Getting Greener?: GCRAC - who are they?

Friday, October 14, 2005

GCRAC - who are they?

Since moving in here I've been mulling over the feasibility of communal represention. Something so commonplace in the West as to be taken for granted in any self-respecting neighborhood is conspicuous by its absence here. But inevitably the questions arose: Is it really necessary in the first place? What would be the benefits and pitfalls? What would its charter be? How would it be elected? Would UP accept an elected committee as the voice of all residents? How much "power" could it and should it wield? As is all too often the case, apathy reigned supreme, my interest waned and my notoriously microscopic attention span was diverted to another pressing subject.

Imagine then my surprise and delight at receiving a flyer (Issue 01 - October 2005) from the impressively-named "Green Community Residents Action Committee". This missive urges me to FIGHT BACK by refusing to fill in UP's security questionnaire. Quite who and what I am supposed to be fighting back against is a little vague but it seems that this display of communal disobedience is somehow intended to force UP's hand with regard to the impending increase in the service charge. Before commenting further I have to ask: "Just who are the GCRAC?" I'd love to congratulate this mysterious and clandestine committee for taking the initiative and trying to make themselves heard but really, what is the point of ranting and raving if no-one knows who you are or how to contact you to offer support.

Why not contact other residents through this blog? - I'll bet you would be surprised at the number of supporters you find.

Does anyone else have something to say about the Green Community - good or bad, inflammatory or placating - its all welcome here! Go on , say something!!!

46 Comments:

Its not the same as EMAAR. They have properties still to sell, UP don't. They won't listen

By camelspider, at 3:51 PM
true (to a point)...

anyway back on topic - we do need to get together as residents to get our voice heard.

I'm all for it.

By Davie, at 5:29 PM
Sure, I'll turn up if anybody can get around to arranging something. I think Green Community is a very good place to live (in comparison to other developments in Dubai) and UP a reasonable landlord (in comparison to other developers and landlords) but a Resident's Association is highly desirable in order to check how and where the Service Charges are being spent and to ensure that UP don't rest on their laurels...

By Anonymous, at 6:34 PM
I agree; we should have a residents commitee, where all are known to all residents. As other people have commented; what are the maintenence company doing ? They are supposed to have increased their staff and yet we only see the basics being carried out (cutting grass, trimming etc) but weeding is not being carried out, many plants are dying and the original designers did not know enough about agronomy and horticulture as they have planted many of the "Wrong" type of plants; those which need the shade are in the full sun, vice versa etc. they even plant jungle type plants like the MAHU, an ugly plant. Anyway enough ranting, what are they going to do / I telephoned 9 times before I got a response and somebody came round, but then they only did a quarter of the job and I have not seen them since. I hope in the new Tender that another Maintenence company get the job.

Regards
House 544

By Mollusc, at 6:34 PM
Good luck to you all. I think you will find that the "Powers that be" in the green community don't have enough interest in the project, only in the revenue, they can get from their private ventures being used to build the project!
I thought being "green" we would also have recyling bins and a proper refuse collection! Have you seen the mess the refuse people make in their pick up!
If the GC office and UP won't listen, how are you going to get changes to happen?

By Anonymous, at 7:34 PM
well, if everyone (or realistically, a majority of people) held back on paying the service charges until the work was at an acceptable standard tings might get done.

Let's not even start on the bollocks that was 'snagging'

By Anonymous, at 8:37 PM
I agree that a Residents Assoc. is a good idea - best to make identities known though rather than hiding. If we are serious about this. On the subject of dying plants - have you noticed that the frangipanis by the entrance to the West Gate need some serious watering!
We need a sensible agenda and to book one of the poolside rooms - anyone prepared to help?
546 Jasmine Drive

By Sandshagger, at 9:35 PM
To be completly of the topic, ive seen alot of people out running in the compound and perimeter but usually by themseleves. I trying to see how many people would be interested in setting up a running club similar to Road Runners at safa park. Start to get the community part of this compound established as theres not much of it. ill cheak posts here or send comments to Red_wraith@hotmail.com

By Anonymous, at 10:05 PM
UP need a to realise that we are all in this together. At present they have us divided and conquered. There is a need to resolve the issues everyone has and quickly, the only way is a community voice. To our brother Sandshagger, yes we are prepared to do something. If we have enough names posted here then we will arrange an informal meeting to start the rebellion.

