FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

We made it through a very snowy winter, at least by South Carolina standards. Spring has arrived, the temperature is rising, the flowers are blooming, the grass is growing and we are spending more time outside. Some of the time is enjoying the weather while other time is spent beginning our yard work.

Covenants Reviews
As you know, last year we began a new process to keep our community looking special. The group of neighbors who formed the community Covenants committee was disbanded. The Board wants to thank the committee members for their hard work and dedication to the community.

The new process is now being performed by our management company, Kuester. We moved in this direction as the service is included in our management fees which we did not take advantage of before. As with most new processes we encountered some bumps in the road while transitioning the review process. The list of items to be reviewed were very black and white and needed to be tweaked. The Board had the opportunity to meet a number of homeowners at our monthly Board of Directors meetings expressing a need for modifications. We have performed a ride along with Kuester to more clearly identify what our expectations as a community are. We also changed the process so that the list of potential violations will be reviewed by the BOD before informing homeowners to ensure we agree with the evaluation thus eliminating any unwarranted angst to our neighbors.

Front Yard Furniture
Over the years, a few homeowners asked the ARB to approve the installation of a front yard patio. There are a handful of them at this time. As with any patio, the expectation is to be able to have furniture on the patio. Unfortunately, our Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs) state in Section 8. Yard Ornaments: No furniture, bird baths, statutes, etc. shall be permitted or placed in the front yard of the Parcels and/or Lots.

The BOD has discussed this issue at length. The ARB has been instructed to no longer allow the installation of front yard patios. We have also instructed those homeowners with front yard patios that furniture cannot be left on the patio. The decision is the result of receiving feedback from a number of realtors who suggest that having furniture left in the front of the house will reduce property values. One of the Board's primary goals it to maintain or increase property values. Front yard patios can still be used but the furniture must be moved from view after use.

Common Area vegetation
We have received some complaints about the appearance of our common areas. This includes the residents's clubhouse, front and rear entrances and areas within the community not owned by homeowners. We have enlisted the assistance of our Home and Garden Club and True Blue to improve the flowers and vegetation within the community.

The Home and Garden Club has assisted our landscape company in the selection of the vegetation to be planted in the entrances and clubhouse. We are already seeing improvements. As this is a big project with the potential for significant expense, we are taking our time to do it properly.

I would like everyone to thank the members of the Home and Garden Club for their assistance in making this happen. I would like to personally thank Debbie Moeller and Reyn Steadman for their hard work in making this happen.

We have also met with True Blue nursery to provide recommendations for other common areas within the community. Over the years these common areas are not as green and attractive as we would like. Much of the problem is the growth of the trees which significantly reduces the amount of light the grass receives which impedes growth. We have looked at trimming the trees but that would only be a temporary solution. We are looking at using different ground cover which does not require as much sunlight to grow. As with the other common areas this will be done over time.

As mentioned at the Annual Meeting the Rules and Regulations Committee has been formed to review our governing documents to bring them up to date. The CCRs have been in existence since the community was founded in the early 1990's. They also incorporate most, but not all of the supplements and amendments that have been voted on and approved. As the community was developed by The Centex Corporation, their name is included throughout the document. As they have not been part of the community for over 20 years, we are removing their reference.

Please note that the objectives of this committee is not to change the covenants but restate them to make them easier to understand. If there was something recommended to be changed, added or eliminated it would require a community wide positive vote by 270 homes to pass.

The BOD has spent the last several years reviewing the governing CCRs and bylaws that we follow. We have made a few updates to comply with legislation and relevance. The Tradition Handbook that documents the CCRs pertaining to our community can be found under the Board of Directors tab on the new website developed for our community:

Pool Upgrades
Some of you may have noticed that we had an empty pool earlier this year. This was done to allow the cracks in our steps and some of the tiles along the edge of the pool to be repaired or replaced. Additionally, there was another plaster pop that occurred in the deep end of the pool. The water is back and the chemical levels are fine so the pool is open again.

