SIPOA Annual Meeting 2024

Annual Meeting 2024
Saturday, February 17, 2024
10:30am
Seabrook Island Club Atlantic Room

You should receive your voting materials on or shortly after Wednesday, January 17, 2024, via email or USPS.

All Proxy Appointment Forms must be received by SIPOA’s Secretary before 8:00am on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Proxy forms received after 8:00 am on February 17, 2024, will not be valid.

What is the Proxy Appointment Form?
The Proxy Appointment Form is the document that allows you to cast your vote(s) (one per property owned).

Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our community. We encourage each of you to take part in this process!

Electronic Voting Instructions:

  1. The voting invitation will come from announcement@associationvoting.com with the subject “2024 SIPOA Annual Election – Your Vote Counts!” and will be sent to the primary owner on file.
  2. When you are ready to vote, please visit vote.associationvoting.com/sipoa/ and enter the login credentials given to you in the voting email.
  3. Complete the voting process, ensuring to “Preview Your Vote”, before you “Cast Your Vote”.
  4. If you own multiple properties, you will receive separate invitations and login info for each property and can vote once for each property.
  5. You are entitled to cast only one vote for each property owned.
  6. Reminder emails will be sent until your vote is cast.

Important reminders:

  • If you don’t receive the voting email, visit vote.associationvoting.com/sipoa/, click the help button, enter your details, and click “Request Help”.
  • If you still do not receive your voting details, you may not be registered as the primary owner. SIPOA will contact you to resolve the issue.

 Don’t miss your chance to win Amazon gift cards!

  • Submit Early: Property Owners who submit their completed Proxy Appointment Forms on or before January 27, 2024, will be eligible for one of five $100 Amazon gift cards!
  • Second Chance: Property Owners who submit their completed Proxy Appointment Forms on or before February 3, 2024, will be eligible for one of five $50 Amazon gift cards!

 Reminder: The Seabrook Island Club voting will take place in January. We strongly encourage your participation in their important process.

To view Meet the Candidates Night, click here.

-Submitted by Seabrook Island Property Owners Association.

A Conversation About Martin Luther King, Jr.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Charleston Literary Festival (CLF) is making the CLF 2023 session featuring bestselling author of King: A Life, Jonathan Eig, in conversation with Brandon Reid, Public Historian at the International African American Museum, available now to watch on their YouTube channel. 

Speaking with Eig, Reid mentions that “embracing the conversation means becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Reid went on to say that Eig’s book made him uncomfortable because it allowed him to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “in a new light…as a human being” as the book portrays the totality of King’s life and leans into the story of the man behind the myth-making.

You can watch this thought-provoking conversation here.

–Submitted by Charleston Literary Festival

South Carolina is Heading Into Primary Voting Season

Primary Voting Season has begun with early voting and absentee voting. The early voting period for the Democratic Presidential Primary starts on Monday, January 22 and ends Friday, February 2. The early voting period for the Republican Presidential Primary starts Monday, February 12 and ends on Thursday, February 22. Absentee Ballots are already available. For more information, click the links below.

According to scvotes.gov, there are some things to know about the upcoming primary season. The following is from their website:

Pick your Primary

  • You can pick either primary but you can only vote in one.
    • The Democratic Presidential Primary is on February 3.
    • The Republican Presidential Primary is on February 24.

Registration

If you are not already registered to vote in South Carolina:

  • You must register by the deadline in order to participate.
    • You must register by January 4 in order to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary.
    • You must register by January 25 in order to vote in the Republican Presidential Primary.
  • Common ways to register:
  • If you have moved from one county to another, you must register in your new county to be eligible to vote.
  • If you’ve moved within your county or changed your name recently, update your information before election day to help ensure a smoother voting experience

Pick your Voting Method

Vote Early
Vote Absentee
Vote on Election Day

Sample Ballot

Every vote is important, so please take the time to vote this year in either the Democratic or Republican Primaries.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: scvotes.gov)

The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre

Welcome to Charleston’s only live comedy mystery theatre, where the audience is the star! All our shows are clean comic whodunits, and they all feature you — or at least some brave soul sitting near you who volunteers for a role!

