A corporate attorney sent the following out to the
employees in his company.

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials
(instead of first name) and last name put on them. If
someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if
you sign your checks with just your initials or your first
name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account     number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers.  The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your
home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks.  You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy     machine.  Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. 

    With many new homeowners coming into Guilbeau Park I thought it might be a good time to talk about what many people ask--why have a homeowners association? 
    First and foremost the homeowners association exists to protect your property value.  Your property value depends on the neighborhood as much as the home's worth.  A   beautiful neighborhood will ensure you get top dollar for your home when it comes time to sell.  Conversely, a run down neighborhood will bring your home's value down, sometimes to below what you paid for it.  The homeowners association ensures rules of upkeep are upheld throughout the entire neighborhood.  Those rules are your association covenants (available at gpoa.org).  Everyone who purchases a home must sign a contract agreeing to those rules.  Whether you agree with the rules or not, just look around the neighborhood to see how they help improve the looks of our area.  We have a beautiful neighborhood and the association is the main reason.
    Secondly, the Association helps to provide recreational areas that most people could otherwise not afford.  Some may be able to afford their own swimming pool, tennis courts, and basketball courts, and a separate center for    meetings, but most cannot.  The Association gives you those community areas to enjoy for your family. 
    So if you haven't paid your  yearly dues or you think the dues are too high, please remember what these dues are    doing for you.  If you haven't paid, please sit down and write the check out and send it in.  It's a small amount of money when you consider how you are helping yourself, your family, and your community.