Tahoe Donner News - April 2012

APRIL

Table of Contents

11 17

26

FEATURES

17 Getting the Group Together Group offerings

26 Fifth Annual Snowman Contest Announcing the winner

DEPARTMENTS

02 President’s Message Membership update

03 Monthly Calendar Something for everyone

10 Let’s Get Together TD events & happenings

23 Bulletin Board Building or making additions

30 Taking Care of Business Board meeting minutes

32 Where in the World is TD News? TD News travels the world

TAKE NOTE

03 Alex Herrera On the cover

04 Major Projects Cross Country/Equestrian Center conceptual plan

06 Important Member Info Annual notices

08 Election Procedures Seeking candidates

11 Getting Ready for Summer Recreation fee & boat and trailer storage

Photo Credit: Nina Miller · focusphotoTahoe

WELCOMEVOL. 13, NO. 4APRIL 2012

EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION STAFF

Amanda BirchenoughBrittany FeltonAmanda Wallace Kirt Zimmer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Suzan Knisley, [email protected]

Vice President Tom Johns, [email protected]

Secretary Steve Miller, [email protected]

Treasurer Ron Wulff, [email protected]

Director Jay Lempinen, [email protected]

Board of Directors [email protected]

Postmaster Send address changes to Tahoe Donner News, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161(530) 587-9400, Fax (530) 587-9419

Email [email protected]

Advertising Sales Tahoe Guide is the exclusive advertising representative for the Tahoe Donner News. Call (530) 448-3065 or (530) 587-1393

Publishing InformationTahoe Donner Association holds the exclusive service mark right to “Tahoe Donner.” Any unauthorized use of such will be regarded as an infringement of that service mark right and is prohibited. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorse-ment or recommendation by Tahoe Donner Association or its board of directors of the products, services, or views contained therein.Tahoe Donner News (ISSN 1550-6061) is the official monthly publication of Tahoe Donner Association, which is located at 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161.

Each membership parcel receives one sub-scription to a domestic address. Additional subscriptions are available at the cost of $25 each. Cost to produce and distribute this publication is offset by advertising revenues. Periodicals Postage Paid at Truckee, CA, and additional mailing offices. Member letters to Tahoe Donner are published in the Members section of tahoedonner.com, where publishing guidelines are available.

SUZY KNISLEY | PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

On March 7, Tahoe Donner members, staff, the board of directors and guests - including John and Robert Euer and the press - attended the official ribbon cutting event to formally open up the Euer Valley. It was a great celebra-tion followed by a reception and skiers happily heading off to the groomed trails. Fortunately, we have been enjoying the benefits of new snow recently on our trails system and down-hill ski area.

It has been a challenging start to the year financially because of the lack of snow. The association relies heavily on the positive net operating results from our downhill and cross country ski operations to help offset net operating result losses at other amenities. The good news is that both of those ski centers are still making an income due to the extra effort of our staff to move snow around and manage the areas well. As we look at the budget for 2012 and the possible shortfalls, the board, committees and staff will soon need to address our largest budgeted shortfall and largest amenity loss: golf operations. In past years when The Lodge was losing close to $500,000, the board and staff addressed the problem and created an action plan that successfully brought The Lodge close to breaking even with the goal of making a profit. It is now time to address the loss of the golf operations for the association.

It is important that we maintain all of our amenities in optimal condition to preserve member equity in our association that reflects property values for all members, including the care and maintenance of our golf course. However, in the past four years, golf opera-tions have lost on average $300,000 each year for a total of 1.2 million dollars during that time to the association. That cost to make up the budget difference is passed to the members in your association dues. The demographics of our members have been changing and while golf is on a downhill trend, other activities are

on the upswing - especially Trout Creek and our open space trail system for hiking, skiing and other activities. The association needs to address the trends and demands of all of our members. Reducing the loss to golf operations to a reasonable amount would allow the asso-ciation to make a very big difference to many of our other amenities that are enjoyed by the majority of our members.

We have made effective cost savings gains in the golf operation, without sacrificing service and course quality. We must now also address the revenue sources. While approxi-mately 30% of our owners play our golf course, about 2% of our members enjoy the benefits of a golf season pass, which is an average cost for all season golf pass holders of $26 per round of golf. The season golf pass holders generate 24% of the greens fee revenue but take up 39% of the rounds, including prime tee times. If a season pass holder played most days in the season, the average could be as low as $10 per round. The daily players pay for the majority of the greens fee revenues, generating 72% of revenue with 58% of the rounds. It is overly optimistic in this economy to expect the golf operations to break even, but it would be financially prudent to make a budget plan to trend towards less of a loss each year. It is very important to continue the current level of golf course capital improvements, as that invest-

(Continued on pg.5)

TahoeDonner.com | 3

AprilWii NightSundays, 6:30 – 8 p.m.Test your skills on the 150-inch screen! Enjoy a pizza from Pizza on the Hill while challenging competitors in Wii tennis, baseball, golf, bowling, Mario Kart and much more. Free!@ Northwoods Clubhouse

Trivia Night Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m.Join in the fun at Trivia Night. Enjoy a pizza from Pizza on the

and win cool prizes. Free! @ Northwoods Clubhouse

Family Movie Night Fridays, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Bring your favorite pillow and blanket, kick your feet up, and enjoy both classic and new G and PG rated movies. Free! @ Northwoods Clubhouse

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

8 APRIL

Easter EggstravaganzaSunday, April 8 11 a.m. – 2 pm. @ The Lodge

Join in the fun games, live entertainment, Easter bunny visit and our most popular

of eggs – some with special golden tickets – for the kiddies to find.

15 APRIL

Downhill DummySunday, April 15 (conditions permitting) 3 – 5 p.m. @ Downhill Ski Area

Enjoy food and beverage specials, bounce house, local ski and board shop exhibits, plus the popular Boxing Match Rail Jam and traditional Downhill Dummy event.

2 APRIL

Interested in being a member of the Board of Directors? Candidacy Applications AvailableMonday, April 2@ Northwoods Clubhouse

Candidacy Applications will be available -

ested will have from April 2 until the May 1 deadline to submit an application for candidacy. See page 8 for more details.

17 – 19 APRIL

Trout Creek Recreation CenterClosed for Spring CleaningTuesday – Thursday, April 17 – 19

NEW! ON THE COVER

Tahoe Donner homeowner Alex Herrera is pictured with a burger at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub. Although his favorite meal at The Lodge is the fish tacos, Alex says the burgers are hard to turn down. The Herrera family moved to Tahoe Donner from the Bay Area in 2003. Alex’s wife, Nancy, and their two daughters Mia, 11, and Talia, 9, love living in Tahoe and enjoy spending time at the Beach Club Marina and Trout Creek Recreation Center. They also love to ski, ride bikes and run on the trails. When asked about his favorite time of year, Alex replied, “Pretty much all the time. It’s hard to find a good reason to ever leave Tahoe!”

April is burger month at The Lodge. We hope you will stop by to check it out. For more info, see page 15.

CLOSED

4 | Tahoe Donner News | April 2012

Tahoe Donner hosted town hall meetings in March to solicit member feedback on appropriate uses for the newly-acquired Euer Valley and on a conceptual plan for a new Cross Country Skiing and Equestrian Center. Staff explained the site map shown here in terms of proposed activities and the rationale behind the physical layout. The board of directors continues to invite member feedback on both of these issues, to inform their future decisions. Comments on the Cross Country/Equestrian Center conceptual plan can be directed to [email protected]. Of course, members are also always

invited to attend board meetings and share their thoughts in person. Keep an eye on the Major Projects tab under the Members section of TahoeDonner.com for future updates. If you haven’t already signed up for Member News email updates, you can do so by hitting the “subscribe” button on the upper right corner of any page on the site and filling out the form.

TahoeDonner.com | 5

.detarepo & denwo yltnednepedni si ecffio hcaE .ytlaeR ecioB smailliW relleK htiw detailffiA*Statistics are based on TSBOR MLS data for Tahoe Donner Single Family Homes.

