Blog Post
Board Brief September 2023
New President in 2024
A resolution was passed to appoint Mr. Alan Harden as the 2024 Board President. Read Mr. Harden’s note here.
Consent and Other Discussion:
There was an update on the Q.3 financials and impending Bridge Bond opportunity. Adam Zubek, Greg Moss, and Alan Harden have been meeting with all of the club committees to provide an update on the Campus Plans and the Bridge Bond opportunity. The member update is behind schedule, as the third party who is assisting with the communication is behind schedule.
Board Policy and Rules Amendments:
The board approved an amendment to the rules of the club that aims to better equip staff to uphold the rules of the club. This amendment, along with a more thorough review of the rules of the club will take place in the coming months with the goal of finding the right balance for all members.
New Business
- Directors were requested to send the GM/COO and the Senior Leadership Team all agenda materials in advance of the committee. Management will prepare the proper supporting materials to share with the committees in advance of the meeting.
- A discussion was held around the conduct of specific members and their behavior at the club. The result of this conversation was that Greg Moss and Adam Zubek would handle any follow up related to this matter.
Membership
- Larry and Wendy Barels were approved by the Board for Equity membership.
- Michelle Torres and Justing Geller were approved for Social Clubhouse membership.
Presentation by Kevin Carroll
- Kevin Carroll from the McMahon group gave a presentation on trends in the club industry. At the end of the presentation, the Board and Mr. Carroll had a discussion on the steps LCCC can take to update Mission, Vision and Values and how the entire membership can be engaged. The McMahon group specializes in member engagement work and Long-Range Planning.
La Cumbre Club Benchmarking Updates
Dear Members, Subject: Club Initiatives & Financial Updates I’d like to take a moment to update you on the work being done by the Board, our committees, and our management team to ensure La Cumbre’s long-term success. Committee Engagement & Financial Planning This Wednesday, committee members participated in an All-Committee Orientation led by Adam and his team. This marks the second year of this initiative, designed to strengthen collaboration with our management team and alignment across all committees. It was so good to hear from each department head about the work they do and the goals they have for their area of the club. It was truly an impressive presentation, and we are lucky to have this talented staff. I encourage members to get to know these leaders. Link to staff here . We recognize that many members have concerns about the club’s financial position. The Board, Adam, and I remain laser-focused on providing clarity—starting with our year-end 2024 financials and the development of a long-term capital funding plan. These challenges were not created overnight, and they will not be solved overnight, but we are actively finalizing financials and planning the next steps to position La Cumbre for a strong future. As I noted in my early January communication, a Capital Planning Task Force was formed to evaluate funding strategies. As part of this review, this week, our Asset Reserve Study was updated by Club Benchmarking, and the results are expected to be finalized in the next 8-10 weeks. Key Updates on Club Initiatives Capital Planning Task Force – Formed in mid-January, this group (Kevin Newman, Dan McGuire, and Rick Nightingale) has been developing a proposal that will be reviewed by Adam, our new Director of Finance, and me this week. We anticipate presenting it at the February Board meeting and rolling it out to members in early April. Clubhouse Renovation – Committee chairs and our contractor are finalizing detailed quotes for necessary repairs and improvements, with details expected to be shared with members by the end of March. Financial Leadership – Our new Director of Finance, Homer Allbritton, started on February 18th. His expertise will be instrumental in enhancing La Cumbre’s financial reporting, ensuring clarity for management, the Board, and members. Year-End Financials & Budget – The 2024 financials will be reviewed at the February Board meeting and posted on our website as soon as the audit is complete and our audit committee has approved them. The 2025 operating budget is also undergoing final refinements before Board review. Strategic Pillars & Club Development To ensure La Cumbre’s long-term success, we remain committed to our four strategic pillars: Member Experience – The member satisfaction survey was sent out last week. Once results are compiled, we will analyze feedback and identify areas for improvement. Employee Recruitment and Development – The hiring of Homer Allbritton is a key step toward professionalizing financial reporting, ensuring a clear understanding of the club’s financial strengths and obligations. Financial Responsibility – Our top priority is financial clarity and accountability. Now that Homer is on board, the Board will appoint a Treasurer and begin convening the Finance Committee in March. Governance, Environment & Sustainability – The Governance Committee met this week and began its work on these priorities: Aligning by-laws and policies with best practices and California corporate governance standards. Establishing a GM evaluation framework for consistency and accountability. Launching a Leadership & Nominations Committee to develop a Board skills matrix and engage talented members as future leaders. Member Engagement & Moving Forward Adam and I held a Coffee Talk on February 14th, where we had a productive conversation with about 15 members. Great questions were raised, and we had an open dialogue about club issues. We plan to continue these monthly Coffee Talks as an opportunity for direct member engagement—please join us for the next one on February 28th at 9:00 am! Link to RSVP here . Additionally, neither the Board, Adam, nor I will respond to anonymous communications. We welcome and encourage open, respectful dialogue and constructive feedback from all members—our goal is to work together to solve challenges. Thank you for being part of this journey. Sincerely, Tracy Jenkins President, La Cumbre Country Club
Why We Need Sound Governance
