HAWTHORNE HIGHLIGHTS

DRAGON BOAT CLUB NEWS The Hawthorne Dragon Boat Club has recently had their two 10-person dragon boats returned to them after being totally refurbished. They look beautiful – just like new! Community Paddling had to be shut down while the boats were being worked on but has now resumed. It was well known that our community paddlers were very eager to get back into the boats and on the river, and they are enjoying their experience once again. For those people who have never tried paddling a dragon boat but yet might be inquisitive as to what it’s all about, you are so encouraged to come by the Dragon Boat dock area on any Monday at 12:45 PM. for Community Paddling. The dock area is on the western side of the river near the softball field. We have experienced, trained people who will give safety information and demonstrate the techniques of paddling as well as helmsmen who will gladly help in any and all possible ways. Dragon boat paddling is an enjoyable way to give your body the exercise that it needs to seek or maintain your sought-after fitness level – and such paddling is done within a most enjoyable social atmosphere of teamwork. Just think of the teamwork it takes by 10 or more people - all working together in unison to get that big, heavy

boat down the river and yet enjoying each and every minute of it. Who knows? One session in a dragon boat might be your start of future enjoyable times cruising down the beautiful and serene Palatlakaha Creek. We are so very fortunate to have this lovely waterway run right through Hawthorne and invite you to experience it for yourself. Paddles and personal flotation devices are provided for your use. Community paddling on Monday is gentler than the Tuesday and Friday practices. Mondays are designed to introduce people to the sport and to just make paddling an enjoyable, friendly, hour-long experience. Once you’re hooked on the sport, we so welcome you each and every Monday – OR - you might even consider paddling with a bit more intensity. The Tuesday and Friday 2:45 PM. paddling might be what you’re looking for as it does provide a greater workout. Most of the Tuesday and Friday group are members of the Hawthorne race team known as the Hawthorne Dragonflies and participate in dragon boat racing and festivals in the area. The members of the Dragon Boat Club are always eager to welcome new paddlers to the sport which they enjoy so very much. What’s stopping you from your maiden voyage? Give it a try. It is doubtful that you will be disappointed

Volume 28 No. 3 March 2018

as infectious enthusiasm and a spirit of comraderies run very high. One way to see people enjoying the sport – and fun – of dragon boat paddling is by attending this year’s Dragon on the River Festival which will take place on Saturday, March 3 starting at approximately 10:00 AM. There you’ll see race teams made up of various clubs of Hawthorne vying against each other for glory, fame and bragging rights. Additionally, following last year’s introduction of the crowd-pleasing Tug of War competition, a similar competition is also being planned for the 2018 festival. Realizing that such excitement produces thirst and hunger, at the Festival, the Dragon Boat Club will once again be offering hot dogs, potato chips, beverages and home-made cookies for sale at a nominal cost. If you’ve not experienced this festival before, you’ve got to be there this year. You will not regret it. Submitted by Gerry Furlong

DISNEY’S 2018 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Lois Weber (AKA Lois Bandt-Weber, my artist name) was honored to be one of the artist participants in Disney World’s Festival of the Arts, Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Lois taught 26 people how to quill. As only 1 hour 15 minutes was allotted to teach, I figured I had better KISS it (Keep It Simple Stupid). A snowflake ornament was chosen to teach as it only used one color and 2

shapes. Disney provided the materials to be used and I put the kits together. My daughter Susan (my assistant) and I had free entry to the park and were given tickets to any one of the parks for future use. Disney people found me, along with 3 other artists at Artisans on Fifth co-op store in Mt. Dora to invite as we each are very different and creative in our field of art. Submitted by resident Lois Weber

ARCHERY CLUB Hawthorne Archery Club held an Archery Tournament on Saturday, January 27, 2018. The club provided lunch and dessert to archers and spectators. There were 4 classes of shooting. The winners of the tournament were Tom Gagen, Linda Roddy, Richard Hooper and Dereck Johnson.

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AT

HAWTHORNE

If you enjoy fishing, boating or a combination of both, living at Hawthorne has to be like a little sample of heaven, enhanced by the Palatlakaha River (PR) flowing through our community.

