Lido Shores: 2013 Annual Members Meeting Held at Bird Key Yacht Club

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

2013 Annual Members Meeting Held at Bird Key Yacht Club

Lido Shorians did a little island hopping Monday night, January 21st, jumping from Lido to Bird Key for our Association's 2013 Annual Members Meeting. 63-natily dressed members and guests rubbed elbows at the combination dinner and business meeting held again at the Bird Key Yacht Club, courtesy of Yacht Club members Phil and Carol Fuoco.

Carol and Phil Fuoco

Lido Shores Property Owner Association members dined on beef wellington and scallops, sipped cocktails and wine (often trading drink tickets with each other), and listened as board members and committee chairs caught them up on what the LSPOA accomplished this past year. President Bob Thill kicked off the evening by thanking Judy Fiala for arranging the centerpieces, and Anne Essner, Carol Williams and Joan Reinebach for their heavy lifting in pulling the meeting together.

Judy Fiala and Anne Essner

Bob put together an entertaining "Year in Review" video, showing highlights of our various neighborhood activities in 2012 and recognizing several members for their contributions. Kent Williams took top honors for Volunteer of the Year Award for his efforts in the ongoing beach and pavilion area restoration project. Kent almost single-handedly made sure that the new Sabal palms and other native plantings were kept watered and stayed healthy this summer.

President Bob Thill

Also new this past year, an updated well pump and solar panel, a new foot bath and repairs to a water line that increased water pressure.

Board member Elliott Himelfarb brought members up-to-date on board discussions concerning Pavilion repairs to be made this coming year, including checking and cleaning the bolts that hold it together and fixing a portion of the roof.

Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Kent Williams and wife Jean

Joan Reinebach provided the comic highlight of the night, reading and mimicking husband Larry's prepared speech in his absence. Larry Reinebach, aka the "Clickerman", remarked about the myriad ways members, more than a dozen last year, managed to misplace or damage their clickers. Excuses ranged from dropping them in the Gulf, being eaten by a dog, to "my clicker went to Amsterdam." Nicely done, Joan.

Joan Reinebach and Tom Williams

Joan also welcomed our new members who joined LSPOA in 2012: Burton and Suzanne Borgfelt at 1255 Westway Drive, Edward and Julie Burke at 1448 Ringling Parkway, Dave and Merrill Marshall at 175 Morningside Drive, and Alan and Linda Stewart at 336 Morningside Drive.

One of Sarasota's finest, Police Officer "D", Donzia Franklin, made a guest appearance to warn members that there have been a series of six break-ins in the North Washington area of Lido Key. While not in our neighborhood, she urged everyone to be sure their alarm systems are working properly and turned on while they're away. Anyone with security cameras should make sure they are recording and to be sure to report anything unusual to the island watch officer at this number: 941-915-1720 or call 911. Officer D also gave us new Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino's number: 941-780-2746.

Officer D - Donzia Franklin

Longtime beach committee member Ken McMillen offered a warning as well, but concerning neighborhood palm trees. Whiteflies are beginning to spread from coastal areas into our area and already several homeowners have resorted to "plugging" their palms and other preventive measures in an effort to save their trees. The whiteflies typically feed on the underside of palm fronds. Ken provided the number of tree contractor, Four Star Environmental, 941-923-9909, and urged that we all take precautions to stem the spread of the deadly insects.

Ken McMillen

Treasurer Diane Desenberg provided a snapshot of the budget for the coming year, with a total income from dues expected of $20,500. General repairs, grounds maintenance and neighborhood functions, beautification and insurance account for the bulk of our expenditures. Yearly dues will remain at $200 for 2013. We currently have $23,226 on hand in our checking account and $48,830 in a CD. A handful of members have yet to pay their dues for 2013. Beach Clickers will be turned off January 31, 2013 if dues are not received by then and a $50 reactivation fee will be charged.

Three of our most esteemed board members terms have ended and they were recognized for their exemplary service to Lido Shores. Bob Garvin is hanging up his spurs after skillfully leading our Association for the past several years, Lois Fishman turned in her stenographers pen after so capably serving as board secretary, and Lou Cersisimo, the de facto board parliamentarian, also bid farewell.

Alice Freed, Howard Rooks and Kathryn Dunlap

The votes were tallied and two new board members will join the board for a two-year term. Andrew Vac and Howard Rooks are both returning to serve on the board and their expertise and knowledge of our neighborhood and community will be invaluable additions.

In a fitting end to the business portion of the evening, outgoing board member Lou Cersisimo
performed his last official act and motioned to adjourn, just in time for the entrees to be served.
~ BT