Sundance
1 RV Resort
SMOKE SIGNAL
November 2021
Manager’s Notes –
Welcome Back and Happy Fall!
The mornings are brisk but the days are beautiful – it’s a great time to be back at Sundance! Things are ramping up for a really busy season. We will be FULL in January and February and only about 25 sites available in March. We are asking for everyone to comply with the rules and to be on their toes – No Speeding & Obey ALL Stop Signs– this goes for golf carts and bicycles also — EVERYONE needs to use lights after dark – this includes walkers — And NO overnight parking on the streets – unless you are arriving for the season, then you are allowed maximum of three days to unload.
We are so excited to have Derek & Shelley Peck back again this year as Assistant Managers! If you see them around, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome them back! Other returning staff members are; Reina Nelson – Admin Assistant, Cindy Hardy – Front Desk, Shelly Boyd – Front Desk, Doug Boyd – Mailroom, Barbara Burrell – Front Desk, Darlene Clark – Front Desk, Daryl Clark – Maintenance, Jim Dover – Host, Ronda Dover- Activities, Doug Baute – Maintenance, Lori Baute – Activities, Larry Dew – Pool Guy, Jim & Barb Underly – Clean Team, Karen Radke – Clean Team, Teresa Owen – Clean Team, Leonard Casken – Clean Team, Kathy Carpenter – Activities, Rennie Duncan – Activities, Michelle Vegter – Assistant Activities Director and our Dedicated Activities Leader – Deb Yelton – Activities Director
You will see a lot of new faces this year amongst our staff – please be kind and welcome them to the Sundance Family, this is a big park to get accustomed to and it’s a big job to keep it looking good and running smoothly!
New Staff Members –
Burt Rentmeister/Karen Belair – Host/Activities
Keith & Marla Kentch – Host/Activities
Dan & LuAnn Yanna – Maintenance/Front Office
Jon & Glenda Pokrandt – Maintenance/Activities
Ambriah & Jo Duffie – Activities Team
Steve & Linda Lindsey – Activities Team
Debbie Premo – Clean Team
Bob & Margie Vaughan – Clean Team
Lizz & Joe Ploppert – Mailroom (they have been working all summer)
Bob & Fritzi Fergeson – Gate Attendee Coordinators
Tom and I are looking forward to our 3rd full season here and are glad to be moving into a positive direction of getting life back to normal. Last year was a challenge to say the least and we are glad 2020 is behind us – it was supposed to be the year of ‘clearer vision’ (20/20) but as they always say – Hindsight always has perfect vision! May we all have grown thru the challenges, struggles & even losses, there were too many of them! Attached you will find a copy of the parks statement regarding Covid and what the expectations are.
We are always open to ideas and suggestions and want to know about your concerns – the best way to be heard is to fill out a form in the Activities Office that gets turned into our Town Council and we as a Team go over each entry to discuss and be made aware of. We take your input seriously and do what we can to find resolutions. All comments must be put in writing and your name signed to it in order for it to be addressed.
Deb Yelton has been working hard to make this season fun for everyone! The year has some really exciting and new additions to years past. With so many new residents, they are bringing more and more ideas to try to incorporate and make the park a great place to be for all!
Don’t forget to let the office know you have arrived (calling 520-426-9662 if no payment is due is best). If you have to park in or remove your RV or trailer (no matter the size) in storage please be sure to contact the HOST to assist you.
Excited for the Season –
Tom & Kate Ebert
Make Today so AWESOME that Yesterday gets Jealous!!
Important Phone Numbers
911 for all police, medical and fire emergencies
Sundance Main Office 520-426-9662 (Non-business hours calls will transfer to Host)
APS 1-800-240-2014 City of Casa Grande 520-421-8600 AireBeam 520-510-0909
PLEASE ABIDE BY THE PARK SPEED LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL VEHICLES, BIKES, SCOOTERS, and GOLF CARTS.
Slow down, enjoy life, and let the good times roll!
Activities Fun –
We are thrilled to see so many new faces in the park and excited to see all our returning guests too! Our Activity team is working hard to learn the ropes and help you enjoy your stay with us. Luanne and Roy Durfey will be the Sundance Decorating Coordinators. They are looking for volunteers who want to help out. Please make sure you give all of our work campers a warm Sundance welcome!
With all the new guests and returning residents, please wear your name badge while in the park. This helps others get to know you and where you are from. Name badges will be required to enter a room and participate in an activity. You will be asked to go home and grab it if you forget it, so put it on before you walk out the door. If you have a medical event and can’t tell us who you are, it will also assist us in locating your significant other or emergency contact.
Speaking of emergency contacts….have you updated your info with the Main office? We have an easy to fill out form in the Activity office for your convenience. Stop in and pick one up today!
If you are out and about the park at night, please make sure that your golf cart and bicycles are properly lit. Walkers, please carry a flashlight and have it on so vehicles can see you.
