It was my privilege, once, to read the written words of a Holliday Park member in good standing, who had served the community in many capacities in its beginnings, and had been asked….”how the Board of Directors had for so many years….led the community so well, often facing great adversity, with a certain “oneness” and clarity that let each resident feel confident and well represented by those they had chosen to do this job?”

The author of the answer to this question, had spoken simply and eloquently about a certain characteristic that had been commonly held by each the “seven” Board Members, either by fate or circumstance. What was this quality? It was referred to as possessing “a humble heart”.

The author went on to say that each Board Member knew and recognized their individual strong points and their limitations. This self knowledge allowed them to value themselves and yet be honest in recognizing the strengths and talents of other people, and the contributions that each elected member brought to the challenges and tasks at hand.

Being humble, modest and unpretentious, and not overestimating your position on the Board, along with a true appreciation for the other Board Members, and the needs of the people you serve, also exemplifies true humility.

A great part of truly being humble-hearted is to know and expect that you will make mistakes and that every person makes mistakes, it’s part of the human condition. The hard work of being humble is to admit that other people may be right in their opposition to you, and your own best thinking. Accepting that you are fallible, that everyone is at some point; allows you to accept and respect the views of the other people who are working with you, for the greater good of the Corporation and its 694 members.

Being humble-hearted has benefits, very great benefits. Not only do you have inner peace and contentment because you accept yourself, warts and all; you are more kind and generous in your treatment of other people. When conflict occurs, you will, as many successful Board Members have done in the past, react with patience, a quiet demeanor, and respect.

You are able to open yourself up to learning and to seek the opinions of experts, and or those you admire for their knowledge and experience ,when you are in doubt as to what action to take when a problem needs a solution. Seeking advice and counsel from many sources, and having a plan for the future that is based on what has been learned from the History, By-laws, Policies and Procedures which have been established over-time, through trial and error; allows for mentoring, gaining insights, and for the attainment of progress in every endeavor.

Humble hearted people put aside ego, pride, personal agendas and self-serving behavior, in order to do a difficult job. They never boost or brag about their own accomplishments, nor do they value their own thinking above the thoughts and opinions of others.

Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

When you practice being humble, and do the work to keep your pride under control, it becomes a habit, and positive life changes occur. Those changes not only impact the quality of your life, but also the lives of those around you and the projects and work you undertake.

For these very reasons, Holliday Park has been blessed, in its History, to have had among its residents, those who have the self-discipline, morality, intellect, an deep within them, a warmly beating humble heart that allows them to be their best, and embrace the best in others, for the greater good of the community, and each resident within it.

When you exercise your right to vote, in the coming elections, or at any time, look to see who among the candidates, best exemplifies the virtues of humility and humanity that have just been described. Those who possess these traits are the wisest people among us.

We were a typical home owner in Dearborn Heights, with a typical 3-bedroom brick home, and a basement. When the kids grew up, I was ready to move to a smaller, maintenance-free form of housing. My husband kept saying how we were making money by staying here. But, he did not pay the bills, so he really did not know.

Besides the normal cutting of the grass, the weed and feed controlling the bugs and the critters, we were also faced with buying and repairing new lawn mowers, weed whackers, tools of all sorts, weed and feed fertilizers, garden spray, new hot water heaters, plumbing, clogged sinks and toilets, furnace problems, and property taxes going up, up, up. We also had to buy snow shovels and blowers for the winter weather; and repair concrete driveway and sidewalks, or be assessed by the City for sidewalk repair.

Just about the time that I thought I could get some money together to go on a nice vacation or take a nice cruise, my husband would say: “Oh, it is time for a new roof.” There went our luxury cruise, plus, we needed still extra money needed to pay for the new roof. The heating bills kept piling up, which prohibited our going on trips.

We had been signed up at Holliday Park Towne Houses, and so, I finally put my foot down, and said: “It is time to move on.” We sold our house, and prepared to move into Holliday Park. But, before leaving our house, which we kept in good repair, the City inspectors came in and made us spend $6000 more to bring everything up to the current city codes. What a shocker.

After 10 years of living here, my husband had finally said, “Yes, this is a nice, easy, comfortable, and maintenance free place to live. I said: “And look at all the money that we have saved since we have moved into Holliday Park.” Besides, the $80,000+ that we got from our home, we have now saved an additional $250,000 — by having low maintenance costs (performed by Holliday Park employees), low property taxes; and no worries about needing a roof, furnace, hot water heater, or cutting the grass. Even the heating cost is included in our monthly carrying charges of $330.

