APRIL 2012 Vol. 32 No. 4 PUBLISHED BY THE MONTEBELLO CONDOMINIUM UNIT OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Meet the Candidates on April 22 and Vote on May 17

by Judy Hagaman and Shirley Trilling, Co-Chairs, Election Committee

This year’s election for members of the Montebello Board of

Directors and our annual meeting will be held on Thursday, May 17. All owners are strongly encouraged to vote to help protect Montebello’s property values, as well as to ensure a

quorum and thus avoid a costly re-election.

Each year three of the nine three-year term positions on the Board become vacant. This year Directors Guido Zanni, Carole Harman and Bruce Shaw will complete their terms. Owners will have the opportunity to hear the candidates discuss their views and to ask them questions at Meet the Candidates night on Sunday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center.

Election materials will be sent to unit owners in April. These will include a biography and platform statement from each candidate, as well as the ballot, a letter of instructions and two envelopes. Please read and follow the instructions on both the ballot and the envelope carefully. Each year, a few ballots must be discarded because they are not completed correctly. The ballot has two items:

Item 1 is a resolution to carry over any year-end income to next year to avoid an IRS penalty. The Board strongly recommends a For vote on this item.

Item 2 lists the candidates running for the three positions vacant this year. You may vote for one, two or three candidates; i.e., you do not have to vote for three, but you cannot vote for more than that number. You may also write in a name as one of your choices. Nominations from the floor at the annual meeting may be allowed depending on the number of candidates. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected to three-year terms.

To ensure that as many owners as possible may vote, the election process allows for advance voting. This requires designation of a proxy, which is provided for on the yellow envelope. Voters must complete a ballot and an envelope.

Continued on p. 4

Photo by Don Trilling

Spring flowers came early to Montebello with a spectacular

performance by our Bradford pear trees.

Community Center Plan Reaches Pivotal Milestone by Ford Chinworth, Co-chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Design

Please take the opportunity to attend one (or both) of the Town Meetings on April 12 (Thursday) and April 15 (Sunday). Both meetings will feature a presentation on the Community Center Master Plan (CCMP) by Kerns Group Architects (KGA), accompanied by questions from residents.

Since January, KGA has been exploring all the possibilities for improving the functionality of Montebello’s Community

Center. Their study includes all three levels – basement, main floor and roof, as well as the surrounding area. At these Town Meetings, they will guide us through the best of the possibilities – their alternative ideas for a CCMP. The alternatives and options will relate to all of the various uses and features – entrances, service dock, front desk, café, market, community lounge, indoor pool, exterior pool, picnic area, tennis courts, indoor recreational rooms, offices, meeting rooms, locker facilities, fitness areas, restrooms and other service areas.

These Town Meetings and comment periods that follow are the points in the planning process at which comments from

Continued on p. 5

Montebello Audit Result is Good News

See Treasurer’s Report, page 6

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Letters to the Editor A letter to the Editor is your opportunity to share a comment, compliment or concern with other residents. Letters must not exceed 225 words and must be received by the seventh of the month. Writers are responsible for the content and accuracy of their letters. Management or the Board of Directors may respond. Unsigned letters, letters promoting non-Montebello financial endeavors and personal criticisms of individuals or groups will not be published. Submit letters, marked Attention: Times, to the Front Desk or to times@montebello.org.

An Appreciation Both my wife and I would like to extend our appreciation and commendation to our Montebello Security people

Because, last Wednesday morning (8 February) around 2 a.m., one of our security people called and informed us that, during his inspection tours he has noticed that our car which was parked in B1 level garage had a flat tire. This call to us was very helpful for various reasons, and we called AAA first thing in the morning to fix the damaged tire.

This made us realize that our Montebello Security is really working diligently and doing a great job. We want this fact and our appreciation to be brought to our fellow residents and Board of Directors’ attention. After knowing this fact we will feel much more secure for 24 hours a day. We suggest that this fact be announced in our monthly The Times of Montebello also.

