VOL. 34 NO. 10
FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com
OCTOBER 2024
PGA POA Communication Corner Submitted by Gail Coppage, PGA POA Communications Committee Happy Fall! Here’s to the aroma of pumpkin spice: in coffee, beer, bread, muffins, pastry and candles; falling leaves; cooler weather and the need for sweaters. Oh! No, that’s not right. No falling leaves, and still a bit early for the cooler weather and need for sweaters (except for air conditioning). But Fall is in the air, even in South Florida! New Homeowner Are you a new homeowner/condo owner in PGA National? If this is your first Fall living in PGA National, welcome to our beautiful community! You may not have read all the declarations and rules of PGA National before your closing, but it always makes sense to read the rules and regulations as a new owner. You can also find all necessary guidance on the PGA Property Owner’s Association (POA) website: www.pga-poa.com. If you have a question, please do not hesitate to call the PGA POA Office at (561) 627-2800. Staff is wonderfully helpful, and they will guide you with a response to your questions.
New Barcode Anyone? If you are a new owner, remember that one item you will need right away from the PGA POA is a barcode for your car to gain access to PGA National. Although access to PGA National is available during the day, access is not available after 9 p.m. without being stopped by security at each of the entrance gates. If you are a new owner and you need to purchase a barcode for your vehicle, please stop by the PGA POA offices between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to provide a copy of your license and registration and pay $15. PGA POA office staff will call you when your barcode is ready, usually within 24 hours. The process is easy! Once hearing back from POA staff, drive your car to the front entrance of the POA office at 7100 Fairway Drive, Suite 29; call the POA office to let them know you are out front, and a staff member will come out to affix the new barcode to your car. Barcodes are not affixed during the rain. This process remains the same if you have purchased a new car and/or leasing a new car and need to request a new barcode. The POA staff is very helpful! Counting The Days Hurricane season ends November 30. Even though it may seem a little bit cooler and quieter, the weather can turn quickly. It is very important to be prepared and remain current on weather patterns and weather updates. The PGA POA website offers great hurricane information
and detail. It also makes sense to read all the protection detail at least once (prior to a storm on the way) so that you are familiar with what needs to be done to be ready for a storm. If you are a single-family homeowner who has responsibility to handle your own landscaping/ tree trimming, please make sure to check outside your home now for any dead landscaping, trees that may need pruning, etc. If you are a condo owner with an outside patio area, please make sure that outside plants, table, chairs, etc. can be moved quickly indoors if needed. It is always great to have a plan, and if you do not plan to be here in October, please plan to have a local connection available who can help you to prepare your home or condo in the event of a storm on the way. Thank you for your involvement and engagement as a PGA National owner. Car Safety And Protection While PGA National is a beautifully maintained and monitored gated community, residents still need to remain responsible about car safety and protection. Please do not get lulled into a false sense of security, even here in PGA National. Some great tips: 1. When you leave your vehicle, lock your doors and roll up the windows, even if you will “only be away for a minute.” Do not leave your car running in the driveway or parking lot. PGA POA Communication Corner on page 2
Commissioner’s Update Advocacy And Civic Engagement In Government By Vice Mayor Maria G. Marino Advocacy and civic engagement are fundamental to a healthy democracy. These practices allow citizens to influence government policies, hold officials accountable, and actively shape the decisions that impact their communities. When citizens and organizations engage, they can drive government responsiveness, transparency, and effectiveness. Advocacy refers to the efforts of individuals, groups, or organizations to influence public policy and government decisions. These efforts can take various forms, such as lobbying, public campaigns, and grassroots mobilization. It often involves educating decision-makers and the public on specific issues, persuading them to adopt certain policies or actions.
Civic engagement is a broader concept that encompasses any activity that allows citizens to be involved in public life. This ranges from voting and participating in town halls to volunteering and joining community boards. Civic engagement emphasizes collective action to address societal issues and fosters a shared responsibility between citizens and their government. A recent example of effective advocacy and civic engagement occurred in Palm Beach County when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) unveiled its 2024/25 Great Outdoors Initiative. This initiative is aimed to increase public access, recreation and lodging at Florida state parks. However, the proposal to amend the Unit Management Plan of Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP) to develop environmentally sensitive lands into a golf course sparked wide concern. Local residents, outraged by the potential environmental damage, quickly mobilized. They reached out to elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels, voiced
their concerns, and organized protests. In a matter of days, thousands of residents had signed petitions and coordinated protests. As a result, the outcry attracted attention from officials across the state, including Florida Cabinet members, U.S. Congress representatives, and state senators. These leaders called for increased transparency and urged FDEP to withdraw the proposal. As Vice Mayor of Palm Beach County and a member of the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council, I was acutely aware of the proposed plan’s potential impact on the Loxahatchee River, a designated National Wild and Scenic River. Protection of water quality and lands has been Commissioner’s Update on page 2