I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 Getting Started

1 Writing Great Newsletter

Articles

2 Fitting an Article into a Tight

Space

3 Inserting Your Own Art

4 The Elements of a

Newsletter

August, 2017 Volume XXXIV, Issue 8

Issue 7

CMA TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT CLOISTER CLUBHOUSE

The Board has approved the addition of an Administrative Assistant. The position will be a CMA employee with an office in the Clubhouse who will be dedicated to the Cloister for up to 24 hours per week, beginning in August at a cost of $24,960 annually. The continuance of the service will be evaluated at year-end. This assistant will work with Property Manager Hanna Gritsak and the Board in the management of our community. Duties will include:

scheduling of maintenance

interfacing with contractors

managing the Clubhouse calendar and private event requests

sorting through 14 boxes of records from the previous manager and digitizing records with historical value required to be maintained by governing documents (Minutes and Motions)

assisting Unit Owners with their accounts

preparing Board Minutes

performing other tasks as assigned by the COA and property manager

The assistant will be knowledgeable of all CMA software programs and will be able to assist residents on the status of their accounts, maintenance scheduled for their units, and Variance Request status. Wi-Fi will be added at the Clubhouse to support the new position as well as for Unit Owners attending meetings held at the Clubhouse. The Treasurer has analyzed the 2017 Budget to ensure sufficient funds are available for the position. The fiduciary goal of the Board for 2017 is to meet the needs of the community while remaining on budget and fulfilling the commitment to contribute $200,000 (exclusive of the Capital Fee Contributions by new owners) to the Reserve Account by year end. Watch for details about Administrative Assistant office hours and other important information.

--Brenda Starnes, COA President

THE

CLOISTER

NEWS

Page 2 CLOISTER NEWS

DAVE HINER RESIGNS FROM BOARD

We thank Dave Hiner for his Board contributions for the first half of 2017. His prior experience as a plant manager was invaluable as co-chair of the Maintenance/Infrastructure Committee, and his service was much appreciated by the Board and residents. Dave has resigned for health reasons.

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“PIGS IN A BLANKET” (OR CABBAGE ROLLS) FOR AUGUST 8th COVERED

DISH

Some call this dish Pigs in a Blanket and some call them Cabbage Rolls; but regardless, if Ruth Price or Michaelene Gnau cooks it, you want to eat it! These ladies will provide us with two versions of “Pigs in a Blanket” on Tuesday, August 8—one has sauerkraut and the other has a tomato-based sauce. You may want to try both!

And, you lucky people who moved in during 2017 have scored! Good Neighbors, our Cloister welcoming group, is providing a free covered dish ticket to all who have joined our community this year! Your representative may have delivered you a ticket, but if not, come right on—we have the official list and will grant you a big $4 admission to one of the best meals in town free! This invitation is good through the November 2017 covered dish. Remember, decaf tea and coffee is provided, and you may bring your favorite drink if desired. We can’t wait to see what appetizers, salads, side dishes, and desserts residents will bring this month—except for those lucky 2017 new residents who don’t need to bring food the first time. We gather to visit about 5:30, and dinner is served at 6 p.m. See you there!

--Covered Dish Planning Group

CERTAPRO CHOSEN FOR LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL PAINTING

FOR PHASE I

The Board approved a bid of $76,170 from CertaPro to perform the exterior wood repair and painting for Phase I to begin immediately after the contract is signed with an anticipated completion by November 1. The Cloister five-year painting rotation plan, a change from the previous four-year plan, was approved last year as a cost-cutting measure. The 24 buildings (48 units) being painted this year include all of Loyola and 200-235 Cana Circle. In addition to exterior wood repair and painting, the contractor will clean siding, paint shutters and clean patios. Doors will be painted the existing same color at COA expense. Any change in door color will be painted at Unit Owner expense and should be coordinated through the Property Manager Hanna Gritsak. In preparation for this work, Unit Owners are encouraged to trim all shrubs, trees and other plants to acceptable standards to allow painters access to the buildings. Storm window removals are Unit Owner responsibility and expense. Additionally, window screen removals and clearance of patios for pressure washing will be coordinated with Unit Owners by our Property Manager. (Note: The 5-year rotational map is on the bulletin board in the Clubhouse.)

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CLOISTER NEWS Page 3

BOOK CLUB NEWS

The Cloister Book Club met on July 20 as scheduled. Our leader, Dixie Frederiksen, was in St. Louis enlightening those folks on some aspect of biochemistry, and Alice Schwartz graciously agreed to sub for Dixie. Many thanks to Alice!

The book-of-the-month was A SAGA OF WEALTH by James Presley. As luck would have it, the book is out of print, so hard to find, and some who started it found it very technical and quickly lost interest in drilling for oil in Texas.