The mini golfcar-size security vehicles we see running around are very refreshing.... Again thanks to our great Security People, God bless them. –Tulin and Dogan (a.k.a Don) Korgan, Building 4 Whose Graphics? The Montebello Design Master-Plan (DMP) is our key tool for visually unifying the property. For 4 years, under the stewardship of the Design Committee and Kerns Group Architects, the DMP has focused our efforts to upgrade, with considerable success.

We now have a Committee devoted to promoting/marketing Montebello, whose interests include visuals - as they impact prospective buyers. Somehow, this committee asserted the lead in Montebello Graphics. New logo proposals were developed without Kerns.

Kerns’ main function is to weave together our needs and

resources into one Vision. Consulting them after the fact won’t work.

Another point: Graphics can be an art form. However, marketing zeal sometimes is perceived as inartful. Surely you’ve seen the colossal You’ll Love What You See Inside

sign, which may float there for as long as our neighboring complex exists. Further North, one condo complex has been holding weekly Grand Openings, for five years now; can’t be

fun living there.

While making sure that marketing people don’t face

unnecessary barriers, we must focus primarily on improving our property/home, to benefit all, including marketers.

Montebello is a business to some, a home to most. Optimize the residential environment and equity will increase accordingly.

Common sense and the DMP require that Graphics be the province of Design. Assign Graphics to the Design and Planning Committee. –Tomi Harman, Building 2 Color Version of The Times of Montebello Editor’s Note: In response to the letter from M. Hirniak in the

March issue, The Times staff is consulting with our printer and will present options for using color photos online at a future Board meeting.

Calling All 8th and 12th Graders in the Montebello Community by Guin Jones, Member, Activities Committee

Students in the 8th and 12th grades are required to perform acts of community service as a part of their Civics and Government classes. The Activities Committee at Montebello encourages residents in these grades to consider performing their service here in our community. Possibilities include taking part in community activity preparations, assisting in hosting special events, offering your technical expertise and sharing in coordinating future programs.

To pursue these opportunities further, please contact Vicki Hill, Chair of the Activities Committee, at vhill2@verizon.net and explore how you can help yourself and Montebello.

The Times of Montebello is published monthly by the MCUOA. The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not represent those of the Editor or the MCUOA. Editorial Board: Barbara Boykin, Managing Editor; Donald Barnes, Editor; Larry Frommer, Peggy Hecklinger, Cerie Kimball, Noel Sipple, Don Trilling, Jacqueline Woodle Staff Writers: Karen Barnes, Margaret Sullivan Editorial Assistants: Mary Ellen Bergeron, Ann Cascarano, Janice Stucki Photo Editor: Don Trilling Photographers: Diane Bastin Production Manager: Thirasit Insisiengmay

Board of Directors Liaison: Carole Harman Board of Directors: Guido Zanni, President; Chris Low, Vice President; Greg Bender, Treasurer; Carole Harman, Secretary; Kim DeMarco, Harriet Hughes, Loretta Ratkus, Bruce Shaw, Geoff Thompson Management: Manju Gulati, General Manager; Peter Ng, Facilities Program Manager; John Edmond, Safety and Access Control Manager; Phonekham Somchanmavong, Acting Chief Engineer; Thirasit Insisiengmay, Community Activities Program Manager; James Nissley (ZALCO), Community Manager; Crystal Hughey , Data and Communications Administrator

Association Office: 703-960-0410 www.montebello.org

MCUOA@vacoxmail.com Residents may contact the Board of Directors at the email address above.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

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Contracts Update by Greg Bender, Board of Directors

Facade Leak Repairs – Simpson Unlimited, Inc. (SUI) continues to repair damaged exterior wall flashings. Facility Engineering Associates (FEA) is providing engineering oversight. The work begun on Jan. 9 is continuing much as expected. A slightly higher incidence of damage has been encountered than what was originally expected.

