Summer 2004 Newsletter

Dear Property Owners,

This is your official notice of the Annual General Meeting for the Ranch Club.  It will be held at 10:A.M on Saturday, September 11, 2004 at the Church on the Rise.  We hope that many of you will attend the meeting.  This year we have openings for 2 positions on the Board of Directors.  Jim Harbor, because of his job and personal issues will not run for another term.  Sandra Loehr is open to staying on the Board if re-elected.  We also have to fill the positions of vice president, secretary and treasurer.  Steve Smith and Dottie Noyes have notified the board that their interested in running for the Board of Directors.  We will be open to nominations from the floor the day of the meeting.  If you have a proxy, make sure it is in writing (include name, signature, lot number, etc.)  See you at the meeting.
       
Because Mother Nature didn't cooperate with us when we put the dust coat on the roads and much of it washed away we are still getting some good from it, on keeping the dust down.  Please drive the 15 MPH that is posted on all of our roads.  If everyone cooperates it will last until fall.  We will try it again next year only if we all help to take care of it.

Everyone needs to be responsible for keeping our pool, shower facilities and park clean and safe.  We have had a lot of vandalism at the pool and show facilities.  We are asking for volunteers to help keep a watch on the pool, showers and dumpster.  If the vandalism continues, we will have to  raise the dues back up.  Last resort will be having to close the pool and showers because of the cost of repairs and insurance.  Anyone who sees someone during damage or acting in a way that could be harmful to anyone else contact a board member or Dottie Noyes.  Dottie is in charge of getting volunteers to do a poor and park watch.  Also a license number would help if you can get it.

We have also discussed hiring a security person to stay at the park and check in and out everyone.  Our goal is to have a clean, safe place for everyone to enjoy.  No one wants to go into a shower room and find human feces on the floor or in the sinks, the toilets plugged, or the waters turned off so you can't wash off.  We have had an on going  repair bill on the gates.  Please don't put rocks in them or pry them open or just use a hack saw to cut them up.  This all adds up, so please be aware and help out.

Motor Bikes and Quads
We have a great opportunity to enjoy and utilize our motor bikes and four wheelers.  Please respect the roads and other people's property.  The roads are a big part of our budgets, donuts and squirreling around deteriorates our roads and also breaks the dust seal.  This is very expensive.
Again we hope to see all of you at the general meeting in September.

 Note from the President:

It has been almost a year now that I hvae been your president.  I would like to take the time to thank all past officers of SMRC for their time and dedication over hte past years for making this place the way it is, and also the present board and officers for working with me this past year.  A special thanks to Sandy and Steve Smith for the work that they have done this past year at the park.

I feel we have come a long way even though we have a long way to go.  We welcome any and all input from any member to make this a better place to live.  We still have the same old issues, like speed and vandalism.  The Board has approved the purchase of a radar gun, so don't be surprised that very soon you may be stopped on the road and you will be advised of your speed.  The Board will decide what the penalties will be if you continue to speed.  Please let your friends know, because while they visit you, you are responsible for them.  Live is good in the Methow.

Sincerely,
The President

Additional letters from property owners below.
May 10, 2004

Board of Directors
Sun Mt. Ranch Club
P.O. Box 24
Winthrop, WA   98862

Attn: Sandra Loehr

Because you request letters to the editor of the newsletter and to the Board I would like to express a couple of my feelings.

In every newsletter there should be a list of the directors and their addresses and phone numbers.  This was not done in the potluck notice newsletter.

I was very offended by the two poorly printed letters to the editor without a signed name.  In the future anonymous letters should never be printed & sent to property owners.  I especially feel offended to the letter quoting in the past our newsletters have had "dribble" instead of news. Joan and Dave Bassen have put in so many years of effort in the newsletter without ever a formal thank you from our Board of Directors.  The way the new board acted on taking that away from them seems totally unfair and hurtful to them and many.

How do we find out when the "open board meetings" are scheduled?

Kathy Mellinger
147 Twin Lakes Dr.
Winthrop

May 10, 2004

To the committee and our community neighbors:

Recently, a neighbor waited until I had left my property in order to tape a threatening note on my trailer door, unsigned.  The note ridiculed our belongings, suggested we were inconsiderate, uncaring and un-neighborly, which seem a bit contrary.  Had this person approaches us, introduced themselves in a neighborly fashion, an brought up concerns we could negotiate and come to terms with, they'd have met a friendly couple who would have expressed similar concern about our current disarray.  We'd have had the opportunity to  share our excitement as well as our regret, as we are anxious to meet others and to become an asset to the community - not an eyesore.

I would like to make a public statement in consideration and appreciation of the neighbors who have been friendly and supportive - and to the visitors and passers by who have smiled and waved, shouted encouraging words, even tossed a bottle of much appreciated ice water.  To those who were curious enough to ask and neighborly enough to offer a hand...To them a message of thanks and an acknowledgement of the appreciation.  We apologize for the temporary, pre-construction of our primary residence there.  The building site is on the far side of lot and needs to be clear of obstacles in order to allow for large equipment, excavation and construction, thus the campers, the preconstruction stuff, and, since there is no garage, the cars.  We are there regularly, trying to organize our little habitat.  Please pardon us as we are making profess as fast and efficiently as we can or as our situation permits.

Sincerely, your (friendly) neighbors at lot 15, div.1.