President Jerry Gaudet called the meeting to order November 14, 2004. Each board member provided a report of activities this year. A hard copy of the combined reports was provided to the estimated 160 residents in attendance. [Click here for reports.] The floor was opened for questions and comments following each director’s report.

Comments and Questions:

1. Are residents of Galloway Ridge part of FHA? Richard Bird, Financial Officer responded to the affirmative; they have the same status as all owners in Fearrington in the association, will pay dues, and have access to all clubs. The exact relationship between how Fearrington residents utilize Galloway Ridge facilities will be worked out.

2. If one is a member of Duke Center for Living, will membership be transferred? Yes. Hugh Chapin stated that membership is open to all Fearrington residents. The clinic and the wellness center will also be open to Fearrington residents for paid membership. Membership will first be available to Fearrington residents; if all openings are not filled by them, memberships will be opened to nonresidents. Jerry Gaudet added that Galloway Ridge and FHA representatives are continuing to meet to work out the relationships between the two organizations.

3. How do we get more mail kiosks? A new kiosk is planned near Millcroft to reduce the load on the Gathering Place kiosk. If funds are available, FHA may upgrade the mailboxes also.

4. Can reflective paint be put on the island at the entrance to the Village? The property at the entrance belongs to the state and to Fitch; FHA must live within what each will tolerate. The state will not make further modifications. Recently Art Gerber arranged for a barrel at the entrance way, and it helps because it is visibly large. Steve Bodner, Director of Grounds and Facilities, is arranging for streetlights to be installed at the intersections of 15-501 and Village Way, and 15-501 and Weathersfield.

Announcement of Election Results: Ken Richardson, Chair of the Nominating Committee, announced that there were 128 ballots cast and all were in favor of the candidates on the slate running for each position. The following officers and directors were elected for 2005:

President Tom Hauck
Vice President Andrew Bratton
Secretary Maggie Frantz
Treasurer Robert Flower
Financial Officer Jim Pomroy
Director At Large Anne Bigelow
Community Affairs Cynthia Jones
County Liaison Ford Heath
Grounds and Facilities Stephen Bodner
The Gathering Place Edith Lange

Introduction of Nominating Committee: Ken Richardson introduced new FHA nominating members Doris Dunlap, Bob Comey and Joseph Lyons.

Recognition of Out Going Board Members and Nominating Committee: Jerry thanked outgoing board members Richard Bird, Janet Lorant, Frank Chut, Al Lebeau, Mary Barbara Bickell and Jack Zollinger

Additional Resident Input: Farrel Potts asked that Fearrington residents pledge to United Way this year; pledges are down from last year and greatly needed in Chatham County. Loyse Hurley informed the audience that the Citizens for an Effective Community is holding a hearing on a proposed change in a water ordinance. Jerry Gaudet voiced a concern regarding excessive speeding in the Village and asked all residents to obey the posted speed limit.

Janet Lorant, Secretary
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The RTP Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is having their "Songs of the Season" Holiday Shows on Saturday, December 4 at Meymandi Hall in the BTI Center in Raleigh.  By popular demand, there will now be an afternoon show as well as the usual evening show.  Starting times are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  In addition to the award winning General Assembly Chorus singing Christmas and holiday songs, there will be the 80 plus Mens Holiday Chorus performing.  Also featured will be outstanding vocalist Janet Clarke and the Master's Men, a superior sounding mens ensemble.  Ticket prices for reserve seats are $15 for the 2 p.m. show and $20 for the 7:30 p.m. show.  But, Fearringtonians take note, Seniors 60 and over get $2 off each reserved ticket.   General admission seating is $10 for the afternoon show and $15 for the evening.  Tickets purchased at the door will cost $5 more so you will want to buy them in advance.  All in all quite a reasonable charge for such an event.  So, for tickets or information call John Adams here in FV at 545-9101.  What a terrific way to start out the Holiday Season!
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Come one! Come All!  Mark you calendars for Thursday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Barn to kick off the holiday season with the Harmony Grits and the Village Voices.  Together they will present an unforgettable magical program of seasonal melodies.  After listening to the choristers, the audience will join in raising their voices for peace on earth.  You don't want to miss this annual event. A $5 donation will be collected at the door.  Contact Ellie Davidson at 542-2857 or Phil Burke at 542-1701.
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Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. McIntyre's Fine Books & Bookends is pleased to announce PRE-SCHOOL STORYTIME. For more information, call Sarah at (919) 542-3030.

