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Board News - Board of Directors Nominations Wanted
There are two positions on the Board of Directors still open and we need your help to get these filled immediately.

At the end of February, Barry Simmons resigned from the Board of Directors. He and his family have moved to New Jersey to pursue a new job opportunity, and we will miss him as a neighbor and Board Member. Barry served the Board since the beginning of the HOA, much of that time as President or Vice-President of the association.

We will also soon lose Rose Ridolfi from the Board of Directors. Rose and her family are being transferred to Oklahoma and she will be leaving the Board next month. Rose has been a dedicated member of the Board for several years and her hard work has been key in a number of projects for this community.

As a result of these departures, we are seeking nominations (you may nominate yourself or your neighbors) to fill the vacancies on the Board. If you are interested, or would like to suggest someone you think would serve the community well, please contact us as soon as possible at masonspassagehoa@yahoo.com.

We would also like to welcome Pam Ramberg who joined the Board in March, to fill the position left vacant at the end of 2005. Pam has served Mason's Passage as a committee member and co-chair for many years and we are delighted to have her on the Board.

Development Planned Across Route 1
Winchester homes is proposing sixty-five town homes with one car garages to be located on the Moose Lodge property on the other side of Route 1 from Mason's Passage. This development is planned for Spring 2008. They are doing the County approval this Spring. Those concerned about traffic may be interested to know they are planning to put a left hand turn lane in Northbound on Rt. 1. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Architecture Review Walkthrough
Thank you to those residents who addressed the issues from the January walkthrough.

In early May, we conducted the Spring walkthrough and letters to homeowners with violations have been sent. Homeowners will have 30 days to correct the violations, at which point a follow up inspection will be conducted to ensure that each home has been brought into compliance. Homeowners that do not correct the violations on their property will be scheduled for a hearing this summer.

If you receive a letter and have questions, please contact Tri-State Management/Koger at 571-432-5408.

Improving Mason's Passage
Thank you to those of you who contacted us about dead trees, tot lot chips, trash, etc. The whole community improves when we all keep an eye out on what needs doing. Some repairs (such as repairs to the fence along Gunston, painting and securing of a retaining wall fence rail behind townhouses along Plaskett Forest, and the removal of some dead trees) have been completed, and more are to come.

A couple of weeks ago, we conducted a walkthrough of the property with our engineer. We are currently reviewing potential projects at the pond, tot lots, gazebo, roads and common areas throughout the community.

If you see common areas in need of repair or cleanup (or if trash is not being emptied at the gazebo or tot lot), please contact Tri-State Management/Koger at 571-432-5408. You may also contact the Board directly at masonspassagehoa@yahoo.com.

Secure Your Trash
Please take care to secure your trash when you put it out for pickup. On windy days trash blows around the neighborhood, ending up in the storm drains and the pond. Cleanup costs the HOA money that we'd rather spend improving the community in other ways, or not spend it at all. Unsecured trash is also attractive to animals, which poses both a health and nuisance issue for our residents.

Respect the Common Areas
The Board wants to remind residents that there are to be no motorbikes on the grass in Mason's Passage. Not only is this a safety hazard, but it also destroys the ground covering in the common areas.

Fire Lane Signs
Good news! The HOA has petitioned the Fire Marshall to allow us to remove the red and white signs that appear throughout the community. Our petition was approved, pending final review by the Fire Marshall's office. The Board has ordered the signs that must be posted at each entrance to meet the Fire Marshall's requirements. Once these are installed, the Fire Marshall will inspect the property and give us the final approval so that at that point we can remove some or all of the red signs. These signs must stay in place until we receive that approval, but once we do we believe this will improve the appearance of our property and views from our homes.

Parking Policy
All cars parked in guest parking spaces must be displaying a valid Guest Parking pass. Cars not displaying this hang tag on their review mirror will be towed. These tags and a copy of the policy were sent to all homeowners. Please carefully review the parking policy. It is also available on our Web site at www.masonspassage.org

We have also received complaints from neighbors of residents who are parking on their lawn, or on the sidewalk, or who are parking commercial vehicles on the property. This is a violation of HOA policy and also of County Zoning Ordinances. Additionally, we have received complaints that many of these parking problems are created because people are not using their garages as intended. Please remember that the governing documents of this association (to which you agreed when you purchased your home) state that garages are not to be used in a manner inconsistent with the parking of vehicles.

Services List
The Board would like to begin compiling a list of special services offered by our homeowners that can be kept on file at Tri-State Management/Koger and shared with homeowners on request. Examples of the types of services might be notaries, babysitters, tutors, computer troubleshooters, gardeners, home repair service providers, etc. If you would like to be added to this list, please email us at masonspassagehoa@yahoo.com.

Pohick Pool
Mason's Passage residents have many recreational opportunities just a couple of miles away at the Pohick Bay Regional Park. Park admission is free to residents.

For the summer months, pool passes are available. The regular rate of pool passes is $72, but Mason's Passage residents are offered a special group rate for passes to the Pohick Pool only. These are $50 per person for the first person, and $45 for each additional person. Passes can be purchased at the Camp store. For more information call 703-339-5026.

The pool is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Summer hours begin June 21st as follows (please check with the Park staff to confirm current hours):

Monday, Tuesday - Swim Lessons only (for more information on swim lessons call 703-396-SWIM) Wednesday, Thursday - 10:30am - 4:30 pm Friday - 10:30am - 7:00pm Saturday, Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm

Board Meetings
Board meetings are held on a monthly basis (generally the 2nd Monday of each month) at 7:00pm. There is no regular meeting scheduled for June. The next meeting of the Board is July 10. The full calendar is published and updated on our Web site: www.masonspassage.org.

Homeowners are invited to attend meetings. If you have an issue to discuss, advance notice is appreciated so the agenda may be adjusted for time. Contact masonspassagehoa@yahoo.com for meeting location confirmation, to add a homeowner issue to the agenda or for any further information.

Volunteers Needed
Get Involved! Even if you aren't able to commit to a seat on the Board of Directors, our committees have several projects underway that you could help out on a short-term basis. Several of these projects can be undertaken when you have free time, without the commitment for meeting attendance. Examples include: Welcome Packet for new homeowners, Outdoor Lighting planning, Web site, and newsletter. Also, if any of our homeowners can offer expertise or advice (for example in landscaping, engineering/ lighting, real estate) that may be of assistance to the HOA, the Board would love to hear from you.

Local Events
- June 3rd & 4th -Occoquan Craft Fair - Caall 703.491.2168 for more information.
- June 9-11 - Celebrate Fairfax! at the Faairfax County Government Center - Northern Virginia's largest community-wide celebration offers exhibits, family programs, and fireworks -703-324-FAIR (3247) for more information.
- Free Summer Entertainment in the Parks! The Fairfax County Park Authority, in partnership with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and with generous contributions from local businesses and corporations, presents a summer-long calendar of shows, concerts and movies for you and your family. For a complete calendar visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances or call (703)324-SHOW for more information.

Contact Us
Tri-State Management/Koger : Rebecca Pumphrey Tel: # 571-432-5408 RPrumphrey@tri-statemgmt.com
HOA Board of Directors: masonspassagehoa@yahoo.com , or via Tri-State Management/Koger above
For more frequent updates on what is going on in Mason's Passage, please visit our Web site: