2002: What a strange year. As we were learning to accommodate the enhanced security of a post-9/11 world, our fear and anxiety were ratcheted even higher by the presence of unknown snipers. Resisting the urge to draw global, philosophical, geo-political conclusions, we do wish to acknowledge how impressed we were by the desire – indeed, the need – of the neighborhood to come together as a community in the wake of these terrible events.
Having decided to cancel the annual Halloween Parade/Pot Luck less than a week before it was scheduled, the sniper suspects were arrested only days later. The outpouring we heard from neighbors wanting to “un-cancel” the event was inspiring, so by word-of-mouth, e-mail, and posted signs, we got the word out and celebrated one of our most successful and well-attended Halloween events. Reports are that more than 300 neighbors attended.
Special thanks are due to Betsy Greaney for coordinating the event, Ann and Sam Statland for once again hosting the event, Kevin Greaney for being “master of the grills,” and everyone else who helped plan, set up and clean up.
In addition to the Halloween party, the January Pot Luck Dinner and September Concert in the Park have become increasingly popular events, and I’m pleased to say that attendance at the Association’s three business meetings this year (January, May, and October) was very strong. Meetings this year included presentations by local candidates for election and a comprehensive presentation from Safeway of its plans to tear down and replace the Kensington store
While we couldn’t be more pleased with turnout at our traditional social events, the Board is anxious to have more neighbors volunteer to help with some of the community business, such as:
Police liaison – a neighbor to act as primary contact with the local police; attend occasional meetings with the police department; monitor crime reports; notify association of specific alerts.
Park liaison – a neighbor to act as primary contact with MNCPPC, principally regarding needs and concerns around use of Rock Creek Hills Park.
Transportation/Traffic liaison – a neighbor to monitor county transportation issues that may affect Rock Creek Hills; to serve as a clearinghouse for traffic concerns raised within the neighborhood; and to communicate with the Town of Kensington on mutual traffic/transportation needs (e.g., re-paving of Kensington Parkway).
If you are interested in any of these roles, or if there are other volunteer roles you would like to play, please contact any Board member.
Please read through this newsletter to learn of RCHCA’s annual Holiday Decoration Awards, the January 25, 2003 Pot-Luck Dinner/Annual Meeting, the update of our neighborhood directory, and more. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Once again, RCHCA will sponsor a holiday decoration contest. Gift certificates to Johnson’s Flower and Garden Center will be awarded in the following categories:
Best All-Around
Best Door
Best Use of Natural Materials.
Decorations will be judged over the weekend of December 21, and awards will be presented at the January 25 Pot Luck Dinner/Annual Meeting (see separate item for details). Good Luck!
Election of RCHCA Board Officers for 2003 will take place during the January 25, 2003 Pot-Luck Dinner/Annual Meeting (see details below). The current RCHCA Board members have all stated their intention to stand for reelection in 2003. If, however, you are interested in standing for election to any RCHCA Board position (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary), please contact Marty Durbin any time prior to the Jan. 25 annual meeting and your name will be placed in nomination.
The RCHCA Pot-Luck Dinner/Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2003 at Grace Episcopal Day School. The traditional pot-luck dinner will begin at 6:30 pm, with our annual meeting scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm. RCHCA will provide the main dish (e.g., pizza and fried chicken) beverages, and foodservice items (plates/cups/napkins/cutlery). We ask everyone to please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert. Babysitting will be provided during the meeting.
The pot-luck has proven to be a great opportunity to meet and introduce new neighbors, as well as an opportunity to re-connect with friends during the winter months when we tend not to see one another as often. The brief meeting to follow will include presentation of the holiday decoration awards and election of RCHCA Board Officers for 2003. Please plan on attending.
We welcome volunteers to help in planning, set-up, and clean up of the event. Please contact Marty Durbin (301-933-0522, MartyEden@aol.com) if you are interested in helping.
Our directory includes ads in order to help defray production costs, as well as to make our members aware of community-based business and professional services. We are asking interested parties to provide their advertisement layout to us by January 31, 2003. Price and size/location guidelines are as follows:
|
Size/Location |
Price per Ad |
|
One-third page |
$55 |
|
One-half page |
$75 |
|
Full page |
$115 |
|
Inside back cover |
$120 minimum * |
|
Outside back cover |
$150 minimum * |
All prospective advertisers should get in touch with RCHCA Vice President Joe Rosenberg either by e-mail (jrosenberg@comcast.net), or by regular mail (9821 La Duke Drive, Kensington, MD 20895) or phone Joe at 301-495-9821. If you haven’t heard back from an RCHCA official within 10 days of either mailing, please call me to confirm that your mailing was received.
Thank you for your interest in serving our community.
* Given that the inside and outside back covers offer unique, more prominent placements, in fairness to all prospective advertisers and our members, RCHCA will be accepting one-time only bids for these two directory locations. Bids can be submitted either by e-mail, regular (“snail”) mail, or by a sealed envelope delivered at our annual meeting on Saturday, January 25, 2003. If either mail option is used, please provide a telephone number for us to confirm bid receipt. Also, we assume unsuccessful bidders would still like to have a directory advertisement, so please indicate your alternative preference (i.e., full, half, or 1/3 page).
All prospective advertisers should get in touch with RCHCA Vice President Joe Rosenberg either by e-mail (jrosenberg@comcast.net), or by regular mail (9821 La Duke Drive, Kensington, MD 20895) or phone Joe at 301-495-9821. If you haven’t heard back from an RCHCA official within 10 days of either mailing, please call me to confirm that your mailing was received.
Thank you for your interest in serving our community.
Covenant Approvals
3506 Saul Road:
Enclosure of rear deck/patio.
9027 W. Bexhill Dr.:
Kitchen expansion; new deck.
* Please look on our web site (www.rchca.org) for a home improvement “check list” and sample “neighbor notification” form.
2003 Annual Dues
Annual dues are $35 per household. Please make your check payable to RCHCA and send it to the Treasurer in the attached pre-addressed envelope, or send to Deanna Marcum, 3315 Wake Dr., Kensington, MD 20895. Remember to put adequate postage on the envelope. Thank you in advance for your payment.
Special Thanks!
The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Sam Hoxie for designing and maintaining the RCHCA web site (www.rchca.org), an increasingly useful source of information to the neighborhood. For those who have not visited the recently re-designed web site, we encourage you to do so. This incredible contribution of Sam’s is in addition to maintaining the neighborhood directory and assistance in publishing the newsletters. Thanks, Sam!
Financial Report
The December 2002 Financial Report will be distributed at the January 2003 meeting.
mORMON tEMPLE fESTIVAL OF lIGHTS sCHEDULE
The Festival of Lights schedule for our neighbors may be found on our web site, www.rchca.org.
NOTE: During the Festival of Lights, expect additional evening traffic on Stoneybrook Drive, especially on weekends.
Annual dues are $35 per household. Please make your check payable to RCHCA and send it to the Treasurer, Deanna Marcum, 3315 Wake Dr., Kensington, MD 20895. Thank you in advance for your payment.