The following letter to the editor was printed in the Mobile Register in August of 2004.

As most of us know, some people will always see the glass as half empty.  Last Sunday an editorial was submitted to the Baldwin Register by John Deloney that presented a view of Lake Forest that bears little resemblance to the actual state of affairs within the community.  While he quoted some old numbers about the cost of services within the association, he failed to mention that members enjoy the use of swimming pools and tennis courts without additional fee. Or, we can choose to join some swim and tennis programs provided by the association that provide additional features.  He didn’t mention that we have access to a beautiful twenty-seven hole golf course for very reasonable fees or we can enjoy rounds on our lovely Lake Nine golf course for $5.  Let me repeat. Lake Forest members can play golf for $5! 

Because of all these amenities many of our Lake Forest children have gone to college with athletic scholarships in golf, tennis and swim.  Mr. Deloney also failed to mention that Lake Forest provides academic scholarships to some of our children who have established a record of academic excellence. In the last two years the association has given out $8,000 in scholarships.  Does that sound like something an organization in dire financial straits would do?

Here are some facts.  Since 1996 Lake Forest has spent over two million dollars in renovations.  Most of that was paid for out of association cash flow.  There were some loans taken to cover large projects such as a $400,000 dollar irrigation project on the Forest course and another $145,000 similar irrigation project on the Lake course. There have been no loans in three years. In addition there have been numerous remodeling projects completed within the amenities.  Keeping our members’ amenities fresh and beautiful is exactly the responsibility of a Board of Directors.  To even suggest that Lake Forest took out loans to “keep afloat” is a blatant distortion.  This year the association is right on target to meeting its budget.  In fact, at this point we have a surplus!  If we continue at the rate we are going, Lake Forest will end the year over $200,000 in the black.  And at the same time that this is happening, we are spending over $20,000 on a study to evaluate a proposal submitted by Bob Underwood to dispose of some amenities and restructure the rest.  Lake Forest has had ONE small dues increase in over twenty years!  With the current structure of Lake Forest, there is no reason to believe another will be needed any time soon.  For $37 a month we are members of a major multi-million dollar country club and yacht club.  Our glass is not half full.  It is over flowing!