Thursday, December 2 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. C'mon out and support/partake in McIntyre's Open Mike Night, hosted by the inimitable Peter Mock. Bring something you're working on or a favorite passage to read from and sit back, enjoy.

Saturday, December 11 at 11:00 a.m. Come celebrate Christmas in the South! Join authors Lee Smith, Clyde Edgerton, Doris Betts and Julia Ridley Smith, as they herald in the season with stories they've contributed to Christmas in the South: Holiday Stories from the South's Best Writers. Join us at the Fearrington Barn for a perfect way to ring in the season. Get signed copies for those readers on your gift list.

Friday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. Get the real facts! Acclaimed religious scholar Bart Ehrman will join us to discuss his new book, The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code. This is sure to be a fascinating evening as Ehrman unmasks the historical inaccuracies in the best-seller, The Da Vinci Code.

Saturday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. Come join us for our annual Holiday Storytelling with Donald Davis. Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world rich in stories. He recounts tales and more tales learned from a family of traditional storytellers who have lived on the same Western North Carolina land since 1781. “His stories often leave listeners limp with laughter at the same time they are struggling with a lump in the throat," Wilma Dykeman, The New York Times. McIntyre's will accept donations of canned food items for admission. These foodstuffs will be distributed within Chatham County. 
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Are you interested in painting?  Are you painting now and would like to join a group of fellow painters? Did you paint at one time and are thinking of getting back to it?  Have you never painted but are considering trying it out?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions the Paletteers may be the group for you.  Our purpose is to bring together residents who are interested in drawing and painting.  We come together to share this common interest and to offer mutual support.  We meet every Tuesday in the Gathering Place from 1 to 4 p.m. from September through June.  Dues are $30 per year.

Although there is no formal instruction on a regular basis, from time to time workshops are given by local artists.  The Paletteers hold an annual exhibit of our works.  Our show will be hung in the Gathering Place in February.  Details will appear in the January Newsletter. If you have any interest in joining us or in making further inquiries, please stop in on any Tuesday or call Diana Farley (542-3814).
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There is a group of widowers in Fearrington that meet weekly for fellowship. It starts with a social hour with drinks and snacks followed by car-pooling to dinner.  The meetings are held on Wednesday evening starting at 5:30 p.m. The host for the evening picks the restaurant for that night.  It is all very informal, no dues, no rules.  If you would like to learn more about this group we would like very much to hear from you.  Please contact Stephen Hudak 542-3757 or Joe Prendergast 542-6275.
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At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec 1 in the Gathering Place, Henry Castner will provide his observations and impressions of such places as Konya, Tarsus, Iskenderun, Gaziantep, and Harran. The Anatolian Plateau stands at the crossroads of Middle Eastern history and Henry will attempt to put these unfamiliar places into some of the more recognizable contexts that apply to the region.

Fearrington residents with an interest in travel and photography are invited to attend. If you would like to learn more about this long established Fearrington activity, please contact Dick Harrington, Henry Castner, Lee Caldwell, Farrel Potts or Bob De Vido.
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The 12th Annual Chatham Studio Tour will take place on December 4-5 and December 11-12.  Artists' studios will be open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The names and addresses of the studios of Fearrington artists on the tour follow:

Everyone is cordially invited to an opening reception at the Central Carolina Community College Gallery in Pittsboro from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 3. Come early and cast your vote for the "People's Choice Award" from 7 to 8 p.m.

There will be a preview exhibition at the ArtsCenter Gallery, Carrboro from November 16 - December 13. An exhibition of work by Studio Tour artists can also be seen at Chatham Arts on Hillsborough Street, downtown Pittsboro from November 7 - December 12.  For more information go to http://www.chathamstudiotour.com/.
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The Thespians will meet at the Gathering Place on Sunday, December 5. Lenni Newman is producing two new plays by Carl Granath:" The Wrong Way" starring Joan and Ken Richardson and "The Three Moons of Mikonos" starring Sherry Harris, Alan Vesley, George Girton, Eric Goodman and Ivan Remnitz.

