I no longer serve on the HOA board at Orenco Station (a little misleading, since there are five or seven HOAs out there; I served on the master board). I remain proud of my work, though I need to say our work–the entire board and our then-community manager. We left the Association in outstanding financial shape, as well as significantly reducing water usage, moving to organic landscaping practices and setting the stage for solar usage.
The solar thing never took off, or so it seemed, even though we engaged a solar contractor to offer significant discounts. We could not convert the pool to solar heat, because doing so required a thermal blanket. Our pool needed a custom size, which, in the end, made the conversion cost-prohibitive.
My term ended at the beginning of 2011, when a new board and officers took over. When the board member who served as both treasurer and chair left, along with the sudden departure of the community manager, the board needed help. A neighbor volunteered to draft the budget for 2012, and I partnered with her to offer historical insight.
Last night may be my last meeting. The board adopted the draft budget–no dues increase for the second year running. But te best was the ARC report.
Two owners are installing solar panels. It’s nice to know work no one notices might indeed count for something, if you wait long enough.
