The Orchard Residents Association
GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Can you think of anything more boring than reading TORA’s Constitution and By-laws. Well, me neither! But your TORA Board members have been reading and re-reading them for several months now as TORA works to revise and update this document.
You may not even realize that TORA has such a document, but it does. I don’t know when it was first adopted by TORA, but I do know that the last time it was updated was 2011.
According to the Constitution, amendments may be made at a special meeting of the general membership by 2/3 vote of those attending. And the proposed revision must be posted on the bulletin board for one month prior to the vote.
The 2025 revision was presented to the general membership at the July Thursday Night Social (and general meeting) and will be voted on during the August Thursday Night Social (and general meeting). It is currently available for review in the card room of the clubhouse, in a binder.
Are you enjoying your summer? We’ve had a lot of activities lately, including the Garden Walk, the Ice Cream Social, Music in the Orchard, and the Garage Sale.
I’m so often reminded how fortunate we are to live in this community, where you can attend an event with over 50 people attending, and know just about everybody.
It’s not unusual for seniors to suffer from loneliness, but here in the Orchard, friendships bloom. There’s something deeply nourishing about the friendships we carry or discover later in life. They are less about proving, more about being. As a senior, friendships become like well-worn quilts: layered with warmth, memory, and comfort.
All TORA members are invited to review the proposed changes and submit comments to the Board.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the Hot Dog BBQ coming up in September. There will be great food and great games. Plus, this year there will be a silent auction. You will be hearing more from Entertainment Chair Diane McDowell about contributing items for the auction. Happy Summer!
Elizabeth Anderson, TORA President
TORA Responsibilities
I. Executive Board
II. Committees
Make check payable to TORA and submit to Cindy Rhodes, space 42 (576 -1480).
1. Lori Bogdanski
4. B. J. Kuhn, Ken Misin, Gary Bagley
7. Charlene Varnadore, Carol Bastian
8. Joanne Hutchins
13. Michael McCormick, Sharon Rose
14. Lorraine Cheli, Marla Kaye
15. Gail Riggs
17. Lorie Melling, Alison Gould
19. Janus Matthes
20. Rita Runyan
21. Eileen Ioffredo
24. Kris Speer, Nancy De Lao, Diane Weaver
26. Janice Record
28. Jerry Ogle, Sandra Frary
29. Richard Koch
30. Barbara Deming
31. Don Vandergoot, Lisa Tiedeman-Lanz
5. Cathy & Kenneth Ford
8. Vera & Michael Smith
17. Kitty & Mike McCormick
23. Terry & George Collom
24. Phyllis & Phil Kesler
Please send any additions, deletions or corrections to TORAGrapevine@gmail.com.
4th Annual Hot Dog BBQ
Saturday, September 30, Noon
$9.00 for TORA members
$12.00 for non-members
Hot Dogs, Chile, Nachos, Chips and Ice Cream. Beverages: Water, Soda and Beer. Games will be available both inside and outside.
1401 Fulton Rd. in the Raley ’s Shopping Center
Tuesday, August 19, 11:30 AM
Reserve your seat on the sign-up sheet in the lobby of the clubhouse.
If you have questions, please contact Donna -Benner at 77-228-4558.
Thursday Night Social
Bring your favorite beverage, whether it’s a soft drink or wine, or something else. Coffee is available for free.
Bring a snack to share, whether it’s savory or sweet.
Get to know your friends and neighbors and find out what’s going on in the neighborhood.
The fun starts at 5 and lasts until everybody leaves. So come on over and join the fun.
During the official TORA general meeting at this event, a special election will be held to fill the TORA Secretary position.
Our friend and neighbor Camille Harris sent me an email from her bed in a rehab facility, where she is recovering from back surgery. I asked her if I could share it with all of you.
brings
tears when I think about how much I love the people in our community and the true friendships we have all found here. The Orchard is a magical place made so by all who are blessed to live here.”
If you would like to send a card to Camille, you can do so through her husband, Tom Stanley at 157 Cherry Blossom.
Get well soon, Camille. Bowling needs you. Tai Chi and QiGong need you. Journaling needs you. We all need you!
“I awaken on my side here in the rehab facility with my first view of the day. It’s the beautiful bouquet of flowers from our Orchard park manager, Pam Fulton. Once I can get onto my back, I pick up the little stack of get-well cards I keep on my tray table and slowly read each one of them. This all becomes a gratitude practice as I ponder my blessings living in the Orchard with so much caring . Having been in a business that required almost constant travel, I realize I had lots of colleagues and clients, but no real friends like I have found at the Orchard. For the first time in my lifetime I feel truly loved and cared for. I am so grateful for all the prayers given by my Orchard family. This realization of being cared for
Solution on page 12
Many thanks to the New Horizons Swing Band for bringing a free concert to the Orchard Lawn.
We all recognized and enjoyed many of the songs of a different era, while we picnicked and visited with friends.
Boo had fun!
The Ice Cream Social on June 28 was great fun. TORA sponsors this event each year following the membership drive to say Thank You to all our members. Through your membership dollars we are able to publish the annual Orchard Directory, and host events throughout the year. TORA.Board. members.Kevin. Tripp?.Patricia. Ferlito.and.Tom. Stanley.were.your. servers¡.Ice.cream. sundaes.and.root. beer.floats. abounded*
From the Civic Committee
By Kevin Tripp
The Civic Committee continues to meet regularly once a month.
