STILL UNHAPPY IN LA !!!

Anonymous said...
The community is in disrepair and has been for years. I'm not a construction engineer but my take is the community was not constructed with the highest quality equipment to begin with. If previous boards dealt with the repairs on an ongoing basis we wouldn't be in this mess. There are a lot of vague yet serious accusations made about the current board that has been in place less than a year. What bids have been given to family and friends in this short amount of time? What loans are at the highest interest rates and for the amounts we need we can we get lower rates that will offset any penalties? What decisions have been made to benefit only a few? We need new electric and water systems, how do you suggest we pay for them if not with dues? We have a limited season for making upgrades and the whole community cannot get upgraded in 6 months especially when the park is full of people in prime construction time. The budget is online. If anyone can get better prices and bids they should run for the board on this platform or at least provide the board with that information. If you can give specifics and prove your statements we all need to be aware of this misconduct. We should then consider taking appropriate steps to impeach specific board members

AND


Anonymous said...
Could someone please list who is up for re-election, so that we know who we should NOT vote for?

Anyone planning to run for Board should start introducing themselves on this blog. Let everyone become familiar with your views on how LA should be run and what changes you would strive to make well before the coming election. The more we know about a candidate, the better the chances are that property owners will remember his/her name when they are checking off the ballot.

February 26, 2009 10:49 AM

president low ratings????

Anonymous to me
show details 11:29 PM (1 hour ago) Reply


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "???????":

As usual Mr. Berkey has decided that he should again incite property owner against property owner to get his own way and go the way of former board presidents who would make rules to benefit the few not the many, themselves, their friends, their family. Who cares if bids are not gotten for jobs, who cares if you don't have the right to vote on dues increases, who cares if they keep taking out mortgages at the highest rates or keep managers who ignore you the property owner asking where is the MONEY? Over 100% increase in dues in 5 years, who made money on contracts given to his friends, did he get kick backs, does the roof still leak on the clubhouse, don't you all like how wonderful the community looks. In the past this was a community that we were proud of what has happened to all the money collected where did it go. No answers from Mr.Berkey or other former board members who served for 3, 4, 5 year terms. His answer is to accuse property owners who only wanted answers to the question WHAT DID THEY DO WITH ALL THE MONEY? If answers were givin at open board meetings maybe there would not have been a need to form a committee to try & get the answers. What has happened to your right to vote on any major increase to your dues are you willing to let 7 people make the choice for you to raise the dues till you have no choice but to sell because you can no longer afford to keep your Lot? Your fellow members are only asking the questions that others are afraid to ask because then Mr Berkey can harass & incite others to do the same to you.

hydrants - bod

Anonymous to me
show details 11:55 PM (13 minutes ago) Reply


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "ADVENTURER":

HERE WE GO AGAIN, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER BY POINTING OUT HOW MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY GETTING RID OF THE FORMER MANAGER & HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SAVED (IF ANY) SINCE HE IS NO LONGER HERE WHY WOULD WE EXPECT THIS BOARD PRESIDENT TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE FORMER TYRANTS THAT WE ELECTED TO SERVE AFTER ALL EASIER TO PICK ON THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO AND TRY AGAIN TO INCITE OWNER AGAINST OWNER - THIS WAY HE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANSWER WHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO RIGHT TO VOTE ON YOUR DUES INCREASES OR WHY THEY CAN CHARGE YOU FOR SERVICES THAT YOU ALREADY PAY FOR IN YOUR DUES LIKE SUPPLY YOU WITH WATER WHEN YOUR HYDRANT NO LONGER WORKS. LETS SEE A NEW HYDRANT COST WHAT $50/75 AND THEY WERE CHARGING UP TO $1000 TO REPLACE /MATERIAL & LABOR? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOUR DUES ARE SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE MR. PRESIDENT. OH BY THE WAY THAT IS WHAT CCLA WAS ASKING. WHERE DID THE EXTRA MONEY GO THAT WAS OVERCHARGED?


