Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – 7:00 pm

Fair Haven United Methodist Church, 1330 Gessner

Agenda:

7:00 – 8:00 Committee Reports and General

Business

8:10 – 8:55 State Representative Dwayne Bohac

• • • Important bills passed during the 81st Legislative Session
    • Spring Branch Management District Update
    • North Gessner Update

It is important for ROCA residents to be present at this meeting to show support and concerns to Spring Branch and issues with North Gessner.

Mark you calendars:

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – 7:00

Fair Haven United Methodist Church

We look forward to seeing you there….

Red, White and Blue: What do the colors stand for?

The Continental Congress left no record to show why it chose these colors. However, in 1782, the Congress of the Confederation chose these same colors for the Great Seal of the United States and listed their meaning as follows: white to mean purity and innocence, red for valor and hardiness and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice. According to legend, George Washington interpreted the elements of the flag this way: the stars were taken from the sky, the red from the British colors and the white stripes signified the secession from the home country. However, there is no official designation or meaning for the colors of the flag.

Is there anything more fitting for our military to carry into battle or for our heroes to rest under? That flag and its predecessors have flown over every battle fought by the United States since it was approved by the Continental Congress in the late 1700s. The flag has been used to bind many wounds and has covered many caskets.
It gives one a feeling of pride to drive the streets of America and see the flag waving from homes and businesses. It makes one sad to see a tattered flag flying. The feelings of pride and patriotism lead to the hoisting of our flag. It is considered disrespectful to continue to raise the flag when she is faded and/or torn. Do you fly a flag? Have you inspected it lately? If it is faded or torn then you should retire her out of respect. Please don’t throw her away. Retire her properly.

If you plan on retiring your flag, please comment below

for Residents of Royal Oaks

Shadow Oaks Recreation Association, at 10502 Westview, is a non-profit recreation association open, for membership, to all area residents. Shadow Oaks Recreation Association is extending a special offer to residents of Royal Oaks. Royal Oaks residents, in good standing with paid civic association dues, can join the Shadow Oaks pool for an additional $99.00 off the current new member price.  New associate memberships, with the discount, are $200.00, and New Stock-holding memberships, with the discount are $400.00.  Membership must be paid by May 31 in order to receive this special offer.   As an added convenience, SORA accepts credit card payments via the web site at  www.shadowoakspool.org

SORA has been in continuous operation since 1966!  Many of its members swam at SORA as kids, and now bring their own children to enjoy the facilities. SORA is an all volunteer organization, and is not paid for with neighborhood association dues. Memberships are open to all area residents, with memberships to fit many budgets. Both seasonal and year round memberships are available. SORA has over 2.5 acres of shaded grounds that include a 25 meter pool, basketball court, playground structure, volleyball and horseshoes.  And negotiations with the city, for the possible refurbishing of the tennis courts, is in the works .  There is also a covered pavilion for parties or just enjoying the shade!  Wi-Fi will also be available this season.

The Shadow Oaks Dolphins Swim Team is available to kids age 4-18.   After school practice starts May 1! The swim team is a member of the Memorial Spring Branch Swim League and compete with other area pools in home and away swim meets.  Kids of all experience levels are encouraged to join, previous swimming experience is not necessary!  Our primary goal is to foster a sense of accomplishment in each swimmer, as well as develop their athletic abilities. The Dolphins are a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, and all donations to the team are tax deductible.

Royal Oaks Residents are encouraged to visit the SORA facilities!  For questions about membership, please call, Royal Oaks resident and SORA Board Member and Membership Chairperson, Lisa Harman at (713) 465 – 0241 and or leave a message at the pool, (713) 932 – 0241.  You can also visit the SORA website at www.shadowoakspool.org

Tuesday, March 31   6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 7  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Both workshops will be held at the United Way of Greater Houston facility, 50 Waugh Drive (between Washington Ave. & Memorial Dr.), Houston, Texas 77007. You will only need to attend only one of the workshops.

Space is limited at these workshops so hurry and RSVP today by emailing Kelli.Forge@cityofhouston.net which workshop you would like to attend.

Below is a link to the Prohibited Yard Parking Ordinance:  http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/ComPlanning/yardparking_prog.html

Please review prior to attending the workshop so you’ll know what questions to ask in reference to your respective neighborhood.

If you have any questions, please contact Nathan Kraus at 713/837.7931 or  Nathan.kraus@cityofhouston.net

The March meeting represents the beginning of the ROCA fiscal year and the time to elect a new slate of officers and area reps to lead the Royal Oaks Civic Association. Both our current President, Alan Getschmann and Vice President, Cynthia Liveris, are stepping down at the March meeting. Leadership in both of these positions is vital to the management and oversight of the subdivision. We ask each homeowner to please consider serving on the ROCA Board in one of these or any other elected board position, and/or groups and committees.

Buying and wearing a “No-Crime” T-shirt shows solidarity with our neighbors against crime. Get yours for $12.00 at the March 31 members meeting. All proceeds will benefit the NIA initiative.

The NIA initiative is ROCA’s way of complimenting the work of the Citizen Patrol organization. The initiative is not a part of, nor is it an effort of, the CP organization. It is strictly a ROCA sponsored initiative.
Help Prevent Crime in Royal Oaks Pledge to wear your T-Shirt . . .

• when you walk or exercise in the neighborhood.
• when you ride your bicycle through the neighborhood.
• when you push your babies in strollers through the neighborhood.
• when you walk your dog (s) through the neighborhood.

Hope everyone is doing well on this beautiful and cool day.  I just want to invite everyone once again to the benefit we are having this Saturday for our friend James.  James finally came home last Friday after being in the hospital for 4 months and still has a long way to recovery.  Come out and enjoy BBQ plates(chicken,brisket,sausage,potato salad, rice and beans for $8) live music, face painting, silent and live auctions with alot of great items to bid on.  Hope to see you there and know that you are giving a little of your time and support to a Deputy Sheriff who use to put his life on the line for us every day. God Bless!!!

American Legion Hall
3105 Campbell Rd.
Houston, TX.
Benefit starts at 12 noon until 6 p.m.

bbq-benefit flyer

• Westpark Consumer Recycling Center at 5900 Westpark (also includes tires, BOPA, and Scrap Electronics recycling)
• Environmental Service Center (South) at 11500 South Post Oak (For household hazardous waste and scrap electronics recycling only)
• Kirkpatrick Depository at 5565 Kirkpatrick (Tires and oil also)
• Central Street Depository at 2240 Central Street (Tires and oil also)
• Sunbeam Depository at 5100 Sunbeam (Tires and oil also)
• 3602 Center (newspaper, magazines, office paper; glass food & beverage bottles and jars; #1 -5, and 7 plastics; tin & aluminum food cans; cardboard boxes-broken down) — Open 24/7
• Vista Fibers at 1200 Brittmoore
• 1245 Judiway (Glass only)
• Kingwood Park & Ride at 3210 W. Lake Houston Parkway (2nd and 4th weekends of the month)
• Ellington Field (Clear Lake Area) at Highway 3 @ Dixie Farm Road — Open 24/7
• Additional drop-off sites are located at your local H-E-B food stores.