We have multiple choices of fishing open to us-ponds, the marina and the PR. You can fish along the shore or from a boat, in the PR or one of the many lakes in Lake County. There are endless ways to try to catch the fish that are available to us, but that will not be addressed here. I will address a few things that you must understand about our fishing opportunities that could possibly make you sick or get you or your guests in some serious legal problems with the State of Florida. We have three ponds in our community that contain some big fish. They are Lake Fountain, Lake Serenity and Lake Sunrise.

Some Pond history: Fishing in these ponds has always been done as CATCH AND RELEASE and should remain that way. Over the years some of our fishing residents have been placing some of the big fish they catch in the ponds, and this continues today. The fish in these ponds were placed there for the enjoyment of our residents and their guests. They do real well in the ponds with plenty of food. There are some deep spots in the lake where they can cool down during our hot summers. There is normally no current in the ponds but the fountains help to keep the water oxygenated which helps keep the fish healthy. In the past couple of weeks it has come to our attention that someone has been catching and keeping some of the big bass, possibly for eating. These ponds are basically drainage ponds for rain water from our roads and yards. The runoff contains fertilizers and weed control chemicals. The chemicals used by Hawthorne meet the Florida requirements and to not harm the fish in the ponds. The runoff also includes residual material from what residents add to their lawns and flowers. These fish are not tested for mercury levels or other minerals. Even

though the fish appear healthy and are fun to catch they SHOULD NOT be eaten. Some of these fish have been in the ponds for several years. It is strongly suggested the fishing in our ponds should be treated as CATCH AND RELEASE fishing only. We do not want to have anyone getting sick from eating the pond fish. You do not need a Florida fishing license to fish in our ponds, because they are on private property. However fishing in the PR from shore or a boat or one of our nearby lakes, you must have a valid Florida fishing license. It is very easy to forget this when you, and/or your guest are fishing in one of the ponds and decide to walk the short distance to the PR and take a cast or two. To get a ticket, you do not have to be seen catching a fish. You only have to be seen attempting to catch a fish to get a ticket. Due to its popularity the PR it is very well patrolled by the Lake County Sheriff’s office and the Florida Conversation Officers. If you should have a fish with you that you caught in one of the ponds while you were fishing or walking along the PR, that ticket for not having a valid fishing license is going to be very expensive. Like most states the fishing regulations seem endless and sometimes vary from Lake to Lake. If you have any doubts, you should check the regulations for the area you are going to fish. One regulation that supports many of our Hawthorne residents is that if you are a Florida Resident and 65 years of age or older you may possess either a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate or proof of age and residency (A driver license is sufficient). One more safety reminder - If you should have guests from up north, and they are not

familiar with our Florida wildlife, please remind them of the possibility of alligators or snakes being along any shoreline. Under no circumstance should children be allowed along any shoreline without adult supervision. Submitted by William Connelly

HAWTHORNE’S OLYMPIC TORCHBEARER

The Olympic Torch Relay is an honored tradition that precedes the Summer and Winter Olympic Games which are held alternately in the even years, every four years. It always begins with the ceremonial lighting of the Flame in Olympia, Greece at the site of the original Olympic Stadium where women, dressed in robes similar to the ones worn by the ancient Greeks, use a curved mirror to light the Torch naturally with the sun’s rays. The ceremony for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games was held on October 24, 2017. From there, the Flame traveled to Athens on October 31st and then on to begin its Korean journey on November 1st. 7,500 runners passed the Flame over 1200 miles to its final destination to light the cauldron in the Olympic stadium in Pyeongchang, South Korea on February 9, 2018. Watching the 2018 Torchbearers pass the Flame brought back wonderful memories for Jim and Cathy Serfass as they reminisced about the XIX Winter Olympic Torch Relay that began in the USA on December 4, 2001 in Atlanta, GA. On that memorable day, Jim was anxiously awaiting the once-in-a lifetime honor and privilege of carrying the Olympic Flame. Early in 2001, Jim had been chosen from over 210,000 nominees to be one of 11,500 Torchbearers who would pass the Flame (the torch is not passed from one person to another, only the Flame) through 46 states across 13,500 miles during 65 days of the Torch Relay that would end on February 9, 2002 with the lighting of the cauldron to begin the XIX Winter Games in

Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the 2002 Winter Olympics was “Inspiration” and according to the Olympic Committee criteria, selected Torchbearers would be “people from all walks of life who have inspired others, whether an individual or a community”. Jim was nominated for his honor by his younger sister, Barbara, who submitted a 100 word essay describing how he had always been an inspiration to her because of his dedication to his family (“he donated a kidney to our niece in 1996 and was always there when we needed him,” she wrote), his positive outlook on life, his great sense of humor and his humility. Jim’s moment of fame came on December 22, 2011 when he carried his Torch for approximately one quarter mile and passed the Flame on a Saturday evening on Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA. Approximately 75 proud friends and family members were there to witness the historic event and cheer him on. One of Jim’s Christmas gifts that year was the Torch he had carried. (Torchbearers were allowed to keep the Torch “for a price” so “Santa” made the arrangements for him to have it). When their grandchildren learned that “Papa” was able to keep the Torch, they all wanted to take it to school for “show and tell”. Jim and Cathy’s first reaction was “No way!” since it is so fragile, (it’s made of glass, copper and aluminum), expensive (but to them priceless) and irreplaceable (each Torch is one-of-a-kind because the glass is hand-blown). But when they thought about the potential learning experience for the children, the wonderful opportunity to share the Olympic spirit and promote the 2002 Winter Games, Papa said “Okay, but only if I’m holding it.” So, Jim donned his Torchbearer uniform, Cathy packed photos, Torch Relay maps and video clips, and their “tour” of local elementary and middle schools began. Jim and Cathy were delighted by the warm reception they received in each

classroom and amazed by the children’s interest in, knowledge of and enthusiasm for the Olympics. Now sixteen years later, they can still remember the look of awe on the children’s faces when Jim allowed each one to hold the Torch at the conclusion of his presentations. Jim’s Torch is now proudly displayed (along with pictures and other memorabilia from that amazing day in Philadelphia in 2001) in the living room of their home in Hawthorne. Stop by any time; Jim would love to show it to you and talk about his experience. He might even let you hold the Torch! Submitted by Cathy Serfass

HRCA BANQUET

Tuesday, April 10, 2018, we are having a

banquet to congratulate our new HRCA

Board of Directors as well as thank our

outgoing Board Members. Catered by the

Hawthorne Kitchen Club this year’s menu

consists of Swiss Steak with mashed

potatoes and gravy or baked ziti, peas,

carrots, tossed salad, roll, apple cobbler with

ice cream, ice tea and coffee. Tickets will be

on sale 3/27 through 4/5 for $11.00. Come

show your appreciation for our HRCA Board

Members past and present.

HAWTHORNE PLAYERS

STORY LINE FOR “JACK”

A Note from the Author I invite you to travel along the Fantasy Tale

of JACK as he progresses through his

magical journey of Jack the Child, Jack the

Boy, Jack the Lad and Jack the Man. Our

Narrator will fill in details of his life as he

follows a convoluted path from his

orphanage of origin, the Garbo Home for

Wayward Boys. As a young child, Jack is

challenged daily to conform to the norm of

the world. His struggle takes him to a

frequent state of dreamland, where he finds

comfort in his very own special chair. As he

grows through the different stages of life,

JACK finds he is constantly searching, albeit

unsuccessfully for new ways to cope. His

path is crossed by an array of colorful

characters-both real and imagined. It’s up to

you to decide which is which. You will be

reminded of your own childhood as you

listen to familiar nursery rhymes, songs and

skits. Sit back and enjoy as you follow the

unpredictable twists and turns of JACK’S

story, which has been adapted especially for

Hawthorne.

Submitted by Marian Whitehead

Show Dates and Times:

Location: Auditorium

Monday March 19th Matinee @ 2 PM

Tuesday March 20th @ 7 PM

Wednesday March 21st @ 7 PM

$5.00 Tickets on Sale 10-11:30AM

In the Hall

1st Week…Monday-Friday 3/5-3/9

2nd Week…Monday-Friday 3/12-3/16

I remember Uncle Harold’s DeSoto. That

was a classy Chrysler car in 1950 with a

unique automatic transmission. Fort DeSoto

takes its name from the Spanish explorer,

Hernando DeSoto, who began his

adventures in Tampa Bay in 1539. The Fort

was established in 1898 when the United

States declared war on Spain. Tampa Bay

required protection. Today Fort DeSoto is a

County Park with historical attractions and

the location of one of our nation’s finest

beaches. Admission is free, canoes and

kayaks are available for rental, as are

bicycles. It is a birders paradise with some

296 species sighted. The trails are paved.