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TAHOE DONNER CONTACTS

Member Communications (area code 530) Member Services 587-9400 [email protected]

General Manager 587-9431 [email protected]

Contact Member Services to be transferred to other administrative departments.

AmenitiesAlder Creek Campground 587-9462 [email protected]

Beach Club Marina 587-9460 [email protected]

Cross Country Center 587-9484 [email protected]

Downhill Ski Area 587-9444 [email protected]

Equestrian Center 587-9470 [email protected]

Forestry 587-9432 [email protected]

Golf Course 587-9443 [email protected]

The Lodge 587-9455 [email protected]

Pizza On The Hill 582-9669 [email protected]

Recreation Info Hut 587-9413 [email protected]

Tennis Center 587-9474 [email protected]

Trout Creek Rec. Center 587-9437 [email protected]

Tahoe Donner Association Committee ChairsArchitectural Standards, Jason Wooley [email protected]

Covenants, Al Noyes [email protected]

Elections, Nan Carnal [email protected] Finance, Jeff Bonzon [email protected]

General Plan, Dick Gander [email protected]

Tahoe Donner Association Chartered Club PresidentsBridge, Sharilyn Nelson [email protected]

Friends of TD Trails, B.R. Levine [email protected]

Rowing Club, Dot Mace [email protected]

Senior Alpine Ski, Jeff Bonzon [email protected]

Tahoe Donner Green, Sue Sorensen [email protected]

Tennis, Linda Stewart [email protected]

Nordic Ski Club, Carol Ozimek [email protected]

9-Holers, Hilary Ward [email protected]

Mens Golf, Ralph Schindler [email protected]’s Golf, Denise Kosak [email protected]

Hiking Club, Robin Reese [email protected]

Quilt Club, Linda Brush [email protected]

ment benefits all of the membership, which is a separate additional budget item (capital improvements budget) than the golf operations budget. The complete 2012 Budget Report can be found at tahoedonner.com/financials/publications-archive/ .

There is much discussion on the many uses available to members for the first time in the summer months of our newly acquired Euer Valley, and the board wants your feedback and opinions before we set policy. Importantly, the board held a series of workshops for member input on uses in the Euer Valley. More information is available in the Members section on the TD web site. Please take time to look it over and send your opinions to [email protected].

In closing, I wish to compliment our general manager, Robb Etnyre, and Mike Salmon, our director of finance, and our staff for the excellent management performance keeping us within our budget for the year - especially considering the challenges due to the slow winter season.

WELCOME (continued from pg. 2)


Proposed Amendments to the Fire Safety and Forest Health Covenants Rules

Fire Safety. Owners of lots (both improved and unimproved) are responsible for the maintenance of their lots in a fire-safe condition. Fire-safe condition includes the removal of nuisance firewood includ-ing but not limited to old, unused or decomposed wood. No campfires, bonfires, or fireworks of any kind are allowed on private lots, common areas, or other association-owned properties at any time. Commercially manufactured gas and charcoal barbeques, smokers, and commercially manufactured fire burning devices, such as outdoor fireplaces and chimineas, equipped with screening and/or spark arrestors, with a maximum screen opening of an eigth of an inch, to prevent the escape of sparks and coals, and operated in compliance with the Town of Truckee and the Truckee Fire District’s safety and building codes, and according to the manufacturers instructions, on private property lots only, will be allowed. Property owners wanting to build their own permanent barbeques or other outdoor fire burning devices equipped with electricity or gas, must obtain the appropriate Town of Truckee building and plumbing permits and build to the Town’s building codes. The appearance, design and location must be approved by the Tahoe Donner ASC if any part of the permanent structure is over 3 feet high. The burning of yard debris is allowed, only after obtaining a permit from the Truckee Fire District, on permissive burn days as determined by the Fire District, from late fall depending on weather conditions, until no later than December 31. The first violation of these rules will result in a hearing. C&RS Article VIII, Section 1(a)(iv).

Dumping Ashen Materials. No person shall dispose of charcoal briquettes or ashen material of any kind on any portion of a lot, if such creates a risk of fire or an unsightly condition.

100-foot Defensible Space around Structures. Property owners are responsible to maintain a defensible space zone for a distance of 100 feet (or to their property line) from all structures, including decks.

100-foot Defensible Space from Property Lines. Property own-ers of all lots are responsible to maintain a defensible space zone for a distance of 100 feet from all property lines.

Roofs Free of Dead Vegetation. Property owners are responsible to maintain all roofs of any structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.

10-foot Clearance from Chimney or Stovepipe. Property owners are responsible to remove any portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe.

10-foot Clearance from Propane Tank. Property owners are responsible to remove any vegetation within 10’ of a propane tank; this includes trees and brush.

Forest Health. Owners of lots (both improved and unimproved) are responsible for the maintenance of their lots, including the general health of the forest. TDA has a state-certified forester on its staff who is the responsibile for of determining what conditions are conducive to the health of the forest. Owners are prohibited from permanently attaching anything to trees without first obtaining written permission from the Forestry Department. After making on-site inspections, the TDA Forester may determine that individual trees require removal, and/or that brush thinning may be required. Notice to remove such trees and/or brush, indicating a compliance date, will be sent to owners. Failure to remove such trees and/or brush prior to the stated compli-ance date will constitute a violation of the Association Rules. Fines for such violations will accrue until the trees and/or brush are removed. C&RS Article VII, Section 2; Article VIII, Sections (a) & (l).

45 Day Notice Height Restriction Rule of the Architectural Standards Rules, Procedures & Restrictionsfor Land Use Amendments

The Governing Documents Restated Covenants & Restrictions Arti-cle X, Section 2 (b) states: No structure or improvement shall be con-structed on any residence lot having a height of more than two stories;

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Please read the posted IMPORTANT MEMBER NOTICES found here.

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provided, however, that the height of the structure or improvement may exceed two stories if permissible by law and if the Environmental Control Committee determines that the proposed height is compatible with the physical site involved and adjourning properties; provided the total height of the structure shall in no event exceed 35 feet measured from the building’s mid-point on the downslope.

The current Height Restriction rule of the Architectural Standards Rules, Procedures & Restrictions for Land Use states: Height Restric-tions: All structures must comply with the Town of Truckee height requirements.

The current Restriction Rule under the Architectural Standards Rules is in conflict with the Governing Documents Restated Covenants & Restrictions Article X, Section 2 (b). To eliminate this conflict, we are amending by act of deletion the Height Restriction rule under the Architectural Standards Rules

Your comments are welcome via email: [email protected], telephone: (530) 587-9630, or US Mail: Tahoe Donner Association, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161

45 Day Notice Fire Safety, Defensible Space, & Forest Health Covenants Rule Amendments

In December 2004, the California Legislature passed a legislative amendment to the Public Resources Code (PCR) 4291 (b), authorized under Senate Bill (SB) 1369 of 0f 2004 requiring the Board of For-estry develop and promulgate implementation of PCR 4291 (b), which changed the requirement for personal property defensible space measurements from 30 feet distance from a structure requirement to 100 feet from a structure. The Forestry Department was aware of this change and began enforcing the new code immediately; however, the Covenants Rules were not amended to support the new requirements. The current Covenants Rules mandate that personal properties must maintain a fire safe lot with a defensible space of 30 feet from the struc-ture and property line, thus to be in line with Resources Code 4291 (b), the Covenants Rule as it relates to forestry must be amended. Addi-tionally, staff is proposing some de minimis changes to other language in the rules in order to provide clarification for homeowners and the Forestry Department when enforcing the Forestry Covenants Rules.

Your comments are welcome via email: [email protected], telephone: (530) 587-9630, or US Mail: Tahoe Donner Association, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161.

Ta s t e . Savo r . Enj o y

Mark your calendar for the 38th

annual Wine & Restaurant Faire, and dream of letting your taste

buds go wild.