After paying $330 a month, we can bank the rest. The $330 includes the maintenance, repairs, replacements, property taxes; heating, new roofs, furnaces, hot water tanks, and snow removal. My husband is feeling better, because he doesn’t have to do all the work connected with home ownership. We do have to keep our porches and the sidewalk to our unit”snow free” in winter, and if you have a tree, you are responsible to rake your leaves each fall. However, for  almost everything else WE JUST CALL OUR IN-HOUSE MAINTENANCE.

I have fewer worries about money, money, money going out. Yes, we did take our cruises, and we still do; and yet, our money in the bank continues to grow.

The hardest thing about moving, is making the decision to “move on”. If you reflect on your parents moving from Detroit to new surroundings, we should also be doing the same, because we are also aging. I feel very comfortable, along with my husband who now just recently retired, that we made the right move. We like the outdoor, heated swimming pool, and the freedom to do whatever we want. Holliday Park is really properly named. I call it my “Vacation Resort.”

It was a good move for us. Our kids are happier for us, because they know we are in a safe, comfortable place to live, and they will not have to be burdened or worried about helping take care of an older home in Dearborn Heights when we get old.

As we got older, we also decided to get a cleaning woman to come in to make it all the more easy on us, because we have the money and security of knowing we are living here. We are still young enough to enjoy our live, and with less worries, we will probably live longer.

Our biggest problem now, is finding enough banks with the best interest rates to see our money grow. This is my husband’s past-time now. He wants to see how fast it will grow to $450,000. This never happened when we owned a home.

A NON PROFIT COOPERATIVE HAS WORKED WELL FOR US ….. GIVE IT A TRY ….. YOU WILL LIKE IT.

Whether it is a weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holy day or holiday – you never have to be alone if you live at Holliday Park.

Take this past New Year’s Eve — 7 members met in one of their homes. The member who did the inviting, said: “I do not want to sit alone on New Year’s Eve, so decided to do something about it.” After eating some delicious homemade soup, and enjoying lots of interesting conversation, the group played a fun card game.

On a Saturday in December, 100 members celebrated the Christmas festivities at the Holliday Park Clubhouse, with a party and a delicious dinner. Members joined in a Christmas sing-a-long; and traded “White Elephant” gifts, which became rather hilarious, at times.

Last summer, 10 or 12 single members, and several married couples, went to the movie theater together to see a great movie, “Mama Mia.” The group topped off the evening by going to dinner together at the restaurant, Mama Mia. What an appropriate choice of restaurant!

One of our young teen-age boys occasionally goes to see his next-door neighbor who recently lost her husband. They sit quietly in the living room watching television and eating popcorn. The unspoken words speak volumes – “I care for you.”

Some parking lots organize a Lot Party every summer. Potluck contributions make for an inviting smorgasbord of food! Some of the members, who are busy working at their full-time jobs during the year, really look forward to this gathering.

No one knows how many friendships have been made the past 14 years, since Holliday Park started the Neighborhood watch Night Patrol program. With some trepidation, the Night Patrol Coordinator would match up two patrols, who until that time, had never met. As it turned out, many of the patrol partners became very good friends. They would go to the swimming pool together, or out to lunch, or join in some other outing.

Members who meet on one of the many Holliday Park Trips also create friendships. They have a lot of memories to talk about — the different countries or places they visited, the various cultures they experienced, and the parties the group shared.

This is only a sample of a few friendships or courtesies that occur at Holliday Park. So, you see, there is no reason to worry if you move into Holliday Park; you never have to be alone.

I applied for a unit at Holliday Park Towne Houses in 1995. I wasn’t ready to move at that time, but I knew it would be a long time before I would be called, and by that time I would probably be ready to sell my house and move to Holliday Park. (I understand that the Waiting List, which once could make an applicant wait, now moves more quickly because many of the current applicants cannot sell their house.)

When I finally was called, it wasn’t me that was not ready; rather it was the housing market. I knew it would not be easy to sell my house in order to move. I weighed the alternatives, such as renting out my house. On my 3rd call to see a vacant unit, (the second time around,) and with a great deal of trepidation, I decided to take the plunge and move to this attractive alternative to home ownership. I closed on my unit in Holliday Park on April 11, 2008. It was a very big decision, because of the housing market issue, and all that was entailed in making good financial arrangements.