ANON -- THE COSTS FOR HYDRANT REPLACEMENT IS VERY HIGH --- I'M NOT SURE IT IS JUSTIFIED AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE ENTIRE BOD --- YES YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY THAT CLAIMS TO HAVE PUBLIC UTILITIES, ELECTRIC, WATER AND SEWER ( THE SIGN OUT ON 739 SAYS SO AND THAT MUST BE GOSPEL ) AND THEREFORE THE COMMUNITY SHOULD SHOULDER THE COST OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THESE SYSTEMS -- YOUR DUES SHOULD COVER THIS INSTEAD OF THE WASTEFUL PROJECTS THIS BOD EMBARKS ON EVERY SEASON -- (OVERPRICED BIDS FOR LATERAL REPLACEMENTS, ELECTRICAL GRID UPGRADES AND SOON LAUNDRY FACILITIES FOR THE SATISFACTION OF A FEW NESTERS THAT ALMOST (WINK WINK) NEVER LEAVE LA, MISAPPROPRIATION AND MISMANAGEMENT OF LA ASSETS OF LABOR AND EQUIPMENT (USING THEM FOR GRAVEL WORK AMONG OTHER THINGS)

THEY'RE MANY THINGS THAT THIS BOD IS INVOLVED IN AND NOT ALL ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY--- NEW PEOPLE NEED TO RUN FOR BOD SEATS -- PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SAT ON THE BOD BEFORE SO THAT NEW EYES CAN OVERSEE AND DIRECT LA AND THE NEW MANANGER-- IF NOT THIS BOD WILL CORRUPT THE NEW MANAGER BEFORE THE FIRST SEASON IS OVER!!!!!

bod + secrecy + bully + constitution == yea!!!

Anonymous to me
show details 6:01 PM (12 minutes ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "secretive bod #2":

All the comments flying around about the public domain of the minutes not being password access protected is a mind blowing issue. Where does any board, or employer divulge threats issued to emplyees about tasks to be performed or your job is on the line!! This sounds like another example of Bullie type management which doesn't work in this day and age. The parties being threatened have a lot of resources for legal advice against their employers then in the past and there are a slew of lawyers that would jump on a case such as that. Plus, asking a job applicant why he passes remarks in an open blog format!!! Do the members of the board know of the first ammend. This is really turning into a joke with any body and their brother knowing whats gouing on at LA and I bet our sister communities are laughing at us. With posting our dues the other communities are only paying a third of what we pay with only two others paying over $1k!!! If property owners don't start doing something by either recalling the past two elections or requesting this board resign kiss your property goodbye. If someone told me when we purchased a short time ago this is what is going on here I never would have purchased, now, I probably could not get a buyer at any price because who would want to waste money on the place?? Our dues will go up, because the board seems to regulate that as they need money, and no one can afford it!!!...If outsiders ask me what I think of LA I would have to be honest and say stay away, or try to sell them my lot. Anybody looking for a lakeview property??

anon -- i agree with you that the approach by this bod is rather disturbing (some members of the bod are good representatives for the members === BUT THEY ALL STICK TOGETHER AND THEREFORE MAY HANG TOGETHER ) -- they seem to feel that they can operate and do what they want as long as the members don't find out and they don't get caught ( like a lawsuit or other legal action )but sooner or later the members may be faced with a settlement, fine, financial disaster, or any number of other legal or financial entrapment-- this could be the affects from having a bod that is arrogant, incompetent, inexperienced in management principles, tends to operate on the fringes of rules and regulations that all are responsible for maintaining and abiding with in order to do business in this day and age--

--the members are not informed and most don't know what's going on with the management of la-- this is a task that i hope will be addressed with this blog-- more members need to participate and register their concerns and problems with the way this bod is running their community-- word needs to get out to your neighbors and friends in the community to join in -- after all i post all comments -- good or bad, pro or con on any subject-- again my emails are lachipper@gmail.com or ubfriend@aol.com

hopefully this season more members will join in -- informed members will then be able to determine the future of la instead of letting a few members of bod to run amok-- let's see what happens--