Mark-707.

By mark, at 10:25 PM
I definitely agree that a residents association is a must for us to have some input into our lives here. We need a commitee to liaise with UP and to monitor the spending of the utilities etc and also have a say in who gets contracted to do maintenance and at what cost etc
We need a commitee elected by the residents. Alone we will be ignored.
236

By Anonymous, at 3:02 AM
Green Man and GCRAC who delivered the flyer, Great Job, appreciate greatly your initiative.

It's been so painful banging my head against a brick wall --GC Management-- for a year now.

GC is a good place, well designed but unfortunately suffers from what I see as useless management and I really do want to push back on this rubbish about wrist bands.

For sure what we get for 12K per year is NOT worth it....I would like to see the owner take a cost hit until they can put in adequate management and deliver results....Landscape, snagging, proper time management of their responsibilities.

I haven't paid my coming years maintenance charge yet --don't know if this is risky......wish I had the energy to get back some of last years money but not sure if our contract covers for proper resolutions of snags etc., and if it does how to go about it.

By Azher, at 4:40 AM
Its a good things people are now begining to sit up, take notice and talk. Hopefully some productive communal benefit should come out of this. But lets try and take a balanced view please. Let this not be a Green Community bashing blog. There are a lot of good things here and lets try and appreciate them. Yes - much more needs to be done. But in comparision with most other developments around, we are by far greener and cleaner.

By Anonymous, at 8:20 AM
Hi Green man, thank you so much for taking the initiative. We CAN make a difference, there is still phase 2 and three to go and the last thing they need is bad publicity at this stage.
I am all for a committee, I have already spoken to all 5 of my surrounding neighbours and we will all be there. We are ALREADY paying on average about Dhs 300-400 more on levy than the Meadows and Arabian Ranches and yes I have heard that the management here are defnitely looking into a 20% increase on what we already pay. We can either sit back and say "there is nothing we can do" and just keep smiling and paying the increase whilst watching the greenery dissapear, or we can stand up and be heard, I know what path I will be taking. So count me and neighbours in. Once again. WELL DONE for a brilliant job.

By homeowner, at 8:24 AM
I am all for meeting. I also understand the landlord lives in the community as well, maybe we should involve him in the committee, that way he will see this in a positive light rather than a confrontational light.

By SAS, at 9:51 AM
I'm all for it. The snagging has been very poorly managed, and what attracted us to the GC, the greenery, is just dying before our eyes.
The rubbish collection is a joke, but at least better than those Municipality skips and their mess. And this security proposal, well that is taking on something that properly is for the Dubai Police!
Let's go for it.

By Anonymous, at 10:03 AM
I'm sure only a few have regrets about choosing Green Community as a place to live.
Its good points are well know to us all but quality input from a residents assoc is paramount.
Without it UP management will seek finacial gain where it can, afterall that is their primary function.
Would suggest management of "The Courtyard" takes the lead and provides the intial venue for the "GCRAC"......

By poppy805, at 10:44 AM
It's nice to get some response to the newsletter sent.

We are the rebels unfortunately not everyone got the newsletter as security came around behind us and removed them .....

We are just fed up with UP not maintaining the standards - we have lost our garden twice from mealy bug and its back again today. the bushes are white with the stuff. where are the promised gardeners. Our main concern is that we as residents have to pay for these services so we should be allowed/consulted on how it is spent. I don't want to wear a wrist band to go to the shops!! - and have to pay for the priviledge.

I love living here - its a great place (but standards are dropping) the showers in the pool have been broken for 10 weeks, the pool tiles are chipped, the toilets are dirty, the gardens are dead or dying .... where has my (and your money gone).

