THE COLUMNS Vol. 25 No. 8
941-349-0194
Resident Appreciation Weekend
The annual Resident Appreciation Weekend for 2015 will be on Friday and Saturday, February 27th and 28th. It has been announced at the April Homeowners Meeting that the theme for the parade would be “Outer Space” and the Grand Marshal would be chosen in the fall. Several groups jointly submitted a written request to the steering committee for a theme change and suggested a couple of possibilities. Their request was granted. The new theme for the 2015 parade will be “Fairy Tales”. The fun-filled weekend is made possible by all the caring volunteers within our community and the generosity of Hometown America. It takes an army of volunteers who give much of their time and energy to make it all happen. Hometown continues a tradition started by others many years ago by financing the entire weekend. They are all to be commended for everything they do, though it often goes unappreciated. For those of you who have not yet experienced Appreciation Weekend, the festivities begin Friday morning at 8:00 AM with free coffee and bakery items in the Clubhouse. At 9:00 AM anyone who wants to participate in the golf cart/bicycle poker run will gather at the Craft Building to receive the “clues”.w Activities on both Friday and Saturday are between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. A variety of games involving most of the amenities at Tara Woods are played, although not in the usual way! Between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM a free lunch is served on the Verandah -- usually hot dogs, chips and a soda or water. At 2:30 PM there is free BINGO for everyone -- with many $5.00 prizes. A big part of the weekend’s fun is collecting tickets for chances to win prizes every time you participate in an amenities game (or for each hour you work during the weekend). You might even be a daily winner of any of the games for your gender! Friday’s final activity, around 3:30 PM, is for partners who want to enter the egg toss, immediately followed by the water balloon toss. Saturday morning’s parade around the lake at 10:00 AM is a showcase of creativity by the groups and individuals displaying decorated golf carts, costumes and other “Fairy Tale” themed ideas. A Grand Marshal will lead the
Tara Woods Homeowners Association – www.twha.us
| ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.twha.us parade. Six substantial money prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd – one each for the best groups and for the best individuals. The winners are chosen by judges from outside the park. There are also other marching units that complete the parade. The weekend festivities conclude Saturday night at 7:00 PM with a dance and awards ceremony. Prizes for the parade and game winners are awarded. Then there are random drawings for prizes from all the tickets given for those who participate and volunteer. The activities for the weekend have been the same for many years and some feel it is time for a change. Others like the agenda the way it is. The steering committee is open to any comments and suggestions, including nominations for parade themes, grand marshals, committee members and changes in the activities. However, any changes you want to make to the games should include your new replacement game plan. All comments and suggestions will be discussed and considered at the committee meetings. A list of members will be posted on the bulletin board. Whether this is your first Appreciation Weekend or your fifteenth, everyone can get involved to help make the weekend fun. How much fun you allow yourself to have is entirely up to you !! ~Polly Brown
(Pictures from Ginny Owenburg & Pat Sparany)
The new theme for the 2015 parade will be “Fairy Tales”!!
(See more photos on back page)
October 2014