Lenni and assistant Albina Geordino suggest that to celebrate the holiday season, we come at 6:30, bringing our own picnic and beverage and cutlery, plates and glasses. To reserve a spot at the table, call Barbara Smith at 942-8627 for a $1 ticket. If you just want to see the plays, come at 7:30. Questions? Call Carol Girton at 542-0992
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Because of the holidays the Democratic Club will meet Monday, December 6 at 7:15 p.m. at the Gathering Place. We will elect officers for the 2005-2006 club years. The meeting will be followed by a social time for “meeting and greeting” and extending holiday wishes. All Fearrington residents are invited to attend.
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Arts & Crafts, Etc is joining with the Women's Club for their joint Christmas luncheon at the Governors Club on Thursday, December 9, at 11:30 a.m. This festive occasion will serve as our December meeting.

A reminder that those who selected tags identifying a child and Christmas gift for our annual foster children project should deliver those wrapped gifts to Marlene Conner, 697 Spindlewood, before December 3.

We would like to wish all our members and fellow Fearrington residents a very happy and healthy holidays. We look forward to welcoming you to the first meeting of the new year on January 10, 2005. At this meeting we will invite you to step back in time with "Arts and Crafts of North Carolina in the 18th Century."  Our speaker will be the manager of a N.C. historic site. She will describe the needlework, toy making, candle dipping and basketry of that era and there will be a demonstration of spinning and embroidery.
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Michael Hornblow will lead the discussion on “Europe Today: A Triple Challenge” at the Great Decisions meeting on Thursday, December 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at McIntyre’s.

Michael, a Fearrington resident, is retired from the U.S. Foreign Service. He served in various positions in Afghanistan, Iran, twice in Poland and in Rome (the Vatican), Brussels (NATO) and Oslo. He was a member of the National Security Council’s staff under two presidents.

Those interested in joining us for this discussion may read the article on which his talk will be based. It is available at the front desk at McIntyre’s. An update on this topic is available online at the Foreign Policy Association’s web site, www.fpa.org. The 2005 edition of “Great Decisions” can be ordered at the web address or by calling (800) 477-5836. If you have any questions, please call Jean Hjelle (545-0432) or Sheila Gillespie (542-7255).
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Come one and come all to the village on Friday, December 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The village will be all decked out in luminaries as a new tradition is started for the Ronald McDonald House fundraiser. There will be music and refreshments and the stores will remain open. Bring your neighbors and friends and help make it a great success.

While attendance is free, a donation will be appreciated. If you have not yet given, consider making a donation at that time. A suggest amount is $15 though any amount, more or less will help support the good works of the Ronald McDonald House. See you there!!
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Jodi Magness, the UNC Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism, will speak at the Tuesday, December 14 meeting of the Fearrington Havurah.

Professor Magness will speak on the Dead Sea Scrolls. She is a noted expert on Palestine archaeology, and her book, The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, won the Biblical Archaeology Society Award for the Best Popular Book of 2001-2002. The book was also named “an outstanding academic title” by the American Library Association. The meeting begins with refreshments at 7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place, followed by the program at 8:00. Guests are always welcomed.
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The Fearrington Village Carolina Club will hold its annual holiday party on Wednesday, December 15 at the home of Farrel and Welshie Potts, 129 Shadowbrook at 6:30 p.m. Details to UNC alumni will be sent by email and postcard. Any new alumni in Fearrington are welcome. Please call Philip Cree 545-9794 or Kurt Muller 545-0609 with questions.
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Joe Burke, retired educator and native of Chatham County will present this class about our adopted state starting from before the Lost Colony to the present day.  Joe has an inimitable style and humor to go with his vast store of knowledge of the subject.

The class will be held at the Gathering Place, on consecutive Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., starting on January 6 and ending on March 10.  The cost for the ten sessions is $50 payable to Joe Burke and mailed or delivered to Nancy & Bill Kern 636 Spindlewood. For information, please call Nancy  & Bill at 542-7420 or e-mail  them at nbkern@aol.com.
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The annual Woods gathering will be held later than usual this year and we hope you will all enjoy a party in January when snowflakes could brighten our way to the Gathering Place.  So save the date,  January 8, 6:00-8:30 p.m.  Invitations will appear soon in your baskets.. Everyone is asked to bring finger food for 6-8 guests.  There is a $7.00 charge per person to cover all the costs.  Sue Ferguson and Darlene and Jim Pomroy are your hosts.
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Join us to preview the 2005 Museum events and programs sponsored by the Fearrington Friends Of The North Carolina Museum Of Art. We'll meet at The Gathering Place on Friday, January 21 from 3 to 5, sip wine, nibble cheese, and hear about exciting offerings for the new year. There will be special tours at the museum, presentations here at Fearrington, and field trips to nearby places of artistic interest.

