December 2021 Lefe Life : simplebooklet.com

Jen Milne | MPOA General Manager / COO2COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT Lefe Life | December 2021Happy Holidays Waterlefe!The River Club’s halls are decked with holly, ‘tis the season to be jolly. Despite our struggles, we have a full month of celebratory activities for one and all. We appreciate everyone’s team spirit and helpful suggestions and have incorporated many into our current service strategy. See Dan’s article on page 17 for all the details. I am so happy to see Name That Tune, aren’t you?I am very pleased to announce the promotion of Hunter Dennis to Communica-tions Manager. Hunter joined us a little over a year ago and has certainly put his stamp on the look and feel of all MPOA communications and print material. This Lefe Life is a shining example of his contribution to the community. Please join me in congratulating Hunter for a job well done.Features not to be missed include a delicious recipe from Chef Tod, the Art Show Exhibiters recap and the In the Spotlight couple, Julie and Dick Griffin. Timely in-formation regarding your River Club minimum is on page 20 and our MPOA Trea-surer’s 2022 Assessment Letter is on pages 10-11. The MPOA Annual Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022, right here in your River Club, we hope to see you there. You should have received your official meeting notice by mail by now, if not, please contact the Association Manage-ment Office and we will provide copies.We hope you enjoy the entire publication and wish one and all a very merry Holiday season.

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Community Management3COMMUNITY MANAGEMENTSteve Dietz | CDD General ManagerThe holiday season is among us! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is ready for a fun-filled race to the New Year. The Golf Club has many events in December beginning with the start of the WMGA two-man match play tourna-ment and the Niner’s Luncheon and shotgun. The WWGA will hold their Winter Wonderlefe tournament the following week where toys will be collected and do-nated to the children at Our Daily Bread of Bradenton. Rounding off the events is the annual Golf Shop Holiday Sale and the WMGA Ryder Cup tournament.Whether you have an activity packed holiday season or you get the opportunity to relax, I hope you get the opportunity to enjoy it!Wishing everyone and safe and happy holiday season!

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MPOA Updates5FINANCE REPORTBob Davis | Comptroller/CFOThe 2022 Budget approval process is now in the rear-view mirror, and assess-ments for the MPOA, Villas, and all condo associations have been set for next year. You should have received your 1st quarter 2022 invoices via email for the MPOA and Villas on December 1st. Coupon books for The Watch and Watch II will be delivered by Truist via regular mail during the month of December to be used in 2022. Inflation pressures have affected everyone, and association management has not been able to escape these price increases. Insurance, utilities, and landscape costs are the largest increases to most of the budgets. The boards for the MPOA and all sub-associations have done everything in their power to keep the costs down for 2022 while still maintaining the quality of service that the community is accustomed. If you are interested in our monthly reviews for the MPOA, you are more than wel-come to attend the Finance Committee meeting which is held the third Tuesday of each month at 10AM in the River Club. If you have any specific questions on the budget or financials, you can contact Bob Davis at (941) 747-6898 ext. 3 or via email at bdavis@waterlefefl.com

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Jackie Hannan, LCAM | Community ManagerCAM REPORT6 Lefe Life | December 2021From the inception of Waterlefe, “Property Management” has been the common term used to refer to the person/office that provides management services to the community and its many sub associations. Over the last 20 years, this oc-cupation, and the required licensing under which it is performed has expanded tremendously. So much so that a Property Manager and Community Association Manager are two very different roles. To clarify roles and responsibilities, please allow us to reintroduce you to Waterlefe Master Property Owners’ Association Management. What is the Difference?Property Managers are typically hired by individuals to manage their private resi-dence, typically while they are away or to provide management of rental proper-ty. If you own multiple properties, I am sure you are familiar with property man-agement services.Community Association Managers are licensed to manage the affairs of an asso-ciation and are hired by the Board of Directors to provide: - Compliance Enforcement – design review administration, ensures compliance with Governing Documents and adherence to all local, state and federal stat-utes, facilitates covenant enforcement - Business Services- vendor contract management, investing reserve funds wise-ly, developing long range plans and equitably and efficiently collecting assess-ments - Resident Services- New member on-boarding, community communications, meeting management, etc.It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as your licensed Community Association Manager. Would you like to read more about our team’s services? You may read all about it on our website https://waterlefemembers.com/Property_Man-agement_(1)

