The residents of the Sullivan Farms HOA participated in two events recently to support worthy causes. The first event was a Craft Fair featuring the handiwork and items of forty local vendors. Proceeds from the event went to two foundations that the HOA supports: Faithfully Restored Women and Brett Boyer. Next was the LEGO Truck event that donates to children in need this holiday season when Lego sets are purchased and built. Learn more at #BuildtoGive. Ghertner & Company salutes the Sullivan Farms board members and residents for making a positive impact during these challenging times.
Why Plant Native Trees?
The Ghertner & Company Arboretum, located at our corporate office in Nashville, includes over forty species of trees so far, and is still growing. Our goal is to support local biodiversity by featuring trees that are native to Middle Tennessee.
Here’s a brief article by a Nashville naturalist that shows the importance of planting native.
Need a New Tree? Go Native!
By Joanna Brichetto , Tennessee Naturalist, SidewalkNature.com
Why choose a native tree? Not just because natives are beautiful and can deal with our soils and seasons, but because they feed our food web.
If you want birds, bees, and butterflies, plant native.
If you want to boost biodiversity, plant native.
If you want a healthy ecosystem, plant native.
“Every living creature on the planet relies on native plants for survival,” says the National Wildlife Foundation. Animals and plants evolved together in place, which means native plants “are the foundation of local food webs, giving butterflies, birds, and other wildlife what they need to survive.”
Have you heard that one third of all animal species might go extinct in the next 50 years? Or that we’ve lost 1 in 4 birds since 1970? The reason for both is habitat loss. And because we’ve run out of wilderness, our yards are now crucial habitat. Our yards are Nature!
The problem is that most yards are already landscaped with exotic plants: our turfgrasses, shrubs and groundcovers are typically from another continent which may share our latitude but not our ecosystem. Even Kentucky bluegrass is not from North America. Nor are most shrubs (even “American” boxwood), nor any Crepe-myrtle. All these plants are native somewhere, but not here. And guess which plant outnumbers every other tree in Tennessee? Chinese privet.
So, our Nature needs all the native we can give it. The biggest, best bang for the buck is a new tree.
A Bounty of Bugs
How do trees feed birds? Seeds, fruit, sometimes nectar, but here’s the biggie: bugs! This is where exotic trees can’t compete. Butterfly and moth moms look for particular native trees when time to lay eggs. And when caterpillars hatch, many become bird food. 96% of all backyard birds—even the birds who come to our seed feeders—can only feed insects to their young. No caterpillars, no new birds.
And only native trees “host” caterpillars in the numbers needed. A native oak can feed over 400 species of butterfly and moth, but a Ginkgo in Nashville can host only one. (Other top producers include native black cherries, willows, maples, crabapple, and elm.)
How many caterpillars does it take to raise one chickadee family? About 7,000, reckons Doug Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope, which is an excellent guide to the why and how of turning your yard into bona fide, helpful Habitat.
Selecting a Native Tree for Your Yard
Meanwhile, a native tree can give YOU everything you wanted in the first place: curb appeal, home value, shade, privacy, HVAC benefits, erosion control, edible fruit, pretty flowers, and a gorgeous way to track the seasons.
To learn which trees are native, type your zip code into these two sites which can save your selections as a list.
National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder (The butterfly icon shows how many species a genus hosts.)
If a tree you love isn’t listed in either site, it may still be native. Check this printable pdf “Landscaping with Native Plants: Middle TN” from the TN Invasive Plant Council. It also lists native groundcovers, vines, shrubs, ferns, and flowers.
For more info on why and how to turn your yard into Habitat, see Doug Tallamy’s online project: Homegrown National Park, which aims to encourage small efforts of many people to create a network of biodiverse yards
Resources:
Nashville's all-native nurseries are GroWild, Inc. and Nashville Natives. Both are open by appointment.
Villages of Riverwood Social Committee Gets Creative
Although 2020 has been a tough year for community events, the Villages of Riverwood social committee thought outside the box this Fall to create opportunities for residents to have safe interaction. In October they put together a scaled-back Community Yard Sale. Next, was Halloween and they applied for and received a Metro Health Department event permit. Residents setup chairs around the clubhouse island (practiced social distancing) to give out candy as the Halloween parade of children & pets participated. That was followed in the evening by an outdoor movie in the parking lot. Everyone wore face masks and had a great time. On November 10th and 11th, the social committee hosted a Red Cross Blood Drive at the clubhouse yielding 63 pints, which equates to helping 189 patients. More fun activities are planned for the remainder of the year!
Veteran Honored During Grand Ole Opry Performance
Operation FINALLY HOME, Beazer Homes and Ashlar Development enlisted Army Veteran and country music entertainer Craig Morgan to surprise U.S. Army Sergeant Ethan LaBerge and his family ahead of Veterans Day with the news they will be receiving a mortgage-free home recently during a show at the Grand Ole Opry®.
The organizations have partnered together to build a custom-built, mortgage-free home for the LaBerge family in Nichols Vale in Mt. Juliet, a Ghertner & Company managed community.
Ethan LaBerge and his family thought they were at the Opry as part of a special recognition series for Purple Heart recipients. Following a performance by U.S. Army veteran, Operation FINALLY HOME ambassador and Opry member Craig Morgan, Morgan paused to address the LaBerge family:
“U.S. Army Sergeant Ethan LaBerge and Arin, we thank you for your service to our country,” said Morgan. “While you’re here because you’re a Purple Heart recipient, you’re also here so we can share some exciting news. Thanks to Beazer Homes, Ashlar Development and Operation FINALLY HOME, you are receiving a mortgage-free home in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.”