On the other hand, if wildcatting for oil wells is your thing, you’ll love the book. Some found the book interesting since, according to them, the US economy is based on the price of oil. It seems that one of our readers is an authority on the stock market. Investment Club, anyone?

The selection for August 17 at 11 a.m. is either BLOOD ROOT or LONG MAN by Amy Greene. Take your pick. Both books deal with life in Appalachia and should be interesting.

To repeat Rule #1 for this book club: you don’t have to read the book; you can just participate in an enjoyable discussion.

--Betty Moth

Cloister Property Values

Units Average per Average Year Sold Square Foot Sales Price

2011 25 $98.46 $131,200

2012 17 $101.57 $146,857

2013 20 $113.36 $155,084

2014 16 $135.04 $192,467

2015 20 $146.24 $197,105

2016 18 $154.00 $208,456

2017 so far 14 $165.00 $236,250

Thanks to Betsy Stewart, Alice Schwartz and their

realtor friends for these stats!

Probably the most impressive statistic is that

properties were on the market an average of 45

days last year, but the average this year is 17 days!

COMMUNICATIONS IS LOOKING FOR A CLOISTER NEWS EDITOR

Laura Hill, our CLOISTER NEWS Editor for 2017, has asked to be replaced. We very much appreciate her sharing her talents with the Cloister this year. If you are interested in serving your community in this role or know of someone who has writing and computer skills who might consider being editor, please contact the Communications Committee.

--Brenda Butler, Communications Chair 615-243-5631, bjbutler1@aol.com

2018 COA BOARD ELECTION IS COMING

It’s about that time again!! If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors or know of anyone who is, please contact me. I will have all the information and deadlines in the September CLOISTER NEWS. Mark your calendar for the Annual Board Meeting and Election on Sunday, January 7, 2018

--Sophia Keller, Nominating Chairperson, 615-356-1437, sbkeller2@yahoo.com

COMCAST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Questions about your Comcast account or issues with your service, just call our account service rep, Lacee McKellar at 615-956-1677 or email at Lacee_McKellar@cable.comcast.com. You can also call the Comcast Bulk Account office at 855-510-1609.

Page 4 CLOISTER NEWS

Free Friday Night Movies

Thanks to Barbara Swift and new resident, Beverly Wallace, for providing this Friday night activity twice a month for residents. Movies begin at 6:45 p.m. and usually run about two hours.

The August 4th film, “Hidden Figures,” tells the true story of three African American women mathematicians who worked at NASA as human computers helping to put John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and Alan Shepard into space. The film was nominated for an Academy Award.

On August 18th, Drew Barrymore stars in “Ever After,” a decidedly different interpretation of this vintage tale. Formulated as real French history, the Barrymore Cinderella has some twenty-first century spunk.

If anyone needs a ride, call Sue Hegland at 650-888-1215 and we’ll arrange to pick you up (we can handle wheel chairs and walkers!)

MONDAY, AUGU

Join your neighbors at the Clubhouse for the Total Eclipse on August 21. We’ll have inexpensive eclipse glasses available and bring light, salad/sandwich, lunch-type dishes to share with friends. Schedule:

11:30 Lunch starts

12 noon partial eclipse starts

1:28 TOTAL ECLIPSE lasting 2 about minutes

2:30 partial eclipse ends

This is a come-and-go affair. If you prefer, feel free to just come and watch by the pool and not do lunch.

SOLAR ECLIPSE FACTS

This is the first total solar eclipse on American soil since 1991 (across Hawaii).

This is first total solar eclipse on the mainland since 1979 (across Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota).

This is first total solar eclipse to sweep across the country since 1918.

This will be the largest astronomical event in US history due to the Internet.

The last total solar eclipses in Nashville were July 7, 1442 and July 29, 1478.

The next total solar eclipse Nashville can expect to see will be on August 16, 2566 with two minutes and 15 seconds of totality.

SOLAR ECLIPSE WATCHIN’ & LUNCHIN’ PARTY

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CLOISTER NEWS Page 5

CLUBHOUSE LIBRARY – WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

For many years, residents have contributed books to our Clubhouse Library. Then Annie Sangervasi and Sophia Keller, for about the last ten years, have kept the book and magazine inventory in great order. They regularly clean out duplicates or others past prime and donate to Goodwill.

It is estimated that you will find over 600 books in our comfortable library. They include hard cover and paperbacks, some in large print.

Come over, take a look at the selection, and take those interesting to you. No check out is required. No limit is enforced. When finished with the book(s) or magazine(s) you have borrowed, just leave them on a table in the Library, and the ladies will return them to the proper place.