A fresh coat of paint throughout the Galloway Unit before move-in, seemed like a good way to begin this venture. Thankfully, crews of friends and family participated in this project. Then, the process of actually moving in began. My son and his friends provided their time and talent. This took several trips over a period of time, but finally (most of) my belongings made it into my new abode. And they fit! All of the work we did preparing the unit for move-in helped to make me feel, on awakening that first morning at Holliday Park, as though I had made the right decision – it felt like home. Since that day, other things, such as hanging pictures, make me feel even more cozy and comfortable here. The newly decorated rooms, with all my cherished belongings, took on an aura of self-expression that I had not experienced since moving into our family home as a young, married woman.

Even before move-in, several of my new neighbors came over and introduced themselves. People have been friendly, gracious, and have made me feel welcome. I immediately began to feel part of the community. Since I’ve moved in, I’ve attended several social functions, all of which have been interesting and fun.

There are various activities in which cooperative members are invited to participate. One of my favorites is the Monday morning breakfast, where I’ve met people and enjoyed interesting conversations. As a new member, I was invited to the Welcome Dinner where I met many other new members. The annual pool party was a blast – lots of games and lots of laughs. I’m looking forward to enjoying a second summer at the pool; I will invite friends and family to join me, as well as have the opportunity to socialize with other members. And there are various committees to join. I already am a Night Patrol on the Neighborhood Watch, and I plan to join the Status Quo Committee.

Making the decision to move was the biggest hurdle. Somehow, though, that was empowering—to be able to ford through the stream of indecisiveness and get to the other side, where the difficulties of moving became very small. I am here, ready for a new life in a comfortable, friendly community, where the responsibilities for major maintenance are removed, and I have a built-in social network whenever I choose to participate.

You, too, can make a major decision. Living at Holliday Park is worth the small difficulties of shedding one house for another.

At this time of year, we pause as we do annually to honor two esteemed early Presidents of the United States. In a sense, it is like remembering the birthday of certain valued ancestors. We cannot honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln without taking to ourselves some of the principles for which these heroic men stood.

George Washington’s valor in the Revolutionary War brought him to the summit of collegial regard resulting in his unanimous election as the First President of the United States. Like Lincoln, he was in charge of a very fragile democracy, and it was not easy.

Holliday Park began in much the same way, although we realize that in no way does our little corner of the world match the awesomeness of our own country’s early days. Yet, let us pursue the possible analogy that may exist on a very small scale.

There were not great numbers of these cooperatives, and people were wary at first. What did it mean to buy a share of a corporation? Would their individual vote count when exceedingly difficult decisions were being made about the community which they now called home? Could the by-laws, policies and procedures withstand the test of time, and create a strong foundation for peaceful coexistence, and a life shared in harmony and friendship with 694 other members? Questions and uncertainty marked our cooperative’s early days, just as uncertainty and painful division marked those of our country.

There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln deserves all the esteem given to him as one of our greatest Presidents. His difficult childhood and lack of formal education did not hinder him. An avid reader, he educated himself and then earned a law degree, before making the choice to serve his country with all of his strength and courage.

It is only right that he should have a high place in history resulting from his many landmark achievements. He was a remarkable citizen who believed in his country, his community, and the right of every man to have an equal share in, or opportunity for, the best possible life.

Here at Holliday Park, these same beliefs and principles are invoked on a consistent basis. At times we are tested by challenges; but, the planning and foresight of those who lead, and those who serve along-side to keep costs down and infrastructure sound, have been able to sustain and improve upon our humble beginnings. We are a debt free and beautifully maintained community.

Lincoln’s strong convictions led to many famous debates, including those about slavery and a man’s right to be equal to any other. Throughout his first term of Presidency, Lincoln wrestled with the many forces surrounding the issue of slavery, and struggled to unify a nation that was torn apart by Civil War. Lincoln is well-known for his oratory. One of his famous speeches, applicable to any community, was based on a Biblical quotation from the Gospel of Mark, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Lincoln’s ability to lead the nation intellectually, as well as politically, brought our country through one of its most stressful, traumatic periods in history.