All shows are original — written by us — and can be seen only at our cozy home on Church Street. Each show lasts approximately two hours. The ticket is for the show only, and desserts, appetizers and drinks are optional. All laughs are not optional and are included in ticket price!

Our Shows

Inspector NoClue’s Murder Mystery Show

A Classic Comic Whodunit 

Help I Think My Characters Are Trying To Kill Me!

A Who’s Who Murder Mystery 

Mack Black: Ghost Detective

Hilarious whodunit with audience roles ranging from less-than-helpful ghosts to the Scooby Gang! 

Murder at the Redneck Reunion

Family name … salvageable. Tater bar … ruined. 

Purchase tickets now!

-Submitted by The Black Fedora

(Image credit: The Black Fedora)

SEWE 2024


Since the inaugural Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) was held in February 1983, it has become an important and highly-anticipated event in Charleston. The SEWE is a celebration of the great outdoors through fine art, live entertainment and special events. It’s where artists, craftsmen, collectors and sporting enthusiasts come together to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and connect through a shared passion for wildlife.

This year’s SEWE will be held from February 16 – 18, 2024. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or stopping at the Visitors’ Center inside Kiawah Town Hall. Kids ten and under are free. Learn more about SEWE here

Please note purchasing tickets in advance of SEWE is the best way to guarantee entry into all exhibits. SEWE organizers may discontinue in-person, day-of ticket sales should any venue reach capacity.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: sewe.com)

COVAR Needs You: A Call for Volunteers

Established in 2001, the purpose of COVAR (The Council of Villa Associations and Regimes) is to represent and give voice to the 1355 properties in the 41 villa associations and regimes that comprise a significant community of the Town of Seabrook Island. COVAR members clearly benefit from communication and assistance regarding common concerns. Using valuable input from its members, COVAR has achieved success in several goals and continues to be a respected and important seat at the table.

COVAR is soliciting help to continue its mission of providing a means for villa property owners to share and discuss common concerns. With the departure of several board members, COVAR is in search of new leadership.

As COVAR collaborates with SIPOA, TOSI and SBI Club in matters of mutual responsibility and interest, it needs the support of its volunteers to continue its mission.

For more information on becoming a COVAR Board Member, please send an email with your name, villa association or regime, and best way to contact you to: covarseabrookisland@gmail.com. A current board member will reach out to you and provide more information.

-Submitted by Council of Villa Associations and Regimes


Freezing Temperatures This Weekend, Jan 19 -21

Storm Team 2 is forecasting freezing temperatures in the coastline areas overnight Friday, January 19, through Sunday, January 21, as a cold front comes through the area. Rain is not predicted at this time, but the temperatures are expected to be below freezing. The possibility of high winds may make the wind chill temperatures even lower.

There are several things you may want to do to prepare for temperatures below 32°F.

  • Plants are the most susceptible to damage during freezing temperatures. Bring them in if possible or cover the most fragile ones. Fabric, bed sheets, burlap, or commercial frost cloths are good insulators. Don’t use plastic. Click here to read more about protecting your plants.
  • Protect your exterior water pipes from freezing by dripping exterior faucets (slow droplets or slow streams of water) and turning off irrigation systems to help reduce damage from freezing and breaking. If you have insulation covers, now is the time to put them on. Click here for more tips on protecting your home from freezing temperatures.
  • If you live in a house or villa that is raised above the ground, you may want to drip your interior faucets as well.
  • Consider leaving cabinet doors open in the kitchen and bathrooms, so your pipes will be warmed from the room air.
  • Know where your water shut off valve is in case you need to turn off the water.
  • Keep an eye on your pets as you let them out. They too can slip and fall on the ice.

Be prepared, be safe.

–Tidelines Editors.