It is necessary to be a member of both the North Carolina Museum of Art and the FFNCMA in order to participate in Fearrington Friends programs. Fearrington Friends dues are $10 per year.

Old friends are always welcome and dues can be paid at the door or left in the Gathering Place kiosk box. New friends are especially welcome. Come see what we're all about. Please call Lenni Newman at 545 - 0541 if you plan to attend.

And mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 2 to include a gallery talk on "Objects of Desire". This exhibit celebrates the NCMA acquisitions of the past decade. More details to follow next month.
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The StoryTime Project sponsored by the Fearrington Women's Club along with Child Care Networks, Inc of Chatham County is comprised of 50 Fearrington volunteers who read to young children in Head Start and other special school programs.

We have some wonderful new books in our library at Tina Patterson's house (#392) and several very enthusiastic new volunteers. The StoryTime Project is enormously amusing and gratifying. New volunteers are always very welcome.

Looking Ahead

Start collecting your donations for the Fearrington Women's Club annual BOOK, BAKE & BOUTIQUE sale to be held on Saturday, February 26 at the Gathering Place. All proceeds will be going to Chatham County charities. Carol Vatter (#586) is collecting Boutique items and the book collection continues. If you have books to donate please call one of the following; Madge Briggs (545-2960, Nancy Cherniak (542-2567) or Nancy Neufer (542-1925).
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I would like to call the attention of all people interested in international affairs to the International Visitors Council/World Affairs Council. These were two separate organizations, which merged in 2002. It receives foreign visitors who are invited to the U.S. by the Department of State for periods of two to four weeks. They usually stay 3 or 4 days in each of several cities, including the Triangle area. The Council programs their schedules in this area according to their professional interests, and often offers them home hospitality. These people are selected by U.S. Embassies abroad as current or potential leaders in many different fields, who should be allowed to gain first hand knowledge of America and Americans. The merged Council also brings prominent speakers to this area, and sponsors many events each year to inform the interested public about matters relating to international affairs. I urge that you consider joining this organization. For information, go to the website at www.ivc-wac.org or call 838-9191. Submitted by Ed Williams
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The bell is still tolling for Fearrington residents to help the Salvation Army provide Christmas help and cheer to our Chatham County friends. Many people have signed up to fill the 2-hour shifts at Lowes Supermarket from now until Christmas Eve, but we still need volunteers. Remember that you can sit down if you prefer, sit inside the door if the weather is wet, snowy, or cold! Please call Anne or Jim Kirkhoff (542-4390) and we will schedule you for a convenient time.
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The United Nations Association meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 15, two weeks earlier than usual in order to avoid a conflict with the Christmas holidays. Our speaker will be retired U.S. foreign service officer Haywood Rankin. During his career Mr. Rankin, a North Carolina native, was an expert on North Africa, serving in the U.S. Embassies in Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Oman, Algeria and the Ivory Coast, and in the State Department in Washington DC where he was North Africa analyst and later acting director in the Bureau for Intelligence and Research.

Since his retirement from full-time service in 1998, he has been called back to serve for limited periods in Tanzania, Djibouti, Togo and Sudan (from which he returned very recently), and in Washington DC where he worked on the Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan Desks. He will speak to the Chapter on "Darfur, Sudan, and Implications for the U.S. Role in Africa."

The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn on 15-501 Bypass in Chapel Hill (opposite Eastgate Shopping Center) from noon until 2 p.m. Reservations may be made by sending a check in the amount of $15 payable to "UNA-West Triangle Chapter" to Barbara Berke, 595B Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC 27312. The DEADLINE for Barbara to receive reservations is Friday, December 10. Questions to Barbara at 542-0319
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The Greater Chapel Hill Newcomers Men’s Luncheon Group meets on Friday, December 17 at 11:30am at the Chapel Hill Country Club. Our speaker will be Bruce Ladd, who will discuss his 27 years as a Washington insider, creating a Chicago Cub fan club (the infamous Emil Verban Memorial Society) and his fourth book about when the Civil War really ended.

