Photo credit - Bob Anderson | |
Juneteenth, Solarizing Your Home, and FIPPOA’s Fall Elections | |
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This weekend is an opportunity to participate in several outstanding community events. Let’s start with our Juneteenth celebrations.
Juneteenth Weekend
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when US troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people in the state were freed. This happened a full 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and more than 2 months after the Confederate army surrendered at Appomattox. Today, we recognize Juneteenth as symbolic of African American freedom and celebrate the weekend.
For the third year in a row, FIPPOA’s Committee on Black Equality (CoBE) has planned a weekend of exciting events.
On Saturday, June 17th, FIPAP and CoBE are jointly presenting “Broadway Inspiration Voices,” a diverse community of Broadway artists united to change lives through music and service.
Come experience the Grammy® nominated and Tony® Honors award winning Broadway Inspirational Voices as they take you through a musical journey of Black influence through the lens of Gospel music, show tunes, and the music we hear everyday!
Tickets are only $20 and are close to being completely sold out. Please purchase your tickets and reserve seats here. Cocktails begin at 5PM; performance at 6PM, Whyte Hall.
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On Sunday, June 18th at 11AM, CoBE will host its 3rdannual Juneteenth Salon Conversation at Whyte Hall. This year’s community discussion is entitled, “A Blurred Rainbow: The Black Queer Journey to Visibility and Inclusion.” CoBE’s very own Co-chair, Charles Montorio - Archer will host a panel with three members of the Pines and Grove community. This is the opportunity to share your experience as a black, queer and ally member of the community, learn about lived experiences and contribute to how we ensure all the colors of the rainbow exist in The Pines.
I strongly encourage you to join us and to encourage your friends and neighbors to be a part of these Juneteenth Weekend events.
| Our sister community, Cherry Grove, will also be celebrating the weekend with events hosted by The Cherry Grove DEI Project. Check out this poster to see their exciting plans throughout the weekend. I encourage you to visit the Grove in solidarity for the Juneteenth weekend. | |
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Solar Energy in The Pines!
Also this weekend, on Saturday, June 17th beginning at 10:30AM at Whyte Hall, FIPPOA’s Environmental Stewardship Task Force will host a Town Hall for anyone interested in learning more about the benefits and process of solarizing your home. In addition to a 101 on solar energy, you will hear from two representatives of firms that have installed solar systems in the Pines. Before we conclude with Q&A from the audience, you will also hear the experience of two Pines homeowners who have solarized their homes. After we conclude around Noon, there will be two “open houses” if you wish to stop by and see the installed systems with the owners present to answer questions.
Please join us to find out more about how to save significantly on your electric bill, how to calculate the return on your investment, and, most importantly, how to be better steward of the environment in our little piece of natural heaven, The Pines!
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FIPPOA Fall Board Elections
The FIPPOA and Pines Foundation Board of Directors consists of 15 dedicated, hardworking community volunteers who are individually and collectively committed to working on and delivering our many contributions to the Pines community.
Directors are elected every year at the Fall Community Meeting, scheduled this year for September 23rd, to serve a 4-year term, and each year there are anywhere from three to four positions up for (re)-election. Candidates much be regular members of FIPPOA.
One of our fabulous Directors, Matt Tague, and his husband, Ross, became the proud fathers of their son, Luca, a bit over a year ago. While Matt will continue to serve on both the Trailblazers Park Task Force and FIPPOA’s Membership Committee, where he has been a Co-chair since joining the board, he will not continue as a Director.
I have asked Justin Blake to act as this year’s Nominations Chair. Justin has been a homeowner in the Pines for more than a decade and is actively engaged as a community volunteer leader. Justin is a member of FIPPOA’s AIDS Memorial Task Force and sits on BOFFO’s Board of Directors. He is also a Director of GLAAD and on the Steering Committee of the World Economic Forum Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality.
If you are interested in exploring a run this year, I encourage you to reach out to Justin at Justin.Blake@edelman.com. Justin can answer any questions and guide you through the process. And of course, I am also available to explore your interest at any time.
Justin will present a slate of candidates to the FIPPOA board at our August 5th board meeting, so you must express your interest to be on the ballot to Justin prior to Saturday, July 29th.
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Community Reminders
Freight Dock - now that we are in full season and deliveries are coming over on a daily basis, we require deliveries to be removed from the freight dock within 24 hours. FIPPOA is not responsible for any deliveries left on the freight dock.
Garbage Pickup - Monday, June 19th (Juneteenth) is a national holiday and as such, household garbage will be picked up on Tuesday, June 20th. For Brownie's pick-up schedule and collection guidelines please click here.
Fire Island Pines Fire District Election - the District will be holding its annual elections for Commissioners on Tuesday, July 11. There are two positions for which elections will be held: the first, the usual election for a five-year Commissioner’s term currently held by Walter Boss; the second, to elect someone to finish the rest of Doug Teague’s term, currently held by Holly Teague.
Anyone who is a registered voter in the Pines can run to be a Fire District Commissioner. Candidates for Commissioner must provide written notice to Patrick Forrett, the District Secretary, by e-mail at DistrictSecretary@fipfd.org, no later than 6 PM, on or before June 23, 2023. This notice can also be handed to a Department or District officer at the Firehouse. This notice must contain the name and address of the candidate (the candidate’s legal residence, not a P.O. Box) and must be signed by the candidate. More information on our Fire District's Commissioners can be found here.
Removal of Non-FIPPOA Member Wagons - Starting on June 21st, all wagons without 2023 FIPPOA wagon rack stickers will be removed and stored at Whyte Hall. If you haven't joined FIPPOA yet, please click here to sign-up. If you are a member of FIPPOA, and have not received your sticker, please stop by the FIPPOA office at Whyte Hall Tuesday - Saturday between 9AM and 3PM. Please call ahead (631-597-6060) as staff members may be out in the community.
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I will be attending all the events taking place in the Pines this weekend. I hope to see you…frequently!
Henry
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Henry Robin, President
Allan Baum, Vice President
Alan Brodherson, Secretary
Eric Sawyer, Treasurer
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Gary Clinton, Greg Henniger, Andrew Kirtzman, Chris Mai, Charles Montorio-Archer, Jay Pagano, Nate Pinsley, Leland Rechis, Russell Saray, Ed Schulhafer, and Matt Tague. |
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