Tickets will be on sale, starting in May, at Dickson Realty, Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Truckee Physical Therapy, and on the day at the door.

For more information please contact Sandy Horn at 530.412.0449.

Presented by Soroptimist International of Truckee-Donner

Live & Silent Auctions • • Wine and Beer TastingLive Music • • Souvenir Wine Glass

Culinary Delights Prepared by Area Restaurants and Caterers

Soroptimist Wine & Restaurant Faire Fundraiser

Saturday June 2nd

5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Coyote Moon Golf Course10685 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA

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Please read the posted IMPORTANT MEMBER NOTICES found here.


IMPORTANT!2012 ANNUAL DIRECTOR WRITTEN BALLOT ELECTION PROCEDURES

45 Day Notice 2012 Annual Director Written Ballot Election Procedures

As the 2012 Annual Election of Directors approaches, what follows on pg. 8 are the proposed procedures for this year’s election. The board of directors is expected to take action to adopt these procedures, as they are presented here or with some modification, at its May meet-ing, currently scheduled for Saturday, May 19. The board welcomes any input you may wish to offer regarding this process. Your comments are welcome via email: [email protected], telephone: (530) 587-9431, fax: (530) 587-9419 or US Mail: Tahoe Donner Association 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA. 96161

If you are considering running for the open director’s position on the board, please note that according to the proposed Elections Procedures, applications are available from Member Services on April 2, 2012 (or by requesting an application from the Executive Assistant at (530) 587-9431). Completed applications are due May 1, 2012 by 4 p.m.

FEBRUARY 25Proposed election procedures approved by board of directors for pub-

lication to members for comment. board of directors establishes May 1, 2012 as the Record Date for this election, appoints Inspector of Elec-tion, Accountancy (subject to ratification by Inspector), and Elections Committee Member(s). The Inspector of Election may be a member of the Association and may be currently providing other services to the association, but may not be a member of the board or a candidate, or related to a member of the board or a candidate. The Inspector of Elec-tion may appoint and oversee additional persons to verify signatures and to count and tabulate votes, provided that the persons are indepen-dent third parties.

MARCHAlong with their March statement of account, owners with outstand-

ing amounts due the association are sent notice of the pending suspen-sion of their voting rights by board action on April 21, 2012, to become effective as of May 1, unless full payment is received by May 1. Owners are also advised of their right to a hearing before the board regarding the suspension. Such request must be received by April 20, 2012, and the hearing would be held on April 21, 2012.

APRIL2Candidacy Applications available in Member Services office.

As provided in Article VII, Section 2, of the Restated Bylaws, candi-dates for election to the board must satisfy the following qualifications:• Be an owner of at least a 24 percent interest in a Separate

Interest (residential property) within Tahoe Donner;• Be in good standing with the association, which means that all

assessments with respect to all Separate Interests owned have been paid current and the candidate is not subject to any suspension of membership privileges;• No candidate is eligible if a co-owner (another holding an interest

in a property of the candidate) will be serving on the board at the same time as the candidate;• No employee of the association shall be eligible to serve on the

board; and• No owner can serve for more than two elected consecutive terms

of office. No owner can serve for more than two elected consecutive terms of office.

APRIL 21Board of directors approves the pending suspension of member-

ship rights for failure to pay outstanding amounts due the association (assessments/fines/etc.) or for failure to comply with a duly issued corrective-action requirement.

MAY 1Record Date for determining owners entitled to receive notice of the

election and to vote therein based upon their good standing with the association. Owners whose voting rights are suspended are so advised by notice with their May statement of account. Property (ownership) transfers processed by the association after this date will not affect the ownership roll for purposes of this election.

Close of Nominations: Application for Candidacy, proof of owner-ship (copy of recorded deed), and Conflict of Interest Statement, must be received from interested members at the Member Services office no later than 4 p.m. No electronically transmitted (facsimile, e-mail, etc.) applications will be accepted, except for those transmitted via e-mail in a “.pdf” format.

The Elections Committee chairperson and staff meet to document those applications received by this close of nominations. While the association will endeavor to provide a confirmation of receipt, it is the responsibility of each candidate to ensure that their application materi-als are timely received.

MAY 2Elections Committee and staff meet to verify the eligibility of those

candidates whose applications were timely received, and candidates are advised as to their qualifications to run.

Candidates are invited to submit a Candidate’s Statement (not to exceed both sides of a single 8-½ by 11 inch sheet), which will be mailed, as submitted, to the membership along with the election ballot. Candidate’s Statements shall only be reviewed for compliance with the size limitation—no review of content shall be performed, and the asso-ciation shall not be liable for their content. If any statement received fails to comply with the size limitation, the author is advised that such statements will not be accepted.

The board may, but is not required to, make association media avail-able to qualified candidate’s running for election to the board for pur-poses that are reasonably related to the election in which that candidate is running. If the board allows any candidate access to association media, then all qualified candidates shall be allowed equal access to the same media.

MAY 9Candidate’s Statements must be received from interested owners

at the Member Services office no later than 4 p.m. No electronically (Continued on pg. 28)

TahoeDonner.com | 9

Exceptional Results. And More.

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LET’S TOGETHER

We celebrate Easter this month with a fabulous brunch and egg hunt for

the kids at the Lodge Restaurant & Pub. We carve our last turns in soft

snow and warm sunshine. We also start looking ahead to spring and what

lies ahead – including what we hope will be an early golf season. April is a

good month to spend time with family, take a few deep breaths and start

thinking about all the great outdoor adventures in Tahoe Donner that are

just around the corner!

TahoeDonner.com | 11

PRIVATE AMENITY

TROUT CREEK

REC CENTER

PUBLIC AMENITY

TAHOE DONNER

GOLF COURSE

BEAT THE HEAT

TAHOE DONNER

AQUATICSBEAT THE HEAT

TAHOE DONNER

LIFEGUARDSRENTALS & REPAIR

S

TAHOE DONNER

BIKEWORKS

PRIVATE AMENITY

BEACH CLUB

MARINA

PRIVATE AMENITY

TENNIS

CENTER

TAHOE DONNER

SPECIAL EVENT

PUBLIC AMENITY

TAHOE DONNER

EQUESTRIAN CENTER

PUBLIC AMENITY

TAHOE DONNER

DOWNHILL SKI AREA

PUBLIC AMENITY

TAHOE DONNER

CROSS COUNTRY

PUBLIC AMENITY

ALDER CREEK

CAMPGROUND

PRIVATE AMENITYNORTHWOODS

POOL

PUBLIC AMENITY

TAHOE DONNER

SNOWPLAY

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

TAHOE DONNER

RECREATION

SHARE INTERESTS

MEET TD MEMBERS

JOIN A CLUB

Friday Family Movie Night at Northwoods Clubhouse

Enjoy either a classic or new movie starting at 6:30 p.m. every Friday. Movies in this series are rated G and PG.

Here is this month’s Family Movie schedule:

April 6 Flushed AwayApril 13 Herbie: Fully LoadedApril 20 ValiantApril 27 Bambi

For more information, please contact Trout Creek Recreation Center at (530) 587-9437.

Kids Night Out at Northwoods Clubhouse 5 - 9 p.m. Friday, April 6

Kids 4 – 9 years old are invited to join in the fun with crafts, dinner, a movie as well as cookies and milk. This month’s featured film is Flushed Away. Registration must be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling (530) 582-9646. Cost: $15 per child.

Full Moon Snowshoe – April 6Join us for a fun guided snowshoe hike from

7:30 – 9 p.m. on Friday, April 6. We suggest participants dress in layers, bring a hat and gloves, headlamp or flashlight, and water. We will serve hot chocolate. Meet at Trout Creek Recreation Center and we will caravan to our hiking destination. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance by calling (530) 587-9437. Cost of the hike is $7.50 with your own equipment, or $15 with snowshoe rental.

