Happy New Year
THE LAKE PLACID TIMES
LAKE PLACID CLUB LODGES OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
January 2009
All of us involved in the operations of the Lake Placid Club Lodges wish you and your
family a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009. We know that much of the financial
news of late is difficult and unsettling, yet have learned, from personal experience,
that a week or two in Lake Placid tends to relax the mind and body. We hope you
agree and we look forward to seeing you again in wonderful Lake Placid, New York.
As you probably know, accolades for this wonderful resort town continue to surface.
Most recently Forbes Traveler ranked Lake Placid as one the nations 20 prettiest
towns. The article states that “Identifying America’s prettiest towns is by definition a
subjective undertaking—prettiness, to adapt an old saying, is in the eye of the beholder. So when we asked five experts for their lists of the country’s prettiest towns,
we left the definition of ‘pretty’ up to the judges themselves.”
There was only one overlap choice among the Forbes expert panel: In independent
selections, Greg Melville and Sarah Tuff Dunn, co-authors of 101 Best Outdoor Towns,
both singled out Lake Placid, New York for its natural grandeur and small-town
charm. “It's got the jagged mountain backdrop surrounding a quaint, unpretentious
ski village bordered by two crystal lakes,” says Melville.
This year, for the sixth year in a row, readers of Ski Magazine named Whiteface
Mountain one of the top five Ski Resorts in the Eastern United States. And last winter, Conde Nast Traveler, arguably the nation's foremost travel publication, placed
Whiteface fourth in its North American Top 20 ski destinations and first in eastern
North America. Only Whistler in Canada, Aspen in Colorado and Deer Valley in Utah
ranked ahead of Whiteface among the best places to ski and stay on the continent.
No Smoking Policy Now in Effect
Two years ago we implemented a Voluntary No Smoking approach in all Lodges based
upon a growing number of concerns and complaints voiced by Owners and Guests.
While the number of complaints fell, the overall problem remained at an unacceptable level. This past fall, the Board of Directors voted to join the growing number of
resorts and hotels in the nation that have banned smoking inside any of the property
buildings. This policy is intended to be fair to all who own, trade or rent and who expect a clean, and clean smelling unit.
This policy became effective January 1, 2009. In the event a
guest smokes or permits smoking in a Lodge, a 'Smoke Elimination Fee' of $250 will be posted to the guest account upon
checkout or processed as a late charge on the guest account if
the violation is reported after the guest has departed.
UPGRADED WEBSITE
During the 2008 Annual Owners Meeting, we received several suggestions from
owners regarding the upgrading of our website, lakeplacidclublodges.com to
make it more functional, informative and interactive. We have recently made
several changes to the website in an effort to provide you with better and
more timely information about your resort and the Adirondack Region. Some
of the more visible changes include:
A “Members Only” Page: This new web page is restricted to owners and
their families and will include current newsletters and other information pertinent to the ownership. This page will also provide a vehicle to assist owners
who might wish to contact other owners for the purpose of trading one week
at Lake Placid for another, buying a week adjacent to their week , or for other
appropriate communications between owners. This new functionality provides
a tremendous potential for communication between and among owners and the Resort.
Sign-in and Password: To get access to the Members Only Page you will need to type in a User Name and Password. The User Name is member and Password is algonquin. (please note: all letters are in lower case).
A “Comment and Feedback” Page: This message board page provides an opportunity for owners, guests or
other visitors to the website to let us know their thoughts and feelings about a recent stay at the Lake Placid Club
Lodges. We’re looking to hear what we've done well but also where we haven't met expectations so that we can take
necessary steps to better assure that our guests have a terrific vacation in Lake Placid. Hopefully this message board
will be used by guests to recommend venues they were happy with during their visit to Lake Placid including restaurants, sporting and entertainment events. As with all message boards, we reserve the right to remove messages that
are inappropriate.
Future Communication from LPCLOA
With the cost of postage constantly increasing (and impacting your Lake Placid Club Lodges budget), the new
Members Only Page provides us with the capability to communicate with owners electronically rather than through
the US Mail. This tool allows us to get newsletters and other information to you quicker and more effectively. This
will be a voluntary program …..if you still want us to mail you newsletters, registration material, etc., we will gladly
do so. Yet, if you want to get your Lake Placid “mail” quicker and more reliably, this is how it will work:
1. Mail, fax, or e-mail (a scanned copy of) the enclosed Electronic Information Form to us at your earliest convenience.
2. We’ll respond via e-mail verifying receipt of your form.
3. Whenever we publish a newsletter or other general information, we will send an e-mail alerting you of the
information that has been added to the Members Only Page of the website for your review.