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MPOA Updates7MPOA BOARD MEETINGNOVEMBER SUMMARYThe MPOA Board of Directors Meeting was held on Wednesday, November 17th at 2 PM. The Directors, Management Staff, and a group of homeowners met in person, while the remainder of the community were welcomed via our Live Stream platform on YouTube.Your MPOA Board of Directors encourages you to participate in the monthly meetings. In-person attendance is now open; seat reservations are not required. Live Stream participation is available to all, no matter your location. The link is included in the email meeting reminders each month. If you are unable to attend by either means, you are always welcome to submit a homeowner comment in advance by emailing mpoa@waterlefefl.comMotions - The Board approved the motion to direct the MPOA Comptroller and Attorney to proceed with foreclosure proceedings on unit ID 0063016 in order to collect past dues and current assessments. Motion passed 4-0 - The Board approved the 2022 Waterlefe MPOA budget as it is written for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Motion passed 4-0 - The Board approved $3,300 funded from reserves to Karins Engineering for pool deck assessment. Motion passed 4-0. - The Board approved the MPOA Board enter into an agreement with Laura Har-to Consulting for the recruitment of the General Manager position NTE $12,150. Motion passed 4-0. Design Review There are 16 approved applications for residential change pending completion. Sub-Associations UpdateThe Shores: - 2022 Budget has been Approved - New landscape vendor Bayside Outdoor Landscaping - Annual Meeting scheduled for February 1, 2022The Sound- - Board Budget Meeting November 24, 2021, at 10 AM in the RIver Club - Annual Meeting is being scheduled, Date TBD.The Watch- - 2022 Budget has been Approved - Annual Meeting is being scheduled. Date TBD.The Watch II- - 2022 Budget has been Approved - Annual Meeting scheduled for January 17, 2022 - Landscaping walk with vendor scheduled November 18th

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8 Lefe Life | December 2021MPOA BOARD MEETINGNOVEMBER SUMMARY CONTINUED...As a reminder, the rules for Member participation during the meetings are as follows:1. Each Member on the list who wishes to speak on an agenda item* must be recognized by the Chair. Once recognized, the Member shall state his/her name and address.2. Each Member addressing the Board will be given a reasonable time to speak (no longer than 3 minutes); provided the Chair may impose reasonable time limits to facilitate Member participation.3. After other Members have had an opportunity to speak, then a Member who has already spoken may be given another opportunity, time permitting.4. All comments must be delivered in a businesslike and professional manner. Personal attacks or inflammatory comments will not be permitted.5. The Board is not obligated to take immediate action on any item presented by a Member. Following the conclusion of the homeowners statements, the Board will proceed with the business portion of the meeting. Members who attend or remain may not participate in deliberation or discussion during this portion of the Board meeting.* Member statements regarding not agenda issues may be addressed at the conclusion of Board business, if time permits.Official Resources: - Policy #19-19 Board Meeting Conduct - FL State Statute 720.303 (2)(b)

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COMMITTEE UPDATESMPOA Updates9Below are the updates for the Waterlefe MPOA committees that were shared at the November Board of Directors meeting.DRB: DRB would like to introduce Brava Roof Tiles to the community. The Brava Roof Tile rep will be giving a presentation at the December 15, 2021, MPOA meet-ing. The DRB is close to finalizing new paint scheme options for the community. The DRB is hard at work on introducing some additional color schemes and addi-tional door & shutter colors. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. - Michaela Valletta, DRB ChairwomanActivities Committee: Liaison Jeff Brand informed that events calendar for the entire season is full. The Activities Committee has been hard at work to make this season fun and successful. Community support is appreciated.Capital Projects: Bob Griswold recommended meeting as ad-hoc moving for-ward. Covenant Team: The Covenant Team hosted a Town Hall Meeting on December 6th to discuss the upcoming Amendment 18 vote. Another opportunity to learn how to make your vote count occurs on Thursday, 1/6 at a 10am Coffee Talk. The One change being made by this amendment is the elimination of non-cast votes counting a no-votes.Finance Committee: Liaison John Valletta provided updates that the Finance committee meeting was held on November 15th. The 2022 budget requires the River Club to be opened 5 days a week; this requires support of the community. The Finance Committee has made the recommendation to the MPOA board sup-porting an increase of the annual minimum spending requirement to $750 in the future. No Board action has been taken.River Club Committee: Chair/Liaison Jeff Brand reminded the community that the robust budget for 2022 does not allow for any River Club downtime. Projects such as painting, and carpet changes can be worked around.Strategic Planning: Liaison Jodi Carroll reported the Strategic Planning Commit-tee did not meet in November. They will meet in December to finalize the 2021 strategic plan recommendations.MPOA BOARD MEETING

