Neighbors,

When my wife, Sara, and I moved to Indian Hills four years ago, we saw beautiful houses, manicured lawns and award-winning schools and assumed it was a great place to live. Little did we know, it was the actual slogan for the neighborhood!

When making the decision to take on the role as President of the Association, I had to consider both the time commitment and what my goals as President would be. I looked at the makeup of my fellow board members and knew that it consisted of so many wonderful people that care so much about this community. You would never know there were issues with streetlights and roads, thanks to Steve Mead. As I drive into the neighborhood and see the beautiful flowers that rotate with the seasons, you can rest assured that Ron Andrews has picked the perfect companies to work with for all the landscaping needs (and he has kept it under budget)! Family participation in the association is growing thanks the efforts of the Membership Director, Bonny Carr, and the processes put in place by her predecessor, Susan Fanning. I am encouraged by my conversations with Curtis Kimball, Treasurer, that he will continue the meticulous commitment to the financials that both Shirley Taylor and Hank Windhorst did before him. If you have ever attended a 4th of July celebration, dumpster drive or a back-to-school Ice Cream Social, you know there is no one better to handle Community Affairs than Page Morgan. If you are new to our community, I have no doubt that you have met one of the smiling faces of our area directors: Theresa Collins, Markku Willgren, Joyce Shetler and Beth Gannon. If you are reading this now, you know that Jen Collier has compiled, coordinated, edited and placed all the fun and relevant content needed to keep you all informed as Communications Director. I am thankful for Karen Neely, who will document our meetings, coordinate with the county club for in-person monthly and Annual meetings, and try to keep us straight in our meetings. With all these wonderful people around me, and with access to previous Presidents Lauren Brockman and Harold Itkin, I figure all I have to do is concentrate on the one goal that I came up with, which is to keep Indian Hills “A Great Place to Live!”

If you need me for anything, I can usually be found at Fullers Park, where Thomas (10) plays 4th grade Walton Junior Football, and Trenton (7) plays Pinto baseball. Dawson (3) wants to play soccer, but since they do not play soccer at Fullers, I’ll quote Randy Jackson and say, “that’s gonna be a no from me, Dawg!” You can also reach me via email at tkkillough@att.net or on my cell at 352-727-1038.

Kris Killough, IHCA President

David Chavis did significant research a few years ago on the concept of community.  He and his research partner, Kien Lee, found “that a community is not a place, a building, or an organization; nor is it an exchange of information over the Internet. Community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people. People form and maintain communities to meet common needs. Members of a community have a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other. They have an individual and collective sense that they can, as part of that community, influence their environments and each other.  That treasured feeling of community comes from shared experiences and a sense of—not necessarily the actual experience of— shared history. As a result, people know who is and isn’t part of their community. This feeling is fundamental to human existence.”

Are you part of the Indian Hills community?  Do you want to be part of the community?

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Indian Hills Civic Association, please contact me or any Board member.  Currently we are looking for a Treasurer and a Director of External Affairs for 2022-2023.  Or if you just want to get more involved in our community please let one of us know.  There is plenty to do. Have a great and safe rest of the summer.

Harold Itkin, IHCA President

In today's fast paced world it is intriguing that the old adage from the French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, "the more things change the more they remain the same", still resonates.  Back in 2009 Rosie Griffin, then President of IHCA, wrote: "...we still are one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in since we are positioned right in the middle of the Perimeter business center as well as the Cumberland business center and close to I-75. We couldn't be in a better location. We have a very diverse community of individuals; young, old, black, white, Asian, and Hispanic. We are a melting pot of people who keep this community interesting. Our history in future years will depend on how these individuals get involved in our community, what they bring to the table and what price they are willing to pay to ensure that we do not allow the community to deteriorate. Indian Hills has a legacy and a good one. We must continue to make it one of the best places to live in Cobb County."

