OUTREACH COMMITTEE COMMUNITY REPORT
By Chairperson Erin McMahon

I would like to thank everyone who participated in our two charity events over the last three months. We were able to supply a number of items to LetsGiveBack.org. This organization supplies backpacks to families with children at Inova Fairfax Hospital. The backpacks contain essential items needed during stressful and potentially long hospital stays. I would also like to thank everyone who donated books to the Loudoun Library . They were able to raise $41,000 at the used book sale this year; the proceeds will be used to benefit the libraries of Loudoun County.

We are pleased to be starting our newest charity initiative. We are partnering with the Loudoun Emergency Homeless Shelter to provide and serve dinner for the shelter's 40 residents on a monthly basis. This is a way for Belmont to give back to the community and is an excellent opportunity to be involved in a meaningful way with those in need. This is open to individuals, families, and children. Our first two dates are July 29th and August 23rd.

We welcomed 37 new families to Belmont Country Club this quarter! A welcome reception was held at the Hunt Civic Center on Wednesday, June 25th. It was a great pleasure to meet the new residents that were able to attend. The next New Resident Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 25th at 7pm in the Hunt Civic Center.

The Outreach Committee is happily sponsoring two events for all of the teens in the neighborhood. The first event is for our High School students and will take place on August 20th from 8pm -10pm at the Belmont Pool. The second, for our Middle School Students, will take place on August 27th and will also be held at the Belmont pool from 8pm to 10pm. These events are FREE and non-resident friends are welcome to attend. It should be a fun night, there will be music, pizza and activities, please encourage your teens to attend.

The first annual Belmont Day has been scheduled for September 20th from 4-9:30 pm! All activities will be held on the fields located next to the HOA office. This is a day to celebrate our neighborhood, get people out to meet each other and to have fun while doing so. From 4:00-7:00 there will be various activities for children of all ages. From 7:00-9:30 there will be a concert with the band Jumptown performing. Jumptown features our very own Belmont resident, Tim Perrott. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music. No alcohol is permitted at the concert. CMC, the management company of the Community Association provided us with a grant to make Belmont Day possible. We are very thankful for the grant and are looking forward to an awesome event.

This November we will be hosting a Veterans Day reception to honor Belmont's many active and retired military personnel. It will be held on Wednesday, November 12th from 5:30-7:30 pm in the main Ballroom at the Manor House. Complimentary refreshments will be served. More details will be provided as we get closer to the event.

The outreach committee is still in need of two permanent members. We are also open to volunteers who would just like to help with a specific event. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 10am in the Hunt Civic Center. If you would like to participate please contact us via email at outreach@belmonthoa.org.

Belmont Village Signs Painting

The Board of Directors recently approved a contractor to paint the village entrance signs throughout Belmont. The repairs are scheduled to begin this week and will be ongoing throughout the course of the next 30 days. During this time, residents will notice the signs removed from the village entrances. We appreciate in advance, everyone's patience throughout this project as it will improve the aesthetics of our great community.

Winter Decorations Detail

The winter season is quickly approaching! Most communities surrounding Belmont celebrate the winter months with festive decorations and lighting displays. Many of our residents have requested over the years that we decorate our community for the winter season. Over the last few months, the Grounds and Facilities Committee has been researching various decoration and lighting options for Belmont as a way to celebrate this wonderful season together as a community.

The following is a detailed description of the proposed decorations.

The pictures shown are of similar design to the proposed project.

Community Tree

The large Zelkova tree in the traffic circle will be adorned with white light sheeting wrapped along the trunk and the main branches. Community Zelkova Tree will have up lighting that will reflect lighting to commemorate the lights associated with faith traditions within our community. These colored lights will be activated during those time periods that are significant to those faiths.

 

Gates and Entrances

The main gate will have a tasteful combination of fresh live and artificial garland and wreaths with natural elements. White lighting will be incorporated within the garland draped along the brick monuments and the Crepe Myrtle trees down the center entrance drive will be wrapped. The six light posts will also be graced with hanging baskets with fresh greenery.

