By means of our community newsletters, web site and watch program, the communications committee works to keep Planters Row residents aware of neighborhood interests and issues. Among the most important items we will ever communicate is the upcoming Board of Directors election meeting this coming Tuesday, November 27th.

We need to elect a full and highly competent board to help us transition to full homeowner control of the community. In other words, the developer will no longer have a majority vote concerning how our community is run and funded. We as residents will assume full responsibility for all common areas and amenities. Our newly elected Board of Directors will differ from the current Advisory Board by having direct input and, in some cases, authority concerning homeowners' association issues.

Planters Row faces a make or break effort for our community. While this is a busy time of year, your nominating of and voting for our new Board of Directors will go a long way to ensure the continuation of our homeowners' association. The future of our community will be in jeopardy if residents remain indifferent to our plea for participation. Please stake your interest in Planters Row by being a part of Tuesday night's election meeting.

See you there.

This is likely my penultimate "transition update." An interesting process that started well over a year ago is about to come to a close with an upcoming series of events: November 27th's homeowner Board of Directors Election and the installation of homeowner control at the first meeting of the Directors thereafter. I will not be able to be in attendance on the 27th and will miss the opportunity to review past and future transition issues with you at that time, so the following recap and emerging orientation is one I hope you'll find helpful in preparing for the election and for our next steps as a community.

Since the beginning of the transition much has been learned and, hopefully, has been shared as well as possible with you from many professionals who have given generously of their time and expertise. These include representatives of the Community Association Institute at the local, state and national levels; Planter's Row's existing property manager, Cathy Bell of Goldsmith, as well as other property managers, Kit Garren, Sharon Olin and John Woodman of IMP, Inc., Nancy McCrory of Half Mile Lake and Montebello, Carlene Rice and Myra Hill of HOA, Inc., and Norma Rider and Dave Connors of NORCON, Inc.; along with Planter's Row's Reserve Fund Study preparers, Bill Robertson and Bill Daniels of Carolina Inspection and Engineering; Mark Holmes, Planter's Row legal audit preparer; and Mark Crocker, accounting audit prospectus provider.

The transition period has been one of slow progress. Much is yet to be accomplished in order for the control of the Planter's Row Homeowner Association (PR HOA) to be successfully transferred by the developers to homeowners. Our next steps require competent, collaborative homeowners to nominate themselves for Board membership and service; proper and adequate training of the new Board; a thorough analysis of the HOA, its progress-to-date, information bases and needs, challenges-to-come, and the creation of plans of action, growth and change, as needed. 2002 promises to be a demanding - and exciting -- time for our community. I sense the homeowners of Planter's Row are capable of making it one of the finest communities in the area. Begin that process well and enjoyably by participating in the upcoming election. My vote will be represented. Please make sure yours is, as well!