Bruce began a remarkable career of governmental service as legislative director for then-Congressman Donald Rumsfeld. He subsequently served as deputy assistant to President Richard Nixon and then as deputy assistant secretary of state. In 1980, he joined Motorola, where he served as vice president for legislative affairs for 15 years. Today, in addition to serving on the Northern Illinois Alumni Association board, he is a member of the advisory board of the UNC Humanities Program.

Fearrington residents who are members of the Chapel Hill Newcomers or of Newcomers Alumni are welcome. Advance cost for a soup and salad buffet is $11. Please RSVP to Warren Wagner (542-6043) by Thursday, December 11. Checks should be payable to Warren and mailed to him at 141 Fearrington Post. If you pay at the door, bring $12.
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“SENIORNET” (computer learning for seniors) Winter 2005 computer classes and workshops will begin on January 10. Stop by the Chapel Hill Senior Center to register. On Monday, December 13 between 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. SeniorNet volunteers will be on-hand to offer personal help with your choices and to accept your registration. The Chapel Hill Senior Center is located at 400 S. Elliott Road in Chapel Hill.

Classes offered this winter include:
  Basic Computer Skills*
  Computer Fundamentals
  Intro to Word Processing
  Advanced Word Processing
  Internet/E-Mail
  Genealogy
  Buying & Selling on eBay*
  Preparing Your Taxes Using Turbo Tax*
  Digital Photography & Graphics
  Personal Financial Mgmt Using “Quicken”

Workshops include:
  Intro to Using Your Digital Camera
  Create & Print Greeting Cards
  Internet Security
  Using Your Computer for Banking
  Shopping on the Internet

Additional sessions begin Feb. 7 and March 7. Most classes run for four weeks, meeting twice a week for two hours. Classes marked with an “*” meet on Fridays only for two to four weeks. Workshops are one-day sessions and run about three hours. Complete class details are listed in the Herald-Sun “Senior Times” available at the Chapel Hill Senior Center. If you would like more information, please call: Art Lebo at 259-7330, Francis Coyle at 408-0530, or Jim Mason at 968-1362.
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Did you know that 67% of African-American 4th graders in the U.S. are functionally illiterate? Or that 85% of juvenile offenders have a learning disability, usually in reading?  Or that some states are basing their long-range prison construction budgets on the reading scores of 2nd grade children?

A number of Fearrington Village residents were introduced to these unsettling statistics and to the Augustine Project at a Volunteer Fair held at Governors' Club in October.  The Augustine Project, based at Holy Family Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, trains and supports volunteer tutors who provide free, long-term, one-on-one instruction in reading, writing and spelling to low-income children and teens who struggle with literacy skills.  The project serves more than 120 students in 44 schools and after school programs in Durham, Orange and most recently, Chatham Counties. 

During the week of January 10 -14, 2005, from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, the Augustine Project's Executive Director, Debbie McCarthy, will offer a 15 hour tutor training course at North Chatham School.  The training will include both classroom instruction and a two day supervised practicum.

If you are interested in taking this training and helping to change the life of an at-risk child, come to an information session at the home of Augustine tutor Sheryl Forbis on 39519 Glenn Glade at the Governors Club, on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.  RSVP to Sheryl at 929-9055 or at sforbis@nc.rr.com. Or you may contact Debbie McCarthy directly with questions about the Augustine Project or the January training.  Phone: 408-0798, email: augpro760@cs.com. Submitted by Andrew Bratton.
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Every year the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services offers the Fearrington Community an opportunity to share their Holidays through the Holiday Meal campaign. Last year the total Chapel Hill community, including Fearrington, made it possible for the IFC to provide 350 complete holiday dinners, which served 750 children and 800 adults in our area.