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10 Lefe Life | December 20212022 ASSESSMENT LETTERDear Waterlefe Homeowner:The MPOA Board of Directors is pleased to share the budget and assessment information for 2022. 2021 has continued to present unprecedented challenges as COVID-19 variants, supply chain issues and staffing challenges kept our MPOA management team constantly adjusting to unanticipated changes. They managed these challenges exceptionally well and 2022 promises not only a return to our more traditional amenities and services, but an increase in River Club availability as well.Effective January 1, 2022 the MPOA assessment will increase to $739 per quar-ter/$2956 annually, an increase of 7.6%, or $52 per quarter.Our quarterly dues fund expenditures to support the MPOA, which includes the River Club and Association Management operations grouped into three major categories: - Cost of Sales (food, liquor, beer, wine) - Payroll Expenses (salaries, payroll tax, workers comp, insurance benefits) - Operating Expenses (equipment rental and lease, supplies, decorations, equip-ment, utilities, music, events and entertainment, postage, legal fees, audit fees, landscape/building & equipment repair & maintenance, mailboxes, insurance, Spectrum cable and internet, etc.)2022 Budget ReviewCost of Sales is $344,409. This represents a 42% food and beverage cost, a 3% margin increase over 2021. This is due to anticipated cost increases stemming from inflation driven by supply chain issues and other factors. It is still well within the industry standard of 45.8% for club food and beverage operations*.Recall that the 2021 budget plan featured reduced costs for goods and payroll to reflect reduced hours of operations in the River Club. The 2022 plan accom-modates a 5 day/12 month River Club schedule that has been requested by homeowners. River Club operations will depend upon consistent community en-gagement and participation in order to successfully perform to plan, particularly in the summer months. Payroll Expenses in the MPOA budget total $1,267,397. This is an increase of $152,621 over 2021. This year’s increase restores required staffing levels and ad-dresses associated payroll expense increases. (2021 payroll was reduced by $105,605 in conjunction with reduced River Club hours of operation) 2022 payroll expenses represent 43.2% of total revenue. Industry standard for club payroll is 51.5%*

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11MPOA UpdatesOperating Expenses total $1,559,072. This is an increase of $123,512 over 2021 - $34,000 of the operating expense increase is for the contractual 5% yearly increase of the bulk cable Spectrum contract. Since 2018, we have enjoyed significant savings (average $687/year/home) in personal cable/internet bills due to the MPOA bulk contract. The bundled contract includes internet at no cost. There are two years remaining on the five year contract. - $20,000 is an increase in Software/Computer Support driven by deferred hardware upgrades and meeting live stream support. - $15,000 is an increase in Reserve Contribution. Our most recent reserve study recommend a healthier annual contribution of $150,000. 2021 was $135,000 - The remaining $54,512 increase is facility R&M (Repairs and Maintenance), insurance and other required operating expenses.Your MPOA Board takes its fiduciary responsibility very seriously. Rest assured, every line item has been scrutinized and expenses were carefully planned to sup-port the anticipated needs in 2022. You are encouraged to review the budget HERE. Through their careful and prudent expense planning our managers were able to keep the planned assessment increase to 7.6% despite the current eco-nomic challenges and uncertainty we all face. On behalf of the entire MPOA Board of Directors, thank you for your support of the River Club’s activities, amenities and staff, who are committed to providing an exceptional experience for us every time we utilize the facilities. They look for-ward to a continued partnership with all association members.Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or MPOA COO and General Manager Jen Milne at jmilne@waterlefefl.com. John VallettaMPOA TreasurerMPOATreasurer@Waterlefefl.com*Florida Trends in Private Clubs 2021 RSM Club Services Study

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12 Lefe Life | December 2021E-VOTE REGISTRATIONThe Waterlefe Master Property Owners’ Association has transitioned to using the Becker online voting system and will be utilizing this system for the 2022 Annual Association Meeting. This system expands homeowners’ voting options from the traditional in-person and proxy options to now include e-voting.Prior to conducting the official community vote, all homeowners need to register with the Becker Ballot online system if they intend to use the e-voting system. Please follow the instructions below to properly register with Becker in anticipa-tion of the upcoming association vote.PLEASE NOTE: Not all homeowners will receive the BeckerBALLOT registration email. Only the voting certificate holder for each property will receive the Becker registration email. This ensures that each household is only allowed one vote for their property.Step #1:Before receiving any emails from BeckerBALLOT, we recommend adding con-tact@beckerballot.app to your contact list/address book to ensure that emails from the system go to your inbox rather than your SPAM folder.Step #2:Homeowners will receive an email from “BeckerBALLOT Contact” with a link to create an account for the Becker Ballot online vote system.Step #3:Click the link in the email to go to the Becker Ballot website.Step #4:Enter your email address that is registered with the Waterlefe MPOA (the email you received this communication to) and create a unique password for the Beck-er Ballot online voting system. Please Note: You will need to use this email and password each time you log into the Becker Ballot online voting system, so it is recommended that the password is something easily remembered. Becker uses industry-standard encryption (SSL) for the Waterlefe site and doc-uments. Your data is secure and they never share your information. In addition, Waterlefe has its own database so no information is in a shared database on their application – each association’s vote is completely separated from each other.Each member is assigned a unique account and you must create your own pass-word. All passwords are encrypted within the application and Becker does not keep records of passwords. Members must create their own passwords and if forgotten, reset using specific credentials to avoid any potential issues.

