Grapevine Archive

September 2008

9/29/2009

After the meeting Thurs night it seems that the membership isn't as informed as some would like to think.  A lady stood up and took the board to task for not letting the membership decide on the renovation/tearing down of the Country Club.  It seems that some of the Board isn't all that aware of what's going on either.

9/29/2008

It tells us that too many people listen to all talk and little action. It tells us that "informed" members have less and less control over what happens in this great neighborhood. It tells us that just because one is popular, it doesn't make one right. I think we all learned that in high school.

It also tells you that they are not talking to the same members I am talking to. ;-)

9/26/2008

Interesting, these so-called "bad decision makers" continue to gain support of the informed membership. What does that tell us?

9/25/2008

Hey, I just got an idea. Maybe we can ask the government to "bail out" these current bad decision makers we have in Lake Forest...looks like our tax dollars are about to help some other bad decision makers in this country.

9/24/2008

A little postcard came in today from a so-called "Improvement Movement" endorsing Sturch, Stone and Bidney for the board.  This is the same guy who helped give us the first "Slate", that has brought Lake Forest to the condition that it is today.  Since they took over our debt has gone up and services and maintenance have gone down. It's interesting that the card says they want "Continued Amenity Improvements and Against Dues Increase".  That's a hoot!  Their own previous slates are the ones who are asking for the dues increase!  Do you suppose they mean that we should forget about how things have been since their organization became involved and let them have another shot at getting it right?  This contribution is not meant to criticize the three candidates.  For all we know, they may not even know about this postcard.

9/24/2008

On October 9th in the Forest Room, there will be a community informational meeting about the capital plan being supported by the Board of Directors. Our members are invited to attend and learn about the capital plan, its function and its limitations. There will be specific capital items presented and discussed. A discussion of funding options will also be in the presentation. It will be important for our members to understand the needs and desires for the future of the community and that a plan to get there is being put in place. Come, listen, and offer input in these processes. See you there.

Why don't you get things started off right by holding that community meeting somewhere else since you think the Forest Room is in such terrible shape? By the way, understand the needs and desires of whom?

9/23/2008

The proxies started arriving this weekend giving us the opportunity to vote on candidates for the Board of Directors and some initiatives proposed by the board.  There are three recommended amendments to the by-laws and one amendment to the covenants of the subdivision.  I'm not sure why the amendment to the covenants appears on the proxie for the annual meeting.  An amendment to the covenants requires much more than a majority vote of the members of the association.  I assume that someone is hoping to show the will of a large group within the subdivision for future purposes.  Regarding the recommendations for changes to the by-laws, one in particular stands out to this writer as being worth some serious discussion on this website.  That one is the recommendation to increase the borrowing cap of the Board of Directors from $100,000 to $500,000 per year.  Certainly, this recommendation and proxie was prepared before the current financial crisis really hit the news.  However, when we consider that we are in a national financial crisis because of actions of people who were supposed to financial experts, why in the world would we even consider giving the authority to borrow a half a million dollars a year to a handful of people who have not been able to operate within a budget since the day they took over?  It isn't going to happen.

9/16/2008

A suggestion: If you have questions about the GM's savings calculation when the larger portion of the Country Club is shut off, ask him. Also: Proxy Ballots will be in the mail late this week.

9/12/2008

The other night at the working meeting of the board they were talking about changes resulting from the demolition of the Country Club.  There were a couple of things they said that I wondered about.  For example,  they said that they would no longer need a bartender.  I thought they were moving the bar to the men's locker room.  Won't they still need a bartender?  They said they would be able to reduce the number of housekeepers by one.  It is my understanding that they only have two housekeepers now. The housekeepers are responsible for all the facilities in Lake Forest.  How can one person keep up with all of that?  They also said that they would no longer need a party coordinator, but I thought they said previously that all parties, events, etc will be moved to the Yacht Club.  Won't they still need a party coordinator?  If they do move everything to the Yacht Club, won't they need more help down there?  At one point someone also said something about their changes to the by-laws.  Another board member immediately said, "we don't won't to talk about that right now".  What does that comment tell us?

You can't form any opinions about what is going on in Lake Forest from what the Board of Directors says in public.  It is also probably the case that most of them don't really know what's actually going on themselves.  One report that we have received from a reliable source tells us that the staff has been given instructions to accept no requests for weddings, events, etc at the Country Club for January and beyond. That  tidbit is for those who may still think that they can't be serious.

9/11/2008

9/11/2008

Please take the time to say a short prayer for the victims of that attack on the twin towers in 2001 and our country as well.