--again thanks for your comment ---- chipper

bod - mismangement again

Anonymous to me
show details 1:59 PM (1 hour ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bod mismanagement":

I am not a frequent reader of Chipper, as a matter of fact today was the first time, but it is really something how people remark about the board and how they are running things and NOT ONE BOARD MEMBER RESPONDS!!! i have been in business for many years and cannot believe that someone doesn't try to defend themselves or their actions. From what I can assume from the blogs Lake Adventure is headed for disaster with all the problems and in fighting and with our present economy how many property owners will pay their dues before their car payments which will spell financial ruin with no dues. People request new blood on the board but no one steps forward and the same people stay on for years and do not improve their actions or ideas so how can we improve!!! It looks like change must happen with the board, as has been suggested, resign and have a fact finding group organize and try to salvage what's left. People mention CCLA, who are they ? Maybe this group of people can accomplish something because the board doesn't seem to be able to. The eight year plan with no dues or a low percentage of dues is going to destroy the structure of LA financially and it will never regain. Property owners better come forth!!!

anon -- thanks for your comment and hope you check out the blog on a regular basis and contribute your thoughts in the future -- your right a lot of things are wrong with la and this bod is clueless or are just unable to run la -- la needs a qualified experienced professional manager to run la ---this bod can not do this because they don't have the management experience or the time necessary to dedicate to the community's needs--hell they actually have no qualifications to be sitting on a bod -- election to the bod is a beauty (hee! hee!) contest and not based on factors that would benefit the community--- that is why la is heading downward and will soon may well be is real trouble financially with the current economic conditions in the country-- but again this is a concept that is beyond this bod -- oh well!!! members better wake up!!!!!!!!!!!

--- chipper

bod mismanagement

Anonymous to me
show details 3:23 PM (1 hour ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "bod mismanagement":

Your comments about the board being the problem and not Gary seem to be right on!! In all due respect Gary could do nothing without the board approval and with the bullies on the board how would you respond in his shoes??? No matter if a manager and compliance officer are hired they will only be granted the authority given them by the board so unless we have a new board, and not former members who have enough friends to elect them, nothing will change. All the board members got their up grades in sewer, electric etc so why don't they just resign!!!

bod mismanagement

Anonymous to me
show details 6:20 PM (6 hours ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "water break !!":

As Chipper has said all along, nothing will change if all we do is write about it here. I've written numerous letters since last spring while Gary was still here and have not gotten a response to one of them since Gary left. Maybe Gary wasn't the problem as the board would have us believe,maybe they're the problem and have been all along. We all need to start making weekly calls to LA so Cheryl can let the Board know how dissatisfied we are. If we don't get any information we need to start calling the attorney so she can let the board know we want information. Even if all you get when you call is "there is no new information" ask about specific items. "I'm calling about the status of the 12' wide ordinance and what steps the attorney has taken since being hired seven months ago?". "I'd like to know why a property manager has not been hired?" "Who is prioritizing the work, the vacation and over time schedules? Who has taken on the compliance work? Who is responding to the township/DEP regarding ordinances? Who is signing paychecks and validating project compliance?" I'm sure all are doing their own particular job well but we need an overseer who has a grasp of the whole community. I'd hate to resort to calling the board members at home but if we don't start getting information and answers we may have to resort to that. These people voluntered to run for office and they may be doing a decent job but they are not releasing any information so we can only surmise the worst. Relaying information via the timely publishing of board meeting minutes (were there meetings in Oct and Nov?)and current updates on the LA website would go a long way to squelch rumors.

anon -- your right in all cases -- this bod is not providing any management of la's affairs -- this bod needs members replaced starting with the next election -- also we need NEW members to run for the bod -- see if you can talk to your friends and neighbors in the community and maybe we can recruit new people to run -- ps no experience needed--- after all this board has shown it has no talent to run this community!!!