Camping and fishing facilities exist including

a great fishing pier. If you want to explore,

there is a ferry to the island of Egmont Key –

twice daily – better get there by 9:00 AM.

This half mile by one and a half mile island

has a 133-foot working lighthouse – the

beacon is visible 22 miles at sea (Gulf of

Mexico). The island is a State Park and is

designated as a National Wildlife Refuge.

There are literally miles of beach with

several large parking lots – a dog park too,

and numerous picnic areas and rest room

facilities. Outdoor showers are near parking

areas. There are no life guards but rip

currents are a concern in the Atlantic – not

the Gulf. Grace and I made a day trip to visit

this spot. We are 125 miles from Fort

DeSoto here in Leesburg. We had a nice

ride in the country and saw the traffic on

Interstate 75 going north on a Saturday

morning as we drove south. Two tolls of $.50

and $.35. The return had no tolls and we

could not believe the massive traffic tie-up

going into St. Pete beaches at 2:00 PM as

we were going north. The community

closest to Fort DeSoto is Tierra Verda. Hi-

rise condos predominate – I don’t think you

could buy there for under $500,000. Our day

outing was about 7 hours. After a nap we

went out for dinner. Another perfect day of

retirement.

Submitted by George & Grace Wolf

RUMMAGE SALE

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2018

9 AM TO 1 PM Resident participation in the past has been

TERRIFIC. We hope that you will continue

to support this annual event and join in the

fun. All proceeds from the sale go into Club

Hawthorne’s Program Account General

Fund which benefits ALL Hawthorne

residents. There is a no return policy for

the sale. ALL ACTIVITIES (with

exception of Library, Fine Arts, and

Fitness Center) ARE PRE-EMPTED

DURING THE FOLLOWING TIMES:

Thursday, March 22nd from noon onward

Friday, March 23rd ALL DAY & NIGHT

Saturday, March 24th & Sunday March

25th all day and all night

Monday, March 26th, closed for

Maintenance Day.

See you at the sale.

HAWTHORNE EMS DIVISION

It is a known fact that Hawthorne EMS is

engaged in saving lives. Our team cannot

be overestimated. As residents we take

comfort in the knowledge that they are here

whenever the need arises – 24/7. The

dedication of these employees is a precious

jewel we treasure. Our Board of Directors

and Management are concerned that this

amenity continue. Here is the latest addition

to the equipment used by our EMS workers.

I think you will agree – it’s a beauty!

Submitted by George Wolf

Do You Understand How Hawthorne’s Real Estate Operation

Works? You Should!

Hawthorne’s Citizen’s Academy upcoming program will help you gain that understanding. On April 5, 2018 at 2 pm, the Academy will offer a program on Hawthorne’s Real Estate Operation. Every resident is invited to attend at no cost.

Hawthorne’s Real Estate Office does not work like a multi-listing office that most homeowners have dealt with. The reason for this anomaly is that our HRCA cooperative designed the sale of homes within the community to benefit only their own broker, sales person(s) and the park’s general fund. Cindy Clark, Hawthorne’s Real Estate broker and her real estate team will be the featured speakers at the Real Estate program. Cindy has served in this position since 2011 when she replaced her father, Bill Tschida upon his retirement. Prior to 2011, Cindy worked for 7 ½ years at Hawthorne as a part time agent. Bruce Clark, Cindy’s husband, has recently celebrated his 15th year of service in Hawthorne’s Real Estate office. Chris Clark, their son, was added to the office team a year ago. The most recent addition to the office is Monica Gabler. The Citizen’s Academy has worked with Cindy in developing a program that will answer many common questions asked by residents about Hawthorne’s Real Estate Operation. Questions like the ones below will be answered: Why don’t we operate like a multi-listing real estate office? How are the 7% sales cost divided up when a sale has occurred? How much does Hawthorne receive from the sale of a home? How is a Hawthorne home’s listing price determined? What are the tricks to staging a home to attract buyers? Is there an advantage to listing with outside real estate agents? What can Hawthorne agents do for a seller that others cannot?

