February 2016

Winter is Back! After consecutive storms this season, our winter season has returned and so have our members, guests, and public.  Like many forecasted, if we just spend the money to install snowmaking at our Downhill Ski Area, it is guaranteed to snow, and it has. We have plenty of snow and a wealth of activities to enjoy in your own, personal, resort community of Tahoe Donner. Of course, the three primary winter amenities – Downhill, Cross Country, and Snowplay areas – are open and have already seen record visitation. Our new Alder Creek Adventure Center has been extremely well received by not only our Nordic Community, but countless others who cherish the ambiance and great new offerings of the Alder Creek Café. Aside from the February highlight of activities noted in the monthly Tahoe Donner News, you can always locate updated information online at our TahoeDonner.com website, or sign up for weekly emails which highlight information about events, programs, and services in your community.

In December we recognized four great employees for their contributions to the association during 2015. Kyle Winthers was recognized as Team Member of the Year for his continued dedication and customer service at Trout Creek Recreation Center. Jody Sergison was recognized as our Most Valuable Player of the Year for his graphic art work in our Communications Department.  Sean Connors, our maintenance manager, was recognized as Manager of the Year for his great team leadership skills, in-depth review of our maintenance standards programs, and continued superior customer service engagement with our amenities. Our Member Service Office’s Linda Jafferian was also recognized for outstanding customer service. If you have the opportunity, please recognize these great team members who have set themselves apart in the work they do for our community.

In February we are scheduling an association town hall meeting to discuss the pros and cons of motorized boats utilizing the Beach Club Marina boat ramp for the 2016 operating season. This discussion and review will center on the risk associated with many different aquatic activities taking place in a limited beach front along with the associated parking impact of boat trailers. This town hall meeting will take place on Feb. 20 from 5-6 p.m., downstairs at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub.

As we enter a new year for the association, and we consider our membership’s $3.1 billion real estate asset value in this community, there are some basic organizational fundamentals you should be aware of in how our elected California Mutual Benefit Corporation/Common Interest Development Boards of Directors operate. You might wonder what the difference is between a board meeting and a special meeting, or an annual meeting and a town hall meeting. Here’s some clarification.

Annual Meetings
Annual meetings (annual membership meetings – fourth Sunday in June) are required by our governing documents, which specify when they’re to be conducted and how and when members are to be notified about the meeting. This is the main meeting of the year when members elect a board of birectors, hear committee reports and discuss items of common interest.

Special Meetings
Special meetings are limited to a particular topic. The board can call a special meeting at any time, and they must notify all members in advance. Notification is conducted on the association’s bulletin board in the Northwoods Clubhouse and on the company website. The notice will specify the topic so interested members can attend. Special meetings give the board an opportunity to explore sensitive or controversial matters in order to better inform their decision- making. Members are often requested to participate in the meeting during scheduled membership comment periods, and members always have a right to listen to board discussion.

Town Hall Meetings
Town hall meetings are informal gatherings intended to promote two-way communication between the board and association members. The board may want to present a controversial issue or explore an important question like amending the bylaws. The board may want to get a sense of members’ priorities, garner support for a large project or clarify a misunderstood decision. However, given the size and part- time occupancy of our 6,500 property resort community’s ownership interest, information is often communicated and feedback solicited online and via the Tahoe Donner News Magazine, in addition to actual physical meetings.

Board Meetings
Most of the business of the association is conducted at regular monthly board meetings. Board members set policy, oversee management’s results, review operating and financial results, resolve disputes, hear appeals, talk to residents and plan for the future. Often the health and harmony of an entire community is directly linked to how constructive these meetings are. Tahoe Donner’s board of birectors hold monthly meetings the fourth Friday of each month, typically starting at 9:00 am and located at either the Lodge Restaurant & Pub or the Northwoods Clubhouse. Meeting schedules and agendas are published online under the association’s Membership/Board of Directors page.

Executive Session
The governing documents and California law require the association to notify homeowners in advance of all meetings, including Executive Meetings. However, the only time you may not listen is when the board goes into Executive Session. Topics that the board can discuss in Executive Session are limited by law to a narrow range of sensitive topics that include personnel matters, legal topics, contracts, or similarly related sensitive topics. Summarized results of these discussions and decisions are disclosed at the next regular board meeting.

Robb Etnyre | General Manager