High Desert residents can plan on another first class trip to the Santa Fe Opera this summer. Ellen Levy, High Desert resident and Chair of the Opera Committee, says this year’s choice is "Madame Butterfly" set for Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Tickets include round-trip bus fare on a chartered Herrera 47-seat coach leaving High Desert at 4:15 p.m., a four-course dinner with wine at the restaurant "Dinner For Two" in Santa Fe, and excellent seats at the Santa Fe Opera. The coach will return to High Desert following the performance.

"Madame Butterfly," written by Puccini, is perhaps the most beloved of all operas. It is the story of a naval officer, Pinkerton, and Cio-Cio-San, a geisha (also known as Madame Butterfly) and their romance in Japan. As always, Madame Butterfly will feature world class sopranos and tenors.

Tickets are limited and issued to High Desert residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Download the pdf form (click here to download) and mail with your check to the High Desert office address given.

Owners interested in the NCC should send a "Statement of Interest" form to Dave Janik, Community Manager. The form is available as a pdf by clicking here. Currently the Board is working on the Policy and process for the NCC. Appointed NCC members will have an opportunity to help design the process, forms, and other committee operational details.

Snow Removal:  Voting Members discussed methods of snow removal on High Desert streets in the event of a heavy snowfall this year.  Tom Murdock, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, noted that gated communities are responsible for paying for their own snow removal on village streets and that no gated communities currently have any money put aside for that purpose. He recommended strongly that gated villages in High Desert put money in a specific fund in case of heavy snowfall.  

Voting Member Elections:  Ray Berg asked Voting Members to consider why they volunteered to become Voting Members and how they might encourage other residents to volunteer. Some recent Village elections for Voting Members have not had any residents step forward as candidates.

"What is it that we could do to make this job more interesting to you or fellow homeowners?" he asked.  "What would make you want to continue with your position as a Voting Member?"  

Responses from Voting Members included recommending that Board Directors attend neighborhood functions to speak about the position of Voting Member and what it entails.  Other homeowners suggested mailing postcards or making calls from the Community Association Office to homeowners asking if they would volunteer.  Recognizing volunteers each year with a social function was also mentioned.  One resident said she particularly appreciated learning how the Association functioned through various presentations at Voting Member meetings by High Desert's landscape company, security officers and association management team.  "My neighbors are always interested in what I've learned at these meetings," she said.  "I'd like to learn more about how our community works."

One resident recommended that Voting Members have more responsibilities.  Right now, their principal duty is to elect the Board of Directors each spring at their Annual Meeting.  A brisk discussion followed about how that election is held and specifically how the Nominating Committee is selected. The Nominating Committee is formed at the beginning of each year and, in turn, interviews candidates and presents a slate of names to the Voting Members in April.  Voting Members consider the slate and any nominations from the floor before voting to elect new Board members. This year, Dave Blacher, Board Director, is head of the Nominating Committee. To read the Nominating Committee Policy, click here.