With our anticipated park population for this season, activities are for Sundance and Fairways guests only. Certain events like our Country Store and Patio Sales are open to the public. Dances and entertainment will be open to Sundance guests, Fairways and if there are tickets available, we will open it up to individuals outside of the park. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the amenities that we offer.
Please be patient as we are continually updating the Weekly Activity form. Always check our office for the most current version. We will post it on the Morning Message when revisions have been made. Room calendars are located in the Art Barn, Gamblin” Room, Hole in the Wall, and Hang Out Room. Check out the fun things each room has to offer.
We are always looking for new activities to offer our guests. If you have ideas, or games that you want to introduce to the community, stop in at Activities and let us know!
If you are interested in learning more about Fiber Art aka Spinning, please stop in at Activities and sign up. We are also looking for RC (radio controlled) Aviators. If you would like to form a club, we have a sign-up sheet for you.
Our washing machines are HE models which require only a ¼ cup of liquid soap. If you use any more than that the soap will not get rinsed completely from clothes or it will cause the soap to spill out of the front of the washer onto to the floor causing a fall hazard. Pods are placed directly into the tub.
Pools are up and running for the season. Cover-ups are required for both women and men when you are outside of the fenced pool areas. Make sure you towel off before leaving the pool so your drips don’t create a fall hazard. This does include if you are leaving the pool to use the washroom. Don’t enter any room or building with wet swim attire. Please remember that pool shoes are fine in the pool, but shouldn’t be worn as street shoes. By wearing pool shoes to and from the pools, the debris that is on the bottom of the shoes will end up in our sparkling pools and could possibly damage the filtering equipment. Bathing attire needs to be thoroughly rinsed well after being washed as soap will collect in the fabric and will end up in the pool and especially in the hot tubs. This in turn requires additional maintenance to the hot tub. No glass containers in or around the fenced area of patio, pool deck or hot tub.
The deadline for the December Smoke Signal is Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. All guests, Coordinators, and Groups are encouraged to submit news to the Activity office or email sundance1activities@hotmail.com.
Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday Nov. 25 –
Thanksgiving dinner at Sundance will be a different venue this season. The Secret Ingredient staff will be preparing and serving our meal from the kitchen. Menu is turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and jelly, green bean casserole, and yeast rolls. Desserts can still be potluck style for this dinner. Coffee, iced tea, and lemonade will be available or you may bring your own beverage. Tableware will be furnished as well. Social at 3:30pm with dinner at 4pm at the Hole in the Wall. The cost is $10 per person and tickets are available now through Saturday, Nov. 20 in Activities. Sign up to reserve your seat and which tasty dessert you would like to share.
Billiards – The Pool room would like to welcome everyone back for the 2021/2022 season. We are open every day for open play on your own. There will be organized play every Monday and Thursday at 8am. All skill levels, women and men are invited. For more information stop by the Billiards room and check us out or call me. Bob Drake at Site 678 307-746-5416
Ceramics – Come visit us in Ceramics this season! We have a lot of new supplies and greenware. There is a Monitor in the Shop to answer your questions or help with any needs you may have. We have the supplies available to start a project to finish your creation. We hope you will come and see us soon and show us your creative side. We now have laminating services available for a small fee. Ruthann Lindgren
Country Store – We host our monthly craft show the first Friday of each month beginning Friday, Nov. 5 at 9am – 12pm. We are anticipating 60 vendors and we encourage you to patronize these small businesses.
Duplicate Bridge – We need you to play and your partner too! If you are a duplicate bridge player – or want to learn – Sundance has a game each Wednesday at 12pm in the Gamblin’ Room. We encourage all levels of play and we will find you a partner to play with if you don’t have one. We do have a small $2 fee to play. For more information, please call Fritzi at 818-519-1171.
Front Gate Greeters – Volunteers are needed for shifts as greeters at the Sundance Front Gate. We are looking for people who like people, who are friendly and outgoing. The work is easy, and it’s a great way to meet new people. Each shift is two hours long, beginning at 8am and ending at 4pm, Monday through Saturday. (No Sunday shifts). Training for new volunteers will be provided on your first shift. If you are interested or want more information, please call Fritzi or Bob at 818-519-1171. Feel free to stop by site 665 to chat with us or sign up in Activities.