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13MPOA UpdatesAMENDING COVENANTS- The process to amend the Declaration of Covenants is meant to remove language originally put in place to protect the builder.- To make any significant positive changes in the community, we must change the way in which non-votes are counted.- The MPOA averages 350+ voters per annual meeting (well over the quorum of 30% or 186 homeowners) but we must count any non-votes as automatic “NO” votes.- Last election over 55% of the community voted yes for Amendment 18 but 43% of the community (269 homes) did not vote and had to automatically be count- ed as “NO” votes.- This large number of homes abstaining from voting caused the amendment to failTHIS CHANGE BY THE NUMBERSUnder the Current Covenant Amendment Voting Requirements617 – Residences412 – 2/3 of Residences Must Vote ‘Yes’ to Have Any Change Approved (2/3 of 617)2021 (last year) Voting Details under Existing/Current Covenant Amendment617 - Residences (100%)348 – Total Votes Cast (56.4%)336 – Yes Votes (54.5%)12 – No Votes (1.9%)269 – Did Not Vote/No Votes (43.5%)2021 Scenario Under Proposed Covenant Amendment Change348 – Total Votes Cast (56.4% of Residences, 30% required per bylaws)336 – Yes Votes Cast (96.5% of Total Votes Cast)12 – No Votes Cast (3.44% of Total Votes Cast)269 – Did Not Vote (No Longer Counted as No Votes)Keep in mind this proposed change will require voting under existing require-ments which means 412 residences must vote YES by January 25, 2022.617269 Non-Cast No Votes12 Cast No Votes336 YES Votes281 NO Votes

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14 Lefe Life | December 2021ANNUAL MEETINGOur Annual Meeting will be at our very own River Club this year. On Tuesday, January 25th, 2022, at 6 pm, the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held for the purpose of electing directors and such other business. The MPOA has three of its five Board Member position open for re-election (Jodi Carroll, Jeff Brand, and Dyana Young). Each position carries a two-year term. MPOA Meetings occur on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 2 pm. If you have any questions about Board responsibilities, please contact General Manager, Jen Milne at jmilne@waterlefefl.com or via phone at (941) 747-6898.The official meeting notice and the Notice of Intent to be a Candidate form were mailed by USPS on November 26th to the address the Association has on file. All Candidate forms must be turned into the Association Office not later that Tues-day, December 14th, 2021 at 3pm.

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15MPOA UpdatesStarting December 15th Waterlefe homeowners will begin receiving letters from Manatee County Utilities Department (MCUD) notifying them the required annual inspection, testing and certification of their backflows is due. These letters are sent out each year at the same time and no action is required as the inspection is already scheduled. The MPOA has contracted with Accurate Backflow to provide this service in Wa-terlefe. Accurate Backflow will begin testing in Waterlefe in January and will con-tinue into the spring. The cost of the inspection and certification is included in your MPOA assessment. The vast majority of backflows pass inspection. It is only if they fail that owner action is required. The backflow must be repaired and re-certified to MCUD within the County time constraints. This can be done by Ac-curate Backflow as they provide a discounted rate to Waterlefe owners, or by a licensed plumber of your choice. The licensed plumber must then contact MCUD about the repair and re-certification. Any repair is an owner expense.Please be sure that there is sufficient clearance around both backflows to allow for this inspection. The County requires three feet around the backflows. If they can’t safely and easily access the backflows, they are reported as failed. The cost for a second visit is an owner expense. If you receive a notice stating that your inspection wasn’t done in a timely man-ner, please contact Association Management at 941-747-6898 to provide your name and property address. ANNUAL BACKFLOW TESTING