We recently welcomed Beverly Wells to the committee. Committee members now include Kevin Tripp, chair, Gary Weber and Beverly Wells. The committee is still seeking a fourth member.
At its June meeting, the committee developed a six-month action plan. The plan includes attention to several internal business details which had been overlooked; attention to recommendations made in the assessment undertaken by the block captains and committee members last October and scheduling events for the Fall.
The main issues which the committee is now discussing is the development of an evacuation plan. The plan is being developed with the assistance of the Santa Rosa Fire Department and Orchard management. Details will be announced in August at the block captain’s meeting.
Mark your calendar:
• There will be a Block Captains Meeting on Tuesday, August 26, at 6:00 PM. Please make every effort to attend. The agenda will include new and important items.
• We anticipate an event to provide for education about and service of fire extinguishers in September. September is national Emergency Preparedness month and that event will be our observance.
• We are in the planning stages of a training session for pet emergency preparedness. It will be conducted by the Halter Project. We are trying to schedule it for some time in October.
The Orchard Residents Association has a private Facebook Page. If you live in the Orchard or care for someone in the Orchard or are a family member who does the Internet for a resident, then sign up at TORA The Orchard Residents Association. If you currently do not have a Facebook account, it is easy to sign up.
To create a Facebook account:
1. Go to www.facebook.com/r.php.
2. Enter your name, email or mobile phone number, password, date of birth and gender.
3. Click Sign Up.
4. To finish creating your account, you need to confirm your email or mobile phone number.
To join TORA’s group, click on the three lines on the bottom right of your screen (that’s the menu button) and then select Groups. You will see the magnifying (search) icon in the upper right of the screen. Search for TORA the orchards… and you will see it. Select it.
Because this is a closed group, you will be asked a security question. Once you answer it, the FB administrator will allow you to join.
When you join the TORA group you can see photos of events. Get updates on Orchard issues. Ask a question. Propose an idea. Make a comment. Upload your own photos. Or just enjoy the read.
Join the Conversation. Get Connected.
THE ORCHARD GAZETTE
www.HometownAmerica.com/TheOrchard TheOrchard@HometownAmerica.net
August is known for:
Birth Flowers—Gladiolas and Poppy Birthstone– Peridot
August is National Picnic Month
Birth signs– Leo and Virgo
August 3, National Watermelon Day
August Calendar
August 1st — Rent Due August 9—Grapevine Deadline
Dear Residents:
As the summer is coming to a close, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and happiness to the residents of The Orchard.
We have an exceptional group of people living in our community, they are friendly, caring, and positive! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that these qualities are so important as we age.
Science and our own experience is telling us that “attitude is everything”.
Once again, thank you for being you and making The Orchard a great place to work and live.
Sincerely,
Pam Fulton
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Quote of the Month
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine―and shadows will fall behind you.”
Walt Whitman
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
REMINDER: Please make sure to use the bags provided in the dog park for your pet waste. We have had reports of people not using the bags and leaving their pet’s waste. We are lucky to have the space for a dog park and the support of HTA for this, please keep it nice for everyone. Remember you must clean up after your pet wherever you take it in the community.
EZPay is a great way to pay rent each month. Through electronic funds transfer you can have your monthly rent and utilities taken out of your bank account automatically. This transfer happens on the 5th of each month and you will not have to worry about being late. Pick up a form in the office and we will get you set up!
GET MOVING! - In case you haven’t noticed, there are a number of classes here at The Orchard to help you get moving. There are Yoga classes each week, Aquacise Monday-Wednesday-Friday, and “gentle” exercise classes during the week. See the calendar for exact days and times. Come join the fun and feel better when you are done!
PG&E CARE PROGRAM Electric and Gas Discount program
If you have not applied for this discount program because you could not meet the income guidelines; PG&E has raised the gross household limit to $42,300 per 1-2 person household or $53,300 for a 3 person household. Applications are available in the Community Office.
THE ORCHARD
SWIMMING POOL AND SPA RULES
● Guests are not permitted to use the swimming pool or spa unless accompanied by a resident.
● Limit 2 guests per home site. Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guests.
● Children’s hours are from Noon to 2:00p.m.
● Diapers are not permitted at any time in the pool or spa area.
● All persons must shower before using the pool or spa (required by the State Health Department).
● Swim fins, diving masks, rubber floats, and the like are not permitted to be used while others are using the pool or spa.
● Jeans, cutoffs, “homemade” swim wear or street clothes of any sort are not permitted in the pool or spa.
● Swimsuits MUST be worn while in the pool or spa area.
● Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the pool or spa area.
● Glass containers of any kind are not permitted in the pool or spa area.
● Food and beverages are not allowed in pool or spa area.
● Smoking in the pool and spa areas is prohibited. Designated smoking areas are provided outside the building.
●For protection of deck furniture, please place towels over chairs when using suntan oil, creams or lotions.
● Hairpins, clips and other such items are not allowed in the pool or spa.
● Shoes or sandals must be worn to and from pool or spa area at all times.
● You may not enter Clubhouse in wet suits, swimsuits must be covered and shoes worn in all community buildings.
● No skateboards or bicycles are permitted in the pool or spa areas, even if not in use.
● No diving, running, horseplay, or rough-housing us permitted in the pool or spa area.
● Radios, CD players, boom boxes and other such entertainment devices are not permitted in the pool or spa area, unless used with an earphone.
● Vulgar language, excessive yelling, and/or screaming or inappropriate behavior of any kind are strictly prohibited and will be cause for ejection from the pool or spa area.
● The pool gate must remain closed at all times.
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