Association Dues for 2013 and payment booklet

The Board of Directors of Island Gate has been preparing our community’s budget for 2013.  We have concluded that we will be able to manage the community’s financial obligations without increasing the Association dues for 2013.  Our dues will remain at $260 per month.  We have been able to keep the dues steady for a few years by focusing on keeping our costs low.  Continuing the effort to keep costs low we have analyzed the monthly dues payments from our neighbors and noticed that most of us pay automatically from our bank and never use our payment books.  Since the payment books cost the community about $1,000 a year to print and distribute we decided that only neighbors that request payment books will be receiving them this year.  This will allow us to keep costs low while still accommodating our neighbors who still want a payment book. 

If you are requesting a payment book please call AA at 732 294 8882 ask for Mary Visco and she will be glad to send you a book.  Please do this by December 15^th so we may have a book to you for the New Year.  If you do not request a book by December 15 we will not be able to send you a book. 

If you are paying without the book, either automatically or on line please continue to do what you are doing.  Thank you.

If you are going on line to pay electronically for the first time, please follow the instructions below:

1)    Contact the AA website at www.askaa.com  

2)    Go to process my on line payment, this will direct you to smartstreet.com (our bank processing company) There are 3 options to pay.  We recommend number 3, which allows a recurring payment each month to be set up.

If you are going to mail the payment manually the address to send the payment is below:

Island Gate HOA

C/o Association Advisors

PO Box 105007

Atlanta, GA 30348-5007

  

Thank you, as always for your cooperation and have a wonderful Holiday Season.

The Trustees of Island Gate

Early Season Snow

The snow we received yesterday and today in our community from the Nor’easter, was not shoveled or plowed.  The board decided that the relatively minor accumulation combined with rapidly warming temperatures, mid 50’s for a high tomorrow, didn’t require the cost of snow removal.  Our apologies if anyone was inconvenienced, please feel free to contact the board if you have any questions or comments about the decision.

Another off-shore storm on the way

Windy and cold with heavy rain and a slight chance of wet snow with limited accumulations over the next 24 hours.  Winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.  Rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the next 24 hours.   Light coastal flooding is expected with concerns that areas affected by Sandy could be more vulnerable than usual.    Temps range from 43 to 35. 

Althougt we dont want to be alarmists  we are more vulnerable now to a storm due to the damage from Sandy as a result, please be even more cautious than usual and take the side of safety over property.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some basic storm and emergency preparations for any storm situation

·         Secure loose items or debris around your home

·         Keep a supply of water and basic food

·         Keep fuel in your vehicle

·         Have a plan to contact loved ones and a meeting point if needed 

·         Have a flashlights and a supply of batteries.

·         Candles should only be used in dire emergencies and with extreme care Never use them unattended

·         Do not use your stove or oven to provide heat - Carbon Monoxide is deadly

·         Generators are never to be used indoors

·         Please check on your neighbors - especially the elderly and infirm.

If you have any questions or comments please contact AA or a board member.

Helping out on LBI

Our neighbor Fran Gordon at 7 Seabreeze asked me to post a blog note regarding the cleanup effort on LBI.    

Fran’s daughter and her friends are collecting items for local firefighters and police. They will be shuttled over to the ship bottom fire house on the island and will be dispersed as needed to any of the first responders that need them. The drop off is my home....7 sea breeze......if anyone wants to donate water, paper towels, large garbage bags, bleach/Lysol for mold issues in the ship bottom fire house, heavy brooms and small shovels, food ready to eat like sandwiches. The ship bottom fire fighters will do the actual shuttle.

It would be great if you can help your neighbors