St. Christopher Summer Camp Registration Opens Jan 22

Each summer St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center hosts nearly 1,500 campers on its 314 acres on Seabrook Island. Camp sessions are geared for specific age groups ranging from K-2 (Buddy Campers, who attend an overnight session with a parent or guardian) to high school students who attend week-long Senior Sessions.

Open registration for all camp sessions begins on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 8:00 am. For more information about summer camp registration, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center)

Currents 2024 Annual Meeting Preview

The most recent issue of Currents, with a preview of the annual meeting, is now available.  Click here to read it or visit the SIPOA website and access it through the News dropdown menu.

To receive SIPOA’s weekly Highlights email as well as special notices and alerts from SIPOA, please click here to sign up.

Email your comments and feedback to publiccomment@sipoa.org.

-Submitted by SIPOA

Buy Direct from Local Farmers

We here on Seabrook, Kiawah, and Johns Islands have many opportunities to eat delicious, local foods from our local farmers. Below are just a few of our farming neighbors.

Rosebank Farms Stand reopens Thursday, January 18, 2024, after a post-Christmas break. Located at 4362 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island, Rosebank offers local fruits, veggies, seafood and prepared foods for purchase.

The Market at Storey Farms, specializes in free-range chicken, eggs, and pork products along with a large selection of pantry items and baked goods. The Market, 4104 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island, is currently open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm (closed Sunday and Monday).

Sea Island Farmers Market, 2024 Academy Road, Johns Island, open on Saturdays, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm, provides an abundance of local goodies.

Fields Farm Produce Market, 3129 River Road, Johns Island, is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Fields Farm Produce Market offers a variety of locally sourced goods with the added bonus of online ordering for pick up.

Stono Farm Market offers produce grown on Wadmalaw Island at the Ambrose Family Farm. The Market and the Tomato Shed, farm-to-table restaurant, is open Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Nano Farms is the newest farm to our part of the Lowcounty. Located at 770 Main Road, Johns Island, Nano Farms market stand is open seven days a week.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Rosebank Farms)

New Exhibit at the Gibbes

Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature
January 26 – April 28, 2024

This January, the Gibbes Museum of Art will be the inaugural United States venue for the international exhibition Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature. Presented in association with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London) and Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the exhibition and its related programming will highlight the vibrant and varied career of the renowned Scottish artist and accomplished folk musician, Rory McEwen.

Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature is focused on McEwen’s hyper-realistic watercolor paintings of plants. Bringing a modern sensibility to botanical art, McEwen developed a distinctive style, painting on vellum and using large empty backgrounds on which his plant portraits seem to float. Executed in exact, minutely accurate detail, he recorded the imperfect and the unique, as well as the flawless. McEwen’s work is shown alongside the works of master botanical artists from the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. 

In conjunction with Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature, the Gibbes Museum of Art will be holding exhibition-related programming throughout the show’s time on view.

New Perspectives on Rory McEwen: A Symposium, Friday, January 26, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Join Sir Peter Crane, president of Oak Springs Garden Foundation, Richard Deverell, director of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, exhibition curator Ruth Stiff and Christabel and Flora McEwen for a morning of lively discussions exploring Rory McEwen’s distinctive contemporary style and his life and impact on the botanical art scene on both sides of the Atlantic. Click here for tickets and information.

The Gibbes Goes Green Family Day, Sunday, February 25, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Join the Gibbes and community partners working with plants and the Lowcountry environment as we celebrate all things botanical. Inspired by Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature, families of all ages will have the opportunity to experience exhibitions and other ongoing special events.

Harvard Glass Flowers, Thursday, April 25, 11:00 am
Inspired by the exhibition Rory McEwen, which features the artist’s extraordinary large scale, botanical paintings, the Gibbes welcomes Jennifer Brown, the collections manager of Harvard’s iconic Blaschka Glass Flowers Collection. This unique collection was made by Leopold (1822-1895) and Rudolf Blaschka (1857-1939), a father and son team of Czech glass artists. Brown will discuss the collection’s significance, origins, and one-of-a-kind specimens for Charleston audiences. Click here for tickets and information.

-Submitted by The Gibbes Museum