As for snagging ......

we'd be happy to voice out opinion and join the committee. We need to get together and decide a date to all meet and invite UP to attend. UP as per our lease agreements should be accountable for what they spend. I just object to having to put things right as they messed up on sub-contractors

kat m

By Anonymous, at 11:47 AM
Yet another trip to the office this morning only to be told the same as my husband was 6 weeks ago. That being that they have hired a new landscape company and we should see a difference in about 2 weeks..........Yeh! right.
Unfortunatly I haven't seen the flyer that was mentioned on earlier comments and would be very interested to read same if anyone has a copy please email to jcw2000@emirates.net.ae thanks in advance. Also very interested in meeting when a venue and date is set up.
Apt 2007

By Sunshine, at 11:52 AM
If anyone would like a copy of the flyer, not everyone got one as security removed them as quick as we dashed around

please email:-

gcresidents@yahoo.co.uk

This is "action" not meant to be a "revolt" but we have been patient long enough. We need to discuss outstanding issues with the UP management. They need to know that their residents are unhappy. We can only do that collectively.

for those of you who's like to respond but do not know how to use this system.
1. type your message here
2. click on anonymous
3. type in the word verification 4. click on login and publish.

Kat M

By Anonymous, at 12:07 PM
I've just found this site so have been reading through all the old comments. The site is a good idea, but I really hope it doesn't turn into a "let's bash GC and UP site". And since UP do still have properties to sell they should listen to us.

My first comment is - what wristbands, what security proposal??

My second comment is that I find it quite obnoxious that I can't go out on the community with a friend of mine because she works for UP and every time we go out people feel they have the right to come up to her and start complaining! The last time this happened was at 10.00 in the evening. Come on people, we all have a life and work issues should be kept to work times.

By Anonymous, at 12:15 PM
Agree, we don't want a revolt just some constructive discussion resulting in positive action on an ongoing basis.....probably the feeling of revolt is because residents have been individually frustrated for the past year and this blog is a great place to vent ....at last.

To the last blogger, a Security newsletter has been delivered to all houses detailing new security measures to be implemented, one of which would require wearing a wrist band to pass over to the mall.
To your second point --appreciate your point but-- if I interfaced with customers whom my company had been messing around for a year I would expect to be approached and complained at, especially when I cannot get hold of people during working hours to complain at and if I do it is typically not acted on.

To the GCRAC I find it astonishing that GC Security followed you around and removed your flyers --that makes me want to revolt-- no chance i want to pay money for extra 'security' when that is part of the sevice.

Is this really what the GC is? --a combination of an all inclusive holiday venue where you need to wear wrist bands to prove you paid and a Police state where free speach is supressed.

GC Management get REAL!

By Anonymous, at 1:21 PM
anyone paid maintenance yet?

By laptech, at 2:29 PM
heahahaha, Green Man: thats a wonderful name.

By laptech, at 2:31 PM
Try this Google search for The Green Man

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22the+green+man%22

By Anonymous, at 4:25 PM
Hi fellow residents of GC.while I agree that we have to do something concrete to improve the GC and how's it's managed, we have to get real i.e. we should organise a resident's committee to look into all the issues without being anonymous. I for one would be very happy to meet like minded residents and discuss this idea further. Would the Green Man take the lead?

By Greensam, at 4:42 PM
thanks for organizing this, we need to get together and find solutions to get back green.

By agave, at 6:15 PM
I have to agree about service charges. The bushes at the back of my townhouse haven't been cut in who knows how long.

I also dish out money every month to have my own gardener to come and sort out my gardens, which is another expense added to the list.

I've paid my first three months of maintenence but to be honest, I don't know what I'm paying for. I barely even use the pool because I don't think it's cleaned properly.

The GC is a great place to live, otherwise, but I'm just fed up of the false promises. When I signed my lease in 2004, I was told that the Market would be opened in February 2005 - didn't happen and we still don't have a supermarket yet.

By Anonymous, at 7:08 PM
Kudos to the Green Man!! Shame your e-mail only reached 1/3 of the residents. And shame that security felt they had the right to remove your circular from people's home's when they allow a plethora of fliers to be distributed throughout the community! Particularly when they profit from the flier - (ie - sport academies).

I completely agree that this venue does not have to be a total gripe session against UP but a way to voice an opinion and circulate information.

As was mentioned, it is near impossible to get any kind of response or satisfaction from anyone at the GC office. It is appaulling that they do not think returning a phone call or e-mail is part of their job, or customer service. And who is paying their salary? So, setting up a residents association is probably the only way that UP will take note of the issues that we as residents are having. Count us in!

We have the same issues that people have noted with the dying foliage, paths that are so over run with bushes they are impassable, mess that the rubbish removal people make and do not clean up (ie - glass in the road, trash in the bushes, etc.), shabby park and pool area, dangerous tools being left around by work men, huge holes left uncovered in the park, not sufficient play apparatuses ( only 2 swings!!, small climbing frames!)over a year and waiting for our snagging to be completed, etc....

