VWOA Communications Committee
November 28, 2016 Edition!
 


"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor.  It's to enjoy each step along the way."  ~ Wayne Dyer

COME CELEBRATE WITH SANTA IN THE PARK

Santa & his elf arrive on the Polar Express in the Sports Park, on December 16, 2016 at 6:00 P.M.  Santa will be available for pictures and will hand out candy canes to the children.

FREE Hot Cocoa

FREE Movie in the Park
- Polar Express

FREE  Admission Homeowners
(Members in Good Standing) 

$5 Admission fee for Guests
- A portion of fee will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank

This holiday lighting contest is open to all residents of the Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association who are in good standing. 
 
Applications must be turned in to the office by 5:00 P.M. on December 13, 2016. 
 
Judging will take place on December 13th, and will start at 6:00 P.M., and end at 8:00 P.M.  Please make sure your lights are on during this time.
 
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. 
 
Good luck!  Please contact the office at 210-679-8761 if you have any questions.

Click here to download Holiday Lighting Contest Application! 


The Villages of Westcreek is sponsoring an Angel Tree this year.  Our goal is to help ensure that all Westcreek residents have a wonderful holiday.  If you or someone you know needs assistance this holiday season, please fill out a registration form at the VWOA office.  This can be done during business hours or can be dropped in the night deposit box after hours.  Registrations must be in by Monday, December 5, 2016, at noon.  All ages are eligible and all information will be kept confidential.

Residents wishing to adopt an Angel can visit the office now. Simply, choose a tag from our Angel Tree, turn it around and you will see items needed for girls and boys, from tops and bottoms, to personal items.  All gifts must be returned to the office, unwrapped, no later than Wednesday, December 14, 2016.  For our Westcreek children and families, the gifts brought in can be picked up in the office by the families, or the office staff will deliver to homes.

This year we have expanded our "Angel Tree" to include the New Beginnings Children's Home .

These children need some holiday cheer, so please help them by adopting an angel this year.

If you have any questions please call the VWOA office at 210-679-8761.

Click here to download Angel Tree Registration Form!

 
How Much Does Your HOA Need?

Funding community operations is one of the most important functions of an HOA board. Typically, there are two types of funds in your HOA - operating funds and reserve funds.
Operating funds are used to take care of day-to-day operations. Examples of operating funds might be contracted services (gate, fence, lighting, security, etc.), utility expenses, accounting and legal fees, office expenses, or taxes and insurance.

Generally, for large-scale projects such as replacement and repair in the HOA, reserve funds are set aside for major expenditures (often referred to as capital projects). Criteria for reserve funds are based on community rules and regulations, bylaws, and accountability. Examples of reserve fund use would be major landscaping projects, construction or renovation, replacing fencing, roof replacement on aging buildings, etc. Reserves are not meant to add something new to the HOA.

Today, we're going to discuss the importance of reserve funds. When it comes to reserve funds, it is best to have an ample amount of money set aside for the future. On occasion, it may be necessary for a special assessment to be levied to pay for major projects. There is a lot to digest in this article, we made this simple infographic to break it all down.

Why Do We Need Reserve Funds?

To understand why an HOA must keep money in reserve, you must be familiar with the governing documents, which typically obligate the HOA to maintain, operate, repair, and replace the common areas of a development. Common areas include parts of the property owned jointly by homeowners; every owner has a right to use. Examples of common areas are pools, parks, and clubhouses, but may also include fountains, entrance gates, and spas.

Governing documents typically give the HOA the right to collect assessments from each homeowner periodically in order to pay for the ongoing maintenance, operation, repair, and replacement of  common areas. In order to determine how much money needs to be collected, the HOA adopts an annual budget.

How Much Do We Need: The Annual Budget

The amount of ongoing maintenance costs will depend on several factors, such as how many common areas the development contains and how many amenities are offered. In addition to ongoing daily maintenance and operation costs, the annual budget will designate a portion of the assessments collected to go into a reserve fund. The HOA must determine an appropriate amount to put into this reserve fund; commonly, this amount is derived through a reserve study.

Next Week

We will take a closer look at Reserve Studies and the Importance of Planning for the Future!

Source:  Spectrum Association Management
Greetings Neighbors!

I hope this finds you all well and plenty rested after the Thanksgiving Holiday.
 