Wii Night at Pizza on the Hill in Northwoods Clubhouse

Play a friendly game of Wii on the big screen each Sunday from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

GET READY FOR SUMMER

Recreation Fee for 2012 – 13

The optional $225 Recreation Fee for the year 2012-13 takes effect on May 1, 2012. If you decide not to pay this optional fee, you will be charged a daily-use fee of $6 to enter Trout Creek Recreation Center, Tennis Center and Beach Club Marina. The Northwoods Pool daily-use fee is $4. May is also the time to renew any pur-chased ID cards that you might have on your property and to make changes in your membership.

Boat & Trailer Storage

The Tahoe Donner boat and trailer storage area will become available to members beginning May 1, 2012, weather permitting. Only one space is available per property and is offered to members only. Before a space will be assigned, a copy of current/valid reg-istration and a certificate of insurance naming Tahoe Donner as certificate holder, showing the name and address of the insured with limits of liability of at least $300,000 combined single limit, must be presented to the Member Services office. Owners are required to complete an application form for the 2012 season and payment must be made before the vehicle/trailer can physically be stored at the facility. There are 47 spaces for the storage of licensed boats, trailers and motor homes maximum of 30 feet in length.If there are more than 47 applications on April 30, a lottery will be held to deter-mine who will get the spaces. The fee for the season (May 1 to September 30, weather permitting) is $250. Applica-tions are available in the Member Ser-vices office and at tahoedonner.com.

Thursday Night TriviaTest your trivia skills from local history

to current events. The topics change every week! You never know what questions are going to be featured. Trivia is from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and the winner receives a certificate for a free pizza!

Easter Eggstravaganza – April 8Plan to bring your kids to the annual Easter

Eggstravaganza from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Lodge. Join in the fun games, live entertain-ment, Easter bunny visit and our most popu-lar egg hunt. We are busy stuffing thousands of eggs – some with special golden tickets – for the kiddies to find. Hope to see you there!

We welcome April and hope there’s still lots of Snowplay fun for your family! Come play with us April 13 in the glow in the dark night sledding session until 6:30 p.m. Each tuber will get a glow stick and lights to slide with. Check out our new target practice signs as you spin down the tubing lane. Win a special prize if you can splat your snow on the bull’s-eye!

Catch you out in the sunshine!MARIAH MCCLOSKEY RECREATION COORDINATOR

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Sledding and TubingDuring April, Snowplay is open from 1:30 –

4:30 p.m. on Fridays and from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. We will have a special night sledding session on Friday, April 13, and stay open until 6:30 p.m. Our tentative closing day is Sunday, April 15.

*NEW* Snowshoe RentalsFeel like getting a great workout and explor-

ing Tahoe Donner on foot? Snowplay now offers snowshoe rentals for $7.50 per hour or $15 for two hours. It’s a great activity for kids and beginners!


Let’s see what April brings as far as snow coverage. It looks like the snow is coming in now, and hopefully it will give us some real spring conditions. There is nothing like the wild puppy syndrome, crust skiing off track or flying down the valley with the wind at your back and the sun shining. Let’s try to get as many skiing days as we can in April! Our target closing date is April 15. See you out on the tracks!JOJO TOEPPNER | TDXC MANAGER

It’s been a challenging winter, but with snow conditions permitting, the Tahoe Don-ner Downhill Ski Area will be open through April 15 for skiing and riding. Come join us for some spring fun on the slopes and take advan-tage of our mid-week specials which include Parents Day, Wacky Wednesdays and Locals Thursdays. Find and like us on Facebook and Twitter to get more details.

Visit our retail locations in the Rental Shop and Ticket Office. All outerwear, clothing, helmets and most accessories will be 40 percent off during April. Soak up some rays in our comfy chairs on the deck while you enjoy a hot chocolate or beverage from the bar. Visit our cafeteria and take advantage of one of our daily lunch specials or try one of our famous breakfast burritos. Snowflakes Ski School for

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Tahoe Donner Couples Golf Tournaments

There are four couples tournaments during the summer. These are open to all Tahoe Don-ner residents and their guests. Friendly games are scheduled to encourage fun participation of all skill levels. Entry fee is $20 per couple beyond the regular green fees. Two mulligans per couple are part of the tournament entry fee.

Special Glow Stick Night Sledding

The second Friday of every month, the Snowplay Area is open late for night sledding and tubing until 6:30 p.m. We’ll have night sledding on Friday, April 13, conditions permitting.

Please note ALL ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT. Please visit tahoedonner.com for the latest updates.

3-6 year olds as well as private and group les-sons will be available daily.

April’s big event is the annual Downhill Dummy Contest and Rail Jam. Join us on Sunday, April 15, for the annual end of season bash! Enjoy food and beverage specials, bounce house, local ski and board shop exhibits, plus the popular Boxing Match Rail Jam and traditional Downhill Dummy event. Teams build unique dummies to send sliding down the hill and off a massive jump. This year’s theme is movie characters. Visit the website for rules and more information. Prizes will be awarded for best design, best air and best crash. You can also get full-day lift tickets at half-day rates. Events are weather depen-dent and subject to cancellation. Please call (530) 587-9444 ext. 0 for more information. See you on the slopes! ROBERT MCCLENDONDOWNHILL SKI AREA MANAGER


Tournaments are set for the following dates with 1 p.m. shotgun starts:

Monday, June 25Sunday, July 22Monday, August 20Sunday, September 9

All Couples Tournaments are followed by a potluck at the Tahoe Donner Tennis Cen-ter. Please bring your meat to grill, plates, utensils and beverages, plus a dish to pass. Sign up on-line at http://sites.google.com/site/tdgolfwomen/ or on the bulletin board next to the computer near the golf shop.

Participants must have a verifiable handi-cap with a golf association or provide five recent scorecards. If you cannot provide this information, you will be playing with a 0 (zero) handicap!

Cancelling after 8 p.m. the night before, or not showing up for the tournament will result in not being able to play in future couples tournaments this summer.

Beth KrewedlCouples Tournaments Chairperson(530) 587-1172

Please note ALL ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT. Please visit tahoedonner.com for the latest updates.

Tahoe Donner Women’s 9 Holers Golf Club

The Tahoe Donner Women’s 9 Holers Golf Club invites you to become a member of our organization. Do you like to play golf in a social and non-pressured environment? Then our club is for you.

As a club we:• Are a group of women of all ages and all

golfing abilities• Have no handicap requirements• Are non-competitive• Have a fun tournament at the end of

the season• Have many social events

To join our club, you must be a Tahoe Don-ner property owner. We ask that you have a basic knowledge of golf and course etiquette. Our annual dues are $55 plus weekly green fees. Season passes for the 9 Holers are avail-able through the pro shop.

If you are interested in joining our club, please call our President Hilary Ward at (530) 587-2317 or email [email protected] for more information.

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Tahoe Donner Golf Course UpdateSpring has arrived, but since our golf course

is in the mountains, it remains to be seen as to whether or not we can open the course on time. If so, it would be the first time in three years that we would be able to open on sched-ule. Right now, all signs point towards an on time opening, and perhaps a soft-opening ahead of our official May 25 opening date. As you might imagine, those of us who inhabit the golf world are getting restless and are eager to transition into summer already. Since the course opening isn’t really all that far off, it seems like a good time to give our members a brief preview of what they can expect for the 2012 golf season.

One of the priorities for this year, as well as many years to come, will be to reach out to our


homeowners who are new golfers and try to encourage them to take up the game. We also plan to invite golfers to return to the game. We will offer several instructional programs and activities designed to create a fun, stress-free learning environment for our new and lapsed golfers, including one free golf clinic per week and a new Get Golf Ready lesson package for $99 per student. This special package will include a series of five golf lessons in a smaller group setting (6-8 students) and cover basic fundamentals of putting, chipping, the full swing, course rules and etiquette. The final session will include a few holes on the course. We will continue to offer morning golf clinics seven days a week. We also intend to continue with some of the late afternoon discounted 9-hole golf promotions during the spring and fall. We plan to bring back the last light pro-grams that we introduced in 2011. You can also expect discounted twilight golf promotions for members and guests during the spring and fall seasons. I will provide more details on these promotions, including pricing, in the May edition of Tahoe Donner News. Ultimately our goal is to reach out to the entire Tahoe Donner homeowner community, both new and long-time residents, and encourage everyone to support one of the most beautiful and valuable amenities within Tahoe Donner and within the Truckee and Lake Tahoe region.