Many more questions will be raised and answered during this hour long program that will educate you as to how Hawthorne’s Real Estate functions. Pete Hurlburt, our current HRCA President, will join the program to explain the financial aspect of the operation and its importance to our community’s income. These informative programs, presented by Citizen’s Academy, are selected to assist all park residents in understanding how our community functions. To be informed is important in being a contributing member of Hawthorne. Plan to pick up your free ticket to the April 5, 2018 program at the auditorium during the week of March 26, 2018. Light refreshments will be served following the program.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day celebration will likely be

characterized by commercial lucky charms

and green beer – all of which has very little

to do with the historical figure of the saint. As

it turns out, it took centuries for the holiday to

accrue the elements that now seem crucial

to its celebrations. The March 17 celebration

started in 1631 when the Church established

a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick. He had

been a Patron Saint of Ireland who had died

around the fifth century-a whopping 12

centuries before the modern version of the

holiday was first observed. But very little is

known about who he actually was, according

to Marion Casey, a clinical assistance

professor of Irish Studies at New York

University. Legend says St. Patrick was

actually born Maewyn Succat, but he

changed his name to Patriciius (or Patrick),

which derives from the Latin term for “father

figure”, after he became a priest. And that

supposed luck of his is the root of all the

themed merchandise for modern St,

Patrick’s Day. It wasn’t until the early 18th

century that many of today’s traditions were

kicked into high gear. Since the holiday falls

during Lent, it provides Christians a day off

from the prescriptions of abstinence leading

up to Easter, and around the 1720s, the

church found it “got kind of out of control”. It

was to remind celebrants what the holiday

actually stood for that the church first

associated a botanical item-customary for all

saints-with St. Patrick, assigning him the

symbol of the likewise lucky shamrock.

Celebrations and themes continued to take

shape during the rest of the 1700s. In 1762,

the first New York City parade took place. It

wasn’t until 1798, the year of the Irish

Rebellion, that the color green became

officially associated with the day. Up until

the rebellion, the color associated with St.

Patrick was blue as it was featured both in

the royal court and on ancient Irish flags. But

as the British wore red, the Irish chose to

wear green, and they sang the song “The

Wearing of the Green” during the rebellion,

cementing the color’s relevance in Irish

history. As for the green beer, that’s an even

later addition. In fact, it wasn’t until the late

20th century that Ireland repealed a law that

initially kept everything-pubs included-shut

down for the day. Since then, thanks to a

marketing push from Budweiser in the

1980s, downing beer has become a

common way to celebrate regardless of how

closely it’s tied to the actually meaning of St.

Patrick himself.

PONDERINGS OF A RETIRED

MIND

If all is not lost, then where is it?

Everyone has a photographic

memory. Some just don’t have film.

When you get old, your secrets are

safe with your friends. They’ll never

share them because they can’t

remember them.

At my age, I don’t want to eat health

food. I need all the preservatives I

can get.

You can’t be young forever, but

immaturity can last a lifetime.

I’m done with wild oats. Now I’m into

prunes and All Bran.

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The

closer it gets to the end, the faster it

goes.

You know you’re getting old when you

look in the mirror to shave and realize

that the face you’re looking at is your

father’s.

The paper sent a reporter to interview

me on my 90th birthday. “What’s the

secret to longevity?” he asked.

“Simple,” I said. “Keep breathing.”

Isn’t it nice that wrinkles don’t hurt?

I knew I was getting bald because it

was taking longer and longer to wash

my face.

I started out with nothing…and I still

have most of it.

I finally got my head together and now

my body is falling apart.

Funny, I don’t remember being

absent minded…

It is easier to get older than it is to get

wiser.

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

Art and Photography Show on Sunday,

March 11, 2018 1 to 4 pm

Art and Photography Show on Sunday,

March 11, 2018 1 to 4 pm. This is for sure

one of the best shows of the year for all of

the talented artists in Hawthorne! Some

brought their talent with them and so many

have had no art experiences until they came

to Hawthorne. Come and see for yourself!

