Whiteplains UNICOM #7: Help Wanted

When your Board of Directors looked at our situation for 2006 and beyond, we saw some big challenges ahead. Chief among them were: loss of many resources that the developer provided, new responsibilities coming for Phase II and for the runway and common properties, and an inequitable distribution of work, with the old Airport Operations Manager (Lee Van Wormer) doing most of it.

We realized that we needed either more volunteer labor or more cash. Paying for needed services would require special assessments and a significant regime fee increase… therefore we chose to implement a structure of volunteers to help us get our work accomplished at minimum cost.

This has worked well, up to a point. We are keeping up with maintenance, and even making some improvements. But, to move ahead, we need more volunteers. If everyone could give just an hour or two a month to the community, we could continue to make great improvements to our environment.

What kind of volunteers and skills do we need? Glad you asked…

We need more lawn mower operators for the common areas and unimproved lots. See Bill Como or Don Cook to volunteer and get trained on our fancy new equipment. We also need a weed-whacking brigade and blower operators to support the mower drivers with trim and clean-up work. Can you spare an hour or two a month for this? Again, see Bill or Don.

We also need folks with a wide range of professional/technical skills to offer their services to the community. Just to name a few: a landscaper to advise us of how to keep both entranceways looking the best at the lowest possible cost, folks knowledgeable in insurance and tax matters to help the Board with financial issues, an electrical expert to keep our lights burning brightly and our gates working, and construction people to help us maintain and upgrade our infrastructure. Perhaps you have some talent (or interest) that would benefit us all.

There will continue to be more committees formed to look at specific issues. We’ve had a Mowing Committee and an Insurance Committee so far. Right now, we’re starting a Signage Committee to evaluate all Whiteplains signage. Another couple of members are needed.

The people currently in leadership positions won’t keep those jobs forever, so we’re always looking for residents to get involved and then to step up to larger roles. This includes, obviously, serving on the Board of Directors (among other things).

The Whiteplains retirees have been doing a lot of the work because, frankly, they have more free time. Nonetheless, there are opportunities for everyone to contribute. The payoff is in meeting and getting to know your neighbors, and in making your community a better place in which to live. Please consider it. No, don’t just consider it… pick up the phone and call Bill or Don or me and say that you want to join the team working long sweaty hours with little appreciation.

Ken Plesser, President
Whiteplains Plantation Association