What do these great men mean to our Holliday Park community? This is a question we may each answer for ourselves.

Long time residents, and there are many, have related that the early days at Holliday Park were filled with a struggle to determine the best kind of “hands-on” management, whether it be an outside Management Team working with a democratically elected Board made up of members, or a trained, on site Property Manager, who works solely and directly for the members, with the Board as overseers.

A structure of vital committees was devised by courageous and generous members, who determined to volunteer their time for the good of everyone. This kind of boundless giving created an environment for growth, fiscal solvency, and harmony.

Our own progress and prosperity, and a constant spirit of giving of time and intellect, has brought us through rough economic times. It has led us to the realization, not unlike that of Washington and Lincoln (on an infinitely smaller scale of course), that when the love of country, community, and each individual is greater than our own sacrifices, an outcome can be achieved that is far better than we had ever imagined. We need this same spirit now, as the economy falls all around us.

We, at Holliday Park, are very much connected to the larger models and life stories that are part of our nation’s heritage.

We are all aware of the need for an election process that is flawlessly error-proof. The types of voting allowed at Holliday Park, in congruence with our By-Laws, are by mail ballot, by walk-in ballot, or by proxy. Each year there is an election for Board Members who normally serve two-year terms. In the odd years, like 2009, three Board Members need to be elected or re-elected; in the even-numbered years, four of the seven Board Members need to be elected or re-elected.

Here at Holliday Park, there is a small group of people that is called up every spring to oversee the annual Board Member election. Even before the actual work is considered, the persons who make up the group are newly-chosen or chosen from past experience. Those are invited who have the ability to withstand the time-frame required to participate, and who have the qualities of character that give confidence to the members in casting their vote.

Preparatory meetings help the group members to focus on the task in a unified way, with agreement among the group as to procedure and manner. Ten to fifteen people are able to now accomplish in one day, the election event and the process of counting votes. First of all, the mail ballots are counted. The group then recesses. While staying confined to the Clubhouse, they then attend the Annual Meeting of which the in-person election is a part. During the election itself, each group-member carries out a certain role, for which he/she has prepared. Two challengers, previously instructed as to the parameters of their roles, are allowed. The election itself is usually completed within two hours. All the procedural work is honorably performed with a realization that strict confidentiality is required which prohibits disclosure of anything that occurred during the election or in the counting room. Understanding the role of confidentiality is the most necessary quality for any election worker or challenger.

The whole election process has been examined and discussed by members who have the well-being of Holliday Park at heart. The legally-established By-Laws, which served this well-functioning cooperative for many years, are strictly followed. An accompanying procedure is followed with the same exactitude.

Within a couple hours after the event of the election, the walk-in ballots are counted and totaled along with the previously counted mail ballots. The results are then announced to the membership re-assembled in the Clubhouse, and posted on the Holliday Park marquee.

Each time the work-group accomplishes this task, they experience the satisfaction of a job well-done, and honorably executed. New or remaining Board Members then set out to plan organizational meetings and get on with the business of the Cooperative.

Residents of a cooperative know full well that they are blessed to live so well for such a reasonable price. They understand too, that it is their volunteerism that helps to keep this life style thriving, and therefore they make the time to bring their experience, enthusiasm, fair-minded team-player mentality, and knowledge of policy and procedure, when they are appointed to serve on one of the many committees.

What they don’t know, or at least I did not know, is that there is not only a feeling of satisfaction, and purpose, afforded to those who serve, there is a priceless perk, which you could not begin to appreciate until it is gifted to you.

You walk into the Committee Room, a novice, and experience two immediate emotions:

1. A sense of awe at being in the presence of those have served tirelessly for years, and achieved goals far beyond what had been asked of them.

2. You feel the nervous energy that accompanies an overwhelming desire to “BE WHAT YOU SEE” and gain the respect of these fine people, with hard work, and a serious amount of note taking, and fact gathering.

Over time, having observed the excellence in action of your very committed fellow committee members, you begin to feel that you have made a place for yourself, largely because they “school” you with great patience, humor, and shared examples of exactly how and why policies and procedures work to maintain and enhance the cooperative.

This is all good stuff, and when your work is done, you walk away knowing that your time has been well spent. HOWEVER, with each passing occasion to meet, something very profound is occurring! You find that the sharing, caring, and striving to take the cooperative forward into the 21st Century, with expediency, high standards, and attention to detail, has also become an opportunity to know those who work with you, as individuals, neighbors, unique human beings, and kinsmen.

