July 19, 2003

Board Meeting

 

 

Manager’s Report

 

Volunteers have tested a siren.  It was not adequate for the needs of the Forest.   Don Mooers, electrician and advisor on the project, said it is possible the siren needed would cost in the neighborhood of $12,000.00, and there would be additional charges to run power to it.   There is liability when we take the responsibility of warning people in bad weather.  We presently send around a “bull horn” style, hand-held siren when the Sheriff calls with an official tornado or severe storm warning.  It would be the judgment of the person working the counter or the security person’s decision when to push a siren’s button.  What would be our policy?  Would we wait for official notification from the sheriff before sounding a siren?  Would we sound an alert for thunderstorms also?  What about the threat of high winds?  If a gust of wind in a thunderstorm blows over a tree and there was no siren set off, where will the liability be?

As this project continues to be researched and tested, I’d like to make you aware that each camper can have peace of mind by simply buying a weather radio and programming in the codes for Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Crow Wing counties.  The radio has battery back up and gives the report of current weather in this area from the National Weather Bureau out of Duluth.  The radio the Forest owns is represented in the copies you have, but there are many brands, features, styles and costs available.  Ours was around $50.00 and was purchased at Radio Shack.

 

We had our defibrillator checked out by the South Aitkin First Responders.  It is working just fine.  There has been some interest expressed in an annual CPR/ Defibrillator class, perhaps each year at the beginning of the season.

 

The annual Corn Feed will be August 16th from 4-6PM.  Fliers are in comfort stations and the clubhouse.  Servers are still needed.  Sign up in the Volunteer book.

 

As has been the tradition for the past several years, there was a count of people returning from Fireworks on the 4th of July.  This year’s count was 1,056 from 10:25-11:30PM.  After 11:30PM there were several cars that came in through the gate on their own following the Aitkin Fireworks.   Although the count is a fun fact,  having people at the gate serves at least 3 other purposes: 1) traffic control when approximately 1/3 of the cars were using guest passes and would typically need to use the intercom and hold up the line of cars entering; 2) cars with no Sherwood Forest oval sticker on their rear view mirror were reminded to get one and their license numbers were written down; 3) and guest’s cars not registered were sent to the clubhouse to be properly registered.

 

We had one very brave and dedicated volunteer over the 4th of July weekend, Amy Thorson,  that served as “neighborhood watch” and regularly patrolled her town, checking the comfort station and walking every street, even late into the night.   She reported directly to Security, who handled any situations.  We would sure appreciate it if there would be a volunteer from each town on the busy weekends.   Although there were a few complaints, generally, the Holiday weekend went very well, without any major incidents.

 

Thank you to Brenda Gunderson and her volunteers and to Rose Hendrickson and her crew for the successful 4th of July Kiddie Karnival and Cook-Out.  Angelique Petron won the raffle prize, four (4) Valley Fair tickets.

 

Thank you to Jo Molan, Jerry Judd and ALL those involved in the float and the parade.  What a fun event!

Today, at 5PM, our float with Maid Marion and her court will be in the Riverboat Heritage Parade in Aitkin.  The parade route is posted on the wall in the clubhouse.

 

The Newsletter arrived to property owners this week.

 

We have purchased  ten 30amp male to 50 amp female adapters and they are for sale in our store.

 

Eighteen (18) letters have been sent out recently for a variety of violations.  We have had four (4) immediate responses and several violations have been corrected already.  

 

We want to Thank Jerry Grady and Ed Beck for the time they have spent working on the General Ledger and financial reports.   With their hard work, knowledge and direction, we are up to date on the financials and quarterly reports.   WHAT AN EDUCATION!

 

A new safe has been installed.  It is a professional fire-proof safe and was being used already over the 4th of July weekend.

 

We have had fun extending the food service this year.  Friday nights we have dinner in the clubhouse.  Sandwiches & salads were doing well, increasing each week, so Opal tried steak dinners and, last night, chicken dinner.  Both were met with good comments and compliments.  A full breakfast menu and bakery treats are available both Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

  

We have ordered  solid blue bells from Water Gear to use for water aerobics on Saturdays during adult swim time.  They will be stored in a locked  “cabinet” on the pool deck.

 

We now have two newer golf carts to rent.  Both are green, with tops, and have Sherwood Forest across the front of them.  The contract clearly states that no unlicensed drivers are allowed to drive any of our golf carts.  The rules are posted in each golf cart.

 

The June electric bill was $9,223.07; the June clubhouse propane was $1,176.93 (this is for the pool); and the June garbage bill was $3292.50.  The Calcium Chloride purchased and put on the roads before Memorial Day was $3,614.50 and the second application just before the 4th of July was also $3,614.50.

The Volunteers assisted with a $800.00 check and they volunteered their time and muscle to apply it to the roads.  (Total $7,229.00)

 

Thirty seven  (37) lots have been registered to new owners so far this calendar year.

 

The representative from Southwest Publications has been in and completed the work of  obtaining advertisements for our map for this season.  We will get 3,000 new maps free of charge in September.  Please remember to tell these advertisers you are from Sherwood Forest when you use their services.

 

The ATM has been active.   It seems to be a “win - win” situation for us as we collect revenue for each transaction and users of our ATM  spend some of those dollars in our store and for services we provide.  

 

We have a terrific staff that work hard to make things run smoothly.  We want to acknowledge them and thank them for all their help!

 

 

 

Linda Augustson