JANUARY 2017
BULL RUN
BULLETIN FROM THE PRESIDENT
INSIDE THE BULLETIN Treasurer’s Report
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New Ambassador
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Library
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Meet the Members
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Membership
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Neighbors, the BRMCA Board of Directors hopes you have enjoyed a happy and healthy 2016. Since our last newsletter, the BRMCA has been busy with clubhouse, roads, and Firewise activities. The community clubhouse renovation, which began in 2015, continued through 2016. Last year’s work included replacement of the septic system, chimney repair, expansion of the parking lot, and a new coat of exterior paint. This work could not have happened without volunteers within and outside of the civic association. Our efforts not only renovated a community centerpiece that could easily have been closed due to disrepair, it resulted in a significant increase in rentals. New board members in Scott Thomas and Alex Lepro, along with our volunteer Clubhouse Coordinator in Michele Failla, brought new energy to our clubhouse activities. We are now holding monthly pancake breakfasts (first Saturday) and family fun nights
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(typically the third Sunday). These events are growing in attendance and provide a great opportunity to meet and connect with neighbors. We intend to continue these events and, as temperatures warm, move family fun nights outdoors where neighbors can enjoy movies projected on a large screen. Continuing with our family theme, be on the lookout for an outdoor library (thank you for the idea Ami), where a weatherproof container will be placed near the clubhouse entrance and stocked with donated books. Neighbors will be encouraged to take a book and leave a book. In addition, Michele has volunteered to lead a Social Committee, focused on coordinating clubhouse events open to all. Please contact Michele Failla at
[email protected] if you have an event idea or are interested in supporting the committee. While the BRMCAs role in road maintenance recommendations to the county is still in flux, 2016 marked a
2 year of renewed and constructive dialog with the county, due in large part to Supervisor Candland’s new Chief of Staff, Mark Allen. Regardless of this continued dialog, we have and will continue to pass along all road concerns from residents to Public Works, who we asked last fall for routine ditch and culvert clearing, pothole repair, and topping off of gravel barrels. We will continue meeting with Public Works to discuss how to improve these routine maintenance activities. Examples include the deepening of ditches in trouble spots, such as steep switchbacks, where winter runoff spills onto and refreezes on the roadway and adapting the method of clearing brush to ensure plants our residents hold important are not removed. This dialog with Public Works will help them find the right balance between public safety along our roads and preservation of the beautiful flora we love so much on our mountain. We worked with Public Works last year to convert the lot at the intersection of Mountain and Ridge from permanent storage of maintenance materials and equipment to a dual-use lot. This lot will now be used on a temporary basis by Public Works, with all materials and equipment to be removed when a project ends. Also, rather than storage multiple truckloads of gravel during the winter, only to have the pile persist through multiple winters, Public Works will dump one load of gavel, to be refilled as needed, with the remainder repurposed come spring. This lower lot will also be used as overflow parking so uphill residents have a safe spot to park during winter storms. Similar to 2014 and 2015, our Firewise coordinators in Jim Price and Eric Davis obtained another VA Department of Forestry grant, which was used to provide residents with
brush chipping. Such a service helps reduce the amount of fuel, in effect reducing the impact of a forest fire. We hope to offer another round of brush chipping during the fall of 2017. Lt. Chad Briggs of both the Prince William Fire Department and the VA Department of Forestry recently volunteered to support our community’s Firewise efforts. Over the course of 2017, Lt. Briggs plans to update our Firewise Plan and provide detailed evaluation and remediation activities, which will help reduce our fire susceptibility scorecard (currently too high). The November 2016 fires that devastated areas of Tennessee help underscore the fact that a forested area very similar to ours is not immune to the breadth of fires we typically consider limited to more arid western states. Lt. Briggs, supported by an additional 62 firemen, have also volunteered to help reduce the amount of fuel on our mountain by cutting down dead trees. Please reach out to
[email protected] if you are interested in getting on this list. Lastly, please consider attending our meetings, which take place at the clubhouse at 7pm during the third Monday each month, attending an event (see our calendar at www.brmca.net), and participating in a committee or helping with clubhouse projects (email Michele at
[email protected]). The BRMCA Board of Directors would like to wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2017. Josh Weinstein, President, BRMCA
JOIN BRMCA! Become part of your community. Become a member of BRMCA! See details on page 7. www.brmca.net
