The City of Westland’s William P. Faust Public Library, just like our vital community at Holliday Park, is doing all it can to help our citizens face the challenges of these trying economic times. The library is offering a Job Seeker’s Lab and “hands-on” computer classes for the purpose of helping everyone who needs an updated resume, to learn the “how-to” creation process, by learning to use the Microsoft Word program. Day and night instructive classes are offered right now, to meet the growing needs of many who have had to re-train to meet the demands of our changing business and manufacturing sectors. Skilled librarians teach job seekers how to write and update their resume to eloquently describe their talents, job experience, and goals for the future. The presentation of your job history, great references, and an impressive list of your skills and talents can help you find the right job for a bright future.

The second part of the library’s program offers people the chance to learn to use the computer in basic ways which let you interact with the Internet Explorer browser, find job opportunities, and make contacts with many employers through such places as Monster.com job search site, as well as so many others. These sites compare salaries for different careers, and list the kinds of training you would need to qualify for whatever work you find that interests you. With careful instruction and the use of a computer, every one can learn the basics of Internet interaction by “hands-on-doing”, googling, researching and finding opportunities everywhere.

Not only can you learn word processing skills and to print and save text, format discs, and to send important information and documents to a file; you can also be taught to navigate to different web sites for the purpose of such important tasks as filing for unemployment benefits, finding job opportunities, and even sign up for on-line continuing education classes. Better yet, you can be taught how to upload your newly designed resume to the Michigan Talent Bank, and numerous other employment sites in our area, and all across the country. The skilled librarians at William P. Faust Public Library are offering this special program called “The Job Seekers Lab” right now. Call the library for more information at ( 734) 326-6123, and take advantage of the skill building tools which are offered by your community of caring citizens here in Westland.

The Saturday Greeters’ at Holliday Park care too, and have the ardent desire to let people from all over our state, know that we offer the the best economic choice anyone could be looking for in these recessionary times, or really, at any time. Our volunteer Greeters’ have rescheduled the Saturday availability time to meet the demands of those who work many hours, or several jobs, and cannot come into the office during regular weekday business hours.

Saturday Greeters’ began a few months ago, and due to the success of our efforts, we have now changed our hours to 11 a.m – 1 p.m., and these hours will be on-going for the foreseeable future. The people who come to the clubhouse as future applicants, are astounded at what we have to offer.   One by one they are finding out that we are one of the best housing alternatives in the area. Holliday Park is a #1 place to live because you purchase the outgoing member’s equity in a unit, but do not have to rent, or own and pay high taxes. Cooperative living is a great investment. Since the monthly carrying charges are so low, and include heat, many who come in to get an application, or download one from our web site, but want more information, tell us that they wish they had stopped in long ago, and joined us.

Making the application and information process available to everyone who wants to join us, on Saturdays, or during the week, is our way of letting people know that they do have a choice to be part of this caring and beautiful community, for a price that is attainable, and often without having to wait more that a few months, if that long, to be called and to pick the unit of their choice.

Westland’s Library Job Programs, and Holliday Park’s Saturday Greeters’ are two examples of our community’s willingness to assist anyone in these difficult times by making help available for their convenience. Now more than ever, it takes a village to be able to work and live well and happily. In Westland, the happiness of our residents is the responsibility of each of us, working together for progress and sustainable contentment.

A Property Manager is responsible for “EVERYTHING” pertaining to the efficient day-to-day management and operation of the Co-op. The duties of the Property Manager are to be performed, so as not to violate or usurp any written policy and guidelines as set forth by the volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors, and by various state and governmental agencies.

Because of the amount of knowledge that a Property Manager must have, as the Job Description clearly says — “EVERYTHING,” most Co-ops and Condo Associations usually hire a Management Company to fulfill this responsible position.

Here at Holliday Park, we started using Management Companies, but soon discovered that one day a week did not provide sufficient time to carefully handle our Co-op, as they represent many other Associations. Therefore, the Board decided to hire a Property Manager to report directly to the duly elected, volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors.

The Board decided that any competent Property Manager must have “hands on” knowledge of the maintenance aspects which comprise most of the problems of any cooperative. Maintenance expenses make up most of the Annual Budget of our Co-op. The Board discovered such a unique personality in one of our maintenance staff.

The first thing the Board did was to promote an intelligent, energetic maintenance worker to the role of Maintenance Property Manager. At the same time, we hired a temporary Administrative Property Manager for the Office. The Maintenance Property Manager not only developed his maintenance supervision skills, but also his administrative skills; thus, qualifying him for promotion to full Property Manager, a job which he has held for 27 years.

Our Property Manager:
1. Develops the software for the Holliday Park computer system. Realizing the importance of having the detail and history on each of the 694 units in Holliday Park, in the maintenance area, he is responsible to keep a detailed database current.

2. On any given day, our Property Manager can produce for the Board of Directors, all data on individual appliances, water heaters, furnaces, roofs, garbage disposals, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, etc., detailing the age, the type, and other any pertinent information on maintenance; besides the normal administrative data.

3. Oversees the accounting, the maintenance, the purchasing, and the contracted services; as well as special projects, the resale of units, the pool, and informational technology that is always changing with the times.

4. Analyzes Financial Reserves necessary for our aging Co-op. His expertise enables Holliday Park to avoid special assessments for future needed projects.

5. Researches all governmental housing laws that are forever changing, such as the Boca Code and Legal Opinions; and composes Policies as directed by the Holliday Park Board of Directors, for the Board’s review and approval.

6. Is self motivating, and upgrades his skills by taking new courses in various matters needed for the efficient operation of our Co-op. His courses led him to become a Certified Property Manager.

7. Writes specs for major contracts when going out for bids on major projects, rather than having an engineering service do this for a fee. Among the latest projects, was the new energy efficient, vinyl siding contract that was completed in 2008. He is now planning for the new energy efficient, furnace replacement program for 2009.

8. Knows the ins and outs of all aspects of Holliday Park, to include the infrastructure of the Holliday Park underground plumbing, water, and electric.

9. He is responsible to hire and manage all other employees of Holliday Park; while the Property Manager, himself, works for the Board of Directors. In this regard, he is the “front man” for enforcing all Board Policies, which can sometimes put him in an unpopular position, even though he is just enforcing Board Policy.

10. Our Property Manager is a private person, who possesses an inner confidence which is needed for this position. He rightfully takes great pride in his work and his accomplishments.

Holliday Park is very, very fortunate to have such an able-bodied, unique, and knowledgeable Property Manager. He has been a great asset in the success of Holliday Park. We know of no Management Company that would spend the time, have the interest, and provide the personal service as our Property Manager does for its Board of Directors, and in the best interest of the membership.

Come and join us as a member of Holliday Park; and you will get to know and appreciate the qualifications and loyalty of our Property Manager.