Community Center Roof and Tennis Court Refurbishment – The Board approved the contract with FEA and its tennis court specialty subcontractor Global Consulting at the Feb. Board meeting. FEA and Global have assembled a bid package and are answering questions from Resident Engineering Consultants, the Tennis Club and the Board. Once all questions have been answered and the bid package approved by the Board, the work will be put out for bid. A key decision will be what type of roof membrane should be installed under the tennis playing surface. The options are a more expensive membrane with a 20-25 year life similar to what has been installed on the roofs of our four residential towers or a less expensive roof coating that will have a shorter life and which will require regular maintenance.

Emergency Generator and Fire Pump Replacement – The Board approved a contract at the Feb. Board meeting for FEA to help us with the replacement of our residential towers’

emergency generators, fire pumps and drive units. The inspection is ongoing, and the inspection report with recommendations was expected to be available at the end of March. Our resident consultant engineers and Management will review the report when it becomes available and will make recommendations to the Board for the replacement of the old equipment.

Elevator Punch List Items – Otis is finishing the elevator punch list and has installed new lower bumper rails in the freight elevators to reduce wear and tear on the elevator interiors.

Grand Gala for Grand Piano on Saturday, April 21 by Loretta Ratkus, President, Music Club

The Music Club will be hosting a Grand Gala as a unique fundraiser for the Grand Piano on Saturday, April 21, from 5-8:30 p.m. The main feature of the Gala will be a silent auction of donated items while bidders enjoy a fabulous singing performance.

The Music Club is asking residents to donate nice-quality items to be auctioned. Items already received include Persian Sarouk rugs, antique and modern jewelry, artwork, Waterford crystal, gift certificates and a gourmet meal. If you have an item or service to donate, please call Club President Loretta Ratkus at 703-329-6874.

Bidding for items will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 8:30 sharp. Please donate an item and join in the bidding to help Montebello acquire its own grand piano.

Photo by Don Trilling

Montebello dons its Easter finery early this year.

Signs of Spring Abound in Montebello Landscape by Carole Harman, Building 2

Why wait for spring until the March 21 vernal equinox? Why not start much earlier – why not “leap forward” into

spring, both on the clock and on the calendar….And so it happened that things began to warm up, change and grow much earlier than usual, totally bypassing March’s usual windy

entrance “like a lion”. The early arrivals: daffodils on Picnic

Hill, red finches nesting under your upstairs neighbor’s

balcony and a pair of hawks courting and house-hunting behind Building 1. The mid-month starters: forsythia along the drive, skunk cabbage and May apples in the woods. The end-of-month crop: azalea buds, pine pollen, rosebuds and redbuds honoring Paul, Gladys and Clyde, and more.

In the Washington area and also at Montebello, it wouldn’t

be spring without pink blossoms. About March 20, the huge tree by the front gate came into eye-catching full bloom, advertising Montebello’s beauty to Richmond Highway

drivers. In early March, our little cherry grove by Building 1 began its annual show, welcoming commuters home in the late afternoon and reminding daytime walkers of the stunning beauty of pastel pink.

We are fortunate to be savoring these gifts to eye and spirit while we may - in March.

Are You Insured?

All residents, whether owners or renters, should have a current HO-6 condominium insurance policy to cover personal losses in the event of a fire or certain types of water damage. The Association's master policy covers only repairs and reconstruction to the common elements and limited common elements, to restore them to their as-built condition. Upgrades and personal property are not included and must be insured separately.

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March 13 Board Actions Attendance: Guido Zanni, President, Presiding; Directors Bender, DeMarco, Harman, Hughes, Low, Ratkus, Shaw and Thompson. General Manager Gulati; Facilities Program Manager Ng and Assistant to the GM Field.

Board Actions: (All actions unanimous unless noted) Approval of Second Pet Exceptions – 1-702 Two dogs.