The IFC asks your support again this year. It’s simple. Please mail your $20 check to: IFC, 110 West Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510. They will then provide a needy household with an appropriate entrÈe, vegetables, holiday fixins’ and desert. If you would like to make a credit card donation, call 929-6380 ext 14, ask for John or ext 12, ask for Nicole. Thank you very much for sharing your Christmas holiday with an entire family in need.
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The Chatham County Council on Aging will feature works of Fearrington residents Mavis Gill and Barbara

Mihelick from Wednesday, December 1 through Friday, December 31. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public is invited. Come and meet the artists on Friday, December 17 at the Pittsboro Council on Aging from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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The Pittsboro library will mount a "winter and holiday" show featuring the Fearrington Paleteers from Wednesday, December 1 through Friday, December 31 during library hours. Come see the works of your Fearrington neighbors.
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The American Association of University Women will hold its annual holiday luncheon at the Carolina Inn Alumni Room on Saturday, December 11 at 11:30 a.m. Entertainment will be provided by the folk singing group Silver. AAUW member, Dorrie Prouty will read from her recently published book That’s Another Story. This is an account of a young girl’s recollection about a family in the Great Depression.

The cost of the luncheon is $25.00. Please telephone Jean Green (545-0941) by December 4 to make a reservation and select an entrÈe.
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ArtSchool Winter/Spring registration begins at The ArtsCenter on Main Street in Carrboro on Monday, December 6, 10 a.m. ArtSchool courses make thoughtful gifts.  Visit www.artscenterlive.org to view course offerings or register online.  Stop by The ArtsCenter for a catalog or give us a call at (919) 929-2787 if you'd like to be on our regular mailing list.
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As a follow-up to the October Feldenkrais workshop sponsored by Fearrington Cares, Joe Strain and Betty Akiba are offering a free Feldenkrais class on Thursday, December 9, 2:00-3:30 at the Gathering Place. This lesson will involve lying on the floor so please bring something comfortable to lie on like a thick blanket (not a yoga mat). A towel for your head is also a good idea. Wear flexible, comfortable clothing (not blue jeans) and bring a sweater in case the room is chilly.

This initial class will be limited to 15 participants and requires registration. To reserve a place or ask questions, please call Betty and Joe at 932-9203 or Carol Genovese at 545-5555. For more information on the Feldenkrais Method, see www.chapelhillfg.com and www.feldenkrais.com.
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If you want to work on your glutes, thighs, core, shoulders and arms, you can practice the chair pose. Want to strengthen your arms, shoulders, back and legs? Try the warrior pose. Then there’s deep breathing and delicious relaxation. We do it all and more. Come and see for yourself. We meet every Wednesday morning from 8:15-9:30 in the Gathering Place and everyone is welcome. For more information please call Laura Hyer at 545-9607.
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Musica Antiqua will present a program of recorder music from the Renaissance and early Baroque to the Vegetarian Club on Wednesday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m., at the Gathering Place. The program will include selections from English, Italian, French, and Spanish madrigals and compositions by Monteverdi, Bach, and Handel. Fearrington resident Jane Bruce is a member of the group. The Vegetarian Club meets at 6:30 p.m. for a pot-luck dinner. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Call Anna Louise Reynolds at 542-4697.
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Fearrington Cares Office will be closed beginning Tuesday, December 21, 2004 through Monday, January 3, 2005. The office will re-open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2005. Volunteer services will continue to operate on a regular basis during these dates. You must call 542-1930 to obtain volunteer services.
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Walking Group – Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8 a.m., Nursing Office

Blood Pressure Clinic – Wednesday, December 1 and 15, 10 a.m.– Noon, Nursing Office

Caregiver Support Group – Tuesday, December 7, 9 a.m.– Noon - Format changed from group meeting to individual sessions with group leader – you must make an appointment to meet with group leader – Appointments are 45 minutes in length, begin at 9 a.m. and run consecutively. Call 542-6877 to schedule an individual appointment

ElderFit – Strong and Steady –Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m.-Noon - Gathering Place

Foot Care Clinic – Monday, December 6, 2-4 p.m. – FC Office - Gathering Place – Clinic is filled for December and January. You must make an appointment in advance for February 7 clinic – 542-6877
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I've begun working on the 2005 FHA directory, which will come out in late February or early March. A printed proof of the directory will be available in the FHA office from about January 10 until early February and residents are encouraged to stop by during office hours (weekdays 9:30 a.m. to noon) to check their listing for accuracy.

Organization heads should also check their information in the current directory and submit any changes. All corrections and new listings can be submitted by completing an information sheet at the FHA office, by leaving a note for me in the Directory mailbox at the Gathering Place kiosk, by sending an e-mail to: joannenmike@hotmail.com, or by calling me at the number below. Please feel free to call me with any questions or suggestions for improving the directory.

