Pinewood Forest celebrates receiving community award
The Pinewood Forest community, just north of Fruitville Road, is buzzing with a feel-good factor.
It just earned first place in the West Florida First Place 2007 Community Association awards.
The award, while more than welcome, comes as no surprise to Fran Derr, president of the homeowners association.
"Since I've been involved with the association, we have strived to achieve a diligent, safe and welcoming community," she said.
In order to compete for the community award, the Pinewood association members had to submit an application to answer general information as well as describe why they felt that they should receive the award.
In fact, this year the homeowners association has had a double dose of good fortune for Pinewood as last April saw the community being honored with a plank as the West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute 2007 Community Association of Year, in the category of "small community," under 249 homes.
The volunteers board members of Pinewood Forest Homeowners Association Inc. are Derr, president; Matt Fountain, vice-president; Scott Parizo, treasurer; Donna Migone, secretary; and Don Bennett, member at large.
The CAI (West Florida Chapter Community Association Institute) awarded prizes in three categories: Large Association with over 250 homes, Small Association with 249 or few homes, and self-managed Associations, which was eligible to any association not managed by a professional Licensed Community Association Manager.
The award is designed to recognize the best community associations in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
In addition to Pinewood forest, CAI winners were The Isles of Sarasota H.O.A. for large community, and Rolling Green Golf Village Association Inc. for self-managed.