a poll for PO's ~~~ how do you rank the amenities?
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Alpine has a long list of amenities...
security, lodge, restaurant, pool, golf course, hiking trails, miniature golf, lake, beach, fishing, tennis/basketball courts, fwiw, game room, boathouse, motel, cross country skiing, newsletter, fitness room
How would you rank them? What's your top five?
Let's keep your comments to a list form. Any problems or complaints about the amenities should be directed to the folks in charge. Thanks!
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Alpine has a long list of amenities...
security, lodge, restaurant, pool, golf course, hiking trails, miniature golf, lake, beach, fishing, tennis/basketball courts, fwiw, game room, boathouse, motel, cross country skiing, newsletter, fitness room
How would you rank them? What's your top five?
Let's keep your comments to a list form. Any problems or complaints about the amenities should be directed to the folks in charge. Thanks!
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Here's our top five:
1. Lake (for beauty, fishing, swimming, kayaking)
2. Roads & paths for hiking/biking
3. Golf course
4. Security
5. mini golf
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I think my wife would say (1)golf (2) golf (3) golf (4) golf
Me: (1) golf (2) Boat House (3) Lake - view and boating (4)cross country skiing and just (5) Mother nature.
NOW - with improvements in areas, this ranking would change.
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1. The Lake. They could tear everything else down, the Lake is our defining feature. What would AL be without a lake?
2. Security. Ever own a rural property that wasn't protected?
3. Golf. Our only amenity that makes a profit.
4. The Bar with a sandwich menu. Serves the golfers and the residents when they are looking for a night out. We're not in favor of a resturant, just a place to hang out and have a beer and a burger.
5. FWIW, AL Newsletter, any and all Blogs. Keep all ALPOA members informed. Accurate and up to date information is all anyone expects.
Mr. and Mrs. Shadowcatcher.
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1. LAKE, we prefer the water activities and also without the lake we'd just be Alpine Resort.
2. These WV hills how majestic and how grant.
3. The pool, again water activities.
Pool, again, water activities.
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1. Lake - fishing, boating, swimming
2. Trails
3. Golf
4. Security
5. Agree with ShadowCatcher - Bar with light fare - that's all we need!
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Dear friend,
I believe I speak for a number of the property owners when I say that having a restuarant is a real plus, particularly when you consider there are no restuarants in the immediate area. I would also suggest that a smoke-filled bar is not exactly family-friendly. I think Alpine Lake Resort needs more than a 19th hole...I am all reducing unnecessary costs and expenses, but let's be careful about what ammenities we eliminate. At some point we do begin to diminish the quality of life that attracted us to Alpine in the first place.
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A financial black hole, patronized by a select few, subsidized by the majority, has nothing to do with what attracted me to Alpine.
Apologies for diverging from the new, upbeat tone of the blog.
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You make a good point. "patronized by a select few, subsidized by the majority" but what if the non-patronizing people support the lodge a bit more and just buy a carryout burger once in a while? You are right, I see the same people all the time. If the lodge were to break even I think we would be happy
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Well yes, if the lodge were to break even then who could complain about that.
In it's current form it is more of an entitlement than an amenity. It will require new, creative thinking to come up with a solution that provides something for everyone but I think that is achievable if everyone is open to alternatives.
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A burger could easily be worked into a 19th hole menu & if things changed I bet many would indeed buy something periodically. A nice place to gather and have a light snack/drink would be great and if it broke even that would be even better but it is difficult to justify the current situation that loses so much money. If it was not for our assessments it would have closed a long time ago for lack of funds and that does bother me when the clientele is not the majority. A well thought out menu on a much smaller scale is what many are suggesting - even many of those who do not use the restaurant are suggesting this because they do recognize that there are residents who do frequent the restaurant. The reality is the current model is not working and as time goes on more and more of our dollars are paying for just a few to eat there. There are reasons people are not eating at the restaurant and the management does need to recognize that. As posters note above, many came here for other things and have no objection to a restaurant but the current cost is difficult to justify. Demographics and economics of AL residents may have changed slowly through the years and people may simply prefer to cook and eat at home.
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Question
Does anyone have the stats with regard to what type of volume our restaurant requires to be at a break even point? I am just assuming that the numbers would be much more than most of us would guess.
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If I recall correctly the GM noted in the last Board meeting that they would need 125 people a day through the doors but I could have misheard him so if anyone else was there please chime in. That morning they had 4 people for breakfast and it was a Board meeting day. It was during a discussion when the membership asked the Board and our CPA how come the restaurant was unable to break even and nobody was able to offer an explanation. Does anybody know if the CPA report on the restaurant and bar that was in progress earlier this year was completed?
