2014 Annual Meeting Summary

Thank you to everyone who came out for the 2014 Sequoyah Hills HOA Annual Meeting.   It was a fantastic get together with neighbors, special guests, updates, plenty of food and phenomenal suggestions.   If you missed the meeting, read on for detailed updates and we hope to see you live in 2015.

2014 Board Summary

The Board reported on 2014 accomplishments and 2015 goals.  As always, the Board is looking for more volunteers for the Board and our Committees.  This meeting saw the resignation of Dale Davis, a long time Director who will be missed by everyone.  Dale, we thank you for your service!

Please read the summary update for more information:  SHHA 2014 Board Summary (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SHHA-2014-Board-Summary NULL.pdf)

Environmental Committee

The Environmental Committee plays a huge part in the running of our community, especially with managing and maintaining landscaping, settling neighbor disputes, and reviewing architectural applications.  As always, the Environmental Committee is looking for new volunteers to join the group.

Please read the summary update for more information about the 2014 accomplishments and 2015 goals of the committee:  SHHA 2014 Environmental Committee Summary (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SHHA-2014-Environmental-Committee-Summary NULL.pdf)

Safety Committee

John Nichols, Chair of the Safety Committee, reported that crime is down significantly in the neighborhood year over year.  John suggested that this is due to the strong neighborhood relationships, the use of the Yahoo! group and everyone looking out for each other. The economy is definitely playing a part, but our neighbors are our greatest asset in crime prevention. The monthly safety flier comes from the committee and when the audience was asked who reads it, almost everyone raised their hand.    Although the committee is strong, they are still looking for additional members and people interested in being block captains on every street.

John also reported that in our neighborhood we do have some elderly residents that could perhaps benefit from a wellness check.  If this is something that you, a loved one or neighbor is interested in, please reach out to the safety committee.  They will be looking for volunteers for the checks and interested parties for the service. Contact Information (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/hoa/committees/)

Please read the summary update for more information about the 2014 accomplishments and 2015 goals of the committee:  SHHA 2014 Safety Committee Summary (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SHHA-2014-Safety-Committee-Summary NULL.pdf)

Social Committee

The Social Committee has a great year organizing and supporting the Annual Block Party, delivering welcome baskets and taking care of the lunch for the Annual Meeting today.  This group is also looking for additional members who would be willing to help with our existing events and also plan new meetings and events such as a Winter Children’s Activity, Halloween events, local hikes, etc.

Please read the summary update for more information about the 2014 accomplishments and 2015 goals of the committee: SHHA 2014 Social Committee Summary (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SHHA-2014-Social-Committee-Summary NULL.pdf)

Special Guest: Fire Chief Teresa Delaoch Reed

Sequoyah Hills is so lucky to have Chief Reed living in our neighborhood.   She gave a presentation on the 2014 fire season (dry, hot, terrible due to the weather and drought) and a lot of information about the Private Property Clearance requirements.

It is absolutely incumbent on every resident to maintain safe vegetation and fire breaks around our home.   Chief Reed reminded everyone about the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm and described the way fires have been acting in California with the available fuel and drought conditions.   The fire break do save homes, firefighters lives and are crucial for safety in the neighborhood.

Although the Wildfire Protection District was not passed by voters this last time, there are still good links to more information about fire prevention and vegetation management on the City of Oakland Website. (http://www2 NULL.oaklandnet NULL.com/Government/o/OFD/s/WildfireDistrict/index NULL.htm)

Special Guest: Robert Clark

Robert Clark is the SHHA representative to the Oak Knoll Coalition.   The Coalition works to ensure that the homeowners associations and residents in the area have a voice in the development that will happen at Oak Knoll.  In short, Mr. Clark reported that the coalition is beginning to meet again and the property resides with Sun Cal once more.   There are in the beginning stages of the new plan for the land and project, but very rough (do not count this as fact!!!) estimates are around 950 mixed use housing units, retail space and a small to mid size grocery is still on the table.  There are no updates on Rifle Creek, open space, traffic issues, the top of the Knoll & Admirals Hill, the Officers Club or any dates for public meetings with Sun Cal. These are all future items.

For more information about the Oak Knoll Coalition, please visit their website. (http://www NULL.oakknollcoalition NULL.org/)   As the Board and others in the community learn more in the coming months (years) we will post what we know.

