Download the Summer 2008 Dominion Station Express issue (461KB PDF)
From the President’s Desk
Good day Dominion Station! This past quarter has been very productive and positive for our community. Thanks to all of the active residents, our continuing journey towards the community’s rejuvenation is proving to be very successful. Through your continued support of the Board and Management, we hope to continue our work into the fall.
I wanted to point out a few of the successful endeavors which the Board has completed, or will complete this month, while remaining under budget for the year:
- The pool and clubhouse — The bathhouses are completed and the pool resurfacing has paid off. There has been a substantial increase in the use of the pool, as everyone is really enjoying our single largest amenity. We have also completed the clubhouse’s key-less entry system project and the BoD is discussing expanding the access hours, at a reduced rate for residents. Next year’s goal is to begin discussing the refresh of the clubhouse common area, which is dated and needs a fresh coat of paint.
- Tot-lot renewal project — The tot lot project is nearing completion and they are looking great! Thank you to everyone who provided input into the plans and ideas for the lots. My neighbors' kids tell me that the “squiggly slide at the Guilford lot is faster than a race car.” I am still not sure what that means…
- Irrigation — The Church Rd. project was completed and the area is now green. My goal for next year is to continue to work on other common areas which do not currently have irrigation, such as Blossom and Atlantic Blvd.
- Landscaping and drainage — We have signed a contract to have 3 problematic drainage areas addressed near Hutchins, Guilford Station and the bike path. We have also contacted a Landscape Architect to provide a plan for future enhancements/replacement of the common areas. By mid-August, the work around the entrances will be completed, with new lighting and increased curb appeal for our community.
- Web-site enhancements — I have been working with Berty, our webmaster, to enhance our web site.
- Zoning complaints — The Board and Management has seen a sharp increase in the number of zoning complaints (overcrowding, town homes turned into multiple apartments, etc). I urge anyone who sees, hears, or knows about a zoning issue, to contact our management and the County. These issues negatively impact our community’s value and safety. Please see the DS website for details on how to successfully file a complaint.
- Atlantic Blvd and Community policing — I have continued to speak with the County and VDOT to ensure that they are aware of our communities interests and concerns. I will continue to do so, as a Board member and affected resident.
- Verizon FIOS — FIOS is now available.
I have spoken to a few residents this year who have mentioned TERMITES. My home was treated 2 years ago for termites after I encountered a swarm at my front door. I paid about $600 to Superior Pest Control for a treatment, which included a trench being dug around my house and holes drilled in my stoop. None of the work completed is evident, except I no longer have termites. I was told that the stoops of our homes were used as trash pits when our homes were built and that this is the number 1 area for infestation and entry into our homes. The point is that, although you do not see them, they are here. Over the past 5 years living in DS, I have heard of about 20 cases of termite and carpenter ant infestation. Please make sure that you have an inspection done. I have inspections done on a quarterly basis, when my contracted quarterly pest treatment is completed. Many companies offer such contracts for quarterly maintenance. I have used the same company for the last 5 years and am very happy with the price and service.
Relating to our community web site, as a technology professional, I feel as though technology should be embraced and leveraged to our advantage. My vision is to create “The one stop site for all things Dominion Station HOA related.” While the website should not completely remove or replace human interaction with the Board and Management, the goal is to provide a site which will answer 99% of all questions and allow people to quickly and easily provide information to the Board and Management. We are working on items such as bill pay for monthly dues, fines and visitor pool passes. There are ideas and suggestions for a DS FORUM, to allow residents to share information. Another idea is an email update alert when there are new items posted to the website. We have been discussing outsourcing the site to enhance the visual and functional aspects, thus allowing the Web Site Committee chair-person the ability to execute on initiatives more effectively. We have some great ideas, but Berty, our webmaster and Web Site Committee Chair would certainly enjoy more help and input. You can contact him at web@dshoa.com. Make sure you check out the site www.dshoa.com and refer to the site whenever you have questions about the community’s events, policies or news.
