President’ s Corner |
By ANNE SHEVLIN
Thank you for letting me serve these past six years By the time this article goes to print, a new board of directors and officers will have been installed at Charbonneau Country
SHEVLIN Club. I will no longer be your president. This article is my opportunity to thank the community for the chance to serve you for the past six years.
I hope Charbonneau residents will indulge me just a bit by taking a brief walk with me down memory lane. I joined the CCC board in May 2019. At that time, the board was focused on setting the foundation for important plans regarding the future of our community. Efforts were underway between the Charbonneau Golf Club board and the CCC board to develop a merger between the two entities. Through the efforts of then-CCC board president Gene Tish, then-CCC board vice president Kathy Harp and then-Charbonneau golf board president Joe Brouilette, a successful merger was agreed upon by both parties and their attorneys. This agreement allowed the golf club to continue as a for-profit company with a separate board
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of directors. It also allowed the CCC to act as the sole shareholder of the golf club, while still maintaining the non-profit status of the country club. While acting as the shareholder, the CCC does not manage or otherwise direct how the golf club runs its day-to-day operations. No resident dues are used to pay for golf course operations. This is an important fact for Charbonneau residents to understand. The merger set the stage for a unique working relationship between both entities, never seen before in the history of Charbonneau. In the past, discussions and decisions had often been adversarial, each side looking out primarily for their own interest. Now, both boards work together to solve problems and enhance our community. When faced with a situation that requires dialogue and compromise, the parties ask themselves,“ What is best for the community?” and make decisions together from that point.
Also in 2019, the CCC board made the decision to purchase what had become known as the old restaurant building, which at one time had been a hub of activity in Charbonneau. Built in the mid- 1970s, the structure had fallen into disrepair and was unsafe to operate. The building was eventually torn down to make room for our new Activity Center. As chair of the Charbonneau Asset Management Committee, I found myself, along with resident Kathy Fuller, acting as co-chairs of the Community
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Development Committee, which brought together a group of residents, our general manager, an architect, a construction advisor team and the general contractor. This team, along with select sub-committees, made all of the decisions regarding how our new building would look, from exterior design to interior décor, along with the functionality of each space. We held our open house in April 2022, and moved in soon after.
We all know what happened in March 2020. We found ourselves on the threshold of what would become the worldwide COVID pandemic that would last into 2023. Worldwide, there were over 755 million reported cases, and, sadly, 6.8 million people lost their lives. Following statewide mandates, the CCC board had to make the decision to close all activities and develop systems to keep employees and residents safe. No pools were open that summer, the clubhouse was closed and all meetings were held virtually. It was a difficult time for everyone, and many of us lost acquaintances and loved ones.
Other accomplishments over the past few years have included the improvements at Edith Green Park, by creating an off-leash dog area, as well as adding picnic space and bocce ball courts. Additionally, a year-round facility was built over the two outside tennis courts at the Sports Center, and the courts are now used year-round for both tennis and pickleball.
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Our Clubhouse and the Golf Pro Shop were entirely resided and repainted. Our aging marina was completely replaced and upgraded in 2024 to include canoe and kayak storage. We enhanced our communication efforts to keep residents informed and developed an emergency preparedness and safety plan, primarily through the efforts of a group of residents who identified the need and implemented their vision.
Charbonneau has undergone a transformation over the past few years, and it has been my honor to be on the board of directors during this time. Not all decisions about our future were easy to make and lessons were learned along the way. Compromises and adjustments were made. It has been a whirlwind of a time, but not one I would trade for anything else. There is a palpable vibrancy in the community, and the doors of the Clubhouse and Activity Center seem to be in constant motion with comings and goings.
I would like to thank the residents, staff and fellow board members for their support during my two terms on the board. The newly elected and returning directors only have the best for Charbonneau as their focus. I am confident that our community and all of its assets are in good hands. I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood as we all continue, in both small and large ways, to make Charbonneau the best it can be.
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J. Brian Monihan Publisher Brian. Monihan @ lakeoswegoreview. com |
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