-- chipper

12' wide issue

the 12' wide issue is another example of where this bod has dropped the ball again-- they removed the legal counsel, engaged new counsel and then let the issue die---why -- because they are not able to devote the time necessary to handle the time constrains for this issue -- working one day a month is not going to advance this project-- hell it isn't enough time to handle the day to day operations of the community-- a capable manager is required to move this issue forward with aggressive knowledgeable legal counsel-- the last point i'm aware of is that the township presented an proposed ordinance that would allow 12' wides with some new requirements -- la was to counter to the township proposal with any issues that la needed addressed-- that is as far as it has progressed --if this is the situation then the ball is in la's court and la needs to get moving-- this bod can't do that-- when tom annunziata was the bod president he attended the township meetings and some progress seemed to be evident-- now that art bergey is the president it is a dead issue -- who's at fault here??????? perhaps the bod needs a new president that has the time to give to this and other issues before the community

replacement of worn out and dated housing is important to any community in order to maintain property values-- communities with derelict housing soon become depressed and properties are abandoned and not maintained-- this is occurring at la now -- with about 150 to 200 properties no longer paying dues and probably not being maintained -- la is moving toward a slum community status-- that's bad for those who value their property and the financial investment they have in la--

another reason for members to get involved and protect their investment-- new people need to step forward and run for the bod-- i will continue to try to organize members and collect emails for members so a bank of concerned members can be compiled and used to send out info on possible bod candidates and decimate their opinions on issues that are important to the community---- help me with this project and maybe we can get something started at la !!

---chipper

12' wide informative comment !

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "COMMENT - STAFFING - QUESTION":

I'll give what info I have on the 12' wide situation. All other communities have approval to have them except LA. They are built better structurally and with better insulation so less money to heat and cool and don't have tip outs so you won't have to worry about leaks. Almost six years ago LA went to the twsp to get approval to be able to have them on site but didn't have legal representation and were not prepared to present their case. Since then they hired an attorney(s) and presented a case to the twsp including witnesses regarding environmental impact, etc. The twsp replied with some requests to the ordinance LA didn't agree with and since then (last January) no one has persued the issue. Many are waiting to purchase new trailers but are reluctant to get another tipout when 12' wide are now the standard. It is my understanding that 12' wides are tenatively approved with some stipulations, lofts were one problem but LA already has documentation that HUD said lofts don't count as floor space so they can dispute that point. The new attorney, Tammy Lee Clause, is very well regarded in the community and is a good choice however without a manager to represent LA she doesn't have much to work with. I don't think we should expect the Office to take on all the tasks a manager should do unless they get promoted. The BOD is not around on a regular basis to interact the attorney in this case. There was supposedly a meeting in early Sept with the attorney to discuss the issue but no information appeared in the Sept board minutes and questions regarding the status have gone unanswered. Maybe if the Oct and Nov board minutes are published we will see some information. LA is a great place for family fun but as owners and trailers get older and older it will be difficult to attract a new generation if we look like a junkyard. I'm a senior citizen and I need to get a new trailer but if I'm going to spend $40,000+ I want a 12' wide. LA get $250 for every new trailer bought from Total Recreation, you would think that would be motivation enough to get this ordinance passed.

comment = another unhappy camper ???

Anonymous to me
show details 7:42 PM (44 minutes ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment = reply":

Seems more people are of the same mind that the board can't reply to any questions because they have no idea about what their duties as board members are!.... The board seems to get elected on a popularity vote and how much bull___ they can feed the members. Look who's on the board and for how many years they've been there and you don't have to be an Einstein to figure out why LA is in the state it is. If we are in business by the end of this year and not bankrupt, the way they're spending money, it might be a miracle. All property owners better start banding together to save our investment or else use the loss as a write off on 2009 taxes as a casuality loss.This isn't funny any more with no manager, code officer a board which is none factor and leaving the operation up to underpaid employees, how long do you think they will perform with the way the board treats them. This board had some pretty interesting resumes to get elected and look what a state we are in with their guidance. If I worked like that in my job I would've been fired long time ago1 Maybe a group should start, by the blogger, to demand answers for where our money is going or look into this group everyone wants to throw stones at CCLA and maybe they can help save our campground