In addition to the issues mentioned we also are annoyed that some residents do not respect the community and the facilities we have all paid for (ie - putting cushions in the pool, using life saving equipment for recreational use, leaving their trash in the park and pool area, misusing equipment that has been provided (hanging on volley ball nets, tearing up flooring in the play areas, rolling blading on the tennis courts, etc..) not cleaning up after their dogs, not abiding by the no satillite rule, and by not adherring to the exterior modification regulations (ie - building ugly fences, pagodas, which are an eye sore for the community, etc). So, in some instances we as residents need to look at ourselves, or our children, when discussing the decline of the neighborhood, not always at UP.

Moving onto security, reacting to break ins in the Meadows as they did, is ridiculus. There have been LOTS of break ins all over Dubai for years, Jimierah, Umm Sequim, etc.., this is not a new phenomenon. When we moved into the GC we bought into the idea of a secured community, which included security gates, security guards and even a car ID security system. In fact we filled in a lengthy questionaire over a year ago for the car ID system which has yet to be activated! Before we initiate all these new measures why doesn't UP provide the 'security system' that was promised/sold to us?

And I also agree with the Green Man that a lot of the security measures need to fall upon individual residents to take simple measures to keep their houses and belonging secure.

Thank you for allowing us to air our views and we hope that UP will agree to meet the newly formed Residents Community to help make the GC an even better place to live.

By Anonymous, at 9:00 PM
LETTER TO GC MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF CIRCULAR LAST NIGH

Dear Lyn,

I appreciate the spotlight is being shown on GC Management. However please appreciate, in accordance with the blogging above, most residents want GC Management to succeed, the main point is to ensure that UP/GC succeeeds in accordance with residents desires -- these should be in sync.

I do believe GC is the best residence in Dubai and I want to ensure it at least gets back to that position & maintains it.

Regarding the Circular received late last night which I wish had been more sympathetic to what people aresaying, a few comments from myself:

Item 1: Budgeting
i) I assume that any costs associated with Lanscaping AND any costs associated with snagging resource employed by UP over the past year are excluded from last years budget and request confirmation of this by viewing the budget figures and appropriate opportunity for scrutiny with yourself. May we even look forward to a rebate?
ii) I would like to seek compensation for the inconvenience caused by the landscaping and snagging issues faced and time wasted by myself waiting at home for remedial work where the required labour never appeared...and for having to revisit snagging lists on numerous occassions due to UP/GC Managements inability to track this at all. Could you please advise a route to achieve this.

Item 2: Household Information Questionnaire
No Comment

Item 3: Security Situation
i) No comment regarding Emaar situation
ii) Not so much interested in what is in UP's contract with Group 4, more interested in an acceptable Security environment at GC

Item 4: Emaar Situation
No comment

Items5: Armbands etc.
i) Totally not interested in what's "Vogue"....and I'm not a young person
ii) Totally not accepting either arm bands or access cards, so please understand this is not showing a preference for either, or. I seem to remember as part of the contract residents had access to communal grounds, so would appreciate as a minimum a consultation and without that an individual agreement between myself and GC to change our contract.

Additionally I would appreciate an update (ANSWER) to a previous comment made -- were GC Security staff responsible for removing GCRAC flyers intended for myself from 'my property'. If so, this is technically THEFT, and non-technically so much worse. Please note I, for one, find this TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. Appreciate an ANSWER so measures can be taken against responsible persons for such conduct.......whilst expecting appropriate monies for paying such staff to also be deducted from the current budget.

Lyn please work to get GC Management on board ....we want to work with you to make things better BUT from a "Residents & GC joint perspective" not from "soley GC perspective" which by the reaction seems to be out of sync with the residents feelings.

Please don't push things down our throat unless it is a Greener Community, Cleaner Communal Areas and Cleared Snag lists.

Appreciate your feedback....and it would be great if you could take a positive step and why not organise the first GCRAC meeting.

By Anonymous, at 3:07 AM
Thank goodness someone has taken the initiative and given GC residents the chance to air their views. It must be clear to everyone (except perhaps Ostrich Man) that the reason so many people have responded to this site is the level of frustration we are experiencing. No-one wants to whine and moan. All we want is what we were promised!