Approved as presented. Approval of Policy Resolution #6 – Amended –

Approved as presented with effective date July 1, 2012. Approval of April 2012 Activities Calendar –

Approved as amended. Approval of New Election Committee Members – New

members Terry Nunan and Gloria Haher were approved to serve on the Election Committee effective immediately until December 31, 2012.

Approval of Disposal of Elevator Lobby Furnishings for Bldgs. 3 and 4 – Approved as presented.

Approval of Leave Allocation for General Manager – Tabled. Directors for tabling: Bender, DeMarco, Harman, Hughes, Low, Ratkus, Shaw and Thompson. Directors abstaining: Zanni.

Approval of Expansion Covers for Hallway Carpet – Directs Management to negotiate and conclude a contract with Commercial Carpets of America to provide replacement expansion joint cover plates ($20,715) and a Schluter strip to bridge the construction joint from the walk-off mat to the flooring ($1,300) in all four (4) residential towers, in accordance with guidance provided by the Kerns Group.

Administrative Resolutions Being Rescinded as Presented – Approved as presented.

AR # 54 Criteria for Requesting Waiver of Pet Policy AR # 56 Ad Hoc Committee on Shuttle Bus AR # 58 Ad Hoc Committee on Decorating Buildings

1 and 2 AR # 64 Ad Hoc Committee on Lawn Care Practices

TOR AR # 67 Ad Hoc Shuttle Bus Committee TOR AR # 68 Ad Hoc Pet Review Committee TOR AR # 73 Commitment to Research Resale

Improvement Fund These minutes have not been read or approved by the Board of Directors and will not be official until they are passed at the April 10 Board meeting The next Board work session is April 24.

Meet the Candidates, continued from p. 1 The proxy envelope requires careful reading. Be sure to complete every line that pertains to you. A sample of a correctly completed yellow envelope will be included in the packet of voting materials.

To answer questions about voting and to provide assistance in completing the ballot, members of the Montebello Election Committee will be available in the lobbies of each building on Wednesday, May 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Assistance and information are also available at the Association Office.

Director’s Corner

“Negligence” Doesn’t Mean

You’re a Bad Person by Guido R. Zanni, President, Board of Directors

Occasionally, unit owners are contacted informing them that they are responsible for damages to another unit that resulted from something that occurred in the owner's unit. The most common type of problem is water damage, generally caused by renovation or leaky faucets or toilets.

Most owners readily agree to pay for repairs, but react negatively in being informed that their negligence caused the problem. In informing owners that it is their responsibility for repairs, we cite the relevant section of our bylaws establishing their responsibility. Specifically, we often quote wording in Article 5, Section 5.5 (b) of our bylaws that states, ". . .each unit owner shall be responsible for all damage to any other units or to the common elements resulting from such unit owner's failure or negligence. . ."

Loosely defined, negligence is unintentional harm to another person or property. The precise legal definition of negligence, however, is the failure to adhere to a standard of reasonable care with regard to a duty; it requires more than an unintentional harm. In this context, it would require that either (a) an owner did something in his/her unit he/she should not have done, applying a reasonable standard of care (e.g.,leaving the water running in the tub and falling asleep); or (b) an owner did not do something in his/her unit he/she should have done, applying a reasonable standard of care (e.g., failing to replace a 12-year old washer hose that has an 8-year reasonable life span).

Yet, in everyday language, the term negligence may connote irresponsible behavior or worse yet, the harm was intentional. In most cases, damages were truly accidental (e.g., a water valve breaks). Thus, when we cite our bylaws for owner's responsibility for repairs, we are not necessarily judging the actions of the owner or a contractor.

Should you receive such a notice in the future, please remember, negligence refers to unintentional harm and is not a statement of anyone's character. If you are wondering why I am writing on this topic, the answer is simple: In the past, we have cited our bylaws in response to “Letters to the Editors”

and in open meetings, and it's important to note the legal definition of negligence and not its everyday connotation. And yes, there is another reason; I, too, received a letter several years ago citing my negligence for a leak that occurred in my unit during renovation, despite using a bonded and insured contractor!

