Castlepark Residents Association Annual Meeting

Hi Everyone,

Margie and I got our first taste of a yearly event we have heard tales about since we purchased our property four years ago. Sometime during August every year all the residents of Castlepark Village are invited, by formal document, to the annual meeting. These meetings get to be quite contentious. For instance, last year we had been told that a discussion of young people playing ball on the lawn resulted in people shouting at each other and resolving never to come back.

2006 it can be said was tame compared to all that. This year's agenda was not surprising - including issues of: 1) collecting annual dues, 2) water, 3) writing letters about the traffic on the road, and 4) banning building in July and August. In general I found the conversation dominated by the men, but not to the point where women's opinions were not listened to. I thought that the discussion was reasonable, and, like most meetings, although there were differences of opinion that few spoke out of hand or insultingly. As in any group some have stronger opinions than others and we voiced those around the idea of how much we could "ban" anyone doing anything. The nuisances which were discussed the most were parking cars in the center of the village and building or remodeling houses in July and August. I had to laugh to myself as the woman who went on at greatest length about cars parked in the center of the village has children who regularly park in front of her house, right outside our window. Such is life in a village.

The admirable and exciting part of all this is that people do meet and discuss mutual interests regularly . Almost half of these people have known each other and worked together to keep this small settlement running smoothly for 30 years. There is historic memory about how and why things were done a certain way and each time we have these discussions we learn a little more. It is as though all these little bits weave us more and more into the cloth of the community.

Of course, being me, I spoke out for inclusive practices - as opposed to making rules and trying to enforce them. I also took on the task of rough drafting a letter to the county council about the roads, one which we I will forward to people's email, or drop in their box and which we hope will be redrafted and sent off to various folks, trying to get the road work we need done. Somethings don't change, whatever side of the pond you live on (smile).

I hope this finds everyone having a brilliant day,
Alana