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17 River ClubDan Adkins | River Club ManagerRIVER CLUB UPDATEGreetings from the River Club!As many of you know, the River Club and the hospitality industry as a whole are suffering from many challenges, one of the biggest being staff shortages. Our relationship with staffing has been complicated over the course of the pandemic, altering our methods from the relative ease we experienced with hiring in the past to a new obstacle course to recruit new hires.In the past we placed a free ad online for all available positions and procured most staff members from these postings or from employee referrals. Full-time employ-ees were offered full medical, dental, and vision benefits along with PTO and paid holidays after 90 days employment. No additional incentives were included. Please note, while each year we do have (mostly part time) employees come and go, they were usually replaced within a few weeks. There was always someone to answer the ad and take the open position.This year we began the hiring process early, intending to get a jump on the mar-ket. In July 2021 we began with our usual call to arms. As time moved without many hits, we utilized a paid version in hopes of increased traffic. We added paid hiring tools with still little to nothing coming in. We reached out to colleagues, friends, and social media, asking if anyone was interested, even reaching out to temp agencies looking for help, all with little to no results. We reexamined our compensation and benefits to ensure that we remain a com-petitive employer. Now we offer a signing bonus after 90 days. Full time employ-ees also receive a quarterly retention bonus. All employees are eligible for refer-ral bonuses and are earning a competitive wage. The sad fact is that many in the industry have decided to move on to do other things for a living. Will they return? I am hopeful, but only time will tell. We are continuing to use all available options to bring in additional staff needed to give our membership the level of service and menu options they are accustomed to, but it is a very & frustrating process. We have made tough operational decisions to deliver good service and menu options we can properly facilitate. While I un-derstand they are not ideal, we continue to appreciate your kindness while we continue to do our best.If you have been to the club lately you see how hard each of our staff members are working for our community. The team is working long, difficult hours, day in and day out. Everyone is stepping up repeatedly to get us through this, and I can’t begin to tell you how very proud I am of them. I encourage you to give our hardworking staff a thank you when you are at the club for the amazing work, they are putting forth every day. I know we will get through this tough time just as our country and the world will

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19 River ClubSIGNATURE RECIPEExecutive Chef Tod Hess has graciously provided our members with a copy of one of the popular items from last month’s Girls Night Out event: Creamy Shrimp Scampi Dip!Creamy Shrimp Scampi DipIngredients: - 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature - 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese - 1 cup sour cream - Half cup mayonnaise - Half cup grated Parmesan cheese - 4 tablespoons plain dried breadcrumbs - Kosher salt - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter plus 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter - 1 pound large peeled and de-veined shrimp, tails discarded, cut into quarter inch pieces - 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced - Large pinch crushed red pepper flakes - Half cup dry white wine - Half cup fresh chopped parsley - 1 teaspoon lemon zest - Slices of crusty bread or crackers, for servingDirections:1. Position oven rack in top position, and preheat oven to 375 degrees2. Beat cream cheese, mozzarella, sour cream, mayonnaise, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and a half of a teaspoon salt in a large bowl with electric mixer on me-dium high until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to add shrimp.3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add shrimp, garlic, a quarter of a teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes, and cook, until the shrimp just start to turn pink and are cooked through, about 2 minutes (there will be some liquid left in the skillet). Remove the skillet from the heat, and let shrimp cool completely.4. Meanwhile, mix the parsley, remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon melted butter, lemon zest, and pinch of salt in a small bowl.5. Stir the shrimp, pan sauce and cream cheese mixture together to combine; transfer to a 2-quart flameproof baking dish. (The dip and breadcrumb mixture can be cov-ered and refrigerated overnight separately at this point). Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the dip, and bake until hot and bubbly, 15-20 minutes. Switch the oven to broil, and cook until the top is golden brown, 1-3 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before serving. Serve hot with crusty bread or crackers.

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20 Lefe Life | December 2021RIVER CLUB ANNUAL MINIMUMThe 2021 Annual River Club Minimum Cycle ends December 31, 2021. The annual minimum to spend at the River Club for every household in Waterlefe is $500. To view this policy, Click Here. Homeowners have until December 31, 2021 to fulfill any unsatisfied minimums. All food and beverage purchases made at the River Club - including dining room, bistro, tiki bar, take-out, catering, and special/private events - will apply towards the minimum. This year, we have added beautifully packaged steak dinner boxes to our last-minute catering menu in addition to the option of purchasing bottles of wine to meet the minimum. Get a complete ready to cook steak dinner for 2, or order more for the whole family to enjoy!Your balance towards the minimum appears on your statement (now found on the website) or you may contact Bob Davis at bdavis@waterlefefl.com 941-747-6898 with any questions.