Lapidary – We are also known as the Rock shop and are located on Tonto Street next to the Computer Lab, behind Ceramics. We welcome everyone to stop in to see what a rock holds on the inside, and you will be amazed! If you are interested in becoming a Monitor sign up in Activities. They will also be to tell you when we are open. Thanks, Dave Yelton
Library – Welcome back book lovers! The Sundance Library, located in the Ranch House in Sundance 2, is open for business! We are looking for volunteers to keep everything running smoothly, so if you are interested, please contact me by calling or texting 208-870-7718. Leave a message if no answer. We will begin accepting book donations in about two weeks. We will let you know when we are ready for donations. Please ensure all donations are in gently used yet in good condition. We cannot accept cook books, Reader’s Digest Condensed books, bibles, etc. We are in need of large print books and Westerns. Any questions, please let me know. Thank you, Barbara Newman
Stained Glass – Welcome Back!! We are looking forward to another season and can’t wait to see the projects you create! We are a bit slow opening this fall as we have a few returning Monitors who will not be in the park for a couple more weeks. We appreciate the patience you have given us as we work on this. We will post our hours each week near the door providing you with the information you will need to plan your visits with us. Never tried stained glass before? Not a problem! We keep our beginner projects extremely affordable offering them at $8 which includes instruction, supplies and all the time you need. There is no need to purchase tools or equipment …we have it all. If you have experience working with glass and feel comfortable teaching others the craft, please talk to one of the members on the steering committee. Again, this season, we will offer instruction and moral support in traditional projects of stained glass and stepping stones. We are very excited this year to welcome Tammy Crocker who will be offering a class in our newest form of stained glass…Mosaics! If you would like to take this class, it will be offered on Monday afternoons from 1-3:45pm. We are also excited to have Mike Brown return this season to teach caming! Please check the shop for details on this. We hope to see you in the shop soon…and often!
Steering Committee Cindel Nelson, Harriet Reed, Jim McBride
Sundance Book Club – Please make plans to attend our Book Club meeting. We discuss the book of the month, and even if you haven’t read the book come on in and join us. We welcome any and all readers! Sundance Book Club will be reading and discussing our November book, The House Girl, on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in the Gamblin’ Room, 9:30 -11:30am. The story is historical fiction described as a story of love, history, and a search for justice set in modern-day New York and in 1852 Virginia. Our December reading will be A Proper Family Christmas by Tara Conklin. This is prefect holiday reading and note that there are two books with this title. We encourage you to bring a list of any books you would like to recommend. Join us at 9:30-11:30am in the Gamblin’ Room on Wednesday, Nov. 17, Dec. 15, Jan. 19, Feb. 16 and Mar. 16 for great conversation. Sherry Robertson
Veterans of Sundance/Fairways – Our first meeting of the season will be on Monday, Nov. 8 in the Hang Out Room at Sundance, 9:30 – 11:30am. All Veterans from all branches and spouses of Veterans are invited to attend. It is time to change the guard and we welcome anyone who would like to Coordinate the group. It doesn’t take a lot of time and guidance is available.
Volunteers – Do you have a talent or passion about something that you would love to share? We are always looking for fresh ideas, Volunteers, and Monitors. Below are options for you to consider.
Coordinators Needed –
Float Contact Activity office 520-876-2714 or sundance1activites@hotmail.com
Veteran’s Group as above
Volunteers Needed –
Mailroom See Doug B. in the Mailroom
Front Gate Bob & Fritzi F. call 818-519-1171
Decorating Committee Luanne & Roy D. text your name and number 509-830-2108
Wood Carving – We meet every Tuesday and Friday in the Gamblin’ Room at 9am. Men and women alike are welcome to join us and try their hand at a beginner project. We have several talented individuals that would love to show you how to carve and provide you with guidance on your creation.
The Secret Ingredient, will be located in pull through site 688. Menu and food options change often. Stop by and have a bite.
They will be here every Tuesday in November for lunch 11am – 1:30pm and the following Fridays, Nov. 5th, and 19th, 11am -1:30pm.
Upcoming Activities or Events for December –
Fri. 12/3 Country Store 9am-12pm around Pool 1 and in Hole in the Wall.
Fri. 12/3 Float Preview and Golf Cart Parade throughout Sundance 5:30pm Line up @ Ranch House.
Sat. 12/4 Electric Light Parade City of Casa Grande, Florence Blvd.
Sat. 12/11 Sundance community Patio Sales 8am-12pm
10-Digit Dialing – Just a reminder about the 10-digit dialing that went into effect October 24, 2021. You will need to dial the area code plus phone number to place calls. Anyone with telephone number from your area code will need to make the change from 7-digit local dialing to 10. On the 24th if you dial only the 7-digit phone number a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed and a recording will state to hang up and dial again using the area code and 7- digit phone number. Just about every state in the contiguous U.S. is affected along with Hawaii and Guam.
Friends of Jim and Sassy Skinner are invited to an open house in Jim’s honor on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 11am – 2pm at the Skinner’s home, site 24 in Sundance 2. Jim passed on July 4, 2021: you can read his obituary at “brown” scremationservice.com. Go to “search all obituaries”, then type in “James Truman Skinner”. We will be serving smoked pull pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad, and Palisade peach cobbler – some of Jim’s favorite foods. This is an informal memorial; please come to say hello to Sassy, share a story, and to see photos of a life well lived.
Ed Creger, a former resident of Sundance, currently a resident at Fairways, will be 90 years young on November 30th! Your wife, family and friends wish you much happiness on this special day!