On the Membership Committee, the work that is done is kept very private. It directly affects the lives of the applicants, and by extension, the well being of the cooperative. Seriousness and focus are critical in performing the tasks at hand. Still, we have found moments to speak of life experience and how it helps us to scrutinize the work at hand. We have shared our deepest hopes for our community, and we have fought to keep pace with the changes the economy has forced upon everyone.

The Board of Directors listens, and supported us in our attempt to bring our cooperative into cyberspace, with a web site and this blog that informs and celebrates this precious place.

The mysterious and priceless perk that was mentioned, is simply this: these people become your extended family. If they are well and happy, you celebrate that happiness. If they are stressed or worried, you care and assist them, and if they are taken from you, by circumstance or illness, you mourn the loss of their presence, and you feel it most deeply.

We are on this planet for such a short time, and we hope to be and feel very human, productive and “alive” while we take this journey. The coming together for the greater good of all of us is a privilege and a gift.

Think about volunteering? It is imperative for your cooperative, and can enhance your life in infinite ways.

For Dorothy…………..five new pencils……

This morning I looked out and saw a white powdery substance covering our community. I wish I could say it was a surprise, but since it was coming down when I went to bed, there was no reason not to suspect that it would still be there in the morning. Now, you ask, why someone would write about snow covering Southern Michigan? After all, this is winter in Michigan. Well, this is not about winter in Michigan. It is, rather, about winter in Holliday Park.

My wife and I have had the honor of living in 2 different areas of Holliday Park. For the first 7 ½ years, we were privileged to live in parking lot 20. For most of that time both my wife and I worked. Each time it snowed, while we were at work. We were very pleasantly surprised to come home and find our sidewalks cleared up to our front door. I thought we had the best neighbors that we could ever experience. We became quite close to most of our neighbors, and were proud to call them friends.

Recently, my wife and I were offered the opportunity to move to a larger unit, but in a completely different part of Holliday Park. We accepted the opportunity, and moved to parking lot 7. It was mid-October, and we were afraid that we would not have much of a chance to meet our new neighbors before winter reared its ugly head. As has happened numerous times in my life, I was wrong. It seems that in Holliday Park, it does not matter how well you are acquainted; they are still always there to help you out.

My wife and I have always prided ourselves in being good neighbors, but here, it seems that everyone has the same pride. I was just getting my boots on to remove myself from my recliner, and go outside and do the walks. Too late — one of my neighbors was already out there cleaning my walk. He was cleaning mine before he had even done his own.

When my wife and I decided to move into Holliday Park, we both thought it would simply be an inexpensive place to live. We were definitely correct about being inexpensive. We pay total here what our taxes and insurance were in our home. But, an unexpected benefit about living here has been our neighbors, and everyone we have met here at Holliday Park. Hopefully, we and everyone else that lives here at Holliday Park will continue being good neighbors to each other. Thanks to all for being a good neighbor to each other.

Today is the second day of winter, and I am sure most of us are tired of it already. Last night we had the coldest temperatures in almost 2 years; and just had an 8-inch snowfall. Most of us are dug out, but just walking outside, with the 25 mile per hour winds, is a painful torture. Luckily, our maintenance department did not stay indoors. Our parking lots were cleared 2 or 3 times, as well as our sidewalks. They were even forced to come in early, work well past normal stop time, and come in for a full day on Saturday. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!

It is important that as happy residents of Holliday Park we must never forget that the quality of life in this place is one of our greatest assets. It is truly a financial blessing as well as a gift of community, if you really access your living conditions and all the friends, activities and amenities that Holliday Park provides for you and your family.

Recently a new member to our cooperative was asked how she likes living here. She responded by saying, “It’s everything I wished for … And I wished for a very long time.” This lady became an immediate volunteer on Night Patrol and as a bin-worker for the Grounds Committee. She is not only grateful to be here, but she fully understands that giving of her time, as so many others do, is the way to continue and insure the future of this well run, well kept, and mortgage- free cooperative.

Volunteers or co-operators at Holliday Park can be credited with making large contributions to the financial health of the community by keeping costs down. In their interactions with other residents, volunteers are also the creators of community bonds and social interaction. You do not ever have to feel alone in this place. When you volunteer, you get involved and bond with others in expansive activities that promote the peace and tranquility which are priceless for us all.