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21 River ClubCOOK-IT-YOURSELFDINNER FOR TWO A great way to spend your remaining minimum with all the ingredients to make a wonderful dinner for two. Get your dinner with or without a bottle of wine. Want to cook for a larger group? Mix and match as many dinners as you would like to create your perfect dinner party with ingredients right from your club. Please Note: This opportunity is offered in addition to the normal end of year wine sales to meet River Club minimumSteak Dinner2 - 8 oz. Filets2 Baked PotatoesFresh AsparagusA1 Steak SauceFrench Baguette w/ Sundried Tomato Butter(1) Bottle of Wente Cabernet$80.00 for dinner without dis-count (Dinner Only)$120.00 for dinner with bottle of wine without discount$74.00 for dinner after discounts (Dinner Only)$108.00 for dinner with bottle of wine after discountsShrimp & Salmon Dinner6 - Large Shrimp w/ Garlic Butter2 - 8 oz. Salmon FiletsBasmati Rice PilafAsparagusFrench Baguette w/ Sundried Tomato Butter(1) Bottle of Kendal Jackson VR$60.00 for dinner without dis-count (Dinner Only)$95.00 for dinner with bottle of wine without discount$54.00 for dinner after discounts (Dinner Only)$83.75 for dinner with bottle of wine after discounts

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22 Lefe Life | December 2021ART SHOW & SALEThe 15th Annual Waterlefe Artists Guild (WAG) Art Show/Sale was held Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the River Club, with 28 talented resident artists exhibiting their diverse work. There were many firsts at the show this year. Glass fusion, hooked rugs, mosaics, digital art, Christmas wreaths, quilts, and book signings were added to the mix of paintings, jewelry, ceramics/raku fired, photography and more.Regi Rohrer demonstrated rug hooking Lynn Fisher displays her quiltsVicki Joshpe with her mosaic creationsMelinda Creel exhibits her wreathsSally Lindberg presents glass fusionOver 350 attendees agreed this was the best show ever!

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25 River ClubTHANKS. WAG thanks our sponsors and donors again, with a special thanks to The River Club and its staff, who continually go out of their way to support the Guild and make this day a day to remember! And, of course, we thank all who attended this event and who continue to support our efforts.SponsorsArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & DesignSteve Slocum & 941 Team Coldwell Banker RealtyPlatinum DonorsArts A BlazeCulver’sThe Gauthier’sMichael John’s RestaurantOffice DepotPet ParadiseSarasota OperaSkyline ChiliTop to Bottom Cleaning & Home Watch ServiceWaterlefe Golf ClubWaterlefe River Club RestaurantGold DonorsFantasy Flowers – LWRManhattan LiquorsNY Hair CompanyRichard Keith & Meredith Keith-ChirchThe Fish Hole Miniature GolfTroo Organic Hair & Wellness StudioSilver DonorsAtria Bread & CoffeeEd’s TavernFreddy’s Frozen Custard – SR 70Phyllis & Marty SchulerSkilletsWicked Awesome Ice Cream Together, we Make a Difference and Keep Art Alivein our local schools and in our community.ART SHOW & SALE

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26 Lefe Life | December 2021Bonnie Schar wins opera tickets Lucy Power wins Wine Country Basket with wreathPaul & Darlene Gauthier win River Club brunch certificateMichaela Valletta wins door prizeRegi Rohrer wins door prizeSandi Bracken wins Italian basketART SHOW DINNERDINNER & RAFFLE: Our day-long event transformed from an inspirational artistic journey during the day to a completely sold out dinner affair in the evening. Fun was had by all as raffle item winners were announced and an additional 24 impressive door prizes were awarded. DONATION: WAG exceeded its goal with an epic 48 raffle items and, as in years past, the pro-ceeds are donated specifically to the Visual Arts Programs at Freedom Elementary and Haile Middle Schools. After the show, our sponsor, Steve Slocum, and other Guild members came forward with additional funds to increase this year’s total donation to $5,000. This showcases WAG’s commitment to Keep Art Alive! Each school received $2,500, an all-time record high. The checks were presented to the teachers on November 30, 2021.

