ANNUAL MEETING
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
President Marty Perkins called the Annual Meeting of the
Membership to order at
Present were 1 Vice President Ken Passage, Vice President Al Isaac, Directors Marv
Frayer, Scott Hayer, Dan Holzer, and Dave Conley. Also present were Secretary to the Board
Carrie Forfinski, General Manager Gail White, and Treasurer Priscilla Moore.
MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES
The minutes of the Annual Meeting from
President Perkins introduced Tina Hopp
from McMahan, Thompson, Assoc., the auditor responsible for fiscal years ending
Feb. 05 and Feb. 06. She gave a brief overview of the financial statement and
our audit. A more detailed presentation was made to
the Board of Directors earlier that morning. Copies of the financial statements
can be obtained from Gail or Priscilla. What we have
right now is a preliminary draft because feedback from the Board on what needs
to be done will be necessary. We supply a standard
independent auditor’s report. We only put variations from Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles. We do not have historical data on capital estimates, so
we have to put a note in the letter saying we don’t
have that information. We have the numbers but, we
have nothing to back that up because you haven’t had audits done is the past. As of the audit 2 years ago, we are accumulating that information
and appreciate it under GAAP. As an association, if your goal is to
break even, you did the best you possible could do. On a cash basis, you had an
overage of $625. On the accrual basis, taking out capital items, payments on
your mortgage that would not be considered an expense,
then you have an overage in net income of $38,400. The question and answer
period began with Don Papesh asking about her
contract length. She replied, it is 3 years, one year is left and she didn’t remember the amount quoted, she thought it was $4,000
or $4,100. She was hired by the fill Board and commented on a
statement made at a Board meeting about an engagement letter. She is
required to read all the Board Meeting Minutes and felt she should address
this. The engagement letter was signed by the president and even with a 3 year proposal, every year a new engagement letter is
signed. Consulting fees can be from $50 to $170 depending on what occurs. Marv
Richardson asked if she was aware an audit was done
prior. She replied that was a procedural audit and what she did was a financial
audit. He asks for an explanation between her results and the other audits
results. She said a procedural audit checks 15 to 20 transactions to see if
they were properly followed through. We do that, but
we also see if the balance can be verified with outside sources; we look at
Board Minutes, contact attorneys, contact banks; there is a lot more work
involved. (unknown voice) asks how many hours were we
billed for last year? She couldn’t remember that but
told her work with Quickbooks consulting was 700 or
800 hrs. The audit from the previous firm can not be
compared to the financial audit she performed. We did years ending Feb. 05 and
Feb. 06. One year is left. Maw
TREASURER’S REPORT (Income Statement)
Priscilla Moore reported that since the auditor gave a detailed report, we will accept her report and she had nothing to add.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Al Isaac reported there were ten (10) people that submitted nominations for this election. In accordance with the Bylaws and our election rules, eight (8) of those were accepted as candidates. Alphabetically they are Mr. Mark Connelly, Mr. Marv Frayer, Mr. Greg Hernden, Al Isaac (myself), Mr. Brian Kozlowski, Mr. Marty Perkins, Mr. Marv Richardson, and Mr. Mike Turner. He recommends in the future that the Nominating and Teller Committees be populated at the same time, as it was hard to get enough participants. He thanks Toni Passage for her help and asks the committee be officially disbanded. He is reminded to open the nominations for nominations from the floor. He asks if there is anyone that would like to run for the Board of Directors at this time and repeats twice more. Hearing no response, he declares the list of candidates is official.
lst Vice President Ken Passage goes through the election changes, as they are significant. Ballots will be issued after the candidates’ portion of this meeting. There will be voting immediately to ensure no ballots leave the area and ballots will be placed in a box. Next is the portion of the meeting where candidates speak about themselves.
Mark Connelly, lots 377, 389, 390: I have lived in Clare County 15 years and in White Birch, 1 year. Covenants and restrictions are for all and not just for some. There are issues with taxes paid to the county that if we banded together, we could get more done. I am an ex-marine. I owned a company for 26 years. I feel fiscal responsibility is paramount. Finances need to be in the “black”. If you don’t like decisions of the Board, it’s a democracy. Stand up, be heard, and vote. Personal attacks have got to stop. I would like to see fundraisers for functions. For instance, the country store we hade Memorial Day; it raised enough to pay for the function. I have 5 grandkids. I am totally independent and would like to be your advocate. I’m for White Birch.
Marv Frayer: There are no campers, residents. This place is members. The future of this place is that we need to keep growing. I lived here; this is my 5 year and have been on the board 2 years. The last year has been terrible. Personal attacks have to stop. We have a good manager; if you leave her alone, she does a good job. I love this place.
