Residents of all ages and stages of life took part in their HOA Sponsored Fall Festival. Participants enjoyed a chili cook off, lawn games, photo booth, bounce houses, pumpkin painting and lots of delicious food!
The Eighth Annual Vendor Trade Show Is a Success!
A record crowd attended the 8th Annual Vendor Trade Show held on Friday, November 1, 2019 at the Millennium Maxwell Hotel. All Ghertner & Company managed community board members and CAMs (Community Association Managers) were able to network with vendors offering a variety of services like landscaping, pest control, insurance, pool maintenance, legal and financial services.
A new addition to the agenda this year were two Trade Show Workshops that were well attended. The first workshop gave an overview of reserve studies. An update on recent rulings on delinquencies and fines was presented in the next session.
A complimentary lunch was provided as door prizes were awarded throughout the event.
Halloween Team Building Event Raises Over $2,400
Associates gathered on Halloween 2019 for a Team Building event that featured great food, games, costumes and contests. Many got into the spirit of the event by dressing up in costume and participating in a variety of games set up in the training room. The highlights of the day included: a mummy wrapping contest, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and the Silent Auction of many items donated by vendors and associates. All proceeds will go to the Our Kids Center in Nashville.
Annual Health Fair Informs and Involves Associates
The Annual Ghertner & Company Health Fair took place on October 23rd to promote Associate wellness. Booths featuring fitness memberships to healthy products to activities provided information and motivation to live more active and healthier lives. The Humana Go365 program, the company’s health insurance provider participated with activities and give-aways. Health care professionals were on site to provide blood pressure checks and administer free flu shots. Human Resources and department “Champs” planned, promoted and worked the successful Health Fair event.
Fall Event Builds Community!
The residents at The Villages of Hunters Point HOA in Lebanon, TN, held their 1st Annual Pumpkin Carving Party to celebrate the Fall season. Kids of all ages enjoyed the fellowship and fun of sharing in this event sponsored by the Social Committee.
Legislative Lunch & Learn Seminar Peaks Interest and Discussion
The 2019 Lunch & Learn Volunteer Training seminar series ended with a packed house to hear about the legislative actions regarding Home-Owner Associations. Community Associations Institute lobbyists Martha Gentry and Doug Jones shared with Board members and Community Association Managers about the process of how bills are introduced, changed and passed into law. Emphasis was placed on the need to develop a strategy to protect home-owner values by limiting the number of rental properties, including short term rentals, within a community. Scott Ghertner, Co-President of Ghertner & Company, appealed for Home-Owner Association members to support the CAI PAC to provide resources for dealing with unfavorable legislation. You can learn more or give at www.caitenn.org or www.caionline.org/LACDonate.
Students Benefit from Academy Donation
As part of the “Giving Back” to the community effort, Ghertner & Company presented the staff and students at Abundant Life Christian Academy with a $500 check. This faith-based school, located in Murfreesboro, provides a tuition free education for students in grades K5 through 8th grade. ALCA’s Mission states that, “ALCA is committed to assist our students to discover and fulfill their God-given purpose in the earth, which will in turn glorify God and enhance the lives of many.”. Find out more at www.alccministries.com/ALCA.
Is is Fall yet? How the excessive heat effects landscaping.
We have seen record heat in our area well beyond summer. We’ve all felt its effect on ourselves. But have you ever considered what effect it has on plants and lawns? In our day to day lives we rarely consider how landscape reacts to climate. How we react to excessive shifts in climate is similar to how plants make necessary changes to sustain themselves during these days is vital not only for the community’s beauty but to our budgets.
Here are some signs to look for and tips to nurse our landscaping to sustain thru this season.
• Turf grass will be affected most. Grass will try to jump start their dormancy when a lack of water and prolonged heat radiates. If you have an automatic irrigation system, setting up dual programs to operate will allow the grass to sustain itself until the cooler temps prevail and discontinue any fertilization program. If there is not an irrigation system in place. Also refrain from applying fertilizer and allow the grass to use it’s natural system to protect its health until the cooler weather moves in. There will be some damage to the grass during this period. Once the cooler temps become more regular, have your service provider implement an aeration and over-seed application to fill in these areas affected. So, when Spring arrives new grass will repair the lush appearance of the lawn.
• Trees react to this extreme by shedding leaves in an effort to slow their nutrition process down. If possible, allowing your service provider to install watering bags to help sustain the trees until the Autumn weather arrives and the trees go dormant. Consider an earlier fertilization application to help with the Spring flush of their foliage to combat the early shedding of the leaves. This will help the longevity of the tree’s life.
• Shrubs will show signs of a burnt appearance. Blooming shrubs will be stop the process to focus on enduring thru the extreme heat. They will also be susceptible to insects during this period. Have your service provider make thorough inspections to make sure the shrubs are not being attacked. An additional step is allowing your service provider to spot water if no irrigation system is present will help protect them from damage there is not recovery from. It is better for a budget to allocate for man hours to water than to replace shrubs destroyed during this atypical climate.
