News from the President - 1/28/25

Jan 28, 2025

Dear Members, 


In an effort to keep everyone informed about the Board’s work and activities, I am pleased to provide the following update. Please take a moment to grab a drink and settle in for this detailed overview of recent progress and plans for the future. 


Board Orientation and Strategic Focus 
On January 16, 2025, the Board participated in an all-day orientation. This session included a review of governance best practices, a discussion of the Club’s four strategic pillars, and a comprehensive campus tour with presentations from each department lead. 

The Board's work will be guided this year by the following four strategic pillars: 

  1. Member Experience 
  2. People (Staff and Management) 
  3. Financial Stewardship (including capital maintenance and improvement) 
  4. Governance Best Practices 

This orientation helped Directors have a deeper understanding of the current issues the Club is facing and the investments required to ensure its long-term physical and financial health. 


Board Policy Manual (BPM) and Governance Seminar 
To enhance clarity and consistency in governance, we introduced a Board Policy Manual (BPM). Each Director has reviewed it and provided input, and the manual is slated for adoption at our upcoming January 29, 2025 board meeting. The BPM, once adopted, will be available on the website for all members to reference. 

In addition, Directors were asked to watch a three-hour seminar on Club Governance. The seminar is linked  HERE, and I encourage all members to explore it, even in smaller increments, as it provides valuable insights into governance best practices. 


Formation of the Governance Committee 
We have created a Governance Committee, led by Roberta Collier, as representative to the Board. This committee will focus on: 

  • By-law revisions 
  • Board Policies (BPM) 
  • Leadership Development (identifying and mentoring future Board members) 
  • Establishing a fair, consistent evaluation process for the General Manager 


Committee Assignments and Structure 
Committee assignments are being finalized. The Board will review committee charters, member participants, and committee goals at our January 29th meeting. Updates will be shared with members afterward. 


In 2025, we are implementing a committee structure which reflects governance best practices. Committees will be categorized as follows: 


Board Committees: Finance, Governance, Membership, Renovation, and Traditions & Standards. Chaired by Board members or designees. 

Operations Committees:
 Golf, Greens, Member Experience. Chaired by respective department heads (e.g., Golf Committee/Mark Thirtle and Green Committee/Lauren Lasocha), with Board representatives engaging member input. 


Finance Committee Update 
Currently, we do not have a full-time controller or a finance chair. To address this, we have hired a contract accountant to finalize the 2024 books and are in the process of hiring a controller. We are working to appoint a 
Director to serve the one-year term vacated by Alan Harden to oversee the Finance Committee. We anticipate appointing someone to this role by the end of February, with Finance Committee meetings resuming shortly thereafter. In the meantime, budget preparations are underway, and approved documents will be available on our website. 

The Finance chair will focus on two critical initiatives: 

  1. Refining the golf course funding model 
  2. Analyze reserve study to determine capital dues for mid-year implementation 


Renovation Committee Update 
The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to carrying out only the necessary renovations and repairs that can be fully funded by the member Assessment contributions. 

Once we have a clear understanding of the required fixes and the associated costs, we will present the membership with potential options for enhancements using any remaining funds. Our goal is to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout this process. 

We anticipate sharing this detailed information with members by the end of Q1 or early Q2. 


Board Goals and Communication 
I have asked each Director to provide me the top 3 goals they feel the Board needs to accomplish in 2025. These goals will be prioritized and aligned with the four strategic pillars during the Board’s January 29th meeting. I plan to share the priorities and provide regular updates on progress made throughout my term. 

I also welcome your input—please email me at tracy_volunteer@lacumbrecc.org with your priorities or suggestions. (Note: The Club website previously listed my email incorrectly, so if you emailed me over the past several months, I may not have received it.) 


Improved Board Operations 
To enhance efficiency and professionalism, all directors now have access to a Board portal for essential documents. In addition, Directors will soon receive La Cumbre-specific email addresses (such as mine), creating a streamlined approach to communication between and with the Board. Approved Board minutes will also be available to all members under governance => Board of Directors. 


Closing Thoughts 
Thank you for your thoughtful care and engagement with our wonderful Club. I look forward to providing further updates and working together to make 2025 a successful and enjoyable year for all. 

Warm regards, 


Tracy Jenkins
President, La Cumbre Country Club 

By La Cumbre CC July 7, 2025
Governance Committee Update
By La Cumbre CC July 7, 2025
Dear La Cumbre Members, Next week, the Board will be meeting to tackle the important topic of how to fund our capital needs moving forward. As part of this due diligence, we had received an expression of interest regarding the purchase of the Club. To better understand the optionality, the Board has had additional conversations with other interested parties. The Board is actively engaged in long-range financial planning to ensure that we can sustain and elevate the Club for generations to come. As part of this process, we are exploring a wide range of funding options to support the significant capital investments our Club will need over the coming years. This includes traditional approaches like capital dues, transfer fees, assessments, and loans. In the spirit of good governance and due diligence, the Board is also gathering information about alternative funding avenues, including outside capital interest. To be clear: No decisions have been made No offers are under consideration The Board has not authorized any action toward selling the Club What has occurred are preliminary, exploratory conversations intended to fully understand what options may exist. This process is about building knowledge so that if we need to make major financial decisions in the future, we do so from a well-informed position, always with the best interest of the membership and the long-term health of the Club in mind. We understand that seeing outside individuals on the property may have raised questions, and we regret any confusion this may have caused. Our commitment remains: Transparency with our members Adherence to sound governance principles A deliberate, member-centered process We will continue to keep you informed as these discussions evolve. There will be no path forward on any major initiative without full Board consideration and member engagement. Thank you for your understanding and for your ongoing dedication to the La Cumbre community. Tracy Jenkins President, Board of Director sLa Cumbre Country Club
By La Cumbre CC May 12, 2025
Dear Members, Thank you to all who attended the recent Town Hall and Golf Course Project update meetings. Your participation and thoughtful engagement are essential as the board, management, and our committees strive to better understand how we plan for the future of La Cumbre. Over the next 45 days, the Board, Club Management, and the Finance Committee will be developing financial models that reflect the full scope of our campus-wide capital needs. These models will help inform project timing, prioritization, and funding strategies—including potential borrowing. As a reminder, any borrowing the Board recommends which exceeds $500,000 will require a member vote. In late June, the Board will hold a two-day planning retreat to review these options and map out a clear, disciplined path forward. We are committed to keeping members informed and equipped to make thoughtful decisions. We anticipate holding additional member forums to provide the needed context on these matters later this summer. If you were unable to attend the Town Hall, a recording is available HERE . We also encourage members to explore the Governance section of the member website, where you’ll find meeting minutes from all Board and committee meetings. Click the image below or HERE to view our Q1 2025 Update. Please continue to reach out with your questions, comments, and ideas. We deeply value your feedback as we work together to steward the long-term health and vitality of the Club. Warm regards, Tracy Jenkins President, Board of Directors La Cumbre Country Club
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