I want to express my appreciation to each and everyone that attended the February Civic League Meeting. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to actively participate in YOUR community. Of particular importance, there has been a proposal to change or modify the current bylaws. The request was made by the Recreation Center body to alter the election and time frames of the governing body. We will be voting on this change during the April Civic League Meeting. Please plan on attending!

Our March meeting has given way to our annual "potluck" dinner. Since there will not be any business, please seize this opportunity to bring a friend out to socialize with the "regulars"! This may be the catalyst necessary to get more people of our community actively involved.

I have a personal goal this year of having 60 people present at a civic league meeting. I look forward to seeing you there!

OK, so it's not very original.  But . . .membership income is slowing down a bit, so if you haven't paid your annual dues for Civic League 2004, please do stroke a check for $10 (or a little bit more to help pay for the lights on the median) and send it to:

 NOTE:  23471 is the zip code for our post office box, even though it is located in Haygood.

Misplaced your copy of the Civic League Newsletter?  Wish you had last month's Newsletter but it's already been thrown out?  Can't remember the details of an article published some months back?  Now all your problems are solved!  The Civic League Newsletter is posted on the web site and becomes part of the permanent archive.  So you can always visit www.pembrokemeadows.org and read any of the previous newsletters back to December 2002.

The home page of the Civic League web site has been modified to increase security to protect individual’s names, phone numbers and email addresses.  You can still access all the features because you can "read" the access code displayed on the screen.  But companies that automatically scan the Internet for personal information won't be able to get in.  All you have to do is click on the access code graphic and then type in the word on the screen.  For you, it's very easy.  Computer's can't read the access code and therefore can't go any further to visit the actual Civic League web site.  This simple security device won't prevent humans from visiting our site, but it will prevent virtually all bulk-emailers from finding our email addresses and sending SPAM.  If you have any questions, contact Clif Furedy, pmcl@cox.net.

To sign up for median strip duty, call Jim at 499-5115 or e-mail at jdprice@Cox.net. 
 

Last month, the Newsletter included a copy of the pool membership application. There are lots of activities planned for the summer at the pool.  In addition to Thursday dinner nights, weekend cookouts, youth nights, and family socials, there are swim lessons, a Christmas in July party and expanded Noodle and Float Nights.  There is still time (until April 30) to take advantage of the discounted (by 10%) pool membership. For those who have never been members of the pool, it provides great, safe, fun and cheap (less than the cost of a family weekend out-of -town) family activity.  If you need an application or have questions about pool membership, contact either Jim Price (jdprice@Cox.net or 499-5115) or Hubert Pancho (HPANCHO@USA.net or 321-0658).

The pool is home to the Pembroke Meadows Marlins Swim Team, one of 24 teams in the Virginia Beach Swim League.  Over the life of the swim team, thousands of kids have enjoyed the thrill of competition and spirit of camaraderie as members of the team.  Kids between 5 and 18 years of age, regardless of skill or speed, compete in swimming events at five regular season meets.  Regular exercise, sportsmanship and skill improvement are benefits of the swim team.  For swim team information, contact Donna Price (499-5115 or DonnaPrice@COX.net ). 

A neighborhood tradition continues on April 24: the annual Spring Fling.  This is a time when neighbors come together to spruce up our assets at the end of Pembroke Blvd: the park, the dam path and the pool grounds.  Come renew old friendships.  Come make new ones.  Meet your neighbors.  Join in a group effort to beautify the area that so many of us use for walking, running, biking, wildlife observing, fishing, and just plain relaxing.  Bring yard tools and make your mark.  Lunch will be served in the park for all those who helped.  Clean up begins at 9 a.m. followed by a cookout in the newly spiffed up park.

Hope to see you at your place in the sun, in the cool of the pool.

Make crime prevention a priority.
Watching out and reporting suspicious activity to authorities are still the best tools for fighting crime of any nature.

The average citizen is his or her own first line of defense.  The police, nine times out of ten, get there after the crime or incident has already taken place.

Call 911 when necessary.

Some of our neighbors have taken it upon themselves to have every tree removed from their property.  Although they may have to legal right to do just that, they obviously have given little to no consideration to how their actions may affect others in our community.  There are literally thousands of homes in Virginia Beach on property that is completely barren of trees.  Anyone wanting to avoid the fall leaf cleanup, or anyone paranoid of the next hurricane, or anyone that just doesn't like birds and squirrels can easily find solace outside of Pembroke Meadows.  So why then would these people want to live here and then destroy the things of beauty that are enjoyable to the rest of us?  Those trees that are already gone will never be completely restored during my remaining lifetime.  For those neighbors that are still contemplating tree removal, please have an arborist (tree expert) advise you prior to removal of these beautiful assets to our community.

Take at look at "Shop & Swap", a new section of the Pembroke Meadows Civic League web site. 

Classified Ads listed in the Newsletter, such as items For Sale, Garage & Yard Sale notices, Bazaar schedules and any ad for non-commercial  products or events will be posted on the web site for 30 days.  Inclusion is subject to space limitations and suitability. 

Our neighborhood has reinvented itself in recent years! While our civic league and garden club have been most productive in median enhancements and beautification projects respectively, our neighborhood welcomes many new homeowners. New businesses are sprouting up around us, and the median price of our homes continues to rise. We welcome those new neighbors, and encourage all, new and established residents, to become involved in your civic league.

Because we have many new faces in the neighborhood, our community directory is more important than ever. Our directory is a publication that includes the history of Pembroke Meadows/Shores, neighborhood covenants, local advertisements, and current resident information. The directory is typically published every four years, and it is distributed to all neighborhood homes at no cost.

The civic league is calling for volunteers to work on the directory, and because it only comes around every four years, it is a great way to volunteer without a long-term commitment! We desperately need volunteers to help canvas the neighborhood, and to work on our directory committee. Canvassing will begin early spring, please neighbors - lend a hand. This is a great
way to meet new neighbors, or renew old friendships. Canvassing would be a great community service project for students required to volunteer in their community. If you are interested please call David Long at 493-8588/e-mail SPECMEDIC@aol.com.

The next Afternoon Tea will be held at Ferry Plantation House on Saturday, June 19, 2004.  This tea began as a fundraiser for the enhancement of the median.  When enough money had been raised for the flagpole and lights, the tea was continued to benefit the restoration of Ferry.  The tea has had tremendous popularity; so if you would like to get your name on the list, call Clera Hall at 473-8258 or Peggy Caverly at 490-0925.  Many neighbors in the community have volunteered to help with the tea, be it helping to clean the house before the tea, setting up for the tea or cleaning up afterwards.  If you would like to join in the fun, please call us.  We can always report that “a good time was had by all.”  We’re looking forward to hearing from you.