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FROM THE TREASURER Annual Membership Drive The Bull Run Mountain Estates community is home to almost 500 households. As with many civic associations, a wide range of services and financial obligations are necessary to maintain our beautiful and unique neighborhood. Our elected Board of Directors are an eclectic group of experienced executives, professionals, business owners, and retirees. They are all mountain residents, some have been here for 25+ years. The civic association funding is only raised by voluntary dues paid by the residents, and from clubhouse rentals. This means the electricity, water, taxes, and insurance paid for the Clubhouse is financed by our dues. Some of our other services and financial obligations include fiscal reporting to the IRS, maintenance and insurance of our common properties, such the fire reserve pond, printing and distribution of our newsletters, maintenance of the web site, (www.brmca.net), and the Firewise event. It also includes special community events like the recent Holiday Party and monthly pancake breakfasts. The BRMCA has finished a major overhaul of the clubhouse facility and surrounding grounds with funds from our limited trust account, now significantly diminished. Every major component of the building has been refurbished to bring it up-to-date and make it a valuable asset in the community. From the new septic system to a new roof, kitchen remodel, floors, lights, ADA restroom, volunteers have worked hard to make it a facility we can be proud of. This new clubhouse is starting to produce rental revenue which will help the BRMCA start to offset some of the costs of operating the BRMCA. But only some. The very fact that we depend on voluntary dues indicate the need for our membership drives. We need an engaged and effective civic organization that can help improve the community for our children and neighbors. Now is the time to come together and make a difference, and your membership and volunteer
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participation is more critical today than at any point in our history. The BRMCA and its volunteers supports all the residents of the mountain, not just those who pay dues. Everyone on the mountain benefits from the roads, the facilities and the activities. In turn, please do your part and support your civic association. The voluntary dues are $50 per household or for lot-only owners. We believe that this amount is both reasonable and helps us cover the costs of maintaining community assets on the mountain. What does your $50 membership get you? It shows your support for your community. It helps pay for community activities. It helps the BRMCA communicate with ALL mountain residents, not just the members. It supports a facility that is available to everyone on the mountain. In 2016, 86 mountain households supported the BRMCA with dues – a contemporary all-time-high. The BRMCA Board of Directors thanks those members for their support. Help the BRMCA set another record membership year this year by supporting these community activities. Send in your dues today. You can do it via PayPal at our website (www.brmca.net/?page_id=57) or by mailing a check to BRMCA, PO Box 374, Haymarket, VA 20168. Thank you for your support. Glenn Cruickshank, Treasurer, BRMCA
BE IN THE KNOW! Check out the calendar of events. Find community news, county resources and more. www.brmca.net
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NEW AMBASSADOR ON BRM Yes, you heard correctly, BRMCA has appointed an Ambassador to represent the mountain, and that person is you. The mountain needs people and ideas to build a strong community, a place where we encourage neighbors to help neighbors, ways to bring residents together to make this a fun place to gather. Don’t leave it up to just to 10% of the people, please won’t you pitch in and help? Bull Run Mountain needs you to make good things happen. A small group of us have spent the last two years fixing, painting, repairing and updating items, and have finally turned our clubhouse into a top-tier facility that all of our residents here on the mountain can be proud of. Yes, there is still work being done; finishing the new septic system, enlarging the parking area in front of the building, landscaping, and the fireplace will have to have major repair work done in the spring. Most of the hard work is over, now we need positive people with fresh new ideas to start phase two. Hosting events inside the clubhouse will now be easier than ever since we’ve purchased 12 new large 60” tables that will each seat 10 people, four 6’ banquet tables, plus 62 new comfy chairs. The clubhouse rental is available to both residents and non-resident alike. There is a 30% discount for paid BRMCA members, so please pay your annual dues and then tell your neighbors, friends and coworkers about us. Here are some ideas for clubhouse use: Small intimate weddings, family or class reunions, engagement parties, Bar/Bat mitzvah and other of life’s milestones, birthday parties for young and the young at heart, anniversary celebrations, teenage dances, square dances, sox hops, wedding or baby showers, graduation parties, summer BBQs and winter celebrations, business gatherings or retreats, craft fairs, Halloween parties, office holiday parties, hosting Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas dinners, children’s events and poker nights.