Pool Furniture
We are planning on replacing some of the pool furniture. The light blue chairs will be replaced with chairs that match the darker blue chairs. We have looked at the chaise lounges and after a cleaning they look to be in good shape. The umbrellas are all functional but we will be looking to replace them as needed. Speaking of umbrellas, please remember to close them when you leave the pool area so they are not damaged by the wind.

Road Replacement
We are scheduling the replacement of our next section of roads this fall. We have been working with 2 resident Civil Engineers, Jeff Albright and Dave Philips, to identify the section most in need. The section selected will be Deacon Drive and a continuation on Tradition Club Drive to the first intersection with Historic Lane. We will keep you posted on the specific dates as the date gets nearer.

Deacon & Tradition Club Drive

Tradition Club Drive To Historic Lane

Business Solicitation
We have been made aware of a few situations where some businesses were soliciting in the neighborhood. In one case it took me 2 encounters to stop the process. I had to call the individual's boss to get him to leave.

If you encounter someone soliciting business, please tell them that this is a private community and soliciting is prohibited. Hopefully they will heed the message.

Over the years, as newsletter editor, I have printed wonderful stories from our residents, most are similar, as to why they came to Tradition. Sometimes coming here was fortuitous, by recommendation and others were invited by friends or family to visit and decided to make this their home as well.

Monarch Court, with the last vacant lot on our street for sale, John and I are the last surviving original property owners. Although I often threaten to move to Montana, it won't be any time soon.

We are always thankful to hear that new homeowners are happy with their purchase.

Why We Moved to Tradition

by Jennifer & Eric Atkinson

Through the years we have vacationed in this local area with our children. Since we are big outdoor people who love the ocean, we have interests like swimming, kayaking, gardening, etc. We absolutely loved the locale and found ourselves occasionally saying to each other I would love to retire here.

Then about a year ago, we found ourselves saying why wait till retirement? So we began talking to people in this area and many recommended the Tradition community. So we checked it out!

We ultimately found this lovely house at 57 Monarch Court and purchased it. Unfortunately we are getting off to a bit of a slow start because we took some time to have the interior painted as well as making some minor changes inside. We did get the chance though, to meet a few of our immediate neighbors and experienced wonderful hospitality.

Eric is retired with 30 years in sales from the Sysco Corporation, the largest food and beverage distributor in the US. He had already declared full time residency in SC, and had temporarily been living in a rented condo here.

Jennifer continues to work as an accountant with a large HVAC company located in Connecticut; she spents part of her time working here in Pawleys and the remainder of her time working back in Connecticut.

Eric golfs, we are both familiar with and enjoy Mexican Train dominoes, and have checked out our local public library. Jennifer is interested in finding a local book club as well as eventually participating on many of the activities right here in Tradition. But currently we are both up to our eyeballs in boxes.

Until we are fully unpacked and settled, it may be a bit of time before we can become full participants in Tradition activities as we hope to eventually be.

One big draw for us was when we heard that Tradition residents are fully invested in their community; we were looking for a place to live that was similar to our past community where residents were active within the neighborhood. It sounds very much like we will not be disappointed!

• to assist other countries with their development efforts
• to promote better understanding of Americans in other countries
• to promote better understanding of peoples and cultures by Americans in the US

When the Peace Corps was founded, the world was struggling with the Cold War. It grew from 900 volunteers serving 16 countries in 1961 to over 240,000 volunteers and 142 host countries. Volunteers were to work along side residents of other countries, speak their language, and live on a level comparable with their counterparts there. They were assigned to specific projects based on their skills, education, and experience.

Volunteers were considered public servants, akin to federal employees; they generally served about two years at a time in their host country. They received travel expenses to and from the country, a monthly living allowance (varied by country), 2 days of vacation per month, and full dental/medical care.

The effectiveness of this agency in the past 50 years has been measured by the developing countries' economic progress, adult literacy, an increase in life expectancy, and ability to enter the international capital markets (thus requiring less financial assistance). The Peace Corps has been considered successful, although some today question its relevancy.

