VERY LAST CHANCE

I was very disappointed to find out several weeks ago that 41 less households than last year had sent in dues. I delayed the Membership Directory and sent out a post on the Email List expressing shock and disappointment in this precipitous drop. A dozen or so responded. For those of you who are not on the List please realize that no other organization represents the needs and concerns of the area where you and I live like COVNA. If you act quickly, you may still join or renew your COVNA membership and be included in the neighborhood directory. Dues are only $10 per year per household. An organization that provides a monthly newsletter, a helpful email list, 2 free parties, and most importantly, a strong voice in preserving our neighborhood's integrity is worth supporting. If you have not joined this year, please consider doing so now. Click here to print the form and send it or take it to Hal's this week.

COVNA still has no Vice-President. If willing to serve, contact any officer listed at right.

NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE GARAGE SALE

On Saturday, April 17th from 8 AM until 3 PM, Castlewood Forest and Oak Valley neighborhoods are having our First Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale. Two weeks ago you should have received a flier under your front doormat with details. One more good reason to join COVNA: A portion of your COVNA dues are paying for ads in both the Austin American Statesman (April 16 and 17) and the Austin Chronicle (weeks of April 9 & 16). Signs are now at the entrances to our neighborhoods. Larger ones will be placed next week on Brodie, Slaughter, Manchaca and Davis, with additional arrow lead-ins where necessary. We will also have an ad on Craigslist.com which is free. If you know of other places where you think we should advertise, please let us know.

To keep COVNA costs down this first year we will not be placing signs at each intersection in our two neighborhoods. If there is not a "lead-in" sign to your street, feel free to add one, such as at the 3 dead-ends off Oak Ledge and the entrances to Mosswood and Crownspoint Circles.

Each household is responsible for their own garage sale. You may place a sign at the street in front of your house if you like.

In preparation, start tagging items for sale several days in advance. It takes more time than you might think. Consider organizing your items. Place all the toys together in one box or area marked and labeled. Don't put a ten cent price tag on anything. Low price tags are a poor use of your time. Instead, set up a quarter table and a dollar table with the price category displayed. A word of warning, the little 3/4" round colored stickers can be easily removed and placed on a more expensive item. But take time to mark your items for the garage sale. Many buyers loose interest if you don't have the items marked and marked clearly.

You can sell any of your personal items with the exception of ones such as firearms, illegal items like pirated videos and CDs, drugs, or hazardous chemicals. Caution: Items should not have been bought to resell at the garage sale, as this is considered "for profit" and the state can require you to file sales tax. Things like homemade lemonade are an exception.

Have plenty of cash in small bills and coins as you won't have time during the sale to get more but be sure to keep them out of sight. You will want tables on which to sell items and chairs so you can sit between customers. Consider moving as many of your own cars as possible into your garage or even out of the neighborhood. If the sale is as good as we're hoping, there will be zero parking. If twenty homeowners park elsewhere, it will make a great difference.

Your trash can be another man's treasure and vice versa. If you have something in your garage sale items that your neighbor likes, you may want to barter for an item in your neighbor's garage sale items.

Before putting out items in your garage sale you want every item to look its best. Consider cleaning and fixing the item you want to sell. Go to stores to see what something costs new and price it less than half that...if it's in good condition.

Make a stand with free items labeled with “free” in large letters to attract many buyers and passersby.

And finally, but most importantly, during the garage sale keep all entrances into your house locked including those from your garage. Close your garage door if you're not selling things inside it. It is real common for a thief to go into your house and steal things while you are outside because they know you are busy and won't notice them.

You can go on the internet to www.google.com and enter "Neighborhood Garage Sale" for more ideas.