Last month I was feeling pretty good about filing the lake, then we hit a dry spell. I promise, I am doing my best to deliver a full lake. Today, I need everyone’s help to push this high pressure system out so we can have a full pond this summer.
There are several new things to announce, so I’ll just dive right in.
Club Manager
It is my pleasure to announce that long time club member, Paul Morrow, was hired by the board last night to be our next Club Manager. Paul recently retired from Guarantee RV, but also brings years of experience working with non-profits and youth-focused organizations including The Boy Scouts of America and The Boys & Girls Club. Paul has been a member at EYC since the 1990s and has been a life-long sailor. He currently owns Scooby Doo a Santana 20.
Those who know Paul know he exemplifies the welcoming and inviting nature of the Eugene.
Paul and his wife Katherine are currently on vacation in Mexico. Paul, Rich Aaring, and I will work to develop a transition plan over the next several months.
I know Paul will be around the club a lot this season. If you do not yet know him, I hope you will introduce yourself the next time you see him on the grounds.
Our current Club Manager, Rich Aaring has been voicing interest in retiring for several years now. He has begrudgingly stayed on to support those of us on the board. I know we have all relied on his encyclopedic knowledge of club history and calm leadership.
During last night’s meeting Rich Johnson proposed that we thank Rich for his years of service by creating a new club position. Rich Aaring was voted in unanimously as our new Club Historian. Thank you again for all you have done for the club Rich!
Cabana
John and Sandy Franklin decided to move from the blue cabana space to an open trailer space. They have also generously donated the upgrade to the cabana to the club. The cabana will now be a club use space that will be controlled at the discretion of the board. Thank you, John and Sandy, for your incredibly generous donation!
Trailer Regulations
We appreciate the comments related to the proposed trailer regulations. Our recommendations are based on the best available information after speaking with a number of professionals.
The fire inspector determined that the actual cause of the fire is inconclusive, but the evidence showed that it probably emanated from a refrigerator. Fires most commonly start in trailer refrigerators, water heaters, and cabin heaters whether propane or electric. Trailer refrigerators are different than home refrigerators and vent to the outside. These spaces can attract spider webs, rodent nests, and other flammable debris and are the most common cause of trailer fires. Trailer maintenance professionals recommend that these spaces be cleaned every year.
The trailer committee determined that prevention is the best way to reduce the likelihood that we will have a fire in the future. Due to this common fire source, EYC will do an annual inspection of the refrigeration unit, heating unit, and water heater. These inspections can be done from the outside of the trailer through maintenance covers. If the space needs to be cleaned the trailer owner will be billed for that time by EYC.
Fire is more easily spread when there is a long line of flammable sources without adequate fire breaks. Trailers with attached decks do not allow for a fire break. Decks and storage on and under decks create additional fuel to allow for a fire’s spread. Our goal with the new regulations is to create as much defensible space between the trailers as possible and to slow the spread of a fire so there is more time and possibilities for suppression. Please review Lane County’s recommendations for creating defensible space along with the PNWCG’s brochure, Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner, and Cal Fire’s recommendations for defensible space. Links to the documents are below:
Lane County’s recommendations for creating defensible space
PNWCG’s brochure, Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner
Cal Fire’s recommendations for defensible space
EYC is also looking into various fire suppression methods including a fire alarm system and an irrigation pump that can reach out into deeper parts of the lake. It is important to note that we have an irrigation system, not a fire suppression system, and the two are quite different. While the club will work to improve the overall systems, our best option is to reduce the likelihood of a fire and create better conditions for stopping a fire if it starts. That is the crux of the new trailer regulations.
We have also realized that existing club rules on insurance are not adequate and are confusing. We are working to ensure that all trailer owners have the necessary insurance to protect themselves, their neighbor, and the club.
We will have one final comment period at February’s general meeting. Each person who would like to comment will be provided with 2 minutes to make a statement. Due to other items on the agenda this period will be limited to timed comments, not a general discussion. These statements will be taken into consideration by the trailer committee who will provide final recommendations to the board. The board will have a closed discussion about the final recommendations in March.