South Gate & West Gate’s monument signs (brick structures) will be draped with artificial garland wrapped with white lights. The crape myrtles’ trunks that frame the drive will also be wrapped with white lights. The pillars at the main entrance signs will have fresh wreaths decorated with natural elements.

The monument signs at the following neighborhoods; The Greens, The Meadows, The Chase, The Hunt & The Ridges will have artificial garland with white lights and the pillars will be decorated with fresh wreathes with natural elements.

This project will also require electrical work on the monument signs (brick signs at each entrance) of our exterior neighborhoods to make this lighting possible. This portion will provide permanent GFI outlets at each location that needs it. (Currently, these monuments only have 220 volt service which precludes us from installing fixtures that use 110 volt current . The outcome of this electrical work will give us the ability to install in the future other fixtures for other projects that may be of interest to the community.

The decorations and lighting will be installed or activated each year by November 25th and will be taken down by January 8th.  The lights will be on a timer and will turn on at dusk each day and turn off at dawn each morning.

 

Money Magazine Rates Leesburg as #4 Best Place to Live

Our secret is out!  Money Magazine rated Leesburg, VA as #4 on their list of the Top 100 Places to Live.  They rated it based on the following:

These terrific small towns stand out in the qualities American families care about most - great job opportunities, top-notch schools, safe streets, economic strength, nice weather, plenty to do, and more...

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2011/index.html

The Belmont Women's Golf Association is very pleased to be hosting the 9th annual Rally For The Cure 9 Hole Golf Scramble on Sunday, September 18, 2011. Participants are members and residents of Belmont Country Club. We would be most appreciative of any donation or sponsorship you are willing to provide. All monies raised through donations and sponsorships will go directly to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

There are several ways to join in supporting the cause.

• If you as an individual, your business, or even a group of Belmont neighbors are interested in Hole Sponsorships, your donation entitles you to FREE advertising on a golf hole. Your name or business identification and contact information will be clearly displayed. Each Rally For The Cure golf participant will view this information while enjoying their golf outing. Additionally, your name will be included in our Event Program. Your level of Sponsorship will be prominently noted on both the sign and in the Event Program. You can also sponsor a hole in honor of or in remembrance of a loved one who was touched by cancer.
• Platinum Hole Sponsorship: $300 or more
• Gold Hole Sponsorship: $200
• Pink Hole Sponsorship: $100
• If you have any gift certificates or new merchandise to donate they will be given away as part of the Rally fundraising raffle. The donating individual/merchant will be recognized in our Event Program and acknowledged during the raffle.
• Come and play a fun round of golf, buy raffle tickets, and participate in 50/50 drawing. All levels of golfers can play or come join us for the dinner, celebration and auction following the 9 hole round of golf. You can sign up at the Pro Shop.

We have enjoyed great success in the past with the Sponsorship and Raffle due to your generosity and that of our neighbors and local merchant. Last year, thanks to the participation of so many, we raised over $22,000! We greatly appreciate any and all support you are able to give to the cause of finding a cure for Breast Cancer and thank you for your consideration.

For more information, please contact Dawn Mies-Keyes, Chairperson at (703)723-3344

Gate Survey Coming to an Inbox Near You...

The Board of Directors has worked with the Safety and Technology Committees to develop a survey about the gates in Belmont Community Association.   The survey is asking for evaluations of the current gate technology as well as the Front Gate Guard Staff.  

The Technology Committee is busy doing the final checks and it will be released soon.  Look for it!

Operation Firefly Grand Finale Event is Saturday, August 13th

Everyone is invited to the Operation Firefly Grand Finale Family Event on Saturday, August 13 at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. where we will celebrate our contribution to important research about fireflies in our community!

Bring a picnic and enjoy family play time and science learning...

• Interact with the newest "Museum Without Walls" exhibit, "Great Shakes: Understanding Earthquake Basics"
• Learn about environmental stewardship from the Museum of Science, Boston's firefly expert Don Salvatore
• Sing along with Ryan Buckle & Friends ("Science You Can Sing To")
• Enjoy refreshments after your picnic dinner from our friends at Whole Foods Market