• Most of the damage to landscaping will not reveal itself until Spring rolls around. It will be in the best interest to have your service provider complete a site audit to verify if any effects of the extensively long summer heat has taken its toll on plantings. This will help ensure an appealing landscape of our city for the future.
Partner Post provided by Scott Oldham with LSI
Landscape Services Inc
Timely Budget Lunch and Learn Seminar
Every HOA has to plan for it this time of year…the annual Budget! Ghertner & Company resources its Board of Director members and Community Association Managers (CAM) with practical training and information as the focus of two September Volunteer Leadership Lunch and Learn Workshops. Led by industry professional, Kathleen Sutherland, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, this seminar led attendees through the process of developing a budget and how to communicate it to homeowners. As a convenience for board members, this seminar was presented at both the corporate office conference center in MetroCenter and the Hampton Inn in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Monthly Lunch and Learn seminars are presented free of charge to HOA Board of Directors for associations managed by Ghertner & Company. Contact theresa.savich@ghertner.com for more information.
CAM Leadership Team Expands
To meet the demands of training and resourcing our Community Association Managers (CAM), Ghertner & Company has promoted Angela Stone to CAM Team Leader. With a background in education and hospitality, Angela will develop the entry level online resources for all new to Ghertner & Company Community Association Managers and will assist in mentoring them through the other processes involved in joining the Ghertner and Company team. Angela shares, “I am so excited to have the opportunity to serve in the position of CAM Team Leader! It allows me the opportunity to indulge my true passion as an educator and help build the next wave of great Ghertner & Company Community Association Managers!”
Angela joins the existing CAM leadership team of Kathleen Sutherland, Deborah Wallace, Jaye Kloss and Henry Puckett to provide professional development to our growing number of Community Association Managers.
Teaming Up for CAI Golf Tournament
Several Ghertner & Company associates participated as golfers and volunteers at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Charity Golf Tournament on August 28th at the Hermitage Golf Course. Operation Homefront, a service providing valuable resources to military families, was the organization that received significant funding from this chapter effort. Ghertner and Company participated as a tournament sponsor and entered a team. Each team was joined by a local celebrity and the Ghertner player included (left to right, top left picture): celebrity T. Graham Brown, Stacy Adams, Bob Welborn, Jeff Campbell and Catherine Davis-Sales.
State Representative Bob Freeman Speaks at CAI Luncheon
The August Community Associations Institute (CAI) luncheon on Friday, August 30th featured State Representative Bob Freeman. He challenged HOA board members, management companies and managers to take an active role in state politics by being knowledgeable about bills being presented and developing relationships with government officials. Mr. Freeman was key in opposition to SB 1429 – HB 1290 in recent legislative sessions.
Ghertner & Company pays for its Community Association managers to attend and participate in CAI meetings and events to encourage professional development. Learn more at caitenn.org.
Photos compliments of Chuck Negas, Northwest Exterminating.
Murfreesboro and Metrocenter Lunch & Learn Seminars
Two Volunteer Training Workshops were provided in August to allow board members the opportunity to participate at a more convenient location. The first Lunch & Learn took place on Tuesday, August 6, at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Murfreesboro. The regular monthly Lunch & Learn was held on Tuesday, August 13, at the company training center in the Metrocenter area. The pertinent topic of “The Role of the Board and Business Judgment Rule” gave attendees helpful information and resources on the subject and the discussion time allowed for board members to ask relevant questions to challenges faced in their community.
Monthly training seminars are complimentary for board members of Homeowner Associations managed by Ghertner and Company. Contact your Community Association Manager for more information.
Professional Development for Associates
Over fifty associates participated in the monthly Human Resources Lunch and Learn presentation in the training facility on campus. Led by Human Resources Director, Stacy Adams, team members were challenged on the topic of trust in the professional and personal areas. Group discussion and small group exercises helped reinforce the value of building trust in all relationships throughout life. Complimentary breakfast or lunch was provided according to which of the two seminars one chose to join. Ghertner & Company believes in the investment of personal and professional development skills of every team member throughout the organization and makes these training opportunities available on a regular basis.
Encouraging Community Youth Through the Arts
Borderless Arts Tennessee is an eighteen year old statewide nonprofit organization committed to inclusive and accessible arts programs for people with disabilities to enhance educational curriculum, enrich creative expression, empower career development, and encourage community engagement.
Programs include residencies in the schools using the arts to enhance math and science skills, a weekly music program, a weekly dance program, a theater program, a visual arts program, exhibitions, the Young Soloist music competition, and numerous special projects. We work with individuals of all ages and all forms of disabilities. Learn more at www.borderlessartstn.org.
Ghertner & Company believes in “Giving Back” to the middle Tennessee community. Each quarter a $500 donation is made to a local nonprofit agency that is making a positive impact in individuals’ quality of life.
Summer Heat... The Landscape’s Well Being
We have all had to deal with the intense heat this summer in Middle TN. Making sure our bodies
are hydrated as well as our pets with extra care.