4. We will e-mail directly to you owner specific information such as pre-registration and registration brochures.
5. Of course, not everyone is computer or e-mail friendly, so this is a purely a voluntary program, and one owners can opt into, or out of, at their convenience. Please contact Bonny Dudley at (518) 523-3361 if you have
any questions.
Page 2
T H E L AK E P L AC ID T IM E S
SPRING AUCTION OF WEEKS
Every few years Essex County publicizes a list of tax delinquent properties prior to foreclosure for non-payment of
taxes. Last year the list included owners of over 50 weeks at the Lake Placid Club Lodges. Through the diligent efforts of your staff, we were able to contact the owners of the majority of those weeks and most paid their back
taxes protecting their investment in the Lodges.
We were unable to reach the owners of eleven weeks which were ultimately taken by foreclosure. Our agreement
with the County is that when this occurs we will pay all back taxes and title is transferred to the Lodges. Payment of
back taxes and transfer of title occurred in December and we are offering these 11 weeks to our owners through an
auction. The Board has also determined a minimum price for each week, based upon several recent resales at our
Resort. The rules governing this offer follow:
To be considered, bids must be at or above the listed base price. All bids are to be made in one of the following
ways:
1. E-mailed to [email protected]; or
2. Mailed to “Weeks For Sale”, The Lake Placid Club Lodges, 30 Lake Placid Club Way, Lake Placid, NY
12946; or
3. Faxed to (518) 523-4245.
Bids will be accepted through 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, 2009. Any bidders with an existing bid submitted may
call the Lodges on February 20 until 3:00 p.m. to determine the highest bid for any week (s) and may fax in a higher
bid as long as it is received by 4:00 p.m. on that day. If the highest final bid for any week (s) is a tie between two or
more owners, we will attempt to contact each bidder involved to determine if they would like to modify their bid.
Please provide a phone number for us to reach you on February 20 at approximately 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. should
this occur. We cannot be responsible for failure to reach you if you do not provide us with a valid contact number,
or if that number is not accessible.
Week
2009 Calendar
Base Price
Bldg 1 Lodge 3 Week 16
Sat-Sat
April 18-April 25
$3,000
Bldg 1 Lodge 3 Week 17
Sat-Sat
April 25-May 2
$3,000
Bldg 2 Lodge 7
Week 08
Sun-Sun
Feb. 22- March 1
$3,000
Bldg 2 Lodge 8
Week 15
Sun-Sun
April 12-April 19
$3,000
Bldg 2 Lodge 9
Week 50
Sun-Sun
Dec. 13-Dec 20
$3,000
Bldg 3 Lodge 11 Week 16
Fri-Fri
April 17-April 24
$3,000
Bldg 3 Lodge 13 Week 29
Fri-Fri
July 17-July 24
$15,000*
Bldg 6 Lodge 27 Week 47
Sun-Sun
Nov. 22-Nov. 29
$3,000
Bldg 7 Lodge 31 Week 17
Fri-Fri
April 24-May 1
$3,000
Bldg 7 Lodge 34 Week 30
Fri-Fri
July 24-July 31
$15,000*
Bldg 13 Lodge 64 Week 47
Fri-Fri
Nov. 20-Nov. 27
$3,000
* Please note that the Iron Man competition in Lake Placid has occurred on multiple days during the two weeks listed at
$15,000 and both have been consistently rented to participants or spectators in the competition. These weeks are
rented for 2009 for $2,500 per week after commission. Purchasers of either of these two weeks will not have use of the
weeks in 2009, but will receive rental income of $2,500. While the expectation is that the Iron Man competition will
continue into the future as currently scheduled, it is, of course, subject to change.
T H E L AK E P L AC ID T IM E S
Page 3
PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
US POSTAGE
PAID
HYANNIS, MA
PERMIT NO. 30
A “Resort of International Distinction”
30 Lake Placid Club Way
Your Home in
the North Country
Check us out on:
www.lakeplacidclublodges.com
Phone: 518 523-3361
LPCLOA Electronic Information Acceptance Form
Owner's Name:
Mailing Address:
E-Mail Address:
Telephone Number:
Signature (s):
Date:
My (our) signature is to confirm that I (we) authorize the Lake Placid Club Lodges Owners' Association
to issue future communications over the internet via e-mail and/or Members Only Web page. This
authorization shall remain in effect until it is formally withdrawn or modified by me/us via e-mail, US
mail or fax to the Lake Placid Club Lodges and confirmed as received. I (we) understand that our annual
maintenance invoices will continue to be delivered via US Mail until otherwise notified by either VRI or
the Lake Placid Club Lodges Owners’ Association.