Slide Show From The Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting Is This Saturday ~ RSVP

The Annual Association Meeting is this Saturday!!!

If you have not already done so, please RSVP, or leave a comment on this post, so that we may have an accurate count for lunch.

Our guest speaker this year is our own Sequoyah Hills resident and Oakland Fire Chief, Theresa Reed.  Members with schedule conflicts, please fill out your Proxy Form included in the recent newsletter, or download the form here:  Annual Meeting Proxy 2014 (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Annual-Meeting-Proxy-2014 NULL.pdf).   Please drop your Proxy off at 8060 Coach or 8020 Surrey.

The event details are:

Saturday, September 20, 2014
8060 Coach
11am-1:30pm

Come hear what your neighborhood association has been up to this year. Reports by all committees and officers will be presented. There will be copies of the budget and bank account financials, as well as a great lunch! Come express your concerns and ask your questions.

Please, if possible, bring an extra chair to share.

It is important that your voice be counted, even if you cannot attend. Proxies may also be brought to the meeting by your designated voter.

Looking forward to seeing you there on Saturday.

The Sequoyah Hills Board of Directors

National Night Out is TONIGHT!!

(http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/iStock_000041063532_Medium NULL.jpg)It time again for National Night Out.  This year marks the 31st Anniversary of the National Night Out Organization and very first NNO in the US.   As you may have seen from our Yahoo! news group, there are a variety of block hosts throughout the neighborhood getting ready to host neighbors and be visible tonight.

National Night Out is a phenomenal opportunity to show our neighborhood strength and spirit, be visible to each other, and get to know our neighbors.   Neighbor relationships are one of the best ways to fight crime and know the regular comings and going on your block.  Usually with NNO, you will see representatives from the Oakland Police Department and other City entities visiting the neighborhood and getting to know us.

What can you do tonight?

• Leave your porch lights on
• Walk your block
• Join one of the block parties
• Introduce yourself to a neighbor

Hosted Block Parties from 7:00 – 9:00 PM:

• Pinecrest:  5105 Pinecrest Dr., bring a seat & a treat to share
• Surrey Lane: 8130 Surrey Lane.  Everyone from Keller up is welcome.  Bring a chair & cookies.
• Coach Drive

If you do not see a party for your street, you are welcome at any of the ones listed.   There very well may be other gatherings that have not been publicized on the Yahoo! Group.

For more information about National Night Out, check out our standing NNO page (http://www NULL.sequoyahhome NULL.org/national-night-out-2/) with links to the main organization.

If you are hosting and take pictures, please forward them to kris@kdbaitooconsulting.com so they can be included in a follow up blog.  Have a great evening everyone!!

UPDATE!!! Emergency Preparedness Classes — Date Change!!!

The dates on the CORE classes have changed!!

We all live by the Hayward fault and a high fire woodland area.  We know it… we worry… and we procrastinate preparing.  Here is something that you can actually do to help your family and your neighbors, plus, it’s free and right down (or up) the street.

Free CORE Classes Offered in Sequoyah Hills

Jeff Morelli is offering the CORE series just for our community this Summer. The classes will be held on lower Hansom.

The first is a CORE I class on July 10th from 6:30-9:00 pm The focus of this class is Home and Family Preparedness which covers topics such as supplies, how to create a family disaster plan, utilities , fire suppression and much more.

The second is a CORE II class on July 17th covers Neighborhood Emergency Response and covers topics such as how to organize a neighborhood response group, the Incident Command System including Damage Assessment, Search and Rescue and Disaster First teams. Sustainability in our neighborhood shifting from response into recovery.

These are FREE classes sponsored by the City of Oakland’s CORE Program The main focus of these classes is to help better prepare you before during and after a major disaster occurs.

For those of you who would like to attend please contact Jeff directly at 510-333-3650 during the day. R.S.V.P is important so that Jeff can ensure he has the right amount of materials for the group.

Thank you to all who made it to the block party!!

The 2014 Sequoyah Hills HOA block party was definitely a success.  The Board would like to thank everyone who came out today to meet your neighbors and for your continued support in making this a great community to live.  We especially would like to thank Chris Quan for hosting the event in front of her home.   Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

We would also like to thank the members of Oakland Firehouse Station #21 who brought out their engines and entertained kids and adults alike.

As pictures are worth 1,000 words, take a look at the festivities below!!  If you missed it, please think about joining us in 2015.