But....how do we maintain our landscapes and grass? All to often we think they need more water in this type of weather. We certainly know that for most of the summer we’ve had a surplus of rain in our area. If you have an irrigation system you have most likely set the programs to water on a repeating cycle.
Here are some tips to apply to how to properly treat the landscape and grass during our
type of summer.
• Watering times should be in the early morning before sunrise. This will allow the
excess moisture to be burned off while the water soaks into the soil. Excessive
irrigation run time can create fungus in the grass and shrubs and causing more
harm than good. If your system is not equipped with a rain sensor, reduce the
amount of days when greater amounts of rain are forecasted.
• Cutting heights should be higher to reduce the amount of thatch returned into
the turf. This will also help reduce the risk of fungus appearing in the lawn.
• The application of fertilizer should be spread out over a longer time period
between application so that plants and grass can intake the nutrients and allow
the systemic growth to be stronger, healthier life.
• Prune dense shrubs with hand pruners and thin the plant from the inside to
promote air to pass thru. This practice will curtail the chances of disease and
fungal grow emerging.
Follow these tips to protect your investment during a summer like we’ve experienced!
Partner Post Provided by: Scott Oldham at LSI
Earth Month Travel
Traveling and going on vacation are great for your health. But realistically, it’s not always great for the health of the planet.
Here are some tips on how you can travel with less of an impact on the environment.
Be more efficient with transport
Use the most fuel-efficient means of traveling. Believe it or not, the best-to-worst efficient modes of transportation would be bus, train, car, and then airplane.
At your destination, walk, bike, or use public transportation to get around, as opposed to renting a car.
This could get expensive, but if you need to fly by plane, try flying on a direct flight.
Pack for a sustainable trip
Bring a reusable water bottle, coffee mug, and/or shopping bag to reduce single-use plastics during your trip. You might do takeout here and there, so forego the plastic utensils by bringing your own on the trip.
Some areas may have local drinking water that is not safe for you. As an alternative to bottled water, a portable water purifier could be useful.
If you’re going swimming in the ocean, wear sunscreen that does not contain “oxybenzone” or “octinoxate” (you only need to check under “Active Ingredients” on the bottle’s label). These ingredients have been linked to coral bleaching, and they will be effectively banned in the state of Hawaii in 2021. More research is needed overall on sunscreen’s effect on marine wildlife, but there is reasonable evidence that those two ingredients can damage coral reefs. I know you have heard about the disease that is taking place on the coral reefs in the Gulf.
Every bit of weight on the mode of transport affects fuel economy, so travel light if you can (and save on potential baggage fees)… after you pack your reusable items, water purifier, and sunscreen, of course!
Be mindful of amenities
To save on water, some hotels have policies where they change and wash towels and bed sheets only every two or three days, unless asked otherwise by guests. If you’re not staying at a hotel with such a policy, leave a “Do Not Disturb” tag on your door to be more water-efficient.
It’s easier to forget when you’re on vacation, but watch your usage of air conditioning, heating, and lighting when you leave your lodgings.
For longer trips, you may want to do some laundry. You may not have enough for a full load, so consider hand washing your clothes in cold or warm water and hang dry instead of using the dryer machine.
The Challenge of Effective HOA Meetings
Learning how to run effective meetings as a volunteer HOA board member was the focus of the July Lunch & Learn. A full house was present to learn and discuss the practical elements of leading a productive meeting. Topics covered reasons for and the many types of meetings that need to be considered. Other helpful items included planning, keeping on track, making decisions and delegating action items, parliamentary procedure, and proxies and quorums.
Ghertner & Company provides complimentary board member training each month as a part of the service to our clients. For more information on how to attend please contact Theresa.savich@ghertner.com.
Luau Fun Brings Neighbors Together
On Saturday, July 6th, members of the Sugartree community came together for a luau at the pool. This was the inaugural summer event for the community, who usually hosts an annual Holiday party at the clubhouse in December. The event was planned by May Frederiksen and other members of the pool committee. When planning began the goal was to get at least 25 people to attend, and what a surprise that before the day of the event, there had been nearly 100 RSVP’s. On the day of the event, Mother Nature tried to "Rain on the Party" with rumbles of thunder, a few showers and wind, but it cleared off just in time for everyone to come out and enjoy Bar-B-Que with all the fixings, ice cream and a refreshing summer beverage. The event was such a success that plans are already in the works for next year!
Fire Safety Featured at CAI Meeting
The Tennessee Chapter of CAI (Community Associations Institute) met on Friday, June 28th, with Franklin Fire Department Deputy Chief, Andy King as the featured speaker. Topics included developing an access plan for emergency services, carbon dioxide measuring devices and overall safety tips for properties and communities. Managers, on-site personnel and members of the leadership team were present. Ghertner & Company encourages involvement in the association through attendance, committee involvement and by serving on the Board.
CAI is dedicated to enhancing the quality of Community Association living through education, legal advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities. Learn more at www.caitenn.org.