As part of our company-wide expense sav-ing measures, I have eliminated the director of instruction position, and as such, have decided not to invite David Curtis back for the 2012 season. This was a very difficult deci-sion for me, as David is a fine young man who has contributed so much to our golf instruc-tion program. During his four years at Tahoe Donner, David has guided the program to new heights, and in the process, helped many or

our members and guests improve their golf games beyond what they ever imagined. There can be no doubt that his presence and contri-butions will be genuinely missed. Fortunately, David will continue in his primary position as one of the top instructors for the Golf Digest Golf Schools at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Academy, www.playmissionhills.com, where we wish David continued success. I encourage any of David’s TD member/students to drop him a note.

To fill the void created by David’s absence, I will take on a more active role with the instruction program, including teaching several of the golf clinics. In addition, first assistant, James Murtagh, will coordinate and teach the Junior Golf Schools, and will assume an expanded role in teaching golf clinics. Since James and I are both salaried individuals we will save money on hourly labor. For some historical perspective, please note that James and I managed the golf instruction program in a similar fashion back in 2007, prior to David’s arrival. As to my background in golf instruc-tion, I have been a PGA golf professional since 1980. During my first golf job at Pinetop Country Club in Arizona, I was mentored by the late Ruth Jessen, an 11-time winner on the LPGA tour and one of Arizona’s top instruc-tors at that time. Three years later, I became the first assistant at White Mountain Country Club in Pinetop, Arizona, where I was men-tored during my six years there by legendary WMCC Head Professional, Jack Bartko, who was inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2008.

Teaching the game of golf has been a long-time passion of mine, and I have been fortu-nate to participate in several PGA sponsored teaching workshops that featured some of the top instructors in the game, including Butch

Harmon, Dick Harmon, Hank Haney, Jim McLean, Dean Reinmuth, Dr. Dede Owens, Pia Nilsson, Paul Runyan, Gary McCord and Mac O’Grady. For those of you not familiar with their body of work, these instructors have taught some of the greatest golfers of our time, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickel-son, Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Mark O’Meara and Fred Couples. Of course, I’m not remotely close to being in that league, but I’m an excellent instructor, nevertheless. I love teaching golf and relish the satisfaction that comes with helping people improve their games. I par-ticularly enjoy the positive relationships that evolve over time as a by-product of the teach-ing and learning environment. In recent years I have focused my energies on my administra-tive duties at the course; often at the expense of one of my greatest skills, my ability to teach. During these times of greater frugality and tighter budgets, I now see an opportunity to become more involved with something I truly love while saving the company money in the process. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not point out that I am only one of several quali-fied golf instructors on our staff. First assis-tant James Murtagh leads a team of polished assistants (and instructors), and together, as a team, we look forward to helping you with your games. I will provide short bios of our golf instructors in the May edition of Tahoe Donner News.

Pray for enough snow to get us through Easter, then let the warm weather melt what-ever snow is still left on the course in time for opening day for the 2012 golf season.

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DINING OPTIONS The Lodge Restaurant & Pub Open nightly at 5 p.m. For more information, or to make areservation, please call (530) 587-9455.

Happy Hour at the Pub | Enjoy drink specials and 25 percent off tasty starters, small plates, soups and salads from 5 – 6:30 p.m., Sunday – Thursday.

No Corkage Tuesdays | Bring your own bottle of vino to enjoy with your meal and we’ll waive the corkage fee on Tuesdays nights. It’s the perfect time to enjoy that favorite bottle of wine you’ve been saving at home. Offer only valid during non-holiday periods.

WildER Wednesdays | Happy Hour specials all night long in the entire restaurant! Enjoy 25 percent off small plates, soups and salads, plus drink specials.

Burger and a Beer Month | We’re bringing back the popular April special - Burger and a Beer for $11.50. Beers include Bud-weiser, Bud Light and Coors Light bottles. This special is available every night this month, in the entire restaurant, but cannot be combined with any other coupon, discount or promotion.

Easter Brunch – April 8 | The Easter bunny will visit Tahoe Donner on Sunday, April 8, during the annual Easter brunch at the Lodge Restaurant & Pub. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The buffet is loaded with delicious treats including a seafood station with crab legs and shrimp, a carving station with honey baked ham and tri-tip, and all the classic breakfast items. Easter brunch is $39 for adults and $16 for children. View the full menu on tahoedonner.com. Reservations are required.

Truckee High School Benefit – April 27 | Dine at the Lodge Restaurant & Pub on Friday, April 27, and 20 percent of the proceeds from your dinner (excluding alcohol sales) will go towards Truckee High School Booster Club. This is a great way to give back to the local community while eating at a delicious restaurant.

Pizza on the HillOpen from 5 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday – Monday.

Happy Hour | Enjoy specials from 5 – 6 p.m. every day. Stop by after work to catch up with friends. All drafts are $3 and house wine is $4.

Thursday Night Trivia | Test your trivia skills from California history to sporting events. You never know what questions are go-ing to be on the list from week to week. Trivia is from 6:30 – 8 p.m. and the winner receives a certificate for a free pizza!

Half Price Pizza Month | Now is the perfect time to order a pizza from Pizza on the Hill. During the month of April, all of our pizzas are half off. Offer valid for take-out and dine-in. (10 pizza limit.) For more information, or to place your order, please call Pizza on the Hill at (530) 582-9669.

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16 | Tahoe Donner News | April 2012Photo Credit: Nina Miller · focusphotoTahoe


Getting the Group Together

TAHOE DONNER IS THE PLACE FOR YOU

If you have lots of people who want to get together and have

some fun, Tahoe Donner is the place for you. Group business has

been growing here, and revenue from those events has helped

several amenities become more profitable – and homeowner

assessments remain low. Check out all the different ways Tahoe

Donner helps groups enjoy what we have to offer.

WEDDINGSTracy Pulliam has seen it all. At this point, the event coordinator at

The Lodge Restaurant & Pub really isn’t surprised by anything. There was, for example, the wedding party where guests drank

from bright pink plastic yard flamingos. Another sported a scale size R2-D2 replica. In one other wedding, the bride and groom left through a military-style arch of sparklers head overhead by their guests. Fire extinguishers at the ready!

There was also one wedding reception with a “make out tent,” com-plete with mouthwash and toothpaste. Who knows? Maybe that helped a future bride and groom get to know each other better. Where else is love in the air more than at a wedding?

It’s not just humans who like to party at these affairs. Lots of brides and grooms inquire about whether dogs are allowed (they are) and one recently asked if her pet goat could be the ring bearer (sure!).


photos to remember the occasion, as well. “Everyone took pictures on the course,” Brown says. “The scenery there is so beautiful.”

Brown goes on to list all of the other things that worked out perfectly. The chicken was juicy, the beef was medium rare as requested, there was plenty of parking, a shuttle was available for her guests and everything was very affordable. No wonder wedding business at The Lodge has been growing!

Pulliam is a key part of the team that helps make nervous brides and grooms relax. “I think the fact that they know me from the start adds to their comfort,” she says. “On the day of the event, I’m going to be there from the early morning until the last person leaves.”

While Pulliam isn’t technically a wedding planner, she does offer sage advice for those who want it. “We have a lot of brides who want to know what worked at other weddings and what didn’t,” she says. “We have a list of preferred vendors that we share with them. I know these professionals personally and try to get a feel for the best fit between vendors and events.”