Thanks to Annie and Sophia, for this service to the Cloister community!

Cloister Directory Updates

New Residents:

Rev. Andrew Bulso; 239 Cana Circle; 615-353-1600

June Collins; 404 Siena Drive; 629-800-5185 and cell 423-914-8935; junecollins@centurylink.net

Duncan Currey & Barbee Smith; 209 Cana Circle; 615-513-4580 (D) and 615-430-5309(B); drcurrey@comcast.net and barbeesmith@me.com

Joe & Sandra Edwards; 710 Mt. Carmel; 615-337-9218; ejmichael@bellsouth.net (J) and LiLLady44@gmail.com (S)

Jamie Gregory & Dotty Tucker; 285 Cana Circle; 615-969-5672

Rebecca McGee; 426 Siena Susan Selcke; 700 Mt. Carmel; 612-424-3339;

susjselc@comcast.net (not moving in until fall)

Delete: Louis & Lenora Becker, 700 Mt. Carmel -

moved Rev. Anthony Mutuku, 239 Cana Circle –

moved George Shoun; 104 Emma Neuhoff –

deceased

For changes to the Directory, contact Brenda Butler, 615-243-5631 or bjbutler1@aol.com. For additional Directory copies, contact Gayle Welch, 615-953-7350 or galyetwelch@gmail.com or print online copy corrected monthly at www.cloisteratsthenry.com.

Homes for Sale: 403 Siena Drive A Unit $274,999(w/basement) Margaret Hubbach(realtor) 615-390-6205 429 Siena Drive A Unit $235,000 Tommy Tolleson (owner) 615-233-5234 276 Cana Circle A Unit $217,000 Kathy Carlson (daughter) 615-727-2566 260 Cana Circle A Unit Coming soon 101 Cloister Drive B Unit Under contract

Sold: 209 Cana Circle, 808 Marquette, 700 Mt. Carmel, 404 Siena Drive, 450 Siena Drive

For additional information on available units, or to report new availabilities, contact: Betsy Stewart, 276-206-5910, betsymerlin@att.net

Page 6 CLOISTER NEWS

GOOD NEIGHBORS GROUP NEEDS YOU!

I have lived in the Cloister for 2 ½ years. After joining the Good Neighbors Committee, I quickly learned that the Cloister is a community of people who truly care about each other.

Our committee members are assigned to a street or group of homes to check on residents a few times a year by phone or by visiting. Unfortunately, some streets or groups of homes are not covered because we need MORE VOLUNTEERS! Please come to our next meeting on Thursday, August 16, at 10 a.m. in the Clubhouse to see what the committee is about or to volunteer to visit some neighbors who currently do not have a contact person. My goal is to have 100% coverage of our neighbors’ needs, health and well being. Good Neighbors sponsor two events for all residents: a Cookie Exchange around holiday time and a brunch in the spring. Watch the newsletter for those opportunities to meet and get to know your neighbors—and to enjoy the food. If you’d like to come to the committee meeting or either of the social events but you cannot get out and about, please feel free to contact me by phone at 281-723-4428 or by email at sharonb.richardson@yahoo.com.

--Sharon Richardson, Good Neighbors Chair

Frances Dillon, affectionately known as “Nana” to her family, passed away peacefully on July 20th at the age of 91. She was born in Chattanooga to the late William Seay Hunter and Nellie Marie Penix and was raised in Nashville where she attended Tarbox Elementary and West End High School.

Frances married her late husband, Joseph Dillon, Sr., and they were energetic parents to four children, leading scout troops, sports teams and church activities. After Joe passed away in 1976, she became a valued employee and supervisor at Peabody College and Vanderbilt University. She was a member of the Pilot Service Club, Belle Wood Garden Club, Ladies of Charity and several bridge groups. She was a world traveler and always eager to “pack her bags.”

Surviving Frances are her children Cassandra Estes (Robert), Joseph Dillon, Jr. (Patti), Jeanette Hamlington (Gary) and Ed Dillon (Pamela). She was a loving grandmother and great grandmother to seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two brothers.

A funeral mass was held for Frances on July 24th. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Henry’s Ministry of the Homebound, 6401 Harding Pike, 37205, or Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., 37203.

THE CLOISTER NEWS is published monthly by the Cloister Owners’ Association, 105 Emma Neuhoff Court, Nashville, TN 37205 with news for and about Cloister residents.

Interim Editor: Brenda Butler Phone: 615-243-5631 Email: bjbutler1@aol.com

Distribution: Alice Schwartz

FRANCES DILLON (Long-Time Cloister Resident on Glenmary Court, CLOISTER NEWS editor, bridge player)