A few notable past Peace Corps volunteers have been

• Lillian Carter (nurse and mother of Jimmy Carter/India 1966-68),
• Gene C. Feldman (oceanographer at NASA Space Center/West Samoa 1974-77)
• Chris Matthews (American political commentator and author/Swaziland 1968-70)
• Bob Villa (“This Old House” show host/Panama 1971-73)

Tradition residents, Dale and Elene Hertweck have first hand knowledge as Peace Corps volunteers. They served in two different countries after their children were grown. The first was in Vinnytsia with a population of about 367,900 in central Ukraine, southwest of Kiev. The country had only been independent from the USSR for about 10 years then. The citizens seemed to love their independence but since they had lived under a central totalitarian government for so long they did not have business experience nor a sense of customer service practices.

Dale and Elene attended a three month orientation in Cherskay, Ukraine to learn the language, customs, and practices. During that time they lived with a host family. Although they were recruited to train the natives in business practices due to a lack of volunteers, they also found themselves teaching other topics as well, such as English. They were paid in US dollars which they had to convert to Ukraine currency. They admitted that it was pretty tough at first to adapt to the culture there.

Elene taught business and english at the high school level. She eventually became familiar with the Ukrainian words for various foods. She remembered that the weather was very cold one winter, she fell on the ice and broke her arm, but she received excellent medical care.

Dale taught at the college level (at Vinnytsia National Technical University) and they lived on the campus in a two bedroom dormitory. Dale taught marketing, economics, as well as English. And although the students were bright and already knew some English, they were quite unfamiliar with business concepts. It was challenging conveying those ideas to them.

Since their assignments were teachers they had their summers off during which times they were able to do some traveling. Although traveling was a challenge; They spoke of an ordeal trying to buy shoes and once being robbed by a pickpocket. When they went to eastern Ukrain, the people would only speak Russian, of course they had only learned Ukranian.

At the end of their assignment in Ukraine they had three months before returning to the US, so decided to visit Istanbul, Turkey as well as Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, and Estonia.

Eighteen months later, they signed up for another Peace Corps tour of duty as business volunteers again. But this time they went to a small village of about 5000 people in Phiring, South Africa about 180 miles from Pretoria. It was a totally different experience; Their housing was very crude, with concrete floors, tin roof, and only occasional running water from a spigot in the wall of their home, pumped from a cistern on a nearby hill. They were overwhelmed by the poverty and they were the only two white people in the area. Now in the southern hemisphere, the seasons were reversed and the night sky had different constellations from which they were accustomed. The climate was sub-tropical, so unlike Ukraine, it was very warm.

While there they tried very hard to get some form of business to provide income for the families in that village. They worked to get grants, got a laundromat built with electrical lines as well. They simultaneously worked on a lot of other project including medical issues related to HIV/AIDs and a local orphanage. The people were very poor,, often with only dirt or mud floors in their houses. Dale and Elene helped them tote water from a distance in large empty pickle barrels via a truck. Cows would try to jostle them too sometimes, in order to get some of that water.

Mass transit travel was horrendous and they felt like they were packed in like sardines. On board the bus they saw all sorts of folk and animals, even a live chicken being transported. They were not allowed to have a car there, so had to rent a car when one was needed.

After just three months they felt like giving up. But their family members and friends came to visit, easing their transition and helping them to adapt to life in South Africa. And they took an occasional break from it all by going to a Bed & Breakfast in another city that had more amenities (like indoor plumbing.)

They never experienced any hostility thankfully, even though they were the only two white faces in the crowd. Their assigned translators or counterparts reassured them when they asked if they should be concerned, by saying Oh, we wouldn't let anyone hurt you. They endured to the end of their assignment but were very ready to come back home!

In general, home & garden clubs serve a variety of helpful purposes in their communities. Not just gardening techniques, sustainability, and environmental awareness but they also promote wellness, stress reduction, gentle exercise, and a sense of purpose and fun. In that much broader sense, the February 2025 Tradition Home & Garden Club Meeting featured three speakers with complementary approaches to health and wellness. Debbie Moeller and Mary Ann Lester gave speaker introductions and explained that since women commonly juggle multiple roles, we often forget to take care of our own wellbeing. This presentation was to help us find additional measures to focus on our own health as we serve others.