Finally, I want to close by thanking all of my fellow volunteers and residents for their continued support for myself, the Board and Management. I have lived in our community for almost 5 years now. I have been active on the Board for 4 years and I am very happy to see that all of the long hours spent working on our community’s issues are paying off. It is a collective effort by all current and previous volunteers. As a resident and Board member, I greatly appreciate your time and value your friendships.
I hope everyone is looking forward to the summer pool party. I hear that the Shared Facilities Committee is planning something BIG.
Warm Regards,
David Robinette, President, DSHOA
Web Site Continues to Expand
By: Berty Damato
The Dominion Station HOA web site, which has been available to residents for over a year, is the result of the Board's desire to communicate with the community and is the place to go for information about Dominion Station. The community may access several resources on the HOA web site at www.dshoa.com.
Recently, we've added even more information to the site. On the home page you will find a list of the most requested information from the Board of Directors as well as the community manager. We've also added the current weather for the area, as well as links to weather resources to help you plan your day.
The latest news from the Board and a list of frequently asked questions and answers continue to be popular links on the site. In addition to those resources, there is a new Report Form that allows residents to submit a comment or concern to the Dominion Station community manager. Contacting the Service First Management & Consulting (SFMC) management company directly by phone is still acceptable - their contact information is on the site as well - but using the online Report Form might be a more convenient way for you to get in touch with management. Are you having issues with a neighbor that isn't quite following the rules when it comes to keeping their property neat and orderly? Is a resident continuing to park in the visitor parking spots, leaving none available for your guests? The community manager needs written documentation to address these concerns, and here's a new way to easily provide that written documentation. Links to the Report Form can be found on the home page, the Contact page, and the Rules and Resolutions page of the site.
Contact information for SFMC as well as email addresses to contact members of the Board of Directors of the HOA are still on the site. All Board of Directors have individual email addresses that will reach them directly.
It seems that lately we have been hearing a lot about all the rules that we are supposed to follow, some of us even receiving letters reminding us to follow those rules. Would you like to know what those rules are? They are online as well. Policy resolutions are available in the “Rules & Resolutions” section of the site, and may also be downloaded in ‘pdf’ format. Frequently asked questions can give you a little more guidance on those rules as well.
One of the most requested things from the community is to have an online forum for residents to exchange information. Though not there yet, it's in the works and we can expect to see the new forum on the site within a few months. You'll hear more news about this in the not too distant future.
The Board is always looking for feedback from the community and encourages residents to attend the monthly meetings. The upcoming dates for HOA meetings are on the home page and if you miss a meeting, well the meeting minutes are on the site as well for your review. It's always great to have a packed house on meeting nights, but if you can't be there, you can at least read what has happened anytime you want to.
Do you enjoy working on web sites? Does spending hours staring at a computer appeal to you? Well, why not throw your name into the hat to work on the Web Site Committee? If you are interested in updating, adding to, or working on the HOA web site, feel free to contact us by email at web@dshoa.com.
Reminder
The deadline for all newsletter submissions is Friday, October 10th.
Board of Directors Contact Information
President- David Robinette
Email- President@dshoa.com
Vice President- Sarah Turner
Email- Veep@dshoa.com
Secretary- Melissa Fishman
Email- Secretary@dshoa.com
Treasurer- Harry Anderson
Email- Treasurer@dshoa.com
Director- Joan Whitehead
Email- Director@dshoa.com
SFMC Contact Information
Community Manager- Kathy Simonovich
Phone- (703) 392-6006, ext 202
Fax- (703) 392-5039
Email- Ksimonovich@sfmcinc.com
Disclaimer
Dominion Station Express is a volunteer generated publication, produced for the residents of Dominion Station by volunteer residents and as such it does not reflect any official policy or process of the Dominion Station Community, its Board of Directors or Management Company. All rights are reserved.
Download the Summer 2008 Dominion Station Express issue (461KB PDF)