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19 River ClubThe Grand Return of The Literary Society of Waterlefe Annual Luncheon Saturday, February 5, 2022LSW is proud to welcome award-winning journalist and author Craig Pittman, chronicler of characters and history from our Sun-shine State that help define Florida’s marvelous, weird and winsome character. Through fascinating stories told with wit and respect, Pittman offers us insights to such varied subjects as Florida’s crime fiction authors, fated panthers, the professional mermaid industry, the battle between a nudist colony and the U.S. postal service and a host of tales incredibly beyond our imaginations. Recommended are his two most recent books: Returning also are our fabulous auction, deliciously themed lunch and welcoming mimosas! As always, profits aid BACKPACKS FOR LITERACY program at Freedom Elementary.Seating is limited to 100 guests. Reservations open January 5th. Come join us to celebrate being together again, the joy of living in the most colorful state in the union and the support of literacy for our children!LSW Luncheon registration begins January 5.27 River Club

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38 Lefe Life | December 2021CDD COMMITTEE UPDATESLandscape Committee: The red and green annuals and lights have been installed in the community for the upcoming holidays. You may have also noticed the Mossy Branch Gate project has been completed. The work included the addition of a monument identifying the gate as a Waterlefe resident only access, new plant material, irrigation enhancements and the addition of landscape lighting. The proj-ect was also able to utilize a $7,877.48 grant from Manatee County to help pay for the bulk of this project. As demonstrated by the before and after photos, this project adds curb appeal and beauty to the Mossy Branch Entrance! Up next on the project list for the Landscape Committee is to complete work at the SE Corner of the front entrance. They have installed 4 magnolia trees behind the sign and balustrade and plan to next install some plants on the front side to hide the black gate and make for a more beautiful view when driving up UMRR.BEFORE AFTER

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CDD & Golf Club Updates39Safety Committee: The Safety Committee has begun collecting data again within the community to see how often there are cars speeding. This data collection will be taken at different times of the day and on different roads to get a full analysis of the community. The Safety Committee also had the yield sign at the round-about moved up to help with driver visibility when entering the roundabout. With the upcoming holidays and many residents having visitors the safety committee hopes to remind everyone to be cautious of the natural wildlife when out in the community. Golf Committee: The firepit at the new outdoor patio is now working and ready for residents and members to sit by the fire and enjoy the cooler weather. Fans will be installed soon to help with the bugs and additional lighting may be added. Dining furniture has been pushed back again to December but the Golf Club is excited to begin dining outside soon. The Grille Room has also recently updated their menu so make sure to stop by or order take out for lunch!Capital Planning Committee: The Capital Planning Committee had an onsite meet-ing with Manatee County Environmental Department and is very hopeful that the current plans will be approved. The committee is now working to finalize the site plan and submit it to the County. The committee has also made headway on the interior design group and has decided to go with A Design Concepts. The next step for the committee is to begin meeting with contractors to get an estimate of what the cost of renovations may be.

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40 Lefe Life | December 2021LIGHTNING RODSFollowing a decision of the Design Review Board (DRB), the Safety Committee is in agreement that homeowners can install lightning rods as a safety precaution as long as they follow the standard DRB process and use a properly licensed vendor for the installation. The DRB has added language to the Waterlefe Design Review Board’s Architectural Requirements and Standards for Residential Change specif-ically for lighting rods which state: 1. Lightning rods may be installed and shall be done in a manner that is least ob-trusive and uses the minimum number to accomplish the desired purpose. DRB application approval is required. 2. Lightning rods shall not be allowed to fall into disrepair. Any lighting rods need-ing repair or replacement shall be repaired or replaced immediately or com-pletely removed.

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42IN THE SPOTLIGHTFEATURING JULIE & DICK GRIFFINWRITTEN BY: JACK RITCHIE Lefe Life | December 2021Richard (Dick) Griffin was raised in Cloquet, MN near Duluth, at Lake Superior. Clo-quet is considered to be a hardworking, blue collar town, better known for having the only gas station ever designed by Frank Lloyd Wright!Julie Keys Griffin was raised in Port Huron, MI on Lake Huron. The area is better known for hosting the longest fresh water sail boat race in the world. That Mackinaw Race was founded here in 1915.Most of Julie’s and Dick’s early years were spent in the vibrant city of Naperville, IL, a suburb just west of Chicago. This is where they raised two boys and a girl, two of whom currently live in California.This is also where Julie had a vision to organize and manage high school youth ministries. She spent 22 years with a wonderful team of Christians. Together, they built a pro-gram of youth fellowship, spiritual retreats and mission work camps. They also work with Habitat for Humanity, United Way and when in rural areas, their chari-table efforts are directed towards the Mississippi river when flooded. After a few years, Julie realized their college youth needed mission attention so she started a work camp in Tijuana Mexico working with Amor ministries, and it is still going strong today.As for Dick, with a partner in 1994, he too grabbed an opportunity by starting his own company designing, manufacturing and selling wall and table top clocks. It was very time consuming because to reach this level of success, Dick needed to travel to Asia or Europe a few times each month! But his passion and knowledge of the retail business was rewarded by becoming the #1 clock supplier to compa-nies like Wal-Mart, Target and BB&B.