You will see the beginners and the most elite

artists! There are refreshments and music

for one and all as you walk around looking at

the amazing work of our residents! Be sure

to get your raffle tickets to be eligible to WIN

a piece of art! Also we will have a raffle for

$100 gift certificate from DK Arts and

beautiful cards, book marks and kitchen

magnets for purchase! Wait until you see the

special exhibits this year! I promise, you will

not be disappointed! See beautiful clocks by

Tom Manilo ... Watercolors by Jim

McCaughly! You will also be able to watch

Coralee Burch as she demonstrates

watercolors and there will be a demo on floor

cloths in acrylics by Ginny Sullivan. The

photographers will have their work displayed

as well. Woodcarvers will have their items

that you will fall in love with! There will be

acrylics, watercolor, oil painting,

Zentangle®, pastels and colored pencils and

pen and ink. You will see ceramics, quilling,

china painting, carving, pottery, and stained

glass. Wait until you see it all! No matter

what you love in the Arts and Photography

you will see much of it here that Sunday

afternoon!!! Don’t miss out on this day of

beautiful work of the family we have here in

Hawthorne! You will never want to miss

another one once you experience this show!

How awesome it is too, that we can meet and

chat with our artists and maybe find

something you may like to try! We all have a

story. So, how did we begin our art? Here

are a few stories of the folks who have

donated art for the Fine Arts raffle. Then

come and meet them at the show. Members

of the Fine Arts will be dressed in “black and

white”. Gloria Foremanʼs interest started in

painting 30 years ago. Through the years

she has taken classes in oils, acrylic and

watercolor, which is her favorite medium to

work in. She and her husband came to

Hawthorne from PA in 2009 and Gloria

became active with the Fine Arts Group.

Now she is also doing Pencil, Drawing,

Zentangle and some Clay work. Gloria also

lived in other countries and while in Madrid,

Spain she was able to visit the Prada

Museum. She also was able to visit Toledo,

Spain to see many of El Grecoʼs

Masterpieces. She also took a tour of the

Smithsonian Art Museum to see a Picasso

exhibition. Lois Bandt-Weber first came into

quilling by making snowflake ornaments for

her children’s teachers. Then she built a

dollhouse and made the floral arrangements

for that! In 1999 she came to Hawthorne and

became intrigued again. She picked a

pattern for a bunch of violets and proceeded

to finish it! As she traveled back to

Janesville, WI she went to Ben Franklin craft

store and purchased all the quill papers in

every color and width. She even began

teaching quilling here in Hawthorne. Lois has

been awarded many awards, the most

amazing was the National “Best of Show” 3

times! She now works in and is a member of

the artist co-op Artisans on Fifth in Mt Dora

where she was found by a Disney team! Feb

7th she went to Disney Epcot to teach 30

people how to quill during their International

Festival of Arts 2018. Jack Schmauch has

been in Hawthorne since 2013. He is a

member of the Hawthorne Woodcarvers. In

PA he had a business for 38 years called

Country Craftsmen Construction restoring

farmhouses, Victorian homes and old log

cabins. One day his teacher brought in a set

of carving tools and gave them to him to start

doing some carving. He carved a Fox so

since that year of 1980 he has been carving

ever since. He decided he wanted a Cigar

Store Indian. Not being able to find one for

under thousands of dollars, he carved his

own and it was 5ʼ tall! So for 38 years he has

been a wood carver. His favorites being

Native Americans, Snowman, Mountain Men

and Santa’s. His materials are Basswood,

Cypress Knees from Florida Swamps and

Driftwood. He states that one of the neatest

things about woodcarving is creating

something from a piece of wood. Roberta,

his wife, does a lot of the painting but he

assured me it was in different rooms! Jack is

honored being asked to donate one of his

pieces of art to raffle off in order to raise

money for their club.

Article by Linda Heller

Hawthorne’s Artist of the Month

“Artist of the Month” is Pam Jaworski. Be

sure to visit the Library where our artist of

the month is featured. The artist is also on

HTV 98 the first Friday of the month.

