Mews News
September 1999

With a good turnout and a quorum present, a new Board of Directors was elected June 29. The new Board consists of:

• President, Bruce Engelbert, Tennis Committee
• Vice-President, Karen Mahalik, Pool Committee
• Treasurer, Pete Kloeppel, Buildings and Grounds
• Secretary, Ann Loughlin
• At-large, Gordon Avery, Mews News

The last page of this newsletter contains court addresses and phone numbers of board members, as well as Court Representatives, Committee Chairs, and key Mews related agencies.

The Buildings and Grounds Committee is in need of new members. It was decided that Pete Kloeppel would work with the Court Representatives in lieu of an active committee. To that end, a special meeting was called of the Court Representatives and the Board for Aug. 9, 1999 (see below).

A proposal was approved to repair the pool access road, which was damaged by construction vehicles and presented a safety hazard. Court 6 requested assigned parking and towing codes, and this was approved. A program of exterior painting will be implemented, including doors.

Dennis and Melinda Garris proposed extended pool hours a couple of days a week so that adults could relax in the evening cool and quiet. A trial program was implemented, opening the pool for adults only (ages 16 and up) Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00 PM from July 30 until the close of the season. A request was made that late pool users be particularly considerate about noise disturbing immediate pool neighbors. Preliminary reports seem to indicate fairly good usage and satisfaction. Dennis Garris welcomes comments at 703 578-0265. Final consideration of cost and benefit, and a decision about next year, will be made at a subsequent Board meeting.

More generally, the role of court representatives was considered. Clearly, the court reps were closer to issues affecting individual courts and could help to see that either the Management contractor or the Board was involved. Court reps are in a position to welcome and orient new owners/renters, and help generate a community spirit in the court. They have a natural relationship to local buildings and grounds issues. On the other hand, the court reps present were variable in how much they wanted to be involved in petty complaints. Many of these can be called directly to the responsible individual at Legum and Norman or to a committee chair. Further, the culture of individual courts was noted to vary from more extroverted to more introverted. Some residents prefer more privacy while others welcome more interactions. It was decided that the court reps would work with Pete to further develop their roles, and that periodic meetings with the Board would be mutually helpful.

We have been through a record summer drought, and could well have lost many trees and scrubs. Happily, the severe water restrictions mandated in Maryland were not required in Virginia. Many residents pitched in spontaneously to water in the common areas, and the September storms have once again turned everything green. As cold weather approaches, we'll need this restoration of the ground water tables for the vegetation to come through the winter well and give us another glorious spring. To all who helped out, thanks.

Fairlington has gone to the Internet. For you web-surfers, you can dial up www.fairlington.org and get a Fairlington web page. The picture above was downloaded from there. This page currently features the recent designation of a Fairlington Historic District, listed in the National Register and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Signs marking the historic site will be placed in several key locations. On October 30, 1999, there will be a celebration in the North Fairlington Community Center in honor of this designation. Also at this site, there is a What's New hot button, with listing of social events and other news. Those desiring to communicate with the Fairlington Citizens Association can do so through www.fairlingtoncitizensassociation@erols.com . What next? Well, we don't yet have a Fairlington Mews web site.

The next Board meeting is September 23, at the Fairlington Community Center, at 7:30 PM. All interested members are welcome.

In lots without assigned parking, only one car per unit should be parked in the lot. Guests or second cars may park in these lots from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays (except holidays). At all other times, guests or second cars must park on the street or in an "X" spot, if there is one.

Please, please, please put your trash out, properly bagged, early in the morning any day except Sunday. If you put your trash out after the day's collection, (especially Saturday or anytime Sunday), it becomes an eyesore. People who ignore these rules can be fined $50, according to Mews policy. Glass and aluminum are picked up on Tuesdays (put in separate bags), and newspapers on Wednesdays (in bags or tied up neatly). Thanks for your consideration.