ANON -- YES LA HAS PROBLEMS AND THEY DIDN'T START RECENTLY -- THEY STARTED YEARS AGO UNDER OTHER BOD'S WATCH -- THE PROBLEMS HAVE ACCELERATED AND BECOME EVEN WORSE UNDER THIS BOD'S WATCH -- THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT LA HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR MANY YEARS -- THE UTILITIES SUCH AS WATER, SEWER AND ELECTRICAL GRID ARE WORN OUT AND OVER TAXED -- THEY HAVEN'T BEEN UPGRADED OR MAINTAINED SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED -- THE BOD SOLD THE MEMBERS A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS BUT IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE FAILURE-- THE SCOPE OF THE WORK AND THE PROGRESS OF WORK HAS BEEN INADEQUATE TO THE MONIES BEING SPENT-- THIS BOD IS PISSING AWAY THE MONIES FOR THESE PROJECTS--

THE COMMUNITY IS IN TERRIBLE PHYSICAL SHAPE-- QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ARE RAMPART WITH DERELICT TRAILERS AND PROPERTIES THAT AREN'T MAINTAINED FOR YEARS ON END--

THE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING UNSUPERVISED AND WITH NO DIRECTION-- NO MANAGEMENT FOR OVER HALF YEAR AND NO SUPERVISION OF THE OPERATIONS -- THE WORKERS ARE NOT AT FAULT -- THEY ARE TRYING THEIR BEST WITH THE LITTLE THEY HAVE TO OPERATE WITH

THIS BOD IS RUNNING LA INTO THE GROUND -- THE FINANCES MAY VERY WELL HEAD SOUTH WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY YET THE BOD HAS SHOWN NO LEADERSHIP IN TRYING TO CONTAIN COSTS OR CUT COSTS-- THEY HAVE NO APPARENT CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR OPERATING WITH FINANCIAL CONSTRAINS-- THEY DEFINITELY HAVE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO TO EXERCISE ANY FISCAL CONTROL --

THE MEMBERS NEED TO START TO FIND NEW PEOPLE TO RUN FOR THE BOD -- THE SITTING BOD CROP IS NOT HIGHLY REGARDED AND HAVING PREVIOUS BOD MEMBERS RUN AGAIN IS NOT THE ANSWER -- IF THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE PAST WHY WOULD THEY DO ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE????

I AGAIN SAY I AM TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A EMAIL LIST OF MEMBERS SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE INFO ON POSSIBLE FUTURE BOD CANDIDATES AND THEIR POSITIONS ON ISSUES -- I ALSO INVITE ANYONE WITH OPINIONS TO SEND ME THEIR COMMENTS SO I CAN PUBLISH THEM FOR THE COMMUNITY -- IF WE CAN DEVELOP A DIALOGUE AMONG MEMBERS PERHAPS WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MEMBERS WANT IN THE FUTURE

MY EMAILS ARE lachipper@gmail.com or ubfriend@aol.com

--- CHIPPER

comment = reply

Anonymous to me
show details 9:25 PM (1 hour ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment == still unhappy too !!!!":

It seems a lot of people who are involved with Lake Adventure -- property owners, staff members, etc. -- partake in this blog. So I think it is safe to assume that even board members occasionally (if not regularly) read the comments left here.

Why in God's name, then, don't they answer questions/concerns or squash any rumors with the REAL FACTS by commenting on this blog themselves????? Yes, this is not an "official" LA site but if they cannot provide us with the information and answers on the "authorized" or "official" LA website or send out more newsletters to keep us informed, what better way than to participate on a blog that so many of us read?

