Club Business

We all saw Don’s September 1st letter. It was polished and optimistic, but in my opinion here's the plain version of what’s going on, and what the survey results confirm.

Money’s Tight

Real estate sales have fallen way short, and the Club’s cash flow is strained. Don called it “liquidity challenges,” which is just another fancy way of saying there isn’t enough money coming in to cover what’s going out. The bright spot: golf and food & beverage are beating expectations, so the core day-to-day experience is holding up.

Staff Changes Are Coming

Don said they’re “finding efficiencies.” In practice, that usually means cutting hours or staff. He promises service won’t take a hit — but we’ll see. It almost always shows up somewhere. I hope the excellent service from the valets as of late continues.

Real Estate Won’t Bail Us Out

You can’t run Haig Point on unpredictable real estate sales. Going forward, that money will be set aside for capital projects only. Long term, that’s probably smart — but in the short term it means dues and fees are carrying more weight.

The survey backs this up. The number-one reason members say they might leave Haig Point? Value for dues and fees.

Roads, Docks & Rumors

The road paving didn’t happen this year. Officially, it’s because contractors weren’t available, but there were no backups? No plan B? Where is the urgency from last year? Unofficially, there are rumors floating around that the road fund might have been "borrowed from" — even though we were told it was off-limits. Add in the separate docks assessment we’re already paying into, and you can see why people are nervous. Bottom line: these funds need to be rock-solid, with no shell games.

The Hotel

The Welcome Center Hotel idea is still alive. The Board says an experienced operator would run it, member access and parking won’t be hurt, and it’ll help bring in new members. They’ve also promised nothing moves forward until members have plenty of time to understand the proposal. That’s important and from the tone of Don's email it seemed like it's a done deal. They need to keep their promise to let us vote.

The survey shows members are open to new revenue sources, but only if the details are clear. People want to see the financials and the risks before giving the green light.

Phoenix vs. Thunderbird

We were told there were two options: Phoenix (outside developer) or Thunderbird (member-led). Phoenix is gone. Thunderbird? Total silence. Not a word about it in Don’s letter. If it’s off the table, the Board needs to definitively say so. Maybe I've missed this?

Elections: No Real Choice

Once again, the Nominating Committee has put forward a non-contested election. Translation: they hand-picked who they think will toe the line. At a time when dues are rising and big changes are being planned, members deserve a real choice and dissenting voices need to be heard.

The Membership Survey

The results are now in and this time, members were given the actual raw data, not just a biased summary. That’s progress.

• 87% of members say moderate or significant improvements are needed.

• 61% of those thinking about leaving want immediate action.

• Members are only comfortable with about a 5–6% dues increase.

• Average willingness for extra capital dues = $283/month, but assessments over $49K cross the line.

• Transparency and governance ranked higher than social activities.
  

It's clear: people want improvements, but there’s a ceiling on what members are willing to pay and full transparency is non-negotiable.

The Exodus We’re Seeing

Lately, several longtime members have been packing up and leaving. These aren’t new arrivals — they’re people who’ve been invested in Haig Point for years. The reason is simple: the service no longer matches the value for them. And the survey data confirms it — “value for dues and fees” is the single biggest reason members say they’d consider leaving. If this isn’t addressed, the exodus could grow.

What’s Next

• Finance meeting Sept 15 — expect big decisions.

• More details on the hotel.

• Likely dues and fee increases before year-end.
  

What to Watch Out For in Q4

• Dues & Assessments: Expect increases, but remember the survey — most members only support modest ones.

• Staffing Cuts: Will “efficiencies” show up in service?

• Road & Dock Funds: Rumors are out there. We need proof the money’s still where it’s supposed to be.

• Hotel Promise: Don’t let this move forward until members have had full time to review.

• Survey Results: We’ve got the raw data — hold the Board accountable to it.

• Thunderbird Silence: Is it dead, or just not being talked about?

• Governance Changes: Look out for moves that tie Club and HOA finances together.

• Elections: With a non-contested slate, don’t expect much pushback to the Board’s agenda.
  

Bottom Line

There’s no question the cost of living at Haig Point is going up and Don is clearly heralding it. His letter makes it obvious the Club can’t cut its way out of this. The Board is betting on growth projects and higher member contributions to close the gap. Start selling those positions!

The survey proves members agree improvements are needed, but it also sets clear limits: modest dues increases only, assessments with a ceiling, and transparency at every step.

We’ve got the data now. The job is making sure the Board respects it, protects dedicated funds, and keeps its promises — or we risk more longtime members deciding the value just isn’t there anymore.