Hello Neighbors,

I would like to defend our reputation as opposed to the stories we read in the paper and hear on TV that are always negative regarding homeowners associations.

First, we are strictly voluntary.  Our dues are very reasonable at $30.00 a year.  If this is a hardship for some, please let us know.  We want your support.  We cannot place leins on homes for unpaid dues and we do not tell you what kind of car you should own or what color you can paint your house.

Secondly, you can review our Goals within this website.  That is our function.  Estates West Homeowners Association does not have ANY RESTRICTIONS in our by-laws.  Any reminders that we send out are violations to codes set up by the City, nothing from homeowners, i.e., placing trash out before the City time frame, letting grass grow taller than City of Dallas code, low hanging trees or obstructing shrubs, also a code of the City.  Pets roaming the neighborhood, not abiding by the City of Dallas Leash Law, is also considered a No No here as this presents a safety concern for the residents.

We do have a Volunteers in Patrol that monitors the neighborhood, particularly the alleys, to remind us to keep our garage doors down.  There are thieves always looking for an easy take and open garage doors attract them as it only take a few seconds to get what they want and scram.  We want to keep that kind of trouble out of our neighborhood. 

When we first started our homeowners association, we took a poll of the things most wanted by the residents.  Of course, the Wall at Arapaho was #1 at that time and that has been taken care of and doing nicely.

Our doing what we could to prevent any crime in the area was also mentioned and we have kept up our Crime Watch and Volunteers in Patrol and doing what we can to keep the area safe as well as remind our neighbors to do the same.

Social functions were requested so that we could meet our neighbors.  Wow!  there are plenty of things out there if you are interested.  We  have made lots of lasting friendships and had lots of fun in the process.  We are there in times of need and in times of celebration.   How about our great 4th of July Parade!  How about our Easter Egg Hunt!  How about the Christmas decorations!  How about the flags on patriotic holidays! How about Book Club, EWHA Women's Group, Bunco, Men's Golf!

More communication was also on the list.  We have a newsletter that comes out 4 times a year,  We have a group email that sends items that cannot wait until newsletter time.  We have signs put out in the neighborhood to remind you of upcoming events and also Crime Alert signs 

We feel we have made lots of progress in the beautification of the neighborhood with our street toppers, our two entrance signs and our constant maintenance and seasonal plantings.  We have helped with the Preston Ridge Trail with the plantings and the watering. 

We also help outside our neighborhood.  And all of this is voluntary and everything is handled by volunteers (see below) except the mowing and trimming of the Arapaho Strip.  All else is handled by volunteers, thus saving much money and enables us to keep our dues at the low $30.00 per year. 

Bottom line:    We go by City of Dallas  codes, which makes our community  a prettier, cleaner and neater neighborhood. 

Thanks to all of our members for your support.  We appreciate each and every one of you.

Ann Murphy

President

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!!

WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR VOLUNTEERS!  WE COULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THEM. 

IT IS THROUGH THESE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO STRETCH OUR DUES DOLLARS AND GET THE MOST FOR OUR MONEY.  BECAUSE OF OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

FLAGS DISTRIBUTED,

NEWSLETTERS DELIVERED,

ANNUAL HOLIDAY DECORATIONS PUT OUT,

WELCOME PACKETS DELIVERED TO NEWCOMERS,

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT POT LUCK DINNER,

BLUEBONNET FEST,

4TH OF JULY PARADE,

EASTER EGG HUNT,

CURB MARKING,

BEAUTIFUL WEED FREE ARAPAHO STRIP,

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS PLANTED ON ARAPAHO STRIP,

SPRINKLER SYSTEM KEPT IN GOOD REPAIR,

WEBSITE,

EWHA BOARD,

VOLUNTEERS IN PATROL,

CRIME WATCH,

NEIGHBORHOOD DIRECTORY,

WATERING OF PRESTON RIDGE TRAIL

JUST THINK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE IT TAKES TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

WE APPRECIATE OUR VOLUNTEERS!!

WHAT WOULD OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BE LIKE WITHOUT ALL THESE ABOVE EWHA FUNCTIONS? WOULDN'T WE MISS THEM?   PLEASE VOLUNTEER SOME OF YOUR TIME AS MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE ARE DOING ALL THESE JOBS.  LET'S NOT WEAR THEM OUT.

BE A PART OF A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.  YOU WILL ENJOY IT!   AN HOUR OR TWO A YEAR WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ALSO, IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEIGHBOR IS NOT A MEMBER, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN.  WE NEED BOTH TIME AND/OR MONEY!!!