Upcoming Schedule for Artists in Residence

March 24 - April 28 Jeanne Tifft April 28 - June 2 David Moore June 2 - July 14 Anthony Cascarano July 14 - Aug. 25 Art Photography group show

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Montebello Travels

Weekend Getaway: Out Where the Wild Ramps Festivals Grow by Barbara Boykin, Building 3

What’s a ramps festival? That’s what people asked us when

we decided to go to one in nearby West Virginia last April. A ramps festival celebrates the coming of spring and the sprouting of ramps, a wild herb that looks like a scallion and tastes like a cross between onion and garlic with a little hot sauce thrown in. Some people love ‘em, others hate ‘em, but

any excuse will do for a festival.

Ramps festivals are held throughout Appalachia, especially in W.Va., from mid-to-late April through the month of May. Many feature a traditional dinner with such dishes as ham, bacon, fried potatoes, coleslaw, apple sauce, brown beans and cornbread to accompany the “little stinkers,” as ramps are

affectionately called. The festival we attended, in Elkins, W.Va., featured vendors who came up with some creative variations on tradition: shrimp and ramps wontons, pad Thai with ramps and ramps-flavored popcorn.

Of course, there were other activities and things for sale, including crafts, local honey and jams, games for the children and live old-time music performances. Elkins is also one of the depots for several scenic train excursions, and abbreviated rides were offered as part of the festivities.

Elkins is located in the Monongahela National Wilderness Forest, a little over four hours from Montebello via I-66. The route passes through some beautiful countryside along the south fork of the Potomac River and would make a scenic outing anytime in the spring or fall.

We decided to make a weekend of it, breaking up our trip with stopovers at two inns. On the way out, we spent the night at Pembroke Springs Retreat in tiny Star Tannery, west of Strasburg on the Va.-W.Va. line. Walter and Taeko Floyd and their daughter Lisa offer comfortable rooms with mountain views, plenty of land for walks and, in honor of Taeko’s Asian heritage, a soothing Japanese soaking bath (you shower and wash first, then soak) and a choice of American or Japanese breakfast..

We returned via Shepherdstown, W.Va., a funky college town that recalls the ‘60s, and splurged on dinner and a night at the luxurious Bavarian Inn. Our room had a king bed, whirlpool bath, gas fireplace and a view of the Potomac River Bend. The dining room offered excellent service and both German and “Continental” cuisine. We went for the roast pork with red cabbage and the Black Forest Cake: Wunderbar! In Shepherdstown we found a farmers market and plenty of shops and cafes on the welcoming main street.

From Shepherdstown it was an easy drive back to Montebello. We are already thinking about a fall trip to Elkins to ride the railroad and perhaps another ramps adventure in the spring. You can find a list of ramp festivals at http://richwooders.com/ramp/ramps.htm.

Spring festivals in West Virginia provide an opportunity to enjoy

rural scenery and a taste of the elusive ramp (above).

CC Master Plan, continued from p. 1 residents will be pivotal. The community input gathered will be essential as the Committee on Design recommends to the Board which of the alternatives KGA should be asked to incorporate into the CCMP.

The steps that will be taken after the Town Meetings in creating a Community Center Master Plan are as follows:

April 12 – 23: Written comments from residents. April 24 (Board Work Session): The Committee on

Design will recommend to the Board which of the various options KGA should be asked to incorporate into the final CCMP. One or more alternatives for the Fitness Center will be a part of these options.

May 8 (Board Meeting): The Board will approve the set of options that KGA will be asked to incorporate into the final CCMP.

May 9 – June 6: KGA finalizes the CCMP. During this step, KGA will also develop schematic design(s) for the Fitness Center options approved by the Board. (Based on the Board’s Administrative Resolution of March 8,

2011, the Fitness Center is to be the initial project developed based on the CCMP.)

June 14 (Town Meeting): KGA will present the finalized CCMP, as well as the Fitness Center schematic design(s).