Material to be communicated by e-mail shall include Newsletters, Annual Owners Meeting Notices,
Ballots and Proxies, and Minutes of Annual Owners Meetings. Pre-registration and Registration material
will also be communicated via e-mail.
Please complete this form and mail it to the Lake Placid Club Lodges, 30 Lake Placid Club Way, Lake
Placid, NY 12946, or Fax to (518) 523-4245 or E-Mail a signed and scanned copy to the following e-mail
address: [email protected].
Thank you.
LAKE PLACID CLUB LODGES OWNERS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL OWNERS MEETING MINUTES
Golden Arrow, Lake Placid, NY
October 25, 2008
1.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Board President Nelson Carpenter called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. at the Golden Arrow in Lake Placid, NY.
Owners in attendance were welcomed and the head table
introduced.
Board of Directors:
Nelson Carpenter
Jack Brennan
Jeff Barnes
Chuck Raymond
Al Ames
John Manning
George Harder
Vacation Resorts International and Resort Management:
Rich Muller, Vice President of Resort Operations/VRI
Bonny Dudley, General Manager
Elizabeth Davis, Assistant General Manager
Nancy Belden, Housekeeping Supervisor
Bud Cole, Maintenance Supervisor
2.
PRESENTATION OF PROOFS OF DUE CALLING
OF THE MEETING
President Carpenter reviewed the Official Notice of this
Annual Meeting which was mailed to all interval owners via
Association newsletters. All notices were sent in compliance with the Association By-Laws, Article IV, Section 1.
3.
ROLL CALL AND PRESENTATION AND EXAMINATION OF PROXIES
President Carpenter stated that a roll call of all owners present was taken at the registration table as each owner arrived
for the meeting today. All proxy ballots received have been
recorded and will be examined by the Inspectors of Election
to occur later in today’s meeting according to the agenda.
4.
READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS ANNUAL
MEETING
President Carpenter informed the audience that a copy of the
2007 Annual Meeting minutes were included in today’s
meeting packet and were also mailed to all interval owners.
President Carpenter asked for a motion from the floor to
waive reading of, and approve, the 2007 Annual Meeting
minutes as presented.
MOTION: A motion was made from the floor to waive the
reading of the 2007 Annual Meeting minutes and approve
them as presented. Motion was seconded and approved
unanimously.
5.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
President Carpenter reported on a number of issues that have
been addressed in the past year.
Infrastructure Issues
There have been a number of problems with the original
sewer that were improperly installed. Repairs required
major excavation and one line is still being addressed. It
was determined that several hot water systems were improperly wired. All systems have since been properly
wired and replumbed; older tanks were replaced and leak
alarms have been installed. For safety reasons, several
large trees had to be removed. One was poised to fall on
the Golf House at the Country Club.
The Board is also attempting to address ice that accumulates under certain conditions at the unit entrances. Under
consideration is building a roof structure similar to the
Morningside Drive townhouses to divert runoff and icicles.
Drawings of this option have been prepared but more planning is required. In the meantime, shovels and Ice Melt
are now available in all units.
Renovation Improvements
At the last Annual Meeting an interior refurbishment plan
was reviewed that included interior restoration, door &
trim replacement, removal of textured ceilings and wall
and a new color scheme applied.
A model unit was available for review following last years
meeting and responses were very positive. Since then, the
following has been completed:
· Completed painting five more Lodges.
· Replaced 70 twin mattresses and linen in 2nd bedroom
(owners can get special coverings that convert the twins
into a king bed).
· Installed ceiling fans in every Lodge.
· Installed railings in all Lodges.
· Replaced several heating and A/C units.
· Installed leak detectors in all Lodges.
Energy Issues
An Energy Committee was formed to create and study
energy conservation ideas. Committee member Chuck
Raymond was introduced and presented a summary of the
Committee’s findings.
Mr. Raymond explained that the Committee, consisting of
Dick Hayes, James Folmsbee, Andy Eckblaw, Rich Muller, Bonny Dudley and Al Ames as Chairman, met to review energy conservation measures taken to date and those
that should be considered for the future. At last years
meeting there was discussion about converting to propane;
however, the Committee determined early on that this was
cost prohibitive.
Ceiling fans were installed to better circulate heat throughout the Lodge. Programmable thermostats were installed
in several Lodges. New HVAC control technology will be
pursued as new HVAC systems are upgraded. NYSERTA
conducted an energy audit and submitted its findings.