enable us to keep modernizing and adding features for all our residents to enjoy. We are also talking about possibilities for the clubhouse, that we can do with volunteers and resources. What about a ceiling mounted projector and large pull down screen so we’ll be able to have a family movie night. The BRMCA board has frequently discussed having WIFI installed. We are considering adding acoustic panels and sprucing up the lawn and grounds below clubhouse, with possibilities of setting up soccer and/or T-ball grounds. An option is supplying electric on lower level, because it would be a perfect amphitheater for summer concerts. Putting a road from Young’s Drive onto old basketball court to not only create extra parking, but with be easy access for vendors to set up a Farmers Market. We are considering creating a level lawn next to clubhouse, for picnics, but also provide a area, that large tent could be setup for special events. As you can see, we have many more ideas for how to improve the clubhouse facility. Got ideas for group activities, or events that you would enjoy? Please consider joining the Clubhouse Committee, and we can make possibilities happen. P.S. Mark your calendars for the third Saturday of each month from 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM for our Pancake Breakfast held at the clubhouse. $5 per person, kids under 5 eat for free.
Let your imagination run wild, become an Ambassador and help us find renters, which will
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LIBRARY Hello, neighbors! The closest public library is 10-15 minutes away, without traffic, depending on one’s specific location within our neighborhood. When I posted on the neighborhood Facebook group in November, to gauge interest in starting up a Little Free Library here on the Mountain, the response from our neighbors was a resounding “yes!” The response from the Bull Run Mountain Civic Association was a resounding “yes!” as well. Less than two months later, a BRMCA Board Member built and installed a library for us to call our very own. Our library is in front of the Bull Run Mountain Civic Association Clubhouse, which is located at 1811 Ridge Road, Haymarket, VA 20169. We are in the process of obtaining the charter for this library to become part of the Little Free Library network. The library will be opening soon. I will be your library
steward and look forward to working with you to make this library a wonderful place for the family to visit. More updates will follow. Ami Ceresi
RECENT EVENTS
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MEET THE BOARD AND MEMBERS 2016-17 BRMCA OFFICERS
President Josh Weinstein
Vice President Scott Thomas
Treasurer Glenn Cruickshank
Secretary Jane Sudol
2016-17 BRMCA BOARD, MEMBERS AT LARGE AND OFFICERS
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Director Eric Davies
Director and Newsletter Editor Trinka Kensill
Director Alex Lepro
Director and Firewise Lead James Price
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Director Paul Scheingold
Clubhouse Coordinator Michele Failla
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Webmaster Bruce Roemmelt
BE IN THE KNOW! Check out the calendar of events. Find community news, county resources and more. www.brmca.net
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GENERAL INFORMATION BRMCA ADDRESS Bull Run Mountain Civic Association PO Box 374 Haymarket, VA 20168 COMMUNITY WEB CONTACTS Board members, Activities Committee and FireWise:
[email protected] Clubhouse Committee:
[email protected] BRMCA website:
[email protected] Facebook: Bull Run Mountain Estates MONTHLY MEETINGS Normally the Board of Directors meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse on Ridge Road. Check the BRMCA Calendar on the website (http://www.brmca.net/?page_id=39) to confirm dates and times. Residents are invited to attend.
DUES FOR NEW OR EXISTING MEMBERS To join or renew your membership, complete and mail this form along with your $50 check to: BRMCA Membership P.O. Box 374 Haymarket, VA 20168-0374 Date _____________________________ Name ________________________________________ Address (include City, State and Zipcode if different from Haymarket) _________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________ Email _________________________________________
For PayPal, go to www.brmca.net/?page_id=368 www.brmca.net
WILL RECEIVE A 30% DISCOUNT ON 2017 CLUBHOUSE RENTAL
Bull Run Mountain Civic Association PO Box 374 Haymarket, VA 20168
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BRMCA ANNUAL
BRMCA MEMBERSHIPS PAID ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2017
NEWSLETTER
BEST DEAL EVER!