Karen Fayer, a Tradition resident, began teaching Tai Chi locally about three years ago. It is an ancient martial art that is thousands of years old and has many forms from gentle to active. Besides series of routine movements it also encompasses deep breathing and mindful focus. Some benefits from the practice of Tai Chi are lower blood pressure, joint flexibility, better circulation, improved balance, decreased fall risk, enhanced sleep, stress reduction, and mild cardiovascular exercise.

She demonstrated a typical Tai Chi routine for the group as well as answered questions. She also explained that Tai Chi can be practiced sitting as well as standing, which makes it accessible to seniors and handicapped individuals. She is also certified in Tai Chi for Arthritis, a special modality.

She instructs free Tai Chi classes for LBTS property owners and their guests on Wednesdays at 10 AM at the LBTS Beach House. Contact her for further details.

Cindi Caron, also a resident here, spoke next. She stated that she is licensed in SC and pointed out the benefits of Medical Massage. These benefits are improved mood, better muscle relaxation, stress relief, pain relief, and better body mechanics. It further encourages the internal release of the body's natural pain relievers called endorphins and reduces the stress hormones such as cortisol.

She explained that there are many types of massage available, including Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Work, Hot Stone Massage, and others.

Some precautions were identified when looking for a massage therapist be sure their license is posted in their office and on-line, that they are insured, and that they take your complete medical history. She also emphasized that the person should be someone with whom you feel comfortable.

Cindi's main office is at Anytime Fitness near the local Food Lion store. But she also serves at other sites as well.

Karen Fayer, Cindi Caron & Eva Yu

The third speaker was Eva Yu, a local acupuncture therapist who was trained extensively in China. She also received training in Tai Chi and is familiar with other complementary treatment modalities. She explained that acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. It focuses on the body's energy meridians, not just the neuromuscular system.

Most commonly people seek out acupuncture for chronic pain relief, although it can be helpful in other conditions like allergies, headaches, back pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, stress, and a weakened immune system. The primary goal is to return balance to the body's systems.

Although people are often concerned about the use of needles, Eva stated that the sterile acupuncture needles are extremely thin like the width of a single human hair. She compared acupuncture with dry needling, a procedure that some specially trained chiropractors or physical therapists sometimes use to promote muscle relaxation, although stated that the acupuncture approach is usually gentler and more prolonged. She also described the cupping technique that she sometimes employs with clients as well. And she received many questions from the audience.

Although Eva is not a Tradition resident, she does offer this service locally at Healing Points Acupuncture in Pawleys Island, (907) 521-5308.

On April 8th a Puzzle Party was held at the Residents's Club House as a fun fundraiser for Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) International. It consisted of 10 teams of 2 persons each per table. It was open to Tradition residents and other PEO chapter members for a $25 donation fee. Each team had the same 300 piece jigsaw puzzle and two hours to complete it. The team that finished first received Amazon gift cards. Snacks and beverages were provided before and after the timed event. The puzzles and Amazon gift cards were generously provided by The Alliance Restaurant Group of Baltimore MD.

PEO hosted this fun competitive event to raise money to provide education through scholarships, grants, and loans to needy and deserving women. It is a nonprofit organization founded in 1869 and has grown to nearly half a million members in the US and Canada. The organization's mission is to help women advance through education and celebrate their achievements.

Bonnie Eaglin and Bonnie Lasinski, members of the local PEO, accepted donated treasures for the Tradition Garage Sale that was held on May 3rd; all proceeds went to the organization.

The next Puzzle Party is planned for Tuesday, September 9th, for more information contact Bonnie Lasinski, in the Tradition Directory.

Willbrook Corridor Beautification Association

Our Tradition community has a line item on our annual budget that provides for the work done by this well established group, so that our 405 residents do not have to individually make payments. In fact, quite a few neighboring HOAs and POAs also budget to pay for this association's work as well. Some of these neighboring communities are Willbrook, Reserve Harbor and Marina, Avian Forest, Reunion Hall, the 3 golf courses associated with Mingo, and others.