Greg Hernden:
Good morning fellow member of White Birch. Me
and my wife Linda found this place in January 2000, we built a home April 200
and moved in April 2001. We saw many of the things you did. We saw the peace,
quiet, privacy of wooded lots, a clubhouse with a pool, and wildlife. We also
saw the low price of the property. I’m from
Al Isaac: I know most of you here. I have been on the Board 2 years. My wife and I have lived here ten years on Oak Run. The thing I enjoy most is the people I have met. I would like to mention my view of the future of White Birch during closing comments. There is a division in this community. A community is neighbors that are friends. Three quarters of the rumors are not true. You need to actively go out to seek the truth. I have been pleased to work with the Board members this past year. We have 1,800 acres and we are the stewards. Our amenities are important, the forests, lakes, and wildlife. I would appreciate your vote. This association is a democracy; we have had our say, we have had our vote. Whoever sits on the Board; support them and work together for the betterment of White Birch. Thank you.
Brian Kozlowski: I feel inadequate when I hear other people’s resumes. I have served in the past and have a lot to bring to the Board. We have a division in our community. We need to place mechanisms in place so you can communicate freely with the Board and the Board can communicate with you. There are more young people coming in and we need to create an atmosphere for these young people and their children. I started out as a weekend resident until we decided to buy a house. We love it here. We love the sense of neighborliness. The community is divided in 2 camps and it is my goal to unite this community. There needs to be a common voice because if we don’t get united, we fall. Thank you.
Marv Richardson: We have lived here 9 years, I, my wife, and my daughter. I served on the Board for four
years and left last July. I felt I needed a break. When I left this Board, the
association was in the best financial status it had ever been. We didn’t have to borrow money to get a grader. We were able to
write a check. I don’t think our assessments will need
to be raised in 5yrs., maybe even 10 yrs. I came here as the Farwell Middle
School Principal. I have a degree in advertising from
Marty Perkins: My vision was to give back the association to you that own it. It seemed like a dictatorship and the amenities were not being taken care of. The budget is not spiraling out of control — but there are ways that we could cut this budget back, but my ideas fall on deaf ears. We have opened up communications. We have had an open door policy. We revamped the website. We gave you a newsletter you could respond to. The highlights of Board meetings and Committee reports need to be in that paper. Why can’t we sit down like adults and find out what’s going on? There were some that were protesting and not paying their assessments. The people we brought in to do things did a beautiful job here at White Birch. Some folks didn’t care for people we brought in to do the work.. We have been ridiculed. I guess the spending has to do with Timber Lake. We came in $1,100 under budget. The budget was for $4,500. The money saved was put towards gravel for the road in there. It’s a heck of an improvement. I hear complaining. The people that are complaining are not doing anything. We have opened up communications quite a bit. Parks are being developed. We are doing that with a volunteer base.
Mike Turner: I live behind the campground on
1 Vice President Ken Passage opens the question and answer portion of the meeting reminding everyone there are 8 candidates. Please only ask about matters that are relevant and please candidates, be judicious in giving your answers. Limit people from responding 2 to 3 times to the same issue. Let only the person that is asked, respond. I have confidence that these 8 gentlemen love White Birch. All of them should be applauded.
(unknown voice) How does each of you feel about sheds?
Perkins-I did some checking and you could have a 200 square
foot shed in
Kozlowski-I am going to waffle. We know we cannot have a
shed until a primary residence is erected. That is
what the Bylaws, the C + R’s and the ordinance says. I
believe in laws. If the inspector said he would look
the other way, that is not the same as changing the law. After the vote, if
they say yes, then, I have an obligation to get sheds.
Hernden-What we work out as an association. I am for sheds.
Frayer-We have
got to change the C + R’s.
Turner-My answer to the question “Are you for sheds?” and my answer is “yes”.
Isaac-It is the will of the majority of the association. If the association votes to have them, I’m all for it.
Mrs. Chick Witchell asks “How are you as a candidate going to bring back truth
and harmony to
Frayer-7 gentlemen need to be on the same wave length and be for the people.
Perkins-To get rid of hostility we need to take the time to
listen to what your neighbor has to say.
Hernden-Truth and harmony can be restored by you attending the meetings.
You are the report card; you hold us responsible.
Connelly-You can’t do it by
yourself. You need to be neighborly, care about how you neighbor is doing. If
you have a problem with the Board, go to them, talk to them. Talk
amongst each other. We’re human beings.
Kozlowski-All are excellent
solutions. Communications from the Board to the people, communication from the
people to the Board is what we need. If you don’t
agree with something, it is dissent. Dissent is not an attack. If we need to
extend meetings so there is more time for comments
from the floor or question cards to fill out before meeting. The 7 people on the board need to act as a group, not as
individuals.