How could NOT ONE OF THEM have any answers or comments to make? Why wouldn't EACH AND EVERY one of them want to communicate with the community members and address their concerns?

anon -- the official web page for la is always out of date and besides never has any real news--- no one from la replies because they don't want anyone to comment officially or unofficially about anything-- this bod believes they should be allowed to operate out of sight and in secret -- the less members know and the less they can communicate with each other the better it is for this bod -- after all when you are performing so poorly for the membership you don't want anyone to talk about this poor performance-- this blog is for the members to communicate and offers all a place to register their thoughts and feelings about la -- good or bad -- hopefully more people including la spokesmen will join in -- this summer i hope more will take the time to let their neighbors and friends know about the blog and we can get more participation from more members-- informed and involved membership is GOOD for la

comment == still unhappy too !!!!

Anonymous to me
show details 3:35 PM (37 minutes ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "unhappy in la !!!!!":

I'm thinking there is a reason the board isn't publishing the minutes from Oct and Nov. Perhaps they don't want to publish what little they're accomplishing. It's a disgrace we're not able to get operation information in a timely manner. I've been at LA for a long time and this is the first time I've been so misinformed. It's now the middle of January and we don't know what is going on as far back as October. This is a community we support and are entitled to information on how our money is being spent. I may be off base but my perception is not only is this board not productive they seem to be counter-productive. Almost seven months and no management? Why would you fire a manager without a plan to replace him? Things are backing up and they can't use Gary as a scape goat anymore. This was a very bad administrative move and indicates, contrary to their resumes, we have elected very inexperienced board members. They also hired a new attorney to work the 12' wide issue. When will they take that matter to task? This is going on six years and not one board in six years has been able to give this a priority and get it passed? Hopefully "The Adventurer" that is being published next month will be full of information. Thanks to Cheryl et al for keeping the place running.

anon -- your right on all the issues -- new bod members are needed -- the same old brings the members the same old -- we must get new people to run for the available seats --- get anyone interested and have them send me their emails and i'll start a bank of emails so we can send out info for members who want to run -- it may be a start -- email me at

lachipper@gmail.com or ubfriend@aol.com

#5

unhappy in la !!!!!

Anonymous to me
show details 6:33 PM (2 hours ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "waiting":

With the board having to decide on two positions do you think it will be made by December or November? With the way they are playing around with the managers position, and not caring about how our money is going out the door, do you really think they , on a whole care, are really interested in the good of LA or again only their personal gains, which they all have already in electric, sewer and road upgrades. I hope evryone remembers the circus that is going on at election time and does something about the mess we are in. If you think this is bad now just wait until the summer when people are disgusted with the way things are or are broke and dues are not coming in watch for people just to walk away from the properties and the few left will have to pay all the bills. This board is destroying everything that was good and attracted people to LA so we all must bear the pain. REMEMBER AT ELECTION!!!!

comment reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment + question":

I think most of us would agree that the current and previous boards have been lacking in these main areas:
• Capability -- they can’t even seem to be able to hire a general manager.
• Fiscal responsibility -- the recession did not happen overnight. They should have been more responsible and not develop a high priced eight-year plan to begin with (by that I mean raising the dues so drastically at once). Sure, they said the dues would not go up (except for a few dollars) for the first five years. But have they ever said what the dues would go up to in years 6, 7, and 8 in their plan?
• Ability to make the decision when needed –- electrical, water, sewage problems don’t develop overnight. Throughout the years the boards have believed in using the “band-aid” affect until it is absolutely necessary to correct the situation once and for all. That, most of all, has gotten us into the mess we’re in.

So how do we resolve this? How do WE as a group demand action and actually get accountability? Is it enough to just vote in 2 or 3 new people each year? How do we know new faces will make a difference? We can demand, yell, scream, or whatever, but in the end the board will do whatever THEY (the select seven members of the community, not the majority of us) want. How do we actually go about and change the system?