A number of local businesses or entities also contribute to the work of this association, such as the Litchfield Hampton Inn, the Tidelands building on the corner of Willbrook and St Paul's Place, etc. All have a vested interest in the appearance and maintenance of our area. And all are required to pay their share annually through binding agreements. This differentiates it from another local group called the Litchfield Corridor Beautification Foundation that requires donations and volunteer efforts to accomplish their work along the median of highway 17 in Litchfield.

However, this Willbrook Corridor Beautification Association was formed and has been an essential entity since the 1990s when not only Tradition but also the other area communities were established. It pays for the landscaping, signage, water (sprinkler system), the fountain in front of the Hampton Inn, the upgraded bike path and related projects.

Originally, Willbrook Boulevard was a private road for which the local residents through this association's efforts were responsible rather than the government. At least 10 years ago though, that roadway as well as Reunion Drive and the portion of Kings River Road that borders the Tradition community were turned over to the county to pave and maintain. But the Willbrook Corridor Beautification Association remains responsible for all of the rest, including 61 street lights.

A number of years ago American flags started popping up along the Willbrook median. It turned out that a gentleman living in Willbrook began going out on his own, starting with 10 flags in front. The residents liked the idea, so the project was acquired and soon maintained by this association too. It gradually grew from 10 to 61 flags, one for each street light. Our landscaper, Starwood Landscaping kindly puts them up and takes them down free of charge for the patriotic holidays.

As we have been taught the protocol for respecting our national flag, it must be taken down each night unless it is illuminated. Therefore these flags, one lit by each street light, can be left on display 24 hours per day until finally taken down. Unlike the flags put up along highway 17 where there is not adequate lighting, necessitating that they must be put up each morning and taken down each night by volunteers.

But flags eventually wear out and need to be replaced for various reasons in order to keep this dedicated practice going. With that in mind, Ted Wroth recently volunteered to assemble 6 new American flags that measured 3X5 feet each and mounted them each on an 8 foot conduit pole. He used a jig to guide and hold an aluminum conduit as he drilled two holes near the top about 36 inches apart in order to attach the flag with zip ties. Then he drilled a short pilot hole in a solid core golf ball. He then completed by drilling a larger hole with a 3/4 inch drill bit so that he could glue a golf ball on the top of each conduit pole.

The next flag display will be on Memorial Day Weekend. Remember while your are honoring all those who gave their lives for our country, give a nod of thanks to Ted Wroth for his efforts.

Dialing the 988 Lifeline leads you to a special crisis line right here in South Carolina. It is available 24 hours per day/365 days per year.
Conversations are free and confidential. You can take care of a friend, a family member, or yourself.
Calling, texting, or chatting with a 988 Lifeline counselor is a judgement-free and compassionate way to get support.
As we all know, life's challenges can sometimes be extremely difficult.
So if you or someone you care about is experiencing emotional distress, substance use concerns, mental health issues, feels suicidal,
or you just need someone to talk things out with 988 Lifeline is here for you!

Each Monday, golfers are paired by teams and the group plays a chosen game for that day. Examples of games are: 2 Nets per team, One Net per Cart, One Gross and One Net, Blind Teams, etc. Varying playing partners ensures meeting a lot of people in a short amount of time and the group is always open to new games!

TOURNAMENTS In addition to the weekly team games, TMGC has 9 tournaments throughout the year. After each tournament golfers are served lunch or dinner, depending upon the time of year, in the Tradition Grill Room for while the winnes are announced. The Team Ringer tournament was played on March 17 & 24 and is one of the most fun formats of the year. Players chose their partner to form a two-man team and play two 18-hole rounds. Teams compare their scores from each round, taking their lowest score for each hole to create a new, single, 18-hole score. The winners this year were Tony Montone and Jim Lewis with a score of 58!

The Memorial Masters was played April 7 & 14 and is a flighted, Individual tournament of 2 rounds using Modified Stableford scoring. The winners for 2025 were Wayne Johnson (A Flight, - 79 points) and Paul Lempert (B Flight, 72 points). Other tournaments coming up include: May 12 & 19 President's Cup June 2 & 9 Member / Member August 14, 15, 16 Member / Guest** September 8 & 15 Club Championship November 3 & 10 Forward / Back November 30 Kronski Turkey Shootout December 8 & 15 Ringer Tournament (Individual) ***This is our largest tournament that allows members to bring guests. It includes 2 rounds of golf, 2 breakfasts, two main meals, cash prizes, and lots of raffles with a silent auction. If you would like to join the Tradition Men's Golf Club, or even just give it a try as a guest, notify the pro shop or email TMGC

Water Aerobics Starts Soon!