TBD: After a period for review, the community will be asked to vote on funding for alternative Fitness Centers, based on the schematic design(s).

Please note that in the end, the CCMP will not be a “redesign” of the Community Center. As stated before, it will be a document to guide future decisions about the possible improvement of the Center. Improvement of individual components can be accepted or rejected, and phased as determined by future priorities.

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Treasuer’s Report

Montebello Again Earns Positive Audit Rating by Greg Bender, Treasurer, Board of Directors

Auditors completed Montebello’s 2011 audit in February and expressed an unqualified opinion that Montebello’s

financial statements present an accurate assessment of the Association’s finances and that they adhere to “accounting

principles generally accepted in the United States of America.”

Montebello ended its fiscal year with a deficit of $1,098 or, said differently, overspent by approximately 1/100th of one percent.

Again this year, the Association’s annual audit was

completed by the Goldklang Group, formally known as Goldklang, Cavanaugh and Associates, a firm specializing in homeowner and condominium associations. The purpose of the audit is to ensure that our accounting practices conform to industry-wide standards and procedures, that all funds and transactions, including bank investments, are properly documented and that we have adequate internal controls to protect our owners.

The Goldklang Group’s audit procedures mandate a review

of our policies and procedures. It includes an inspection of approximately 80% of the year’s financial transactions, such as invoices and payments,and examines 100% of all investment and bank transactions. The audit covers the Association’s

2011 fiscal year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 and audits both our records and those of ZALCO, our management support company. As of the end of 2011, Montebello’s cash, interest-bearing deposits and investments totaled $2,613,793.

Once again, auditors praised the Association on the following financial management activities:

Maintaining thorough and well-detailed and organized financial documentation that allowed auditors quick and easy access to the Association’s files for the auditors’

review.

Maintaining contingency reserves at 16% of the operating budget. With this year's surplus, contingency reserves total $1,181,272. Auditors recommend that condo associations like ours have available contingency funds of 10% to 20% of the operating budget. The auditors’ calculation of 16% includes the two units owned by the Association, as well as its equipment and vehicles. Contingency funds can be made available for reserve projects, should the need arise; however, borrowed contingency funds must be replenished within three years.

Holding delinquent accounts at approximately 1% of fees collected. Delinquent accounts on Dec. 31, 2011, totaled $67,220 in bad debt expense. The auditors noted that many condominium associations have had a sharp increase in delinquent accounts in recent years; again this year, Montebello appears to be the exception. The auditors use a benchmark of 5% delinquency as a sign of financial trouble. Despite the relatively low level of delinquencies,

the auditors recommended that Montebello continue its aggressive measures to collect these debts.

Including detailed financial information in the Treasurer’s

reports and Board minutes.

Conducting detailed budget and reserve planning processes, including documentation in Board minutes.

Maintaining strong internal controls and risk management strategies.

Holding account balances below the $250,000 FDIC limit, but acknowledging that short-term balances may exceed these limits when assessments are collected at the beginning of the month or when reserve project invoices in excess of $250,000 are paid. In order to hold account balances below $250,000, Montebello participates in the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry System (CDARS), coordinated by Virginia Commerce Bank. We invested (or reinvested) nearly $1.5 million in this program in 2011.

Auditors stated that they wished that Montebello could teach classes in condominium association accounting and financial management, because Montebello does what other associations could only hope for.

Overall, the audit confirms our approach to fiscal transactions and, perhaps more importantly, our financial strength as compared to other Associations. Even though the audit is complete, the auditors are available to provide consultation to the Association throughout the year on a variety of issues, including policy review. Our practice is to involve them periodically so as to ensure that when they conduct our annual audit they know what to expect and we know what they want to see and are able to provide it.