I suppose that is why the CCLA developed. I don’t know anything about the Concerned Citizens of Lake Adventure. Can anyone share some information on this group, such as their history, purpose, membership, meetings, etc.? Are they helping the community's situation?

comment + question

Anonymous to me
show details 8:47 PM (1 hour ago) Reply


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment + question":

Being we do not have the luxury of being able to visit LA during the winter anyone who does visit could you please fill us in if you have any information on the following:
12 wide issue
Electrical upgrades
Sewer repairs
hiring of a manager
part time/full time positions rec. Dir
Have any improvements such as painting the comfort stations, laundry building, improving the overall appearance of LA. With the amount of dues we are now paying these items of improving LA should be done, or, like every other year and other boards, NOTHING It also seems certain people do what they want and are not accountable to anyone.

anon -- not much happening on any of the issues you have on your lists -- this bod and the lack of management at la will guarantee that nothing will get done over winter -- i just don't understand how the members allow this bunch of clowns to control la -- they are not capable of managing or overseeing the la operations -- yet they continue to sit on the board and screw thing up worst than they already are screwed up--- i believe these guys will take la to a day when the gates are chained shut and la is out of business -- that's how incompetent they are-- really bad-what are the members waiting for???? when are they going to demand action and accountability from this bod??? when are they going to start screaming and raising hell with this bod--- i keep posting my thoughts but everyone else just sits back and are quiet as mice -- they either don't care about la, aren't interested in their investment or are brain dead--- it just amazes me the membership lack of concern on virtually all issues before them here at la--- call me when the gates are chained and locked !!!!!!!!!! -- chipper
#31

comment + seasonal operations

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment + seasonal operations":

WOW sweet deal where do I apply. Most people who work full time don't get that kind of salary for this type of job. Even the folks who are in the office all year are not getting paid that much


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment + seasonal operations":


What is the deal with this recreation directors position?If you calculate the salary and benefits along with the work load she has a better job then the Governor, come on, organize no more then a dozen functions that take some work and get that salary. Come on board members, how can you honestly justify that, explain why, and I'm quite sure this will be questioned at the first open meeting and if you're up for re-election you better have some good answers

anon -- i think the issue is that this rec job requires very long days during june thru labor day and if this was a salary then you need compensation for long work days but if this is hourly then there are too many issues of accountability of the hours--- also if this is going to be a contractor relationship with la then the bod needs to look at several labor issue: contractor supervising la employees; contractor utilizing and managing la facilities; payment method; liability insurances from the contractor covering the contractor and la; oral contract or written contract-- no matter what la is entering an area that could create labor problems for la not the least being medical benefits and as a contractor this individual would not be eligible for unemployment benefits--- something doesn't sound right

the issue the bod has is whether la should operate as a seasonal operation and staff accordingly or function as a full time operation and function full time -- you can't do a half job -- in reality la is a seasonal operation but the bod pays for full time full season operations -- they are mismanaging la assets and finances


#47

comment + seasonal operations

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "comment + 12' wide issue":


I was glad to hear that the BOD showed some fiscal responsibility in limiting most staff salary raises to 3% and are having our employees contribute 7% towards their health insurance. (See the Lake Adventure website, pages 8 & 9 of the SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING MINUTES). Also, starting with the 2009/2010 season, the recreation department will be considered seasonal. After all, our recreation calendar is mainly just July and August.

What disturbs me though is the fact that they are increasing the recreation director salary more than 23% and making it a salaried seasonal job for 8 months of the year with benefits. The other four months they can collect unemployment (which might increase LACA’s unemployment insurance rates). And we probably will still only have a recreation calendar consisting of mainly July and August!

Can someone please explain to me: 1) how this is benefiting the association; and 2) why we don’t have at least more activities from May 1st through October 15th (especially on weekends) if we are paying for the service?


anon -- yea sounds rather fishy -- hmmmm !!!! --- also the bod better watch out on those benefits since you can't give some in a class more benefits than the others in the job classification--- that could lead to real problems --the labor department loves these type of cases--- also seasonal is seasonal and shouldn't have a full time salary and benefits -- does the bod think everyone is stupid with this shell game

comment reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "staffing":

