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YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM MANY OTHERS WHO CARRY THE BULK
OF THE WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORUNITY TO MAKE A
FEW COMMENTS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THE BOARD SET A NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES.
I ASK YOU WILL TO BEAR WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES WHILE I DISCUSS OUR
PROGRESS TOWARD THOSE OBJECTIVES
1. DO A BETTER JOB OF RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR MANY
VOLUNTEERS
THROUGH ARTICLES IN THE LANDING, BY HIGHLIGHTING THE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS AT OUR MEETINGS AND BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL
AWARDS, WHICH WE WILL BE PRESENTING LATER TODAY, WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO
BETTER ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK AND SIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUAL AND
COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF.
2. IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITY
THE BOARD HAS ENCOURAGED ATTENDANCE AT ALL OUR MEETINGS AND HAS
PUBLICIZED, THROUGH POSTING OF ALL AGENDAS AND MEETING MINUTES ON THE
WEB SITE, ALL MATTERS THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING OR ACTING UPON.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO MEETINGS CLOSED TO OUR MEMBERS AND NO SECRETS.
3. AS A ORGANIZATION, BECOME MORE ACTIVE
IN THE OUR LARGER BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY
THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LOCAL MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND COUNTY
MANAGER, WE HAVE BECOME ORE VISIBLE AND PROACTIVE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
OUR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY ACTIVE.
BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL NOW TREAT US AS A MUNICALITY FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING
PURPOSES AND THE TOWN OF CHOCOWINITY WILL BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO OUR
CONCERNS REGARDING THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE CULTURE AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
AND THE LEADERSHIP OF HELEN SOMMERKAMP, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BEAUFORT
COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO ESTABLISH AN ENDOWMENT. THIS ENDOWMENT
OF AT LEAST $5000 IN THE NAME OF CYPRESS LANDING WILL PROVIDE TUITION
FOR STUDENTS EACH YEAR. AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF THE COLLEGE’S
STUDENT EMBASSADORS, I AM CONVINCED THAT OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS ENDOWMENT FROM OUR MEMBERS CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE ENDOWMENT –
ONLY $10 PER HOUSEHOLD WILL FUND THE ENDOWMENT.
4. ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SOUND
FISCALLY – PARTICULARLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE FINANCIAL RESERVES
SET ASIDE FOR REPLACEMENT OF ASSETS AS THEY REACH THE END OF THEIR
USEFUL LIFE
FROM A PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, THE BOARD AND THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE HIRED AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF THE
RESERVES WE ARE SETTING ASIDE FOR ASSET REPLACEMENT. THAT
AUDIT CONFIRMED THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A SHORTFALL, WE WERE BEING
BOTH PRUDENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN THE WAY WE ARE ADDRESSING IT.
OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE WE HAVE OUTSIDE CONFIRMATION THAT THE METHODOLOGY WE
ARE USING FOR CALCULATING THE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS IS SOUND.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ANNUAL AUDIT OF OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND REPORTS ONCE
AGAIN CONFIRMED THAT WE HAVE SOUND CONTROLS IN PLACE AND ARE COMPLYING
WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTYING PRINCIPLES.
5. UPDATE OUR PROTECTIVE COVENANTS WITH A
VIEW TOWARD PRESENTING THEM IN A MORE UNDERSTANDABLE FORMAT
WE ESTABLISHED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO BASICALLY REWRITE OUR PROTECTIVE
COVENANTS SO THEY CAN BE MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY OUR MEMBERS. I
EXPECT THIS REWRITE TO BE ISSUED AS A USERS’ GUIDE TO ALL MEMBERS NEXT
YEAR.
6. IMPROVING OUR AMENITIES AND THE
APPEARANCE OF THIS COMMUNITY, CONSISTENT WITH THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY
OF OUR MEMBERS
BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM YOU AND THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE BUILIDING AND
GROUNDS COMMITTEE, WE CONTINUED OUR COMMON AREA BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM;
WE BUILT KAYAK/CANOE STORAGE RACKS; ISSUED A CONTRACT TO MODIFY THE BAY
CLUB MAIN ROOM TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY TWO
PROPOSALS FOR ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR AMENITIES.
7. IMPROVING THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH
OUR GOLF CLUB
WE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE GOLF CLUB TO
IMPROVE OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND TO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE DIVISIVE
ISSUES. WE CAN NOW DISCUSS ISSUES WITHOUT EMOTION AND RANCOR.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE HERE.
8. MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITY
WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WAYS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SECURITY OF THIS
COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF MIKE GORDON, OUR SECURITY
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE MAINTAINED EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH THE SHERIFF’S
OFFICE. AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR CONCERNS.
