Lido Shores: Large Turnout and New Faces at LSPOA Annual Meeting

2014 Annual Meeting - Bird Key Yacht Club

The large member turnout for Monday night's, January 27, 2014 Annual Meeting and dinner at Bird Key Yacht Club were treated to several firsts, including live music during the reception hour, and unlimited beverage service (wine, beer and soft drinks) before and during dinner, without needing tickets.

76 attendees participated in LSPOA's yearly membership meeting, up from 63 last year, then dined on expertly prepared sea bass and steak, many lingering and socializing long after the last plates of dessert, a delicious molten chocolate cake, were served.

Carol Bowen, Anne Essner, Miriam & Stu Cassell, Janet Minker,
Elliott Himelfarb, Bob Essner

President Bob Thill called the meeting to order at 6:30pm...thanking Social committee chair Anne Essner and committee member Carol Williams for their efforts in skillfully putting the evening together. Kathryn Dunlap and Jean Williams helped check members in. Bob also thanked piano player Eddy Tobin and official event photographer Susie Thill, along with Carol and Phil Fuoco for hosting us as Bird Key Yacht Club members.

New members, John and Karen Byles, along with Randon and Lynn Carvel and Bernard Melanson were recognized, as were other recent members and first-time attendees, Ed and Julie Burke, Dave Marshall, Julie Pendergast and Hugo and Karen Kitzis, first-time attendees though members for 11 years. Great to see so many new, as well as familiar faces this year.

Carol & Phil Fuoco

Also in attendance were special guests Sarasota Deputy Chief of Police Steve Moyer and his wife Michelle, along with Lido Shores icon, protector and friend, Officer Donzia Franklin, better known as Officer D. Bob produced the 2013 Lido Shores Year in Review video, highlighting our neighborhood's ever evolving homes and remodeling, beach improvements and plantings, Pavilion repairs and the new Bocce court, as well as showing neighbors turning out en masse to Carrie and Ken Cox's Spring Potluck event overlooking the Gulf and Howard Rook's deck on Pansy bayou in the Fall. So successful, an encore performance perhaps in 2014?

Bob then brought Officer D up to the podium. Franklin announced she is retiring at the end of March. Lido Shores will play a major role in an upcoming Special Tribute to Officer D scheduled for May 8th – mark your calendars! Deputy Chief Moyer also spoke. A recent arrival to Sarasota, he and his wife Michelle plan to rent a home for the next two years on Bird Key. He said the department will be looking for someone to replace Officer D, but noted that she is "irreplaceable."

Janet Minker, Lisa Kates, Donzia Franklin, Susie Thill

Treasurer Diane Desenberg was under the weather... but brought copies of the 2013-2014 LSPOA budget distributed for member's review. The budget report showed assets of $22,459 in our checking account and $50,417 in a Certificate of Deposit. Among several budgetary questions, members asked why line items for general repairs had spiked in 2013. Bob Thill explained that was due primarily to Pavilion repairs in anticipation of this year's 10th Anniversary of the beach front facility.

Attorney Fees were also greater in 2013 due to the LSPOA Board's research on what it's options are concerning division of lots and other zoning issues. All property owners in Lido Shores are bound by Sarasota City and County building codes.

Karen Byles, Howard Rooks, Marg Mills

Larry Reinebach proposed cutting membership dues as a way to reduce LSPOA's current checking account surplus. That suggestion was quickly and resoundingly quashed by a resounding shout of "NO" from a majority of the membership in attendance. Former Association President Terry Nugent reminded members that the remaining $50,000 plus in our bank CD is from a legal fund assessment in 1998, collected as part of a lengthy legal battle to enforce LSPOA's rights to use the 20-foot Easement to our beach property in perpetuity. Bob told the membership that the Board discussed the CD and voted again last year to retain the legal fund for any potential future issues.

Bob Thill introduced Anne Essner, the outgoing Social Chair, as LSPOA's new President for 2014.
Anne has done an exceptional job of raising the bar on Lido Shores social events and will be a tough act to follow. Anne then announced that member Carol Bowen has graciously accepted the position as new Social Chair. Carol jumped right in, already soliciting members to open their home for the Spring Potluck scheduled for Sunday, March 16. Congratulations to both in their new positions in the coming year.

Carol Bowen, Andrew Vac, Ramona Glanz, Christina Landry

Beach and Landscape committee chair Ken Abt reported that many volunteers showed up for the first Lido Shores workday at the beach area in December. Member Ken McMillen, who served on the committee for 22 years, commented that invasive plants need to be cleared every month. Ken Abt responded that heavier than usual rains this summer caused an overgrowth and that several truckloads of invasive debris, including dozens of pepper trees were removed after the December workday.

Bob Thill thanked McMillen for his concern and reminded members that all new board approved beach area plantings over the past two seasons have been native, salt resistant species, including Sabal Palms, with their care and planting overseen by landscape professionals from Deeply Rooted. As was reported this fall, the board has also hired an additional landscaping service to cut grass and do general maintenance.

Ed & Julie Burke

Committee member Elliott Himelfarb reported that several repairs were made to our beach Pavilion, including new roof flashing, new cedar boards for the benches and new walkway boards. The Pavilion was also power washed for the first time in years.

Co-Website Editor Janet Minker encouraged members to contribute ideas, pictures and stories to our website, lido-shores.com.

Clickerman Larry Reinebach praised Lido Shorians for paying their annual dues on time and not having a single gate-clicker turned off for late payment. Reinebach also reminded everyone that a dead battery is usually the cause when your clicker doesn't work. But all was not perfect. He did say that 6 members accidentally went swimming with their clickers and had to have them replaced. A tutorial on how to replace your battery is on our website.

Welcome committee chair Joan Reinebach reported that eight new property owners became members last year and all received welcome packets.

Kathy & Lee Edstrom

Bob then thanked Kathy Edstrom for her efforts in producing a first class 2014 Lido Shores Directory this year. Kathy said her husband Lee was also instrumental in working on the project... and thanked Janet Minker for the stunning cover design. Kathy also made it quite clear that if anyone else wants to take over her Directory duties, she is ready to step aside. Kathy, please reconsider – we appreciate you and thank you again for accomplishing the nearly impossible task of Lido census taking.

The wine continued to flow... members were encouraged to take home the beautiful centerpieces... and buy the newly designed LidoWear... and to please participate in all the fun events Lido Shores has to offer.

Bob & Susie Thill

As a footnote:
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It's been a truly great ride serving as your Board President these past two-years. What an honor and privilege it's been working with exceptional individuals who really care to help steer the Lido ship. Time has flown by and I've had the opportunity and privilege of making many new and lasting friends.

When we sell our home on Morningside Place we plan to move to our new John Ringling Parkway home on Lido Shore's Bayside and rebuild someday soon.

Thank you for your support and encouragement along the way. Susie and I look forward to many more years in Lido Shores and we plan to see you around 'the hood.'

Bob Thill
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