TAKE NOTE...IT'S TIME TO VOTE! By the time you are reading this, you should have received your Official Ballot in the mail for the 2018 Annual Election. In accordance with our Bylaws, the owner of each fully paid membership certificate is entitled to one vote. The vote of a membership certificate may be cast by one person, one vote per certificate. If a member owns more than one membership certificate, that member is entitled to one vote for each certificate. In accordance with Florida Statutes, any member who requires assistance with the voting process by reason of blindness, disability or inability to read or write may request the assistance of a member of the Board or other unit owner in casting their vote. If you haven't already exercised your right and privilege to vote, do it today! Use the Official Ballot that was mailed to you and return it to either the Administrative Office, the white Payment Box near the Shuffleboard Courts or the Ballot Box in the Clubhouse no later than 4 p.m. on March 14, 2018. Once received by the Corporation, no ballots may be rescinded or changed. The envelopes will remain sealed and locked in a cabinet at the Administrative Office. They will not be opened until the Annual Members’ Meeting/ Election Day when all ballots are turned over to the Election Committee. Mark your calendars: March 15th at 10 AM 2018 Annual Members' Meeting and Election. This will be the last day for you to exercise your right and privilege to vote unless you have already completed and submitted the Official Ballot that you received in the mail.

Since there were only three (3) self-nominated candidates to fill the three (3) vacant seats of the retiring Directors, no election for the Board is needed. Therefore, their names do not appear on the Ballot. Your new Directors, who will be joining the Board on March 15th are: Patrick Evans, Ron Galloway and Sylvia Gauthier.

YOUR VOTE IS STILL IMPORTANT!! There are eleven (11) items on the Ballot that require your careful consideration. Each listed item includes an explanation of the issue and a recommendation from the current Board. Your vote will help determine the future of Hawthorne. The Florida Statutes that govern Cooperatives require a 66% affirmative vote of the 1195 members eligible to vote to change to our Proprietary Lease. That means 789 yes votes are needed to adopt a proposed change. HRCA Bylaws require a majority of 50% +1 of the members voting to pass a proposed amendment. Please remember that if you fail to vote, it is considered a NO vote. Call your friends and tell your neighbors. SHAPE TOMORROW BY VOTING TODAY! The Annual Members’ Meeting and the Election Committee Meeting will be the only activities scheduled in the Clubhouse, including all adjacent rooms, on March 15, 2018. The Election Committee will meet that day at 6 a.m. in the Lemon/Lime room for the purpose of verifying the outer envelopes containing the ballots that were cast prior to the Annual Meeting.

Members wishing to observe the election process may do so from the Gallery. The Committee will check the signature and unit identification on the outer envelope against a list of qualified voters. When the voter’s name is found on the list, the voter's name is checked off as having voted. Any outer envelope not signed by someone on the list of eligible voters is marked "disregarded" and any ballots inside it are not counted. Prior to the Annual Members’ Meeting, the Chair of the Election Committee will count the number of ballot certificates already received and report that number to the Board Secretary. When a quorum has been established, the Annual Members’ Meeting will begin. At the completion of business, the meeting will be in recess and the polls will open for one (1) hour or until the last member in line at the end of the hour has voted. Ballots already received will be held until the polls close on Election Day when all ballots are counted. After tallying the ballot and certifying the vote, the Election Committee Chair, will post the results on the window of the Program Office in the Clubhouse. BE AWARE... DO YOUR SHARE...VOTE!

MARCH DATES TO REMEMBER

1 –HRCA Dialogue Meeting

3 – Community Breakfast sponsored by

Stained Glass

8 – Club Hawthorne Group Meeting

8 – HRCA Agenda/Workshop Meeting

11 – Fine Arts & Photography Show

13 – HRCA General Board Meeting

15 – HRCA Annual Members Meeting

18 – Concert Series- Happy Two Gather

19 – Hawthorne Players Play-matinee

20 – Hawthorne Players Play

21 – Hawthorne Players Play

24 – Rummage Sale

27 – Tennis Ice Cream Social

30 – Sox & Boots

31 – Easter Egg Hunt – Bocce Field and

Pool

HAWTHORNE HIGHLIGHTS Hawthorne at Leesburg

100 Hawthorne Blvd.

Leesburg, FL 34748

(352) 787-1000

Editor: Debbie Provost

General Manager: Roger Slagle