There were a number of recommendations that the Committee is exploring. Mr. Raymond included a power consumption analysis of various appliances within the Lodge and
commented on how occupants now tend to max out electrical usage with laptops, Ipods and other electronics. Owner
cooperation is essential to the success of any conservation
effort as we are all in this together.
Amenities Package
Mr. Carpenter reminded the audience that Lake Placid Club
Lodges has access to an extensive package of amenities;
golf, beach, boats, tennis, cross country skiing trails, the
Health and Fitness Center and much more. For a 6th consecutive year, the resort qualified for RCI’s Gold Crown
Award. The designation was again declined because, in
spite of all the amenities, the resort does not have an onsite
restaurant and other features expected of a Gold Crown
property. Accepting the award would invite high expectations by RCI exchange members who would ultimately
drive our scores down and diminish exchange value of our
intervals. Mr. Carpenter reminded the audience that
LPCLOA is also affiliated with Interval International and
owners have access to a choice of exchange companies.
Owner Tax Defaults
Mr. Carpenter advised the owners that, the Board makes
every effort to keep owners from losing their intervals to tax
foreclosure; however, each year there are a number of owners who pay their maintenance fees but fail to pay taxes.
Reminders are regularly sent and most come current but this
year the County foreclosed on ten intervals. These weeks
will be turned over to the Association at a cost of approximately $9,000 and the Board will make them available for
sale.
2009 Operating Budget
Rich Muller was introduced to explain the 2009 Budget.
Rich stated that the Budget was again prepared by the Finance Committee consisting of Al Ames, Jeff Barnes,
Bonny Dudley and him.
The presentation budget presented is a summary version of
considerable work and detail that goes into preparing it.
There are many pressures on resort operating budgets aside
from escalating energy costs. Fuel surcharges affect the
cost of supplies and virtually all services. Payroll must
keep pace with cost of living increases. Budget preparation
starts in July of the prior year so it is difficult to project but
the Committee has developed accurate projections and includes contingencies for the unknowns.
Lake Placid Club Lodges is a relatively small resort with
only 35 Lodges and 1,785 intervals. This means that a one
dollar increase in maintenance fees generates a maximum of
only $1,785. A projected increase in electricity of only
$5,000 creates an unavoidable increase in the maintenance
fees of almost $3 and that is just one line item.
Reserve Budget
Budget includes 12% annual contingency.
Projected 2009 year end surplus $29,000.
Projected 2016 year end surplus of $258,000.
2009 Reserve Expenditures
Rehab and paint five more Lodges.
Replace ten sofas and loveseats.
Replace 20 upholstered chairs.
Replace draperies in units with new sofas.
Replace 15 decks (five up and 10 down).
Replace commercial washing machine.
$31,500 for energy conservation.
The ongoing Lodge projects include: Removal of wallpaper and patch and repaint with new colors, replace doors
and trim, replace stucco-look sheetrock, refinish railings
and beams, and install recessed lighting in kitchens.
6.
APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
President Carpenter called for volunteers from the audience to assist with tallying the ballots and reviewing the
proxy ballots.
7. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Candidate profiles were included in a recent Association
newsletter as well as in the meeting packet provided to all
owners at this meeting. Mr. Carpenter advised the owners
that long time Board member and first Board President
George Harder is resigning effective at the conclusion of
today’s meeting. Jack Brennan presented George with a
plaque recognizing George’s more that 20 years of service
to the resort and its owners. George’s wife and son came
forward with him to accept the award and a standing ovation.
Each candidate was allowed the opportunity to address the
audience. President Carpenter then called for a short recess in the meeting while the ballots were tallied. The
meeting was reconvened and the results of the election of
Board members were announced. Al Ames, Jeffrey Barnes, Jack Brennan and Nelson Carpenter were reelected to
a two-year term.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
9. NEW BUSINESS
Presentations were made by representatives of four local
services available to Lake Placid Club owners and guests.
Sally Warner
Liz Murray
Jason McCombe
Gary Lanzoni
See the Sights with Sally Tours
Concierge Services
Lake Placid Health and Fitness
Lake Placid Accommodations
Rich Muller advised the owners that VRI has resumed its
internal exchange program VRI*ety. There is no membership fee for owners at VRI managed resorts and there are
approximately 150 resorts affiliated with the program.
Details about the VRI*ety will be sent in the near future.
10. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: There being no further business, a motion was
made from the floor to adjourn the meeting at 1:45 p.m.
Motion was seconded and approved unanimously.