Pulliam enjoys it all. She fondly recalls a Japanese wedding ceremony where, following tradition, the sister of the bride carried her down the aisle. It’s the kind of job where you meet lots of interesting, dear people and help them have the best day of their lives.

One of those happy clients at The Lodge is Jamie Brown, who got married there last summer. She and her fiancee had visited the restaurant and really enjoyed the food and the setting.

“When you look at the tent from the outside, it doesn’t look like much,” she says. “But when you walk inside, it’s breathtaking. I was just like, ‘This is where I want my wedding.’”

Brown wanted a Chinese tea ceremony at her wedding and shared specific instruc-tions with Pulliam for how it should be done. “Tracy had everything arranged perfectly,” Brown says. “She was calm, and the staff was very friendly. My family actually still talks about Tracy!”

The Lodge staff still remembers Brown and her husband, too, greeting them when they stop by for dinner occasionally. The 150 people who attended that wedding have plenty of

“On the day of the event, I’m going to be there from the early morning until the last person leaves.”

- Tracy Pulliam, Event Coordinator


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The Lodge also sees a steady stream of groups that aren’t quite as large and multi-faceted as weddings. Golf clubs, ski clubs, Girl Scouts, The Truckee Trails Foundation, sports team boosters, parent-teacher organizations and hospital employees are among those that choose to meet there regularly.

OTHER BANQUET EVENTS

The Lodge has hosted two Cadillac Ball events, one of the largest charity fundraisers

won’t find any trans-fats coming out of his kitchen.

The Lodge offers a variety of rooms for special events, as well as the outdoor tent and the Grotto. In fact, a new bar being installed in the Grotto this spring will be the only outdoor bar in Truckee – with a pretty sweet view of the golf course.

Group Sales Coordinator Jeanne Kirschner has been on the job for just a few months, and has been delighted to find that Tahoe Donner’s capabilities for group business are extensive. The variety of venues – from the lawn at the Beach Club Marina to the Bennett Flat Patio and many more – allows her clients to mix great food and facilities with recreation.

“We don’t just have a generic ballroom to offer,” she says. “We find ways for our guests to get out golfing or horseback riding or snow tubing – you name the activity - and support the experience with great food and meeting spaces.”

Patrons of a place like Pizza on the Hill, for instance, might take for granted what it has to offer. What other restaurant in the area allows parents to lounge outdoors by a fire pit while their kids play at a nearby pool, play-

in the area, hosted by the Truckee Rotarians. One year, there was a Great Gatsby theme, with 300 guests decked out in 1920’s outfits. A full orchestra, several lounge club jazz singers and a Charlie Chaplin impersonator rounded out the experience. The follow-ing year, that event had a blues theme, with black fedoras, dark sunglasses and a Blues Brothers cover band.

Pulliam says that the Lodge can handle groups from 10 people to hundreds, and multiple events at the same time. It can be a very busy place, especially in the summer, but that doesn’t

translate to a lack of focus.“We’re not a hotel mass producing food,” says

Pulliam. “We have a master chef (Lew Orlady) who attends to every plate before it goes out.”

Orlady uses all organic meats, locally grown produce and tries to make his cre-ations as sustainable as possible. You also


DOWNHILL SKI AREA(Grous of 20 or more, midweek non-holiday)The best place to begin, with 60% begin-ner terrain, 40% intermediate terrain. Tahoe Donner is a hometown ski area that provides a unique personal touch.• Tickets• Instruction• Food & beverage• Timed ski races• Transportation

CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER (Group 10 or more, midweek, non-holiday)Professional Ski Instructors of America accredited ski school with Olympic cham-pion instructors. Beautiful, scenic trails offered for all levels.• Tickets• Instruction• Guided snowshoe hikes

(with or without box lunch)• BBQ in Euer Valley• Lunch on the deck

SNOWPLAY(Group 12 or more, Fridays - Sundays and holidays)Supervised sledding and tubing on groomed lanes, with firepits for warming or making s’mores.• Tubing and sledding parties• Food & beverage from Pizza on the Hill

EQUESTRIAN CENTER (Groups of 8 or more) Explore the beautiful, natural landscape of Tahoe Donner from the perspective only available atop a horse.• Trail rides• Box lunches• Western BBQ

HIKING(Groups of 8 or more)Take advantage of the leadership of an experienced guide who can show you the best parts of Tahoe Donner’s trail network.• Guided hikes• Boxed lunches

GOLF(Groups of 12 or more)A beautiful Tahoe setting with immaculate greens, supported by The Lodge Restau-rant & Pub• Tournaments with a variety of

formats and awards• Full range of food options, from box

lunches to complete banquets

BIKEWORKS(Groups of 8 or more) Check out Tahoe Donner’s extensive trail system on a variety of bikes suited for a variety of sizes and abilities.• Bike rentals• Box lunches

MEETINGSGet your team out of the office into a special setting that inspires creativity and focus. Audio/visual technology, recreational activ-ities and many food options are available.• Meadow Room at Northwoods

Clubhouse (40 people)• Alder Room at The Lodge Restaurant

& Pub (60 people)• Downhill ski lodge (seasonal)

SPECIAL BANQUETSPlanning one of the biggest days of your life? We can make it easy for you. Whether your event is a wedding, a family reunion, a holiday party or something unique, Tahoe Donner has venues and staff that can make it a success.• The Lodge Restaurant & Pub:

Options include full buyout, The Pavilion, The Grotto, The Sage Room and The Alder Room. Food and beverage options range from gourmet to casual.• Northwoods Clubhouse:

Options include Pizza on the Hill, The Gathering Room, The Meadow Room, Bennett Flat Patio and the pool area.• Downhill ski lodge (seasonal)• Beach Club Marina: Upper lawn area

with catered food and beverage

BRING YOUR GROUP TO TAHOE DONNER!Tahoe Donner can accommodate a wide range of groups for

many different activities. Here is a brief overview.


Tahoe is largely defined by skiing, and Tahoe Donner has two public amenities that are well positioned to handle ski groups.

The Cross Country Ski Center offers over 100 kilometers of trails that are suited for anyone from a rank beginner to an Olympic athlete. Snowshoeing is growing in popular-ity, for those who just want to explore the incredible landscape and wildlife around the center. A full fleet of rental equipment and an experienced staff of instructors are on hand to help get anyone out on the snow and enjoying the sport.

The Downhill Ski Area is known as the “Best Place to Begin” and delivers on that promise. While many groups might be intimidated by the prospect of skiing on Tahoe’s larger mountains, Tahoe Donner’s hill is just right. The staff there doesn’t assume that its guests know where to go and

SKIING“We give them one hour lessons and they think they’re pros.”

what to do, and are eager to show beginners how it all works.

“Skiing can inspire sticker shock for people who aren’t familiar with the cost of lift tick-ets, equipment and lessons,” says Kirschner. “By the time many group leaders get to me, they’ve been stunned by those costs at other resorts and are thrilled that they can bring their group here much more affordably.”

Darlene Conwell is one group leader who really appreciates the value pricing. She’s the associate director of the Upward Bound college prep program at the University of San Francisco and has been bringing groups of students here for years.

“For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve seen snow,” she says. “We give them one hour lessons and they think they’re pros.”

Conwell has looked at larger resorts but found them a poor fit for her students. “The Tahoe Donner slopes were best for begin-ners,” she says. “It’s just easy. We’re up, we’re in and we’re out.”

Randy DeCuyper from Gayner Engineers in San Francisco agrees. “Tahoe Donner is the perfect fit for us because it’s not big,” he says. “It offers the perfect runs to learn on,

ground, archery area or listen to live music? Talk about a birthday party venue that every-one can enjoy.

has a very good teaching staff and it’s nice that the runs all lead back to the lodge so you can find members of your family!”

Service from the staff is another important factor that keeps bringing groups back to Tahoe Donner’s ski area. “Your group sales people are very helpful and accommodating and they pay attention to detail,” says DeCuyper.

