Dear Fellow Residents:

Deerwood is a large community with over 900 homes. With our size, communications between the Board and the residents becomes a challenge. The Board is committed to keeping our residents informed about pertinent issues within the community and those external issues that impact Deerwood.

To this end, we will continue publishing our formal newsletter three or four times each year and I will augment those with this type of informal letter every few months, as issues warrant. In addition, we have Channel 118 on Comcast Cable but residents with digital cable have not been able to access it. Efforts will continue to rectify this problem.

To further improve our reach and to give residents a choice, we have recently established a website at "deerwoodhomeowners.com" or "dia-jax.com". We encourage you to browse the website. It is a work in process, so your suggestions will be appreciated.

On behalf of the Board and the community, I wish to thank Joe Poquette, William Hill, Pat Cusick, and Randi Loving for their services over the past three years. Also, I want to thank all the candidates who sought to fill the vacant Board positions and welcome George Fipp, Hoke Smith, and Bob Weiland. Katie Kight has graciously agreed to chair the Public Relations committee during the next year.

At the annual meeting on March 27 we enjoyed a good turnout in spite of the inclement weather. While all committees reported on activities for the past 12 months, special emphasis was placed on the Grounds Committee's Engineering Study of the drainage system, and the Finance Committee's study of establishing reserve funds for anticipated major expenses.

As we look forward to the next year, the Board will continue to work with MAY Management to ensure that the day-to-day operations of Deerwood run smoothly and that the requirements of the Covenants are met. Our major projects will be:

1. The completion of the drainage study and implementation of a multi-year maintenance plan,
2. The analysis, refinement and implementation of the Reserve Study,
3. Designing an upgrade plan for the playground and implementing the first phase,
4. Improving the security gates and access system,
5. Complete a general survey and cost estimate to add security fencing in the northeast quadrant of Deerwood, and
6. To become better informed and more active in the City's plan for the intersection of Baymeadows and Southside.

Your eleven elected Board members cannot accomplish all that needs to done alone. We are thankful for the many residents who volunteer to work on our various committees, especially Dottie Teetor, Landscaping Committee, Jim O'Connor, Security Committee, and Katie Kight, Public Relations. We encourage others to volunteer to work with your fellow residents on these committees; just call the committee chair.

The proposed overpass at Baymeadows and Southside could have a major negative impact on Deerwood. Increased noise from the elevated roadway and reduced ability to come in and out of the Southside entrance would likely result. Many of the other neighborhoods in the area are organizing to oppose the plan. We need a group to study this issue fully, work with the other neighborhoods, JTA, and City Council, and advise the Board and community. If you are interested in participating in this, please call me.

Don't forget to check the Deerwood website and Channel 118 periodically for news about your community.

Sincerely,

Lee M. Evans
President