Isaac-About harmony let me tell you what I have seen at the Board meeting that just infuriates me. When someone is getting ready to speak, before anything even comes out of their mouth, there are eyes rolling because of person, not the idea. Get away from personal; get to ideas. Turner-Can you? I don’t know, you always have differing opinions. You have health, wealth, and integrity. You can lose 2 of them. But the other is detrimental.
Mrs. Teresa Obrecht asks to Mr. Richardson and Mr.
Kozlowski, per article 10, the president and vice president and secretary are approved to sign checks, 2 of the 3. Regarding financial
controls, when did you designate the manager as an officer? The manager is an
employee, not an officer. Did you authorize the manager to sign checks?
Richardson-Have you read her job description That is in her job description It was on a temporary basis. Gail didn’t have access to write checks, sign checks, cash checks. She could write the checks, I co-signed them. Priscilla was gone and the board voted to allow it. Kozlowski-The Board can change Bylaws by a 2/3 vote. When Priscilla was incapacitated, the change was made.
(unknown voice) Where do you see
White Birch Lakes ten years from now?
Perkins-I see 4 of July picnics,
potlucks, get-togethers, a group to clean up people’s yards if they’re sick. I
would like to have our lakes and beaches in prime shape; it just takes
willingness and volunteerism.
Hernden-I see beautiful lots,
wooded areas, amenities. We have a lot we can do here. I would like to see all
the past due assessments collected. I’d like to see a
return of strong volunteerism like we had a year ago. I would like to see White
Birch as financially stable and the issue of the sheds worked out harmoniously
between all members.
Frayer-How many people realize
when this place was put together, we had to sell some
acreage? Did you know it was 300 acres? We need to get that back. That’s your future. Turner-That is what I do for a living. I’m a Conservation Planner by trade. We look at soil
topography; we walk the lot. We give the owner 3 options. There is always
option #4, which is to do nothing. When I was checking this area for timber
harvesting, I pulled a file- a Timber Scale and I thought it was a neat place
and I wanted to live there.
Connelly-My vision is to keep what we have. Look what
happened with
Mrs. Toni Passage asks, “In the information that was sent
around, why are the issues of the lakes important now and you never worked on
it before especially when this board started working on it?” She later asked
about labor costs, insurance costs.
Frayer-There was a gentleman from
Recess is called
Mrs. Gail White says; “Thanks for the donations.”
COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR -
Dan Danbroski-suggests limiting candidate opening statements to 3 minutes and closing
statements to 1 minute.
Sharon Bridges-would like speech limits made as a motion.
Brian Kozlowski-would need Bylaws change to make speech
limits permanent.
Greg Hernden-Does not want to
limit time for speeches.
Randall Batchey-All meetings
should start with a prayer.
Jerry Bridges-recommends using a prayer
format.
Chuck Hastings-it does not belong as business.
Caroline Neal-use a standard prayer
Marv Richardson-Gail & Gerry White paid for lunch. Motion to reimburse Whites. Gail says
she wishes not to be reimbursed.
Mark Connelly-has a food service permit.
1st Vice President Ken Passage brings up the question of a ballot that was issued as whether it could be counted given the person was under the assumption the deadline was July 20. We brought this issue to the Board. There was much discussion regarding deadlines being posted in the Birch Bark and a point of order regarding Robert’s Rules of order on ballots. The whole assembly decides on the counting of the ballot or not. A motion was made to allow the man’s vote be cast by Maw Richardson, seconded by Ed Cluley. A vote was taken by a show of hands; the motion does not carry. The poll is closed.
1st Vice President Ken Passage asks if the candidates have any concerns? No reply is heard.
Head Teller Todd Graham thanks the committee members for
their 6 hours of work- Shirley Brandt, Sharon Sonicsson,
Jim Neal. He said the ballots were opened and placed in
groups of
10. Those were counted and compared. If it wasn’t identical, we recounted. Then we went on to the next 10. Each teller counted and I counted after everyone else. There were 185 ballots issued and 185 ballots turned in. There were 270 absentee ballots issued, with 233 ballots turned in. 201 were counted. The top three vote-getters will serve 3 years. The fourth will serve 1 year With 243 votes-Al Isaac, 208 Greg Hernden, 198-Brian Kozlowski, 175-Marv Frayer. The Board needs to ratify the vote. The shed issue was 208-yes, 154-no. It would have required 357 votes to pass.
1st Vice President Ken Passage asks if any of the candidates wish a recount? No reply is heard.
Other votes include Mark Connelly-127, Marty Perkins-133, Marv Richardson-122, Mike Turner-156.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
Unrecognizable voices, second-garbled.