4 staff members and 1 rec director FULL TIME, M-F in the OFF-season????? I learn something new all the time on this blog! They have got to be kidding!!! Why do we need all this personnel when there is virtually nobody at Lake Adventure November through March? You can use billing and lockbox processing services for your bookkeeping and money handling. You basically need someone to handle the phones and assist the general manager (if you had one). And we don't have a full time year-round recreation program! The summer program is practically the same thing every year - you just need someone to change the dates, change a few trips, make reservations and oversee the rec staff during the summer. All this extra personnel should be seasonal! (Sorry, you'll probably hear from "the husband" again!)

anon -- it is not about individuals or individual's jobs - it's a bigger issue than any one job - it's about whether la should operate as a year round operation or a seasonal operation-- since less than 5% of the members that visit la come between labor day and mid may it is difficult to justify having ft employees out of season -- the finances of la are going to take A VERY BAD HIT VERY SHORTLY-- there is no reason to believe that la will avoid the financial meltdown occurring everywhere else, local and state governments, all kinds of companies and individuals not being able to get credit, soaring unemployment and mortgage foreclosures-- it is only beginning and la will soon see have drastically this will affect it's ability of operate--the bod is the stewards of the member finances and if they fail they could be liable for mismanagement of assoc finances-- failure to act to get control of discretionary spending is their responsibility and so far they aren't performing very effectively--- at no time is this about specific positions or individuals -- it's about managing la so that it survives the biggest financial crisis in the history of this assoc--- that means managing the payroll, operations, facilities and other costs to adjust to the realities of the time at hand-- the welfare of the assoc is paramount and all others issues should be on the table for consideration in reducing costs

staffing

yes the staffing at la is questionable and the bod and past management and bod allow this community to be staffed full time year round-- this is mismanagement of the assoc funds --

la is a seasonal community with 95% of the members arriving between mid may thru labor day-- approx 12 weeks but we have full time staffing year round --- WHY????--why do we pay for 40 weeks of ft staffing when they have no work load??? because the bod and past management don't have any incentive to save money and no one wants to make the tough decisions-- the members allow this to continue and until they say stop-- it will go on

with the tough financial situation at hand i believe the defaults on dues will greatly increase and then the bod will dip into the la reserve (a small reserve that won't go far when the cash stops flowing)-- now the credit markets are so tight gm, ford, chrysler can't raise or borrow money -- what chance do you think la will get a loan to carry it over a rough patch---NONE--yet the bod allows mismanagement of la funds

back to staffing -- yes in the winter m-f you have several ft people working in the office -- can someone tell me what they could possibly be doing -- l have worked 40 years in facility management positions and i can tell you there is not enough work to justify operating with this staffing level-- they are there because they're there and tradition is this is how la does things-- well someone better wise up because the rooster will come home to roost and when la is chained shut at the gate it will be too late-- this bod is again unable to manage la finances, assets, employees, or just about anything else -- they need to hire a capable manager, get the hell out of the way and let la be properly operated-- then they can run for the bod and tell the members what a great job they're doing for the members and get reelected forever

complaints + web page

it appears that many members were dissatisfied with the way the recent storm disruption to the operations at la were handled by la management(?) -- i think everyone realizes that the storm was a regional wide event and la couldn't be held responsible for these events BUT -- but -- but

the lack of contingency plans for emergencies was evident -- there appears to be no plan in the event off a community wide shut down of community electric and water supplies -- no generator backups for water well pumps --

no designated facility for emergency shelter in the event of an accident -- a shelter that again should have emergency generator for minimal lighting and heat --

no community support from the office administration -- again the office is closed due to a lack of electric and heat and therefore no one comes to work-- this is unacceptable

today backup generators are available and the pricing while still rather expensive are not out of the realm of possibility -- key areas and services should have backup and the office staff should be on a emergency mode to provide basic services

again there is no plans for emergencies and no contingency to continue la operations when something happens --

there is no qualified management in place and that is not good for the community

the web page is nice but is not informative, relevant or up to date -- again communications is a management function and it is not present at la

this bod is not managing la properly-- as a matter of fact no one is managing la!!!!