FUTHERMORE, THE BOARD HAS WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND NC
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REDUCE SPEEDING ON OUR STREETS,
INCLUDING BLOUNTS CREEK ROAD. THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.
9. ENSURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE FAIRLY
COMPENSATED
WE HAVE REVIEWED THE COMPENSATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE ITS
FAIRNESS. NEXT YEAR ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WILL BE RECEIVING $5,000 IN
A HEALTH REIMBURESEMENT ACCOUNT TO PERMIT THEM TO PURCHASE HEALTH
INSURANCE AND TO BE REIMBURSED FOR HEALTH CARE EXPENSES. THE BOARD
FELT STRONGLY THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR
EMPLOYEES HAD ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
IN SUMMARY, I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK FOR THE BOARD IN SAYING THAT WE ARE
GENERALLY PLEASED WITH MUCH OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED.
HOWEVER, I MUST BE CANDID. FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I AM
LEAVING THE BOARD VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE DID NOT ACCOMPLISH A FEW
VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. I AM CERTAIN OUR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS SHARE IN
THIS DISAPPOINT.
OVER 30% OF OUR MEMBERS DID NOT EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CAPITAL
PROJECTS. CLEARLY, WE MUST NOT HAVE COMMUNICATED THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE MATTERS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY FOR VOTE.
SINCE ONLY 69% OF OUR MEMBERS VOTED, WE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED ALMOST A
100% VOTE “FOR” THE CHANGES TO THE PROTECTIVE COVENANTS OR BY-LAWS FOR
THEM TO PASS. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. THIS IS PARTICULARY
DISCONCERTING TO ME, BECAUSE THAT MEANS A DIVISIVE ISSUE BETWEEN THE
ASSOCIATION AND THE GOLF CLUB REMAINS UNRESOLVED.
THE BOARD WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONVINCING OUR MEMBERS TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF FUNDING EITHER CAPITAL PROJECT. THIS MEANS:
FIRST,
IMPROVED ACCESS TO THE BAY CLUB BY THOSE WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, BY
EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND BY OUR CATERS MUST BE DEFERRED. THAT
ASSESSMENT MISSED PASSING BY 4 OR 5 VOTES; FIVE “FOR” VOTES WERE
RECEIVED LATE; TWO RESIDENTS ATTEMPTED TO HAND IN THEIR BALLOTS LATE;
TWO VOTED AGAINST BECAUSE THEY WANTED THE COST INCLUDE IN THEIR ANNUAL
DUES; ONE DID NOT LIKE THE DESIGN, AND ONE FAILED TO CAST ANY VOTE
FOR AND AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT. SO THE PROJECT ALMOST
PASSED. I EXPECT THE NEW BOARD WILL BE MORE SUCCESSF UL.
SECOND, THE
NEW BOARD MAY HAVE TO RESORT TO AN ANNUAL LOTTERY FOR PARKING SPACE
ASSIGNMENTS IN OUR STORAGE LOTS SO THAT ALL RESIDENTS DESIRING A SPACE
HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
DESPITE THE LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO NOT DID VOTE FOR THE
AMENDMENTS AND THE ASSESSMENTS, I DO KNOW AND CAN TAKE COMFORT FROM THE
FACT THAT NO MATTER WHICH CANDIDATES ARE ELECTED TO THE BOARD TODAY,
THEY WILL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. THEY ALL ARE VERY COMPETENT AND CLEARLY
HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AT HEART.
IN CLOSING, I MUST POINT OUT HOW VERY MUCH THIS COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON THE
TALENTS AND HARDWORK OF ITS VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP
TO PARTICIPATE ON ONE OF COMMITTEES, PLEASE DO SO. WE NEED YOUR
IDEAS AND, IN SOME CASES, YOUR STRONG BACKS TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY
GOING.
I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, OUR TREASURER AND SECETARY, OUR
COMMITTEES, OUR STAFF, AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR ALL
THEIR HARD WORK. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE SO MANY
PEOPLE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEIR
SURROUNDINGS.
I AM VERY HONORED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD THE
PAST TWO YEARS AND AS PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSESSTMENTS:
I DO NOT BELIEVE I NEED TO BELABOR THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
(AMENDMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS). ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE RESULTS?
RESULTS OF THE VOTING:
Covenant/By-law Amendments (67% of 720 required)
1. Signage: 426 votes "For"; 59.2%
2. Section 19 (Golf Club): 363 votes "For"; 50.4%
3. HOA Terms 401 votes “For "; 55.7%
Assessments (70% of votes cast required)
1. Bay Club Driveway: 348 votes "For" of 500 cast; 69.6%
2. RV Storage Lots: 234 votes "For" of 501 cast; 46.7%
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