By the way, residents (and organization heads!!) should also check the directory on the FHA website to make sure that listing is correct. Changes to that directory should go to its editor, John Rimmler. Thanks for your assistance. Mike Cotter, Directory Editor (542-4414)
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Resident Input Chris Farnan remarked that the newly paved roads in Fearrington are great and she understands that Joe Hackney was instrumental in helping with this improvement. Chris also commented that she saw garage sales recently in Quail Run and wondered why these were allowed when the guidelines say this practice is inappropriate. Jerry Gaudet responded that Anne Bigelow had talked with the area covenants person who had assured her that this sale would operate as a tag sale. This understanding was not honored. The covenants and guidelines are printed in the Fearrington phone book; on page nine, under the guidelines, it states that garage or yard sales or auctions should not be held within the Village. Richard Bird added that the board will publish an article addressing this issue in the next newsletter. The board has discussed other options for residents who wish to sell their house goods. One option is a yearly FHA sponsored sale. Cynthia Jones discussed this with Mr. Fitch who is supportive and indicated that he would provide the Barn for the event. Each vendor would pay FHA a price to equal the cost of sale operations. Suggestions are welcome on this issue.

New FHA Board members and nominees. Jerry Gaudet announced that Maggie Frantz will fill the FHA Secretary position beginning in December and Edith Lange will replace Tom Hauck as the director of the Gathering Place. Tom will run for the position of President for ‘05. Jerry also introduced Drew Bratton, candidate for Vice-President and Bob Flower, candidate for Treasurer.

Treasurer’s Report Frank Chut reported that deficits continue. At the close of the year he plans to transfer seven to eight thousand dollars to reserves, less than expected due to improvements to the Gathering Place and mail kiosks this year. Use of the Gathering Place has increased this month, and increases in income are expected in December with incoming dues. It was moved that the Treasurer’s report be accepted, and the motion was carried.

Preliminary Budget Frank Chut announced that the budget for next year is to be approved in January by the new board, but the present board must adopt a provisional budget. Frank added that the bylaws state that dues can be increased each year by 5% by action of the board. Last year they were increased by 5%. He stated that whereas it has been generally agreed by the Board that a well-funded reserve account is necessary for the Fearrington Homeowner's Association to deal with long-range maintenance needs of the Association without the necessity of special assessments that could be financially traumatic to the members, and whereas the only feasible method under the Fearrington Homeowner's Charter and Bylaws to build such a fund and to meet increasing maintenance and repair costs is to make the modest increase allowed by the bylaws, he therefore moved that the Fearrington Board increase the annual homeowner's dues by 4.5% to $92.00 per year to meet expenses for 2005. The motion was carried.

Frank stated that with expenses and income projected for ’05; we have $60,000 in reserves which is not a lot considering the increases to the number of residents and homes, and increased use of the Gathering Place. As Treasurer, he recommends a reserve level of $100,000. Frank moved that the 2005 Provisional Budget of the Fearrington Homeowner's Association be adopted. The provisional budget must be approved by the FHA Board as constituted in January 2005. The motion was carried.

Committee Reports

Community Affairs – Cynthia Jones reported that she met with Jim Granger and Don George on the Smokehouse library. Usage appears to be high, but a new door is needed to keep out leaves and animals. Cynthia moved that the board approve an expenditure of up to $250 to purchase and install the door. The motion was carried.

Financial Officer – Richard Bird reported that he will be mailing letters in early December for FHA dues; automatic deductions are encouraged.

Gathering Place and FHA Office – Tom Hauck announced thirty-eight new residents and forty-eight clubs were present at the newcomers’ event today. He also reported that the FHA office is working well, commending Bert Crouchley on a great job of running the office. He added that office volunteers receive many phone calls seeking information and help.

Grounds and Facilities – Steve Bodner reported that the repaving of the roads was well done. Stripes will be painted next; however, not as many will be put on as before due to a new rule that the state only puts lines on roads that are more than one mile long. Thus, the question is does FHA want to pay for additional lines. He also raised the question as to whether the community wants a street light at the intersection of Village Way and 15/501. Steve said that he will try to find out the cost of extra lines for the roads and the street light so the community can better make a decision. Marilyn Band stated that reflective paint would help in the island at the intersection with 15/501. Steve said that he contacted the state and they will not add any more reflective material.