Management Notes

Feral Animals – Feeding wild animals and birds can be a problem for cleanliness at Montebello. Bird feeders are not permitted on balcony or terrace areas and placing feeders on the common elements is also prohibited. Some residents have been feeding squirrels and/or leaving large amounts of bird seed on or near driveways. The food creates litter and is attractive to rodents, insects and other undesirable animals, as well as birds and squirrels. Living in a wooded area means that we co-exist with wild(er) creatures. Please respect their wild habits so that they do not cause extra cleaning of garages and driveways or have to be removed for nuisance behavior near people or pets.

New Touch Screen Computer – The Management office has installed a touch screen computer in the Community Center. The computer, which is located across from the front desk, was installed to give all residents access to the Montebello web site. We encourage all residents to occasionally log-in to our web site to stay up to date on everything at Montebello. Please note that www.montebello.org is the only web site that can be accessed from the computer.

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Renovations Update by Karen Barnes, Times staff

Like water cascading over stones, Montebello’s public space

renovations are moving rapidly from hallway redecorating, to main lobby work, and soon, to work on the B1, B2 and B3 lobbies. The work sometimes goes from one place to the other, as ordered materials and workers become available.

The three areas of work include the building lobbies, the B levels and the residential floors (1-16). Hallway painting and carpeting are already complete in Buildings 1 and 2 and will be well underway this summer in Buildings 3 and 4. Signage posting began in early March. The final touches, including installation of lights (on order) near the elevators and at the ends of the halls, hanging of mirrors (already here) and placement of benches should be completed by mid-May.

Renovations on the B–levels, which began in March, include both indoor and outdoor work. Outside, the first step is to install canopies which are being fabricated. After this is complete, workers can quickly install bollards, snuffers and trashcans which are already on the premises. Inside materials are on order, including flooring and lighting. Wall board work began in mid-March. Once everything arrives, indoor and outdoor work can be carried out simultaneously.

Major main lobby work is scheduled to begin around the second week of May. Each building may take approximately two to four weeks. The wallpapering has begun ahead of schedule, thanks to the availability of in-house workers. The rest of the work will begin in mid-May. Along with major lobby work, in-house workers will assist in installation of lighting, hanging of art work, etc. The furniture has been ordered and will be installed in each lobby as soon as all other work in that lobby is completed.

Clearly, firm dates for this work in progress cannot be nailed down. In order to keep residents informed in a timely fashion – although sometimes things happen very quickly – the office will use several means of communication. Information will be posted on the website, www.montebello.org; MMLs (emails) will be sent out and lobby notices will be posted. Also, the May issue of The Times will carry the next installment of the Renovation Saga.

UCM Pickup Set for April 21 by Doug Kennett, Building 3

The semi-annual collection sponsored by United Community Ministries (UCM) will take place on Saturday, April 21, from 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

For over 40 years UCM has been assisting the disadvantaged along the Richmond Highway Corridor, including families at risk and the homeless. Residents wishing to donate clothing, furniture items or non-perishable foodstuffs may bring them to the UCM truck parked outside the Community Center rear entrance. Montebello residents will be standing by to assist and provide forms for tax purposes.

Photography by Don Trilling

Gayle Dixon, Building 3, watches her bowling ball proceed down

the simulated lane in a Wii competition at Montebello’s first Mix

‘N Mingle party at the Community Center on March 2.

HEARTFELT Welcome To Our New Neighbors

Richard and Songzuan Niemtzow, Building 3, from College Park, Md. Richard attended Emory University and graduated from Goddard College in Vermont. Richard then received his medical degree from the Faculté de Médécine in Montpellier, France. He practiced radiation oncology for 30 years in the USAF as a colonel. Currently, Richard is Director of the U.S. Air Force Acupuncture Center at Andrews Air Force Base. Songzuan, from Beijing, China, is a physician in private practice in acupuncture. The couple has two children, with another on the way. The Niemtzows’ favorite travel

destinations are France and China.