Representatives from Beazer Homes, Ashlar Development and Operation FINALLY HOME, including Operation FINALLY HOME founder, Dan Wallrath, safely gathered at the Opry to present Ethan and his family with a symbolic key to their new home.
Professional Development Goes Virtual
Adapting to the times, the Tennessee Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI), is still meeting regularly via Zoom meetings with relevant topics for Homeowner Associations and Community Association Managers. The recent October online meeting shared about the effects on reserves of covid induced inflation and whether funds were available to bridge the operations/maintenance shortfall.
CAI TN is dedicated to enhancing the quality of Community Association Living in the State Of Tennessee. We accomplish this through education, legal advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities.
Ghertner & Company associates are encouraged to participate in CAI meetings as part of their professional development and many team members are in leadership roles.
Ghertner & Company Leadership Expands
Useful Portal Resources Available Online
Take advantage of the online resources at Ghertner.com to learn more about the many features of the new software portal. Step by step pdf guides are available at https://ghertner.com/homeowner-vantaca-guides to assist you in the process of taking full advantage of the homeowner portal.
Virtual Training for HOA Board Members
Convenient Options for New Portal Training for Board Members
"On Board" Summer Newsletter
Check out the Summer Newsletter. In this issue:
Customer Comments
“Giving Back” Community Involvement
New Portal Information and Q&A
Board Training Session Schedule
“Before & After” on Ghertner Maintenance Projects
See this issue at https://bit.ly/31HFp9q
HOA Board Member Training Schedule for 2020
Pool Openings Delayed Nationwide: Community Associations Institute Report
A significant portion (41%) of community association pools have not opened this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while 30% of communities have opened pools following a delay, according to a new report released by Community Associations Institute (CAI).
According to the results, only 7% of respondents reported opening their pool on time. Several factors were behind the decision of communities that did not open their pool as regularly scheduled, including: fear of exposure to legal liability (58%); fear of spreading COVID-19 (50%); and attorney recommendation (48%). The communities that opened their pool reported instituting several new procedures, including: prohibiting guests (60%); requiring residents to sign a liability waiver (40%); and requiring residents to bring their own chairs (37%). Expenses related to the pool are higher than budgeted due to COVID-19 in roughly 35% of communities.
“The question to open a community association pool has been one of the most controversial and complicated topics facing condominiums and homeowners associations (HOAs) this season,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s chief executive officer. “Unfortunately, it’s not a one-size-fits-all model, and the decisions to open or not open are tailored to each community and specific to their unique circumstances. Communities have to consider guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local requirements, the association’s ability to set and enforce rules, liability, resident sentiment, safety, and expenses.
CAI, the leading authority in community association education, governance, and management, conducted a survey of volunteer board members, community managers, and other industry stakeholders from late June to early July to understand how and why community associations made decisions regarding their pool(s).
For more information about the impact of COVID-19 and community associations, visit CAIOnline.org.
Source: CAIOnline.org/PressReleases
HOA Board Leadership Training Schedule for 2020
Partnering with Wyngate HOA and the TN Environmental Council
The Wyngate HOA in Spring Hill, in cooperation with the Tennessee Environmental Council, has been working diligently to preserve seventeen acres in their common area known as the Peter Jenkins Walking Trail. To assist in this conservation effort, one hundred trees were donated by Ghertner & Company as the quarterly “Giving Back” charity in support of this conservation effort. HOA President David Huebner (center), is presented with the check by Jaye Kloss and Jeff Campbell with Ghertner & Company (left). Also present are Sam West of the TEC and Wayne T. Pressler of the TN Department of Agriculture (right).
Middle Tennessean Wins Baking Challenge
Nate Clingman, a homeowner in Burkitt Place, recently won the Food Channel’s BakeAway Camp competition (with Martha Stewart). This competition featured several contestants participating in baking challenges to seek the favor of the judges with their culinary treats as Martha Stewart shared baking tips along the way. Participants battled the outdoor elements as they lived in tents during the contest. Ghertner & Company congratulates Nate Clingman on this accomplishment!
Sullivan Farms HOA Senior Parade!
The Sullivan Farms HOA recently celebrated their “Class of 2020 Seniors” with a parade through the community. The Ghertner & Company team congratulates these graduates as they transition into the next phase of their lives. Best wishes in achieving your dreams!
Town Hall Meeting Offers Legal Direction
As Middle Tennessee Homeowner Associations continue to consider the steps to reopening the common areas safely and legally, Ghertner & Company hosted a Town Hall meeting on May 15th which featured attorney Gerald C. Wigger with the Ortale Kelley Law Firm. Mr. Wigger shared practical advice for board members and managers to consider when reopening pools, playgrounds, fitness centers, tennis courts, etc…
Ghertner & Company was excited to have over 180 people participate in this virtual Town Hall meeting in which they were able to follow the slide show information and ask specific questions related to their community concerns.
This Town Hall meeting has been recorded and is available for viewing at the website Ghertner.com/board-member-training.
Liberty Downs HOA Honors Graduates
The Liberty Downs HOA honored its community’s 2020 Graduates by featuring them in a special issue of their online communication. The Graduate Showcase posted a picture and short biography of three college/university graduates, four high schoolers, two middle schoolers and four elementary graduates.
The Ghertner & Company team congratulates these 2020 Graduates in their accomplishments and wishes them the best for a bright future!
Community Effort by HOA Featured on WSMV
When a simple request for assistance in obtaining masks was recently made, one of our local communities, Jackson Hills in Mt. Juliet heard that call. They turned this simple request into a unified effort known now as the “Mask Brigade”. The “Mask Brigade” was able to provide over 3,000 masks for hospital employees, fire fighters, EMT workers, and coffee shop team members! Their story was even recently featured on WSMV Channel 4. Way to go Jackson Hills!!!