Janet Lorant, Secretary
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People are really increasing their speeding in our community, now that the newly paved roads make it easier to drive. Serious accidents are going to happen if it continues. While out walking her dog, one of our members was forced off the road, and broke her leg. The speeder was an inhabitant who did not care what the consequences of his actions were. He left the scene without stopping.

The board has had many activities this year in attempting to slow people down, all to no avail. We have one more option, and that is to have the police ticket speeders inside Fearrington. Please be aware of your speeding, and curtail it. Jerry Gaudet for FHA Board
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Many, perhaps most of us, chose to live in Fearrington for its serene county village setting. In purchasing property here we agreed to abide by covenants intended, in the spirit of such a community, to preserve the standards and qualities that attracted us to the Village. Among the covenants that endeavor to achieve these goals is a prohibition against the conduct of business at our residences. The intent of this restriction is to prevent activities that unreasonably disturb neighbors by attracting more traffic than neighborhood streets can reasonably handle, monopolizing limited parking spaces, and creating excessive noise or a visual marketplace. Businesses conducted in homes that have no impact on neighbors are tolerated; “out of sight, out of mind” has been a useful guideline in the past.

This brings us to the problem of yard sales, estate sales, garage sales, or tag sales. While anyone of these would normally be one-time events and are not an on-going business, they do attract traffic, and create a disturbance for neighbors on the day they occur. On the other hand, at one time or another many of us might find ourselves wishing to engage in such a sale, particularly prior to a move. The FHA has sought to find a way to permit residents to downsize their households. As a compromise FHA permits such sales when they occur entirely inside a residence, on a single day, and with adequate plans to handle traffic and parking and discouraging signs and display of items in driveways and yards. This rules out “yard sales” or “garage sales,” if the garage door is left open to attract buyers.

Finding a harmonious path between the conflicting interests of most of us most of the time and interests of many of us occasionally requires respect and tolerance for each other’s particular situations. When it comes to household sales this means a willingness of neighbors for a day to tolerate a small disturbance and for those holding the sales to minimize impact by complying with the requirements for such sales.

Recently, a group of households conducted a combined yard sale. While one can understand individual interests to maximize the potential for disposing of household items, such an event created an unwanted disruption and clearly went beyond the accepted standards for such sales. Items were set out in driveways and signs were put up with balloons attached. What was particularly disturbing, prior to the sale, a member of the local covenants committee spoke with two households and believed that they had agreed that the sale would be conducted entirely indoors. This was not to be the case.

In the interests of maintaining a harmonious and civil community a compromise must be reached when the needs of individuals and the interests of the neighborhood are in conflict. When it comes to sales of household property, the compromise that has been reached over time is to limit such sales to a single day by a single household, conducted entirely inside the residence and with proper provision for traffic and parking. The FHA urges each member to adopt and abide by these practices in order to preserve the features of the Village that attracted us.
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November 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Smokehouse Library, located in the Old Smokehouse next to the mail kiosk on Villageway. The library is available to all residents who wish to donate or borrow books.  Thanks to the faithful support of Co-chairmen Don George and Jim Granger, additional shelves have been added, lighting has been improved and repairs made to the foundation and the roof.  Don George will be installing a new door to keep leaves and small animals out of the building. 

Because of the popularity of the library and its limited space, we request that no textbooks, magazines or telephone directories be left in the library. There is a information sheet posted in the building for comments.

We welcome all suggestions, and we would like to hear any of your thoughts regarding the library.  -Cynthia Jones
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As the time nears for you to pay your annual Fearrington Homeowners Association dues, the FHA urges you to pay via the bank debit system. This is an easy payment method that assures a timely payment without having to remember to write and mail a check.

It is simple to sign-up. Just fill out the information form that your can download by clicking here, attach a voided check, and deliver or mail it to the FHA Office. The mailing address is 26 Fearrington Post. Alternatively, you may drop it off in the FHA Office any weekday morning when the office is open or drop it in the FHA box in the Swim and Croquet Kiosk. We must receive your request by December 31, 2004 in order to have it effective for your 2005 dues.

Your account will be debited for the 2005 annual dues on or after January 6, 2005. Once the FHA Board has approved the dues for 2005, you will be notified in mid-December of the exact amount for 2005.