Message from the President

David Erwin, President

Welcome!

First, I would like you all to meet Deborah Darby, our new Director of Communications.

I want to thank Trish and Brian and congratulate them on stepping up meeting the challenges. I, for one, can see and feel the positive influence and improvements because of your hard work and dedication.

January is behind us, but we are already putting our plans and priorities for 2017 together. We will be reviewing all our projects for 2017 and beyond. We need to refine the scope, expected or targeted costs, available funds and, of course, the rationale and benefits for each. Each one will need to be evaluated as to its effect, if any, on any other one on the list.

For starters:

The Change of Use Election for pickleball is here and in process.

Parking – there are a number of things that can be initiated now and continue throughout the community.

A storage facility for our banquets/activities furniture and supplies. This will allow the removal of the containers in the Oakwood parking lot and free up a number of spaces.

Additional golf cart parking behind and north of the clubhouse.

Additional spaces near the Oakwood clubhouse.

Examine the area around the fitness center.

Develop and overall evaluation and recommendations for increasing the efficiency and use of parking. Would a shuttle service work for IronOaks?

An activity center for our many card and game players. A comprehensive plan and use of poolside is underway and will be finalized.

I understand we have candidates for the three seats on the board.

The Oakwood bathrooms will be redone during the summer months.

The pump station for the Sonoran Golf Course needs to be addressed.

Safety and security will be improved by upgrading and expanding our video cameras around the campus.

A plan and recommendation on how best to utilize the fitness center.

The park – a great deal of effort has gone into the planning and design and should continue.

I would like to see an assessment and recommendations for things that are needed for the arts and crafts building. The restrooms are in dire condition. Are all the rooms put to the best use?

Attention new homeowners

Attention New Homeowners — You are eligible for a FREE round of golf for two, FREE week of fitness, FREE week of tennis and BOGO meal at any IronOaks restaurant. All you have to do is call Howard Lundgren of the IronOaks Welcome Committee at 480-369-2015 or email him at [email protected] to receive your new homeowners canvas tote filled with useful information about your community.

A very special speaker March 7

As a remembrance of and a thanks to the American soldiers who fought against German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, Dr. Dirk Van Leenan wrote the books Resistance on a Bicycle and The Americans Are Coming.

In the words of the author, “I’ve been asked why I have written the books and speak about the time when the Netherlands was not free. I have always wondered if the Dutch people have been grateful enough for the sacrifices that the American military made in liberating them from Nazi occupation. My family and I would not be alive without their sacrifice. As a belated thank you, I am dedicating my books to the American sacrifices. They are a part of history that we should never forget.”

From a young age, Dirk was incredibly observant, intuitive, industrious and had a keen sense of survival. The story details a young Dirk learning to cultivate pigeon eggs and grow vegetables for very basic sustenance for his family and their hidden Jewish guests. The Nazis cut off all food distribution in an attempt to starve and break the Dutch people, but they responded with an inexplicable resilience. Dirk’s account details how he and his father rode a bicycle for days and hundreds of miles to distribute counterfeit identification documents and food stamps, as an integral part of the plan to help the hidden Jews escape to safety. As a result of their efforts, hundreds of Jewish lives were saved.

Please join Dr. Van Leenen on March 7, 2017, at the Oakwood clubhouse in the Bradford room between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

IronOaks March activities

Community Garage Sale – Saturday, March 4, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Farmers Market – Tuesday, March 7 and 20, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Billboard Series, The Magic of Manilow – Wednesday, March 8

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, A Tribute – Wednesday, March 22

Texas Hold ‘Em at Ironwood – Every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

Trivia at Ironwood – Every Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 p.m.