It is the time of year when we have to start thinking about improvements to our community.  I would like to thank the Finance Committee for all their hard work in putting the budget together this year. Without their expert knowledge of past budgets, lessons learned, opportunity costs and war stories the budget may not have reached the Board for approval in time.
 
The budget was just approved for the 2017 fiscal year, and things are looking good for operating the community next year, adding many new programs for residents of all ages.  Be on the look out for your assessment cards in the mail real soon.
 
With 2017 being the 30 th Anniversary of the VWOA, we can all attest that there are plenty of Capital Improvements to be invested in for the future and many repairs that need to take place to keep our community in its best condition.

Rannie Bond
Treasurer

 
Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening.
  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
  • Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
Reproduced from NFPA's website, www.nfpa.org/publiceducation. ©2016 NFPA.

VWOA Historical Research Sub-committee Formed

The Communications Committee established a "VWOA Historical Research Sub-committee" to research and write about the community's history for the "VWOA 30th Anniversary," which will be celebrated in February 2017.

This committee will hold their second meeting on Monday, November 28, 2016, at 6:00 P.M. in the Community Center Conference Room.  This is an open meeting and all are welcome to attend.

If you are a long time resident of our community, we could use your help.  If you were a former Board or Staff member, you would be invaluable to the committee as we create this historical timeline.  If you have copies of Association newsletters from the late 80's, copies of original documents of the Association, photos etc., these would be extremely helpful in this research project.

This is an awesome opportunity to do something to preserve our history for future residents.

Francis Lomax was appointed as the Chair for this committee.

 
The Architectural Review Committee will not be meeting on December 20, 2016, and December 27, 2016.
 
If you wish to do any improvements to the exterior of your property over the upcoming holidays, please note the following schedule:  

Submit Your PIA by:
The ARC will Review it on:
November 12 thru November 25, 2016
November 29, 2016
November 26 thru December 2, 2016
December 6, 2016
December 3 thru December 9, 2016
December 13, 2016

December 20, 2016 - Meeting Canceled!

December 27, 2016 - Meeting Canceled!
December 10 thru December 30, 2016
January 3, 2017

 
This weekend around the house, re-mulch your trees, shrubs and flower beds in preparation for winter.   
   
Let's Make Westcreek Beautiful!
Crime Report
Reported Crimes
  • No crimes reported to the VWOA Office!
  • Please remember to be observant in your neighborhood.  
  • Report any suspicious activities or persons to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office at 210-335-6000.
  • If you see graffiti or vandalism in the Villages of Westcreek, please report it to the office at 210-679-8761
Burglar Proof Your Home 

Tip 9: Get to know the neighbors.

Tight-knit communities suffer fewer burglaries because people look out for each other and strangers stick out. If your neighborhood doesn't already have a Neighborhood Watch Program, consider starting one.  
 
WINTERFEST HELOTES AT RAYMOND RUSSELL PARK - FREE ADMISSION

There will be food and artisan vendors, Santa, Snow, Pony Rides, Horse and Carriage, Carnival Rides, Toy Drive, Live Entertainment, etc.

If you bring a new unwrapped toy for Elf Louise Christmas Project, you get  to get a free photo with Santa, free horse carriage ride, a free carnival ride and a chance to win a general prize.

 
WHEN:  Saturday, December 3, 2016, from 10:00 A.M. till 6:00 P.M.
 
WHERE:  Raymond Russell Park, 20644 I.H. 10 West (Exit #554), San Antonio, Texas 78257 (Just outside Loop 1604)

Click here for more information about Winterfest Helotes!   


Westcreek resident Michelle de Jongh prepares a weekly list of "Things to do in San Antonio." 

To subscribe, send your email address to
 

Click here to download and print!
Religious Displays 

Displays that represent the resident's beliefs are permitted, if they:
  • Do not violate any law;
  • Are not a threat to public health or safety;
  • Do not contain language, graphics, or any display that is patently offensive to the general public;
  • Is displayed only on the entry door/frame either individually or in combination with other religious items;
  • Does not extend past the outer edges of the door frame; and
  • Individually or in combination with each other has a total size of not greater than four (4') square feet.
  • Anything other than those above must be submitted to the ARC for consideration.
(Refer to Texas Property Code 202, 202.018 and VWOA-CC&R's, Article X, Section 10.01, b. [7])
 
Click here to view the  2016 Standards!


What have you done today to make someone's life better?