Considering Lake Montclair as the heart of our community, it then follows that the Montclair Events should be viewed as its soul.

James V Cech (Dec 2007)

Happy New Year, 2008.  Seems like it was just yesterday that we worried about computers crashing on 1/1/2000.  Tina and I as baby boomers celebrating our 28^th anniversary find we are more worried about the housing market crashing just before we retire.  Fortunately, judging by the disclosure packets issued and submissions of property improvement requests (PIR's), the desirability of our Montclair community remains constant.  We must keep Montclair competitive in the market place.

Speaking of sales, I want to formally welcome our newest neighbors the Jeong and Chang families as the new owners of the Montclair Country Club.  I have spoken at length with Eunice Chang, manager of the dining room and banquet facilities.  I am pleased to report that she and her partners have an appreciation for the Montclair community.  They expressed a sincere commitment to improve the quality of the Country Club facilities as well as the desire to create a mutually beneficial relationship with the MPOA.  Evidence of this can be seen in the new roof at the country club and our first joint project, the 18^th hole common area improvement.  Eunice has extended an offer to the Montclair community to come and experience the upgrades to the dining room facilities and the excellent menu designed up by Chef Duane Keller.  A well-maintained golf course and successful country club facility is a plus for Montclair.  I encourage you to take Eunice up on her offer and visit the New Montclair Country Club.  The Board and I look forward to working with the new owners and we wish them great success in their investment. 

The budget cycle has been completed.  The participation and contributions from the standing committees, staff, Membership and the Directors was superb. The Board unanimously supported the final recommendations of the Budget & Finance Committee (BFC) as adjusted during the Board work session.  Having served through 15 budget cycles I have witnessed only a few budgets approved with such broad support.  The Membership has been given a fair budget that maintains what we have through appropriate contributions to the reserve funds and the stable funding of ongoing services.  The Board also recognized the need to invest in our aging community.  In the proposed budget you will find the creation of a new dedicated fund to support common area and entranceway enhancements, an effort close to my heart.  This fund, supported by the proposed and future budget contributions, will enable capital projects like the 18^th hole enhancements and the entire length of Waterway Drive.  I am asking the Membership to participate in this year's Annual Meeting on March 15, 2008, electronically if you can, and to acknowledge this vision and the hard work of the committees, staff and Board by supporting the proposed budget.

A commitment was made by the Board to improve communications with the Membership.  We have held several town meetings, improved the content and refresh-rate of the MPOA website, and significantly upgraded the Montclarion.  We have also made available on ArmstrongConnect contracts, documents, property files and account information here-to-fore not readily accessible to the Membership.  Those who have signed up for ArmstrongConnect have received timely notification of MPOA information. The Board is taking another step by providing the Membership an opportunity to send us direct and unfiltered inputs.  In your Annual Meeting Packet you will find a survey asking you to advise the Board as to YOUR priority/satisfaction with: Community Events; Community Patrol; Lake services; Common Area Maintenance and Entrance-way Enhancements.  If you have strong feelings about areas that need more or less emphasis, here is your opportunity.  Your response is VERY important because this data will be used by the Board to prioritize future plans, projects and budgets.

Please keep our troops and their families in your prayers.

May the good Lord bless and keep each of you in the coming year.

James V. Cech
President, MPOA