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Regarding how many people we would have to serve to break even, Jim Wilson, General Manager, gave me a figure a while back which was somewhere in the vicinity of between 100 and 125 meals per day! That estimate was with the current menu and staffing. However, I believe, with a much smaller menu and fewer employees, that number could be pared down considerable. The reason I say that is that my husband and I ran a hotel, restaurant and bar in a seasonal area (many years ago) and we learned that your customers do not need many choices - just the right ones. Therefore, a smaller basic inventory could be maintained and the food prepared and served by a minimum number of people. We were able to turn a dining room which seated about 100 people 2 times each night. Anyway, that's a roundabout way to say that the required number is quite high and far beyond what we usually have.
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I don't want to start an argument here, but "non-patronizing people" support the restaurant with a healthy chunk of our assessments.
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I totally agree with this comment.Most of these people are not property owners that acually come out to enjoy a good time.Everyone talks about lite fare on the food and less employees, just for one day I would like to see the property owners take care and run the resturant, bar, golf couse and etc...It has come to my attention that the property owners think this is there own little world and no one eles is invited...Well if they learn to raise the stakes a little at a time they will find out what a well run machine Alpine can be.Treat the employees with the respect that is do to them and they will do the same in back.I was witness to thiss the other night when everything was closed down for the night and some property owners made the employees wait till they were ready to leave(alot past closing time)Im ashamed to say that I own property, but at least I know when to leave and show repect for the people that are running the resturant and bar FOR US.Just remember one thing at the end of the work day dont you want to go home , think of that next time you are in your own private world and abusing other people that have families to go home too and you feel like lazing aroung.
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saw the same thing happen in the bar.
the person who demanded the bar stay open is a board member.
the girl working was real polite.
we all felt real bad for her.
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I can't agree with you more, my friend. What a financial mess ie misappropriation of funds.
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You guys have me torn.... such valid points are being made about the restaurant! I have shied away from such a discussion before because of possible negative comments. Let's keep it civil and hope that the people running this place are taking note.
BTW several nasty comments have been deleted and the users blocked this morning.
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Sorry to hear that Diana as this blog has been such a great source of information and it is disappointing that if people do not agree they resort to nasty comments. Change is always hard and the process of getting there even harder but thank you for helping to open dialogue so people are able to share thoughts and opinions constructively.
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The top 3 in no particular order...
Lake
Golf course
Security
those are necessities.
all else is extra
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These are our favorites also, however Security tops our list with the Lake and Golf following in that order.
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I love the fact that Judith ran a small restaurant and motel in the past. It certainly adds to her credentials in running for the Board. I hope many reading the blog have picked up on that. This is exactly what we need to take us into a positive future at Alpine.
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1. Lake
2. Pool
3. Security
4. Trails & roads (plowed!)
5. Tennis courts (even before they were rebuilt)
Don't golf, and, for various reasons, don't use the restaurant very much
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How 'bout June thru August lunch at the boathouse plus wine & dinner by candlelight along the lake. Same venue. A dream?
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I find current lake/beach/swimming regulations ridiculous and offensive.
We are the new Property Owners, bought our home mid-summer, 2007.
I'm currently 55y.o., my wife is 58. Our daughter, living with us, is 25.
All of us like to swim year-round, in a fresh water.
During the Summer our best time is 5a.m. and 8p.pm.,
all other times we are busy, you know...
But, according to the Board regulations we, in fact, have no access to the Lake.
Just because somebody decided to make the Beach to be Public
in order to earn those $5 per day per swimming visitor...
I understand that little children require extra
regulations and the eye to be kept on them while them are on the Beach.
But we are adults and we certainly need a convenient way of
using the Beach that we own.
You are the Board, please decide.
I invite all interested parties to a discussion. Hope this will help us to make Beach regulations more flexible.
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The beach is not open to the public, but is available to motel guests.
I agree with you that more liberal rules need to be established. Some of the best times for swimming is in September, after the beach is closed.
Year round swimming? The lake is just a bit chilly in January.
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Hey Andy. Those are valid points and should be directed to those in charge.
Their email addresses are available on this blog. Here's a link to the page---
http://alpinelakeblog.com/2007/12/02/board-of-directors-contact-info.aspx
The blog has no affiliation with those in charge... just property owners discussing a variety of topics.
