Letter from the Board of Directors
After the Board read the attorney’s report, he was
invited to meet with them so the Board members
could delve more deeply into the report’s specifics.
In July the Board was presented with a petition signed by
158 members seeking the removal of our Club’s General
Manager, charging him with “fiscal irresponsibility” and “lack
of leadership”. The petition contained no specific evidence
to support either of these vague charges. Nevertheless, the
Board decided to take a serious approach to investigating
whether any evidence could be uncovered to support either
allegation.
After considering the attorney ’s report and
questioning him on its particulars, the Board
reached the following conclusions:
• To the petition’s charge of “lack of
leadership”, the Board determined the
body of criticism was related to a
disagreement in the manager’s style and
did not merit termination.
• To the petition’s charge of “fiscal
irresponsibility”, the Board found that all
fiscal obligations made by and through the
Manager were proper. Through the annual
budget process the Board approves all
financial obligations. Through the
monthly Financial Reports and Manager’s
Reports the Board is kept aware of monies
as they are spent.
The Board retained an independent and objective attorney,
with no prior affiliation with the Ranch, the Board,
Management, or its members, to interview some of the
petitioners. The intent of these interviews was to determine
whether specific information could be obtained from the
petition signers to substantiate either broad charge made
against the General Manager.
The Board believed it was important to contain the cost of
this undertaking and still enable individual members to
express their opinions without pressure of any kind. Twenty-
seven petition signers were randomly selected, contacted and
invited to participate in a one-on-one, non-recorded
interview with only the attorney present.
Most of those contacted declined to be interviewed. In the
end, the attorney was able to interview six members in
person, 2 by telephone, and he received written comments
from 5 others.
In addition to the results of this interview process,
it is important to point out the following facts:
• The Ranch’s Fund structure specifically
limits the purposes to which our monies
can be used. Those particulars can be found
in Article IV of our Bylaws.
• Each of the four Funds (Operating, Capital,
Resources and Endowment) has shown
consistent positive growth over the tenure
of this General Manager.
• The Ranch’s financials are subjected to an
independent audit each year and those
Audited Financials are reported each year
at a board meeting during the first quarter
of the year. That report is published on the
Member page of the Club’s website and
mailed to each member with the annual
proxy statement.
The attorney’s report to the Board listed member concerns
about the General Manager and the Board that can be grouped
into the following categories:
• Dissatisfaction with the Board and the GM over
Campground Issues: There were complaints that
recent campground-related decisions are reducing
campground revenues. Some members claimed they
intend to discontinue their membership over their
opposition to these decisions. Those decisions were:
o Extending the Reservation System to the
Campground,
o Designating 12 of the 80 Full Hookup Sites
for camping 14 days or less,
o Eliminating winter storage of campers on
campsites
The decision to not hire a member to serve as “Camper
in Residence” was also criticized. Some members
disagreed with the legal advice provided to the Board
regarding campground policy and also took
exception to the source of that legal advice. Finally,
at least one member said the GM ignored a member
who offered to do electrical upgrade work at the
Campground in spite of being informed the member
was licensed, insured and bonded to complete the
work.
• GM’s Management Style: Interviews indicated that
some members allegations of “LACK OF
LEADERSHIP” were actually disagreements with the
Managers style of management..
In summary, the Board has investigated the
petition’s concerns impartially and completely,
reviewed and discussed the attorney’s reports of
his interviews with members, and taken
appropriate action to address areas of concern with
the General Manager.
With the issuance of this letter the Board considers
this matter closed.
REMINDER!
You can purchase your
Michigan Hunting and
Fishing Licenses at the
Ranch House!
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