CCR News August 2019 | Page 11

Three Questions to be Answered by Board of Director Candidates 1) As a potential member of the Board of Directors, discuss your view of the role and responsibilities of a Director, the Club Manager and the Canada Creek Ranch membership. 2) With the best interests of all Members in mind, what specific issues does the Board need to address to improve the membership’s enjoyment and usage of the Ranch and its facilities, and what specific actions could the Board take to make improvements to address these issues. 3) How do you view the policies of Ranch operations and funding plans, and what changes would you consider to achieve a balanced budget? i.e. due increase, spending cuts, volunteerism, review of operations and business practice, etc. Bill Cook 1) As a member of the Board of Directors, your role is to help guide the “CEO” / President to help the business of Canada Creek Ranch through the operations. The responsibilities of the Club Manager/ COO of the organization is to oversee Canada Creek Ranch daily operations and bring opportunities and work with the Board of Directors to help advance Canada Creek Ranch into the future. The roles and responsibilities of a Canada Creek Member is to enjoy our little piece of heaven while preserving the integrity of the club and property. 2) The board needs to find an avenue for communication between the membership and the board. Currently they use different facets of communication but still can’t reach everyone. 3) I would like to have a fixed amount used out of the operating budget before we dip into other funds for capital replacements or new purchases. This process should slow the decision on capital spending. Dave Weber Question #1: A Director is responsible to the membership to guide the ranch to meet the goals and objectives of our mission statement using our by-laws to facilitate that process. To accomplish this, the Board of Directors are to guide the manager to keep CCR centered on our mission statement while being fiscally responsible and to help the membership be the voice of the club as a whole. Understanding that sacrifice of everyone for the common benefit of all members and keeping in mind a quality experience of CCR for future generations. The Manager’s role and responsibilities are the day to day operations of the ranch; supervising employees, communicating with the board of directors and the membership openly, thoroughly and often on important issues of the club. The manager is to develop budgets, stay within budgets and look for cost savings and income opportunities for the ranch and present them to the Board of Directors. As members we enjoy the greatest roles and responsibilities; we elect board members to be our voice of reason and objectivity. We share the common responsibility to respect and protect our shared and personal property. And to respect and protect our fellow members’ and guests and treat them as we would like to be treated. We have the responsibility to volunteer and help out our CCR family whenever we can. We get to enjoy CCR. Question #2: By keeping the best interest of all members at the forefront of decision making for improvements to the ranch is paramount. But because we are a diverse group of members, our best interests are somewhat diverse as well. Specifically- the ranch’s fiscal position (funds, investments) condition of assets (buildings, vehicles, equipment, land) and maintaining of assets and keeping CCR’s staff a quality positive group- all must be maintained for the continued enjoyment of the members. The board needs to encourage membership involvement and volunteerism for events and projects and maybe most importantly; try not to inhibit the member involvement and volunteerism whenever possible. Question #3: The current policies of ranch operations and funding plans seem to be requiring changes as our income stream is drastically changing. As a business owner, I see the only two things that can be done when income from one source reduces or is eliminated, you need to (1) replace it with another income or (2) reduce or eliminate expenses. Our options for increasing income are to increase dues, pay to play, or utilize member volunteerism (expertise) for projects we currently pay to do. Or possibly fund-raising opportunities such as raffles, events, grants, etc. Each line item must be reviewed annually for possible reductions or savings. Although one of the best assets is our staff and as with any business it is the highest expense, but reductions here would result in member services that we all have come to enjoy and expect may be reduced or lost. We must be open to looking at each expense and its importance to the whole CCR membership. I believe our members have the abilities, the ideas and the fortitude to get us through this period of financial change the ranch is going through. There are some tough choices to be made, but with input from all of us and especially those most deeply knowledgeable in the operations of the ranch, we can get through these challenges and prosper the ranch for generations to come. 11 Continued on page 12