Layne Varney
SunBird social and fun activities are booming. Tickets sales for these events are going quickly and selling out. SunBird’s New Year’s Eve Party hosted in the ballroom was a blast with DJs Tito and Taco! We welcomed in the new year with good music, good times, and good friends. The Chili Cook-Off was also a huge success, with a number of resident gourmet cooks entering into the elite competition of SunBird’s best chili. That same week, the annual Community Auction was held outside the clubhouse on the patio, with many auction items ranging from home-baked pies to golf carts. During the month of January, SunBird had some excellent nights of entertainment, including a live concert from the cover band K-Tell All, who performed the music hits of the ‘70s, and then a night with Nadeen, the Queen of Hypnosis who put on a hilarious show of fun with the help of some of our very own. Not to mention bingo each Friday night, Sunday Fun Day Football, Trivia, Art & Sip events, corn toss, bocce ball, billiards, and bean bag seasonal tournaments. The Chandler Police Department hosted a seminar in the ballroom to create greater awareness and provide ways of protection from current scams. To find a link to learn about the latest scams and/or more of the activities in SunBird, please visit sunbirdhoa.com.
During the year 2025, SunBird had 85 home sales within the community, which is about 5.3% of the total number of homes. To help SunBird stay informed as to why and what attracted potential buyers to the community, questionnaires were provided to each new owner for information as to why they chose SunBird. 71% indicated that the number-one attraction to SunBird was the variety and size of the facilities and amenities. 43% indicated they learned of SunBird through family and friends. 62% indicated that they were planning to be full-time residents. The Welcoming and Marketing Committee does a great job each year in making efforts to welcome each new homeowner as they move into SunBird. Additionally, each year the committee hosts a Meet and Greet banquet for all new homeowners who purchased within the past year. The purpose of the meeting is to formally welcome all and share information regarding the operations, facilities, services, activities, events, and explain how to get involved in SunBird. The committee collects prizes and giveaways from local vendors, stores, and services to share with our new residents for fun and to become familiar with local businesses. The committee does a fantastic job in making all feel welcome and a part of SunBird. We would like to thank them for this and all the other volunteers who help them with making all feel welcome and joining the SunBird community.
At the end of January, the common landscape areas were treated with an application of a blue/greenish-colored dye of pre-emergent weed spray. The color dissipates from the ground and rocks within a few days of sunlight. This treatment is applied twice annually, saturating into the ground to help minimize future weed growth. This past year, the second treatment, which was applied in August, was not as effective as normal, possibly due to the abnormal amount of rain received after treatment. The contractor honored the warranty and came back to SunBird and re-applied a post-emergent treatment in December to address the weed growth. The landscape crew has been trimming back some of the plants and bushes (bougainvillea and bird of paradise) that go dormant during the colder weather, losing leaves and flowers. These plants will begin to grow back when the temperatures begin to warm again during the spring months.
Each year SunBird contracts with an independent financial auditing firm to conduct an audit of SunBird’s previous year’s financial records, reports, and transactions. The auditor reviews financial reports, bank statements, transactions, insurance, employees, tax reports and filings, board meeting minutes, and other related association records. When the audit is completed, the auditor will present a report for the year 2025 at the annual meeting. The best opinion to receive from an auditor is an “unmodified opinion,” meaning the financial statements and accounting practices were found to be in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures) and were properly and fairly presented. Once the final report is received from the auditor, it will be available on SunBird’s website.
SunBird would not be SunBird without the many, many, many people who join and assist with the events and work. We truly appreciate our committees, clubs, class leaders, organizations, and many volunteers who work hard freely offering their time and service to make SunBird a great place to live! Thank you!