This complex has the opportunity to be one of the best places to live in Dubai. Or it can degenerate into a pale shadow of what it could be. Having lived here since the 1st April 2004 (make a mental note never to move on April Fool's Day)my fear is that we are moving towards the second option.

All we want from GC management is:

1. A response to our requests - it would seem that we are not alone in finding our requests being sucked into a black hole.
2. For people to turn up when they say they will. I cannot keep track of the number of days that either my wife or I have taken off work only to find that no-one arrives when they are meant to. To compound matters, I often get phone calls when I am in meetings saying that someone is outside my front door waiting to come and do some work just expecting someone to be there to let them in.
3. GC management to take responsibility. I don't really care whose fault a problem is. As a paying customer I want the situation resolved. So to be told that this is the landscaping company's fault or the contractors - really doesn't interest me. I have a relationship with GC and therefore - please fix it.
4. Transparancy and honesty. When you add up the amount of money that GC gets every month in maintenance fees I find it very hard to believe that we cannot get the standards of service we were promised. Let's have the full budget and see for ourselves where OUR money is going.

This is not the route we have all chosen as our first option. We have all tried to reason with GC management and most of us have got nowhere. Count us in for the association as I feel the only thing that GC mgmt will understand is a collective voice and a refusal to pay any more fees until it is resolved.

By Not so Jolly Green Giant, at 9:11 AM
Hi

Lots of useful comments, but I really applauded the long post from Anon which included "In addition to the issues mentioned we also are annoyed that some residents do not respect the community and the facilities we have all paid for (ie - putting cushions in the pool, using life saving equipment for recreational use, leaving their trash in the park and pool area, misusing equipment that has been provided (hanging on volley ball nets, tearing up flooring in the play areas, rolling blading on the tennis courts, etc..) not cleaning up after their dogs, not abiding by the no satillite rule, and by not adherring to the exterior modification regulations (ie - building ugly fences, pagodas, which are an eye sore for the community, etc). So, in some instances we as residents need to look at ourselves, or our children, when discussing the decline of the neighborhood, not always at UP."

For me, dog excreta and cushions in the pool every morning are the big bugbears!! However I do agree that Green Community needs a thoughtful and and analytical Residents Committee to mediate with UP on their commitments and ensure Value for Money on the Service Charges. [It is really market forces in action... if residents show no interest or a lack of coherence in addressing a powerful landlord or developer, charges will inevitably go up and service levels decline, a reverse to the mean after a reasonably promising launch by UP of an innovative development.]

By Jasmine Drive Townhouse, at 10:56 AM
I see that Lesley Ziri has today sent an email asking people to cease and desist replying to a mass email UP sent out in the first instance. This smacks rather of censorship as individual addressees can simply delete the mail or block the sender.

I think the emails and blog comments I've seen have been very thoughtful and reasonable. On the other hand, UP's attempt to stop me seeing a circular distributed by a neighbour, and their attempts to stop people mailing each other on issues of common interest... well, these actions smack of high-handedness and tend to confirm the need for a Resident's Association. Suggest we just agree on a date and turn up at the Marriot, the Cucina restaurant or similar. UP can attend if they like, but even if they don't, a meeting would be useful to agree the issues and a line to take. [As the old movie line says, "Hold it and they will come..."]

How about next Saturday evening?

By Anonymous, at 3:59 PM
A residents committee in any development is always a good idea for a happy, well run environment so I veiw this as a positive action. People can get their concerns in the open and hopefully issues be resolved. So well done in that regard. I do how ever have concern over this reluctance to wearing/carrying the wrist bands or similar ID. Do the residents opposed to this measure think that it is acceptable for any body to be able to just wander into our community? How will GC be able to distinguish who is a resident and who isnt when walking through to the shops? I for one am not prepared to have any old bod being able to just wander in. That is why I chose to live in a gated community and that is why I want checks done at the gate. Ok lets be able to discuss how we want to be identified but we should have ID in place.

By Anonymous, at 8:52 PM
last evening (Sat 15th)a lady and her young daughter were shot at by a man with an air gun from a balcony over looking the pool, whilst they were swimming. Does anyone have any follow up news on this and were the police called and more importantly was this nutcase arrested?