“I was so grateful for the reservations being online, instead of having to fill out all the forms,” says Conwell. “That allows us another half hour in bed.”

And after a long day on the slopes, you can be sure that those beginner skiers will be sleeping well that night, too!

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NMLS #277036

GOLFGolf groups are a category that has per-haps the greatest potential to impact Tahoe Donner’s bottom line. Groups that play here usually end up coming back, so that bodes well for the association. It all starts with the course itself.

“We’re fortunate that we have such a great product to offer,” says Golf Director Ed Leinenkugel. “It’s an exquisite course on so many levels… it’s the kind of course that sticks with people, and they want to play it again. We’re blessed.”

Golf groups at Tahoe Donner run the gamut from a small group of friends to a larger corporate event. Usually there is some kind of connection with a homeowner that helps the course build a relationship with, say, a large business in the Bay Area.

Beyond the course quality, it’s service that keeps these groups coming back. (Are you picking up on a theme here?)

“I try to solicit their needs before they get here,” says Leinenkugel. “I want things to be organized and polished when they arrive.”

While some groups simply go out and

play, others are happy to have the course set them up with cart signs, scoring and games like closest to the hole or longest drive. And of course, when you’re out in the sun being active all day, food and beverages are an important consideration.

Food options at the course are varied: conti-nental breakfast, snack bar, the bar cart roving around the course, box lunches, drink tickets and full-on banquets in The Lodge Restaurant & Pub. The golf and restaurant staffs work hard to make a lasting impression.

“There’s a sense from our guests that they are made to feel welcome,” says Leinenkugel. “You’d think that would be a given, but it isn’t always the case at other courses.”

While the overall golf market has declined in recent years, Tahoe Donner is in a good position. A world-class course, high-level service and dedicated customer base are the foundation of a positive future. As a home-owner, one of the best things you can do is introduce a friend to your association’s golf course. Or maybe you’d like to bring 144 friends, which is what the course can handle at one time. Think about it!


Christy Curtis & Crew Make the Clear Choicee #1 Agent in the Truckee/ Tahoe Area for Coldwell Banker

[email protected] • www.ChristyCurtis.com • 800-587-2856

70 properties sold in 2011!!

Located in the of Tahoe Donner

17400 Northwoods Blvd.

BULLETINBOARD

The Architectural Standards Committee reviewed the following plans in February 2012.Unit/Lot Street Address Square Ft. Project03/476 14924 Skislope Wy 700 Addition11/202 11928 Chateau Wy 1,840 House 11/231 14308 Swiss Ln 82 Fence

HOMES ON THE RISE

Are you looking to build a new house or add to your existing one? Every year, at about this time, we get calls from folks looking to submit plans for their addition, garage, or new home. Most submittals are appropriate for this environment, but we still get designs for houses and additions that don’t fit our particular weather conditions. If you are considering building and are still in the design process, please consider the uniqueness of the high Sierra. Yes, snow “load” has a definite impact on how houses, decks, and all exterior structures should be built. As you might imagine, the design of the roof is also critical.

The designers and architects in this area are familiar with building in this environment. For those few of you that may be considering building here and using resources from other areas, listed below are a few items to consider.

1. Since Tahoe Donner’s terrain and elevations are varied, the Town of Truckee Building Department suggests you check with them during your initial design regarding snow load requirements.

2. Locate entry doors on the ends of your house, under covered walk ways, or below dormers, since the dumping of snow and ice from roofs is a hazard and you don’t want to be continually clearing snow and ice in order to get into (or out of) your house.

3. Construct a mudroom at outside entrances in which to take off snow gear. (Helps the carpet.)

4. Stay away from roof designs that would allow snow and ice to unload in front of the garage, near exterior doors, or onto decks or handrails. Many decks and railings have been torn off or dam- aged by roofs shedding snow and ice onto them (most especially last winter).

5. Install a drain in your garage and slope the floor so that all the snow and ice that melts off your car won’t damage anything stored in your garage.

We also encourage you to drive around, when there is a lot of snow, so that you can see the impact of the large amount of snow we usually get here.

These are just a few design elements you might want to consider when planning your house, your addition, or your deck. If you have any questions about what would or would not be approved, or would like to discuss your plans, give us a call at (530) 587-9407 or e-mail to [email protected].

ENID LONGO | ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS SUPERVISOR

Covenant Violations and FinesOver the past six months, three Tahoe Donner properties have

received Covenant violations which resulted in hearings where fines have been assessed. The violations, which escalated to a hearing and fine, included parking off pavement and noxious activities (loud parties after quiet hours began).

Additionally, 16 properties have been fined for failure to complete their defensible space work. The Covenants Commit-tee wants to communicate these fines so future violations can be avoided. Please refer to the members section of tahoedonner.com for current Covenants Rules.



THE GLOWSTICKPARADE


SNOWMANCONTEST

The Tsang Family

The Yang Family

2012 Snowman Contest Winners - The Guiterrez Family Elias and his younger brother Sam are pictured here snuggled up next to Ol’ Snowman Winter.

Thanks to all who submitted snowman photos for the Tahoe Donner Snowman Contest! After long deliberation, we are proud to announce the 2012 winner is the Gutierrez’s Ol’ Snowman Winter!

The friendly chap was built on Saturday, March 3, on Ski View Loop by 4-year-old Elias and his mom. Mom had the idea to make Ol’ Snowman Winter a hugger, but Elias came up with the idea to use branches for his beard and hair.

Congrats to this year’s winner!

To read more about the other

snowman contest entries, please

visit facebook.com/tahoedonner

The Schrupp Family


SNOWMANCONTEST

The Kirschner Family

Collin Fogel

The Masterson Family

Jewelz Vaio

The Sullivan Family

Don Ehrlich, Dave Deacle

and Eric Feenstra

The Sackman Family


transmitted (facsimile, e-mail, etc.) statements will be accepted, except for those transmitted via e-mail in a “.pdf” format.

MAY 14Election package submitted to printer.

MAY 16Independent mailing firm begins preparation of election package

in anticipation of a May 23 mailing. Package includes a cover letter which provides notice of the election and Annual Membership Meeting, and explains procedures for voting, and is accompanied by the Candi-dates’ Statements.

Article IV, Section 6(d) (i), and Article V, Section 4(a) of the Restated Bylaws provide that notice of the Annual Membership Meeting must be provided not less than 10 days or more than 90 days prior to the meet-ing. Per Civil Code § 1363.03, ballots for the Director election must be mailed at least thirty (30) days in advance of the election. Mailing of the election package between March 26, and May 25, 2012, will satisfy these requirements.

In the event of a conflict between the Association’s Bylaws and the 2006 statutes as outlined in Civil Code §1363.03, the 2006 statutes shall prevail.

MAY 19The board considers any input received from the membership regard-

ing the proposed election procedures and officially approves procedures for the election. As provided by Article VII, Section 5 (d) of the Amend-ments to the Restated Bylaws, if one, but no more than one, eligible candidate has submitted a timely application to be elected; the Board of Directors declares that candidate elected and the director election concluded.

MAY 23“Target date” for mailing of the election package.

JUNE 9Candidates’ Night: Northwoods Clubhouse Fireplace Area, 7 – 9 p.m.

JUNE 229 a.m., Board convenes special board meeting to commence tabu-

lation of ballots; personally delivered ballots shall be accepted and replacement ballots shall be available during this meeting until its adjournment at 5 p.m.

5 p.m. deadline for receipt of director-election ballots mailed or per-sonally delivered directly to accountancy firm.

JUNE 24:Personally delivered ballots are accepted at the Annual Member-

ship Meeting from 12 – 1:30 p.m., at which time voting in the director election shall conclude. Replacement ballots shall be available until the conclusion of voting. Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, the results of the election will be announced unless less than 25 percent of the vot-ing power of the association (quorum requirement) has submitted valid ballots. In such case, the failure to achieve a quorum will be announced (but not the vote tally), and the meeting, along with the culmination of the election, will be adjourned to the following morning.