Those words are as appropriate and true today as they were a dozen years ago.  Indian Hills is still the place to live because of the reasons she highlights.  If we are to remain the "place to live" we need widespread involvement in our community by our community members. Everyone that lives here has a stake in our community.  We need to embrace our responsibility.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Indian Hills Civic Association, please contact me or any Board member.  Currently we are looking for a Treasurer and a Director of External Affairs for 2022-2023.  Or, if you just want to get more involved in our community let one of us know.  There is plenty to do. Have a great and safe summer.

Harold Itkin, IHCA President

Spring is here and the bounce is coming back in everyone’s step, slowly but surely.  It’s certainly brighter in Indian Hills than it was last year at this time.  We will actually have some “in person” events in the near future (by now the community Garage Sale has taken place), and maybe we will even be able to host a “live” Annual Meeting this fall.

Let's remain optimistic, but cautious rather than careless.  And let's definitely respect the rights of our neighbors to remain as cautious as makes them comfortable.  I try to respect your space and hopefully you will do the same for me.  Remember the CDC is still recommending that we wear masks and practice social distancing. 

Indian Hills is THE great place to live.  

Ask yourself what you can do to improve our community.  Be a contributor to the Indian Hills spirit and help your friends and neighbors be part of it also. If you know a neighbor who is not a member of our Indian Hills Civic Association, please share with them why you are a member. A community is about fellowship and participation so encourage everyone to come onboard and be part of our community.  Not being a member and still enjoying our beautiful Indian Hills atmosphere is akin to going through a revolving door on someone else’s push.

Please let me or any board member know if you would like to be a member of our board. We are always looking for folks to join the fun.  My term as President is up in October of this year so we will need a new leader. Who knows, you could be President soon.

Be safe. Be considerate. Be happy.

Harold Itkin, IHCA President

My smile is returning and laughter is more frequent. A lot of projects – big and small – have happened at our house and I suspect throughout the community. A new coat of paint is now on the exterior and interior of our house. New shutters and blinds are on the way. Things are looking more positive these days. We still should not forget that although the vaccination rate is accelerating and deaths are decelerating we are still in the midst of a serious pandemic.

Hope everyone enjoys the Indian Hills Community Yard Sale later this month. And the best way to enjoy it is to observe the CDC guidelines for safety. Please wear masks and practice social distancing. Be considerate of your fellow consumers and respect their “space”

Let us continue to make Indian Hills THE great place to live. Ask yourself what you can do to improve our community. Be a contributor to the Indian Hills spirit and help your friends and neighbors be part of it also. If you have a neighbor who is not a member, please share with them why you are a member. A community is about fellowship and participation so encourage everyone to come onboard and be part of our community.

Please let me or any board member know if you would like to be a member of our board. We are always looking for folks to join the fun. My term as President is up in October of this year so we will need a new leader. Who knows? You could be President soon.

Be safe. Be considerate. Be happy

Harold Itkin, IHCA President

Indian Hills is a great place to live.  That is not just a slogan; it is a fact. So let's look at what makes it a true statement.  My opinion is that a critical element is unity.  After all, "unity" makes up more than half of the word "community"

Unity doesn't mean that we agree on everything all the time. Nor does unity require us to set aside our individual concerns and conform to the majority opinion or to a vocal minority. Unity is best served when we refrain from emotional responses.  Two important steps in achieving unity are a full hearing of all points of view and a respect for the right of others to hold varying points of view from our own.

My next door neighbor and I agree on very little on the political spectrum.  I would guess that the only time we vote the same is on issues that come up at our IHCA Board of Director meetings.  That does not stop us from being friends.  It does not stop us from being there for each other when there is a need...and sometimes even when there isn't a need.  We are united in the concept of being good neighbors, being "there" for each other and being contributing members of our community.

So, ask yourself how your unity is with regard to your community.

Help your friends and neighbors be part of this spirit and please invite them to be part of making Indian Hills a great place to live.  If you have a neighbor who is not a member, please share with them why you are a member.  A community is about fellowship and participation, so please encourage everyone to come aboard and be part of our community.

Be safe. Be considerate. Be happy.

Harold Itkin, IHCA President