By Anonymous, at 8:52 PM
I have not heard of this, where did the story come from? If true, then certainly it is a Police matter. Which raises the question, are GC security maintaining an incident log and was this incident recorded?

I agree with the remarks on the need for a coherent approach to security and the broadcast emails on girls being accosted in changing rooms and now this alleged airgun incident underline the need for incident logging and police involvement if warranted.

By Jasmine Drive Townhouse, at 9:23 AM
Regarding the shooting incident at the pool, yes the police were called, they took away the gun and I believe that the person responsible (reluctantly) followed on to the police station as the victims insisted on pressing charges.

By Anonymous, at 9:52 AM
Well done to Kat and the Green man, my husband had already sent mails to UP suggesting the setting up of a committe, due to many problems we have encountered over the past year, the majority of which it appears everyone else has suffered. The latter being with childern destroying the tennis courts (riding bikes and destroying the surface we all pay for) whilst attempting to have a game of tennis. Our garden was destroyed by the mealy bug, so much so that we have now bought sprays and are doing the job of the garden maintenance. The garden area at the back has become so overgrown that on a Friday we have to resort to spending our free time in chopping down the overgrown plants to that we can enjoy the view we paid for. I certainly would like to know exactly what we are paying for? We also believe that it is up to us as tennants and owners to abide by the community code i.e clean up after your animals, and do not leave them to roam around. There is plenty of desert outside the community for them if so desired. Lets make the community a pleasant place for everyone. We are in total agreement that the Green Community is a good place to live and would be more than happy to stand up and be counted. Name the place and time.

By Anonymous, at 9:53 AM
some very valid points made, and i agree it would be worthwhile having some form of residents representation.

the story about the alleged molestation at the pool is shocking, however it does beg the question as to why parents are allowing their kids, (some as young as 8 or 9) to use the pool facilites unacompanied by an adult? quite often i go to the pool at 5.30 in the evening and when i leave there are still kids there on their own. apart from the physical threat what happens if there is an accident. i suspect if there was a serious accident and the parents were not there, any adult that was would be held responsible.

There is also an alarming increase in mothers allowing their kids to go naked in the pools, not only is this objectionable from any point of view in a public pool, but surely this is what our alleged kiddy fiddler gets off on?

perhaps a little parental responsibility would also stop the "cushions in the pool", or "using lifesaving eqipment as toys" incidents as mentioned previously, not to mention giving a bit of peace and quiet to those without kids who want it. Just a thought?

By Anonymous, at 10:52 AM
Last comments were spot on. Surely kids should not be using the pool in the absence of parental supervision??

One theme that emerges is that there are plenty of issues for the residents as well as UP...

By jasmine drive townhouse, at 11:57 AM
I am sure some residents remember the days when kids would be taken care of in their neighbourhood and respected all instructions! I guess we were all like that - weren't we?

Parental guidance (I agree wholly that there should be) or none, if there are cases of attempted / actual molestaion and shooting then the security has to be sorted out and the residents informed. Prevention not cure.
That can only be done by collective responsibility and enpowerment to the Pool Managers!! - why is there no lifeguard with authority to stop / prevent all the instances mentioned?

Enpowerment, as we all know, in this neck of the woods is down to a lot more than a car barrier, a title or a uniform.

Then, information - share it. Could it be that suppression of the facts is seen as negative marketing?

Many of us will see, in the press to come, just how actions are being taking by other formative groups. Laws on allowing Residents Groups in Dubai will be advanced and the propoerty developers will have to tow the line. You can not have a autocratic orgaization running affairs on 'owners' land with legal protection. We, in he Green Community, do not own the land but should expect to have recourse to fair practise and representation.
That's for the future. Right now,
we need UP to come the table and work out some solutions - to keep all communication focused on the best way forward for all parties.

By Anonymous, at 12:34 PM
Very interesting comments! Yes, I would join in a residents meeting. However, having attended one at the East Garden Apartments, it really needs someone to take control as otherwise it will just degenerate into people talking over each other and wandering off the topic under current discussion. Also, there needs to be someone willing to take notes (minutes) for those who do not attend.

I totally agree with the comments about the kids. It seems that a lot of parents are quite happy to delegate responsibility for their children to housemaids who often do not have the authority to discipline the child. Parents should be held accountable for the behaviour of their children.

