Autumn Walk 2016 Annual Meeting and Elections

The 2016 Autumn Walk Annual Meeting and Elections will be held on Monday, November 7th at 7 PM in the Emerson Clubhouse.

The expected agenda:

• This year there will be 1 position open on the three-member Board of Directors. For the elections to be valid, a quorum of 12 houses is needed either in attendance or by proxy.
• Your current Board is:
• Dharmesh Patel, President
• Damon Wood, Vice President
• Mike Fitzgerald, Secretary
• The Board will also be adopting the 2017 Budget at this meeting. Look for the draft budget to be mailed to you soon. Comments can be provided ahead of time or at the meeting.

Emerson Elections

The Emerson Elections will occur just one week later, on Mon., Nov. 14th.

All three resident slots on the 5-member Board are up for re-election. 

In order to provide for better continuity in the future, the terms of office will be staggered based upon the number of votes in this election. 

The candidate getting the most votes will get a 3-year term of office, the next will have 2-years, and the final director will get 1-year.

Watch for Mail

Please keep an eye on your mailbox for the candidate forms and proxy forms that are being mailed to you (separately for each HOA)!

Emerson Capital Improvements - Town Hall 10/24

Emerson will discuss the survey results and the Board's decisions for capital improvement projects at the next Emerson Town Hall Meeting on Mon., Oct. 24th at 7 PM in the Clubhouse.

As you will recall, the Board sent out a survey asking residents to provide feedback on possible improvements to Emerson facilities in order to enhance our quality of life, ranging from an expansion and renovation of the Clubhouse to an expansion of the pool.

48% of the almost 1000 households in Emerson filled out the survey, with many write-in suggestions as well.

"No Parking" Signs

The Howard County Fire Marshal is expected to install "No Parking" signs along the traffic island within the next month. This will create fire lanes to ensure that emergency vehicles can get through.

Once the signs are installed, cars can be ticketed for parking along the islands.

Howard County School Board Candidates (Wed. Oct. 19th)

(Update 11/9/16: Three newcomers were elected to the 7-member Board of Education: Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small, and Mavis Ellis.)

As the General Election approaches, we also have an important Howard County School Board race this year.

The independent School Board directly controls $617.5M (58.8%) of Howard County's entire FY17 Operating Budget, and Howard County has set aside an $891.3M Capital Program for education.

Date: Wed., Oct.19, 2016
Time: 6pm - 9pm (Meet and Greet 6-7 pm, Forum 7-9 pm)
Location: Forest Ridge Elementary School (cafeteria), 9550 Gorman Road, Laurel, MD 20723

The Savage Community Association (SCA) and Forest Ridge Elementary PTA have partnered to bring you a forum for the upcoming Howard County Board of Education candidates prior to the election. Come meet the current BOE members and candidates on the ballot.

http://www.frespta.org/events/howard-county-board-of-education-candidate-forum/

Please Pick Up After Your Pets

Pet waste is growing a problem throughout Emerson.

There are many Dog Waste Stations installed all around Emerson that both supply bags, and have trash receptacles for depositing them after they have been used.

Please help to keep Emerson clean! Thanks all!

2016 Autumn Walk Picnic Pictures

A huge thanks goes out to the volunteers who organized the 5th Annual Autumn Walk (Garden Ranges) Picnic on Sept. 18th, often at their own expense!

There was more great food than we could eat, and we had games for the kids including the cake walk and “shaving-cream/cheese-doodle head.”

Columbia, MD #1 in 2016 Money Magazine Best Places to Live in America

Columbia, MD is #1 on Money Magazine's 2016 Best Places to Live in America list!

This is the sixth consecutive time that Columbia has been in the Top 10 of this biennial ranking, and the first time that Columbia has taken the top spot, with the publication citing good schools, a strong business climate, economic and social diversity, and relatively affordable housing for this region.

This year's rankings emphasized the economy and jobs.

Other Top 50 communities in DC-MD-NoVA were Ashburn, VA (#22) and Hunter Mill, VA (#28, incorporating parts of Reston, Herndon, Vienna, and Tysons Corner).

As you know, Emerson is on the southern boundary of Columbia and shares the same top-rated Howard County school district and library system.

Sign Up for 2016 Autumn Walk Picnic

Update 9/15/16:

Hopefully the weather will be great, but the picnic will be held come rain or shine!

In case of rain, the picnic food and activities will move into the garages at 9832 and 9834. If the weather is good, it will stay outside in the common area behind that row.

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We have more details for the 5th Annual Autumn Walk (Garden Ranges) Potluck Picnic!

Date: Sunday, Sept. 18th
Time: 3 PM - 6 PM
Location: Autumn Walk Common Area (behind the 9830-9838 Townhouse Row)

To sign up to bring a potluck dish or picnic supplies, or volunteer to help, go to SignUpGenius.com:

http://bit.ly/2cpk0fb

or send an email to autumnwalkhoa@gmail.com. Please give us a house number/name so we know who is coming!

Come out and meet your neighbors! Fun for the whole family!

• Food, fun, games, door prizes!
• Autumn Walk HOA will provide pre-made sandwiches, everything else is up to you!

The organizers decided to go with sandwiches this year, so everyone can enjoy the picnic and no one is left tending the grills.

We look forward to seeing you there!