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Around the Neighborhood43IN THE SPOTLIGHTJulie and Dick, married 42 years, also get to spend quality time with their grand-kids: two granddaughters and a ‘tough and tumble’ grandson. (some nicknames for Julie and Dick are GiGi and Papa). They all love being at their summer home in Northwoods, MN and at Waterlefe in the ‘winter’ The activities of this family include fishing (a fishing nickname their kids have for Julie is ‘Snag Queen’), camp-ing, hiking, ATV rides, bird hunting, boating, dancing, travel, and entertaining. Don’t forget that their dog Wilson provides a lot of entertainment too. Lastly, we wanted to confirm a rumor that ran around Waterlefe as the pandemic started almost 2 yrs ago: “We heard that a generous couple actually paid for one month’s compensation of the River Club service staff. This rumor was true, and it was the awesome generosity of Julie and Dick Griffin. They asked Club manage-ment to calculate how much money in salary and tips the staff would lose. This act matches the way they feel about Waterlefe’s employees, let alone the many good friends they’ve met in Waterlefe. Julie and Dick, thank you for being such wonderful Waterlefers.

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45ARTISTS GUILD“Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self.” ~Jean-Luc Godard Featured Artist: Kathy Mulcahy Being an artist isn’t just about putting a brush to canvas. Art can and does mean so much more. Art is a way of seeing the world, a way of expression, oftentimes a compulsion: we simply must create! CLICK HERE to browse through Kathy’s gallery.To view Kathy Mulcahy’s Art Exhibit, CLICK HEREIf you missed the last two exhibits, click on the links below.To view Lorna McMullen’s October Art Exhibit, CLICK HERETo view Terry Wilson’s September Art Exhibit, CLICK HERETo learn more about the Waterlefe Artists Guild or to join, contact Patsy Hall at patsy@dhall.com or Judy Kovaleski-Swartz at judyks1013@gmail.com.Organizations

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ORGANIZATION DIRECTORYCars & CoffeeCars & Coffee is a talk group for residents to connect with one another over their mutual enthusiasm for cars of all kinds and the car industry in general. Meetings are held one morning every month and the future schedule will be announced.Contact: John Valletta | john@johnvalletta.comCommunity Emergency Response TeamCERT is the Community Emergency Response Team that is funded and trained by the county to step in and assist the community in case of an emergency that first responders are unavailable for. No specific skills are needed to become a member.Contact: Jeff Brand | jeffreybrand@gmail.com Tom Kalousek | tkalousek1000@gmail.comBoating Community GroupThe Waterlefe Boating Community Group is a social group for Waterlefe resi-dents to promote water recreation, share valued information, and grow friend-ships among boaters, anglers, kayakers, and paddlers.Contact: Jim Manning | jpmanning880@gmail.comArtists GuildThe Waterlefe Artists Guild (WAG) is composed of full and part-time residents who create original art in various media. Artists explore new mediums through member-led classes, present their work to the community virtually and in annual shows. WAG strives to “Keep Art Alive” by supporting our local schools’ creative arts programs.Contact: Patsy Hall | patsy@dhall.com46 Lefe Life | December 2021 Please check with activity contacts for more information.

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ORGANIZATION DIRECTORYHangar TalkHangar Talk welcomes aviation enthusiasts of all kinds. Casual monthly lunch gathering, outings, and sharing of aviation experiences and opportunities, both past and current.Contact: Terry Lee | terrancejlee48@gmail.comLiterary Society of WaterlefeThe Literary Society of Waterlefe is an organization for members looking to en-gage in thoughtful conversations about a wide range of pre-selected books from month to month. These gatherings are in a casual setting which allows residents to connect and converse about important and exciting pieces of literature.Contact: Dianne Carrol | dicar13@aol.comWaterlefe Watering HoleWatering Hole is a social group for people, especially newcomers to Waterlefe, to meet their neighbors and feel involved in their community. Whether you are new to the community or have been here for years, we welcome you enjoy a fun evening with your neighbors at one of these “no fuss” events.Contact: Miriam Martin | mmartin952@comcast.net Barbie Brand | barbiegbrand@gmail.comSensational SinglesSensational Singles is a social group for single Waterlefe members (widowed, di-vorced, and everyone else) to participate in various outings to connect with one another and create meaningful friendships through casual get-togethers.Contact: Roz Warner | rozwarner619@gmail.comOrganizations47Please check with activity contacts for more information.

December 2021 Lefe Life

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