Having lived here for a short time or for years, members come to know that the success of the community continues to grow and thrive when each of us, intentionally, promotes respectfulness, caring and sharing. It is true that each of us is responsible for his or her own happiness; however we create it, by showing regard for others and for the welfare and future of this place that we affectionately call our home.

There are within this circle of 694 units, long-term volunteers who instruct, inspire, and motivate; they do deserve our special honor and gratitude although they do not seek it. For all of those who serve the greater good of Holliday Park and bring their hard work ethic, time, experience, creativity, money-saving solutions, bean-counting and so much more to this cooperative, here is a poem of thanks for all that you give, and all that you bring to each of us:

ODE TO VOLUNTEERS

Many will be shocked to find
When the Day of Judgment nears
That there’s a special place in Heaven
Set aside for volunteers.
Furnished with big comfy chairs
Satin couches and footstools
Where there’s no committee chairperson
No policies or rules.

No eager group that needs your help,
No bazaar and no bake sale,
There will be nothing there to staple,
Not one thing to mail.
Telephone lists will be outlawed,
But a finger-snap will bring
Cool drinks and gourmet dinners,
And rare treats fit for a Queen or King.

You ask, who’ll serve these privileged few,
And work for all they’re worth?
Why, all those who reaped the benefits,
but not once volunteered on earth.

Author Unknown (Poem Reprinted from SQ 1994)

Board Members at Holliday Park serve as volunteers. This non-profit cooperative has seven official Board Members who are elected by the membership to direct the operations of the cooperative.

Every Board Member has a different experience as he/she adjusts to this position of trust. Most regard sitting on the Board as a daunting task to be approached with a humble, teachable heart. A willingness to work with the team is an imperative, as all important decisions are ones of collaboration. Inevitably, disagreements occur, and these are handled effectively in an atmosphere where mutual trust has been established, as the Board Members share the same purpose: the general good of the cooperative as a whole.

The Board of Directors is entrusted with the task of upholding the By-Laws of the corporation; thus, a new director is faced with the task of first becoming as familiar as possible with the By-Laws and the policies. Directors also require a certain commitment to the corporation by which they forego their own individual or special interest in order to make judgments and decisions that benefit the greater number of members. This includes consideration of legal aspects which sometimes supersede desires of individuals or small groups of members. The history of past legal decisions sometimes helps to inform current issues that need to be settled. Failure to attend to past policies and resolutions results in costly mistakes or repeated blunders. Listening, with a view to appropriate action, is possibly the most important Board skill.

Holliday Park’s Board is served by a President who conducts executive and membership meetings. The President, according to the By-Laws, authorizes all committees, which are formed to support implementation of written policies. Another Board Member assists as the Vice-President, taking the place of a President who may be absent or in need of assistance. The Treasurer has a very important role; at the same time, all of the Board Members share in the financial responsibility to the cooperative. Finally, the Secretary is responsible for the minutes of the Executive and Annual Meetings and for the annual Election. The Board Secretary may invite a paid Recording Secretary to attend the meetings to assist in taking and processing minutes. These officers of the corporation are elected by the Directors themselves, not by the membership.

Each Board of Directors finds its own way of working together, scheduling meetings to suit all of them. Each Board Member makes a significant contribution to the overall effort; those who are new to the Board will hopefully see the group as a place where they can learn and acquire skills. Sometimes a more experienced Board Member will mentor the newcomer. It takes a year or more to become acclimated and secure in contributing talents effectively.

Our present Board of Directors has developed a very effective working relationship as a team of equals. We have nurtured that working relationship by incorporating social occasions in our schedule; thus, we find a true respect and concern for each other that allows us to recognize the talents offered by each colleague. These social occasions help us to know which Director is good at baking brownies (No, that is not always the female-director!) or which one has the best jokes, …and these are sometimes very helpful qualities!

We find that we can accomplish what is needed by moving forward together with a professional regard for the abilities and responsibilities of all. When outside help of professional or expert stature is required, we confer with the resources available to us. The rewards for this demanding unpaid position are hard to name. Most Directors do the best they can, with a spirit that is full of good will and a desire to assist the cooperative. We are particularly concerned that new members in our community feel welcome and comfortable. Please consider joining us!