ELECTION PROCEDURES (continued from pg. 8)


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JUNE 25As a result of a failure to achieve the 25 percent quorum requirement,

the Annual Membership Meeting is reconvened at 10 a.m., at North-woods Clubhouse, for the purpose of concluding the annual election of directors in accordance with a reduced 15 percent quorum requirement.

The results are announced and posted at Northwoods Clubhouse, and published in Tahoe Donner News, following certification by the Inspector of Election.

Contents of Election PackageArticle IV, Section 6(e) of the Restated Bylaws requires that the bal-

lots used in the Director election, at a minimum, indicate the names of the candidates determined eligible by the Elections Committee, provide space to vote for other (“write-in”) candidates, and indicate the time by which the ballot must be received in order to be counted. Ballots are to be accompanied by the Candidates’ Statements.

Article IV, Section 6(g) requires that, at a minimum, the election package also must indicate the number of responses needed to satisfy the quorum requirement for a valid election, the time by which the ballot must be received in order to be counted, and the address for return of the ballot in person or by mail. If the balloting period is to be extended in the event of a failure to achieve the required quorum, this must also be indicated in the balloting materials.

The Restated Bylaws further provide that returning a ballot marked to be counted toward the quorum requirement only is permitted, that no cumulative or proxy voting is permitted, and that the board may impose additional rules that are reasonably intended to ensure the secrecy of, and absence of voting irregularities in, the election. Toward this end, and while ballots shall not be marked by the association with any identifying information, the outer return envelope pro-vided in the election package shall be marked with the name and address of the Record Owner and the designation (unit/lot) of the Separate Interest owned. Owners returning ballots in person will be required to present identification. No electronically transmit-ted (facsimile, e-mail, etc.) ballots will be accepted.

Methods of VotingTo be acceptable, the director-election ballot shall be marked to

indicate no more than two votes being cast for two different candidates. Ballots solely marked to indicate that it is to be counted toward the quo-rum requirement only are also acceptable. Further, the outer envelope in which ballots are returned must, at the very least, indicate the owner’s

name and the Tahoe Donner property which the ballot represents, and must be signed by the owner in order for the ballot to be acceptable.

Once marked and folded, the ballots must be inserted into an envelope that is then sealed; this envelope is then inserted into a second envelope that is then sealed and upon which is indicated the owner’s name and the Tahoe Donner property being voted, and includes the owner’s signature.

Director-election ballots may then be mailed to the accountancy firm, but must be received no later than 5 p.m., June 22, 2012, in order to be counted. Such ballots may also be personally delivered to the accoun-tancy firm, but must meet the same deadline for receipt. Ballots may also be delivered to the special board meeting on June 22, 2012, between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or to the Annual Membership Meeting; in either case, the ballot must be personally delivered by an owner of the property repre-sented by the ballot. At the Annual Membership Meeting, on June 24, 2012, ballots will be accepted between 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Replacement ballots will be available until the conclusion of voting at 1:30 p.m.

Ballot CountingAll ballots will be verified, opened and tallied by the accountancy

firm under the supervision of the Inspector of Election, whose decision as to the validity of any ballot will control. The content of each individ-ual ballot will be kept confidential and all ballots will be retained, with the approval of the Inspector, by the accountancy firm for nine months following the election, at which time they shall be transferred to the association and retained in a secure place for no less than one year from the date of the election. The tally of ballots counted will be kept confi-dential until the final election results are announced.

Recount ProceduresA director-election recount may only be initiated by a candidate

whose name appeared on the election ballot as distributed, or by the Board of Directors. A recount will only be performed if the difference between the number of votes cast for a successful candidate and the number cast for an unsuccessful one is less than twenty.

A candidate initiating a recount must post a $500 deposit with the association at the time of the request. Should the results of the recount fail to alter the ultimate outcome of the election (the same candidates win), the initiator of the recount will be responsible for all costs associ-ated with the recount, and the deposit will be applied toward those costs. If the recount results alter the election outcome, no such respon-sibility applies and the deposit will be refunded.

ELECTION PROCEDURES (continued from pg. 8)


REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES SUMMARY

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

• Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0 · 2012 Director Election Procedures · General Plan Committee Resignation (Wilson) · Rescission of Resolution 92-1

• Euer Valley Operating Plan: Consensus Discussion took place regarding proposed “Operating Rules” for the Euer Valley. By consensus, the board directed staff to hold a series of Town Hall and outreach meetings to give members an opportunity to provide input on the proposed Euer Valley Operating plan.

• Cross Country Center/Equestrian Center Operating Plan: Consensus The board received a presentation regarding a draft site plan for the new cross country center and relocation of the equestrian operation. By consensus, the board directed staff to hold a series of Town Hall and outreach meetings to give members an opportunity to provide input on the proposed cross country/equestrian center conceptual plan.

• Tahoe Donner C&R’s and Architectural Standards Rules, Procedures and Restrictions for Land Use: Approved 5-0 The board discussed discrepancies that exist between TDA’s Governing Documents (C&R’s) and the ASC Rules and Restrictions. The board approved publishing for member comment a proposed rule change relating to construction standards for residential lots.

• Fire Safety Inspection Rule Change: Approved 5-0 The board discussed discrepancies that exist between the association’s Covenants Rules and Public Resources Code (PCR) 429 1 (b). The board approved publishing for member comment a proposed rule change relating to Forestry Fire Safety, Defensible Space and Forest Health.

• Director of Finance and Accounting Report: Approved 5-0 The board received a report on the Preliminary December 2011 & January 2012 Financials.

FEBRUARY 25, 2012


REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES SUMMARY

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

These summaries are intended for general information purposes only. The minutes are available at tahoedonner.com, upon request in the general manager’s office or by calling (530) 587-9431. A copy of the minutes and current agenda are posted outside the Member Services Office in Northwoods Clubhouse.

Minutes of Tahoe Donner Board of Directors meetings are available to members at tahoedonner.com. They can be found on the Board of Directors page in the Members section. Alternatively, members may request that a hard copy be sent to them via the postal service. To make the request, contact Bonnie Watkins at (530) 587-9431.

• Employee Policies & Procedures Manual: No Action The board discussed an employee manual that provides information about working conditions, employee benefits, and some of the policies affecting employment at Tahoe Donner and took no action. This item was placed on the March 24, 2012, agenda for further consideration.

• Development Fund Policy: Approved 3-2 (Directors Wulff & Lempinen No) The board approved a new Development Fund Policy.

Whoa, that was a tough one.

Thanks for helping us blow

through another year.

Call 800.452.3060 • www.snowtech.net

CSLB #825998 • 17356 Northwoods Blvd.


MexicoJohn and Donna Pronko on

a roof patio in San Miguel de

Allende. They visited relatives

who were spending 3 months

in San Miguel!

AustraliaSue and Phil Lorson with Aus-tralian grandchildren Kate and

Nicholas after snorkeling with sharks, stingrays, Manta rays

and Loggerhead turtles at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Email your “Where in the World” photos to: [email protected]. Please submit only .jpeg

of 300 dpi or higher for printing. Photos must include a

copy of TD News. Please list the names of everyone in the

picture, where and when it was taken, and a short descrip-

tion of your captured experience.

Uzbekistan Donna Sanderson volunteered

as an International Race Ambas-

sador to Uzbekistan for Susan G.

Komen for the Cure. Donna is

pictured with the doorman of the

Tashkent Intercontinental Hotel.

Hawaii Jeff and Cindy Haigh were

seen with the Tahoe Donner

News from the Atlantic to the

Pacific. Jeff is pictured above in

Poipu, Kauai.

©2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Operated by NRT LLC. DRE License # 00313415 Note: Data on this page is based on information from the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors, MLS. Due to MLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate. Therefore, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data’s accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market

Located in the Heart of Tahoe Donner

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