Cason and Karen Barnes, Building 1, from Nashville, Tenn. Cason, a graduate of Auburn University, teaches physical education, while Karen, a graduate of Wake Forest, is with the International Justice Mission, a non-profit organization which fights human trafficking and other offenses against the poor. Cason and Karen first met in Moscow. Later they married and had their honeymoon in Santorini, Greece. Cason is a sports fan, while Karen loves many types of music. “No children yet,

but we’re counting on the future,” says Karen.

Condolences

To the family and friends of Mary Ellen Baillie of Building 4, who passed away on Feb. 17.

To the family and friends of Howard Schmidt of Building 2, who passed away on Feb. 20.

To the family and friends of Inpeng Vongsaly, Chief Engineer on the Montebello staff with more than 25 years of service to our community, who passed away on March 17.

Our Neighbors

Meet Your Resident Consultants

by Doug Kennett, Building 3 When you think about volunteers at Montebello, the list seems pretty easy – our Board of Directors, committee members and the scores of residents who make our clubs and activities successful. But there is another vital group that deserves your thanks – our Resident Consultants.

Our 2006 Board of Directors created the Resident Consultants program so that, when necessary, Montebello can tap the specialized knowledge of unit owners willing to offer their expert recommendations on a pro bono basis to help solve Association issues. Today Montebello boasts seven such consultants – four Resident Engineers and one each for Design, Information Management and Human Resources.

The program has been an outstanding success. As Board President Guido Zanni puts it, “We are truly fortunate to have

so many skilled professionals donate their time and talent to Montebello. Without these volunteers, just like everyone else, we would have no alternative but to contract out for these vital services.”

In this issue, The Times will highlight our four Resident Engineers. An article in a future issue will introduce you to our other three consultants.

Resident Engineers All these residents are engineers with strong experience in project management. They have helped us complete several multimillion-dollar projects, including balconies, roofs and elevators. They reviewed plans, wrote scopes of work and interviewed and helped select the winning bidders. They are, in alphabetical order:

Greg Bender earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State and an M.S. in Mechanical Maritime Engineering, as well as the prestigious degree of Mechanical Engineer, both from the Naval Postgraduate School. A career naval engineer, he was the 1986 Navy Engineer of the Year for his work on the large hovercraft vital to the Marine Corps. Following Navy retirement, Greg has led a Westinghouse division and is currently vice president and chief engineer for DHI, a local firm providing technology products and solutions. Greg is also a Board member and currently serves as Board Treasurer.

Doug Bernard earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Southwest Louisiana State, now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After three years in a family construction business, he joined the Federal Highway Administration, beginning a long career designing and constructing bridges, highways and highway safety

systems. When he retired, he was director of the Office of Technology Applications, re- sponsible for discovering, testing and transitioning new technologies into the nation’s roads and bridges.

He was also part of the team that finalized and approved the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project. He also serves on several Montebello committees.

Bob Gantt earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from

Georgia Tech and an M.B.A. from Auburn University. A career Army officer, he also became a fully qualified project manager. During one five-year period, he was in charge of developing plans for, then purchasing and delivering, all new business computer systems for the U.S. Army. Upon retirement, he became senior vice president of business development for Vitro Corporation. Bob served on the Montebello Board for a number of years, including as vice president and most recently chaired the Finance and Budget Committee.

Bruce Shaw earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Industrial

Engineering from Stevens Institute in Hoboken, N.J. He spent most of his career in project management on a number of high technology programs, serving for many years with Exxon, before finishing his career with Verizon. In retirement he regularly consults with a wide variety of clients and teaches project management. Following his appointment as a Resident Engineer nearly four years ago, he was elected to the Montebello Board and is completing his three-year term.

(The three other resident consultants will be featured in a future issue of The Times.)

Meet the Candidates Night Sunday, April 22

Meet the Candidates Night will be held in the Community Center on Sunday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. At this event, Montebello owners will be able to meet candidates for the Board of Directors, hear their views and ask them questions. This is your chance to learn the candidates’ views on issues

important to you. Come and bring your neighbors. Refreshments will be served.