Welcome to the community, and welcome to the blog.
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Sorry for the wrong wording... I didn't mean that you and/or your blog
are affiliated with the Board.
This way I just liked to emphasize that current rules were established by the
current Board, i.e. by the regular people like you and me,
and these rules are not absolute and can, potentially, be changed.
Then, I thought _why,actually_ these rules are in effect.
Couldn't believe that there are enough enthusiasts...
they were rather obeying the WV State regulations for Public Beaches:
"Swimming is permitted when there is a Life Guard on duty,
and prohibited at all other times"
I think AL Beach became the public one immediately after they decided to sell beach
tickets, i.e. allowed public access to it.
Hope this made my point clearer
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Andy- Valid and good points in our opinion. Even as a parent of young children we find the rules restrictive for both boating and the beach and have always found evenings great for both. If we want to wade in mid September then we are responsible for us and our children. Even when there is a guard, I do not take my eyes off my kids. I understand liability but there is probably more liability involved when you have someone on duty or portray that you are taking responsibility for others and then do not or an accident happens. If things are at our own risk and we keep in mind our neighbors right to quiet (sounds drift on the lake) then it would be great. I was thinking about this on our last visit as friends of ours have a lake house in Pennsylvania and they swim at all hours during the year and also swim across the lake - and it is a lake the same size as Alpine. Maybe not in January but certainly during the "shoulder season" of April, May and September and October. Even at the Ocean, once the lifeguards are off duty you are still permitted to swim but it is clear it is at your own risk. Wonder if there is a historical reason such restrictive rules were set - anybody know?
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When we moved to alpine in '03, there were no lifeguards at our beach. It has only been in the last few years that lifeguards are on duty.
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Regarding the beach and boating regulations, I have a feeling that those rules were established in accordance with our insurance policy. And the insurance policy probably was written to the highest level of mandated restrictions in order to keep the insurance rate at its lowest possible level. I would love to see someone, not associated with the board or management, look into West Virginia beach and boating insurance regulations. It would be best if someone who is versed in insurance documents could do this. Anyone out there care to take this on?
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THE:
Lake
Golf course
Security
Nature.
Good day to all! I have not been on this site for awhile so it is interesting to see what's up!
Some food for thought? Since I am running for an open seat on the Board I do not have the luxury to be bias or opinionated with regard to what is working and what is not working at Alpine. (I must admit, this is difficult to do with so much in going on at Alpine.
What I do know, is that, I have reviewed the Bylaws and Mission Statement for our community and I think the answers for what we should be doing now, and in the future, is clearly defined in these documents.
With many successful years in Senior Management I have learned that when personal agenda's, bias opinions and personalities are allowed to be brought into the decision making process, for guiding any organization, the picture become very cloudy, very quickly and usually ends up separating instead of unifying.
So, by using the MISSION STATEMENT and BYLAWS, along with a full evaluation of our "Core Competencies" as a community, we will easily and quickly be able to map our future to insure that our community remains a special place for all of us.
I look forward to meeting and talking with all of you about how we can unify our community and make sure that there is something at Alpine for all of us while, maintaining financial stability for Alpine.
Best Regards,
Dennis
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That would my guess too - that the beach/lake restrictions were to satisfy our insurance underwriter.
But, West Virginia has some interesting laws on it's books to restrict lawsuits against landowners by people who are injured while "innocently trespassing" (my terminology). Examples given are someone crossing your land to hunt and hurts himself on your property, or a ATV rider that does the same thing.
Why wouldn't the lake fall in that same category?
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That would my guess too - that the beach/lake restrictions were to satisfy our insurance underwriter.
But, West Virginia has some interesting laws on it's books to restrict lawsuits against landowners by people who are injured while "innocently trespassing" (my terminology). Examples given are someone crossing your land to hunt and hurts himself on your property, or a ATV rider that does the same thing.
Why wouldn't the lake fall in that same category?
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I wonder if insurance laws are as open to interpretation as other laws. If that is the case, and I guess that it is, it would take an insurance attorney to look at our policy and other precedents to see where Alpine Lake could either be truly liable or have the opportunity to loosen up its regulations. Sure would like to see someone volunteer to take this on as I have heard many objections to the current rules. And many of these objections are justifiable.
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is yhe question why cant we swim when there is no lifeguard?
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Checker-
You got it! why cant we swim when there is no LG? why can't there be a simple sign posted "Swim on your own risk" to resolve the issue?? Memorial Day is right around the corner as well as the swimming season...
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