I also agree with anonymous who commented on the security issue and said "Do the residents opposed to this measure think that it is acceptable for any body to be able to just wander into our community? How will GC be able to distinguish who is a resident and who isnt when walking through to the shops? I for one am not prepared to have any old bod being able to just wander in."

Right from the beginning, we were told that there would be security access from the shops to the rest of the community. If we don't want to see non-resident families coming to the park for a picnic, using the facilities, etc., we have to accept some form of security access. Don't think it won't happen - Ewan Residences are about ready to be moved into and as Dubai grows, Green Community will not be an out-of-the-way community any more. It has happened at other developments - don't think we are immune!

By Desert Rose, at 12:36 PM
Do you recently recall the unpaid labour blocking the Sh Zayed Rd in Jebel Ali? The company in question was Al Hamed, who incidentally, through Group4, run GC security.
Trust more care was taken in their selection that the late gardening Co.
www.alhamed.com/group4info

By Anonymous, at 1:52 PM
With regard to non residents entering the GC, maybe a locked gate with a numbered keypad or a swipe card entry as in the banks could be placed at the access to the shopping area. GC residents would have the code/card and be able to enter and leave at will.

By Anonymous, at 2:41 PM
I have been asked to post this e-mail to all those who read this blog site, contribute or would like to contribute:

From: robertgh@emirates.net.ae [mailto:robertgh@emirates.net.ae]
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:10 PM
To: wnelder@fedex.com; Mohamed.Mehrez@Nokia.com; geri@ajmitchell.com; Ian.Dawson@degussa.com; Paul.Lowndes@degussa.com; frank.nader@valmont.com; ggibson@inter-touch.com; helenroy@emirates.net.ae; ant@filmworks.com
Subject: GC Committee

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is time to act beyond the perpetual exchange of e mails. I have arranged a meeting at my town house, No. 502 on Tuesday 18th at 7:00 pm. I am inviting all those who have taken the trouble to write e mails and I think this will be sufficient for a first meeting. I cannot reach the names on the blog site for some reason, but have asked Helen to do this for me.

If the number wishing to attend becomes overwhelming, I shall arrange an alternative venue.

My belief is that a full scale meeting of all the residents will not get us very far. There will be too many issues and everybody will have their own agendas. My suggestion is as follows :

That we define the terms of reference and categorise the issues into priorities e.g. landscaping, AC issues, security, lack of PO Boxes etc.etc. Once we do this, we will have sufficient detail for a full scale meeting of all residents that are interested, but moreso, we shall have an agenda to follow and hopefully hold a constructive meeting to take us forward.

I am in no way suggesting that I am the Messiah, but I am willing to at least kick things off. Whatever we decide, the residents must eventually choose their representatives. So, If you can attend and indeed wish to do so, can you please let me know by 17th(not much time, I know) as this will help enormously.

Look forward to your replies and if there are particular issues that you wish to include let me know and I will do my best to categorise these before the meeting.

Regards

By Several Residents, at 3:44 PM
Congratulations on taking the first step in organising a meeting. I will not be able to make it due to a prior appointment. But in addition to the many issues already discussed, I would like to add one more. The maintenence of the gyms is appalling. The equipment is not serviced - in some cases it is falling apart. Regular maintenence, oiling and lubricating will ensure the expensive equipment is well looked after. The gym is rarely cleaned and has sweat and other stains on most equipment and the floor that needs cleaning. Another small issue - does anyone know where the remote control for the tv is kept? Good luck with the meeting and we look forward to receiving the minutes in due course.

By Anonymous, at 10:07 PM
Agenda items i'd like to have dealt with at the meeting as I'm unable to attend the meeting.
1. When is the snagging going to be completed.
2. I don't want newsletters by hand - electronic please. I also don't want advice on bbq's or healthy living in the letter. My money is being wasted by this trivia.
3. I want to see the UP accounts on expenses to date.
4. More rules re pools & accountability from residents. Unattended kids, naked kids, noisy kids.
5. What are UP's future plans for GC - where is money going to be spent in future.
6. When can the townhouses have the cheaper water for the gardens, like the villas currently enjoy.

Thanks, Jeble Ali Jill

By Anonymous, at 2:06 PM

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