I thought at some point an itteration of the board discussed the 2/3 rule with our lawyers and it was determined that a vote needed to be passed by 2/3 of the people who voted, not 2/3 of the neighborhood had to vote. We're never going to get 2/3 of the people to vote unless somebody goes door to door or sits out at each entrance to the neighborhood and gets people as they exit and enter. I do agree that our yearly fee should be raised; I don't care about parties, easter egg hunts, or newsletters--but I think we all could agree that we like having the common areas cut and mulched and the ponds taken care of.
Speaking of that vacant land....I actually called the county last month regarding all the crap People's left behind (this was after I saw somebody dumping their "spring cleanup" branches etc out there). Not sure how far it went, but they definitely seemed interested in addressing it and couldn't believe all of that stuff has been there for almost 15 years. Maybe the fact that People's is selling the land will prompt them to clean up the failed construction project.
Also, one other point...those mailboxes shouldn't be touched. They are federal property and the postmaster specifically said "do not paint them."