As the pool water warms Tradition residents are pulling their suits and water shoes out of storage to begin another season of water aerobics.

Aerobics is conducted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays mornings from 10 to 11. For the exact start date, watch your email. Bring your key card and noodle and show up. We ask that non-participating residents respect the scheduled activity and stay out of the pool during those hours. Also, if the pool cleaners are there, let them do their job to keep our pool up to DHEC standards. They make every effort to arrive early, but delays are sometimes unavoidable, as we all know.

South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts - S.C.U.T.E. Turtle nesting season is about to begin! By the second week of May, you will see the daily SCUTE teams on our pre-dawn beach survey, in search of the tracks of a nesting turtle. The tracks can be allusive or obvious depending upon tides and footprints in the sand. Keep your eyes open for those SCUTE walkers and thank them for keeping our beach litter free.

Mexican Train is a domino game that most likely originated in China and was brought to Cuba by Chinese sugar cane field workers. When the game migrated to Mexico it was called Domino Cubano. Later when Mexican laborers were recruited to help build railways in our Southwest Americans called the game Mexican Train.

The objective of Mexican Train Dominoes is to be the first player to get rid of all their dominoes by creating trains that connect to the central hub or engine.

The game is played with a standard set of Double Twelve dominoes, and each player has their own train, as well as the option to play on the Mexican Train, which is a shared train that belongs to all players.

You will need a little luck and strategy, as players have to think ahead to create the best possible train while also blocking their opponents.

Community Mexican Train was started by Ron and Bonnie Eaglin in 2008. After announcing the game was to be held at the Resident's Club House and all residents were invited, we had a great response. The first Mexican Train night had more than 30 attendees, everyone brought snacks and it was a very happy environment.

Each table has a Train Conductor, and as many as 6 players per table. People would chat leisurely over snacks and dominoes, which increased the closeness and friendship among our neighbors. Sometimes they would have dinners instead of snacks, or celebrate a special occasion with a cake.

Unfortunately and very sadly many of those early participants are no longer with us. But it had truly been a great time for all in Tradition on Mexican Train night in those early years!

In 2016 the Eaglin's passed the torch onto Vickie Wythe and Kathy Berko as the new leaders who, in turn, passed it along to Elene Hertweck and Jan Shepherd in 2022.

In 2025 Mexican Train expanded from one to two nights per month. The group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the Residents Club House. The entry fee is just $1 to play, same as it was in 2008.

It is open to all residents, men and women both. The men tend to gravitate to their own table, and that works fine for everyone.

The annual Tradition Garage Sale was held on Saturday May 3rd. Debbie Moeller perfectly organized this event, right down to the weather! Although a very slow start, by May 1st about 20 homes had signed up to participate.

Often our residents combine household sales at one location, to maximize the availability of treasures. The abundance of great sales did not disappoint. Hopefully, everyone made a few dollars and did not have much left to put back in storage.

The skies were blue, the sun was warm, and the breeze was cool. The garage sale was scheduled to run from 8 am to noon. At exactly 12:05 the clouds rolled in and so did the rain. Perfect!

All4Paws to start a new program called The Ambassador Starting the week of May 1st, Monique Philips will be your contact to All4Paws and collect donations for the rescues. Here is our wish list:

Laundry detergent Dawn dish soap Paper towels Clorox wipes Copy paper Used golf balls Peanut butter Thermal laminating sheets Manila tab folders 13 & 30 gallon trash bags Gallon food storage bags soft dog treats Dog and puppy canned or dry food Cat and kitten wet and dry food Vienna sausages String cheese Large non latex gloves New or gently used pet supplies Towels

Please plan to drop items, in either a box or large bags, off by the mailbox at 244 Sandfiddler Drive on THURSDAYS. Monique will then take those donations to All4Paws once each week.