There have been several deaths and illnesses with our members this year and we would like to extend our condolences and prayers to all of our members.

 Welcome Back!

 What a great opening weekend we had. Mother nature played in our favor over the weekend and with many volunteers that showed up to help out the water was able to be turned on, the roads were patched, tables were put out, the only thing that we were unable to do was to clean up the common areas of the campground, so we will be working slowly at getting those areas cleaned up.

Thanks so much to all our volunteers who helped out.

Volunteering isn’t always about manual labor, but it is also the people who either helped in providing food for us or cooking the food for us.  Volunteering for your campground can come in many ways, it’s not always about the time or work that you can put into OUR wonderful campground there is other ways to help out as well. You can always donate items either for the Little red barn, activities, or pop for our pop machine. Other things are maintenance items as well.  Every little bit helps.

I’m excited and looking forward to another great camping season at our campground Grand View Bend.

Tracy Miller, President

Dollars and Sense:

Lots dues run down:  Of 342 lots, 280 have paid their dues for 2012 and 14 people have made arrangements. There are 2 lots at attorney for 2009 & 2010 past dues and 6 people from 2011 who have been turned over to collection. The treasurer will be contacting the remaining 48 lot owners this week for payment by the weekend or they will be turned over to collection also.

What do the association dues pay?  According to budget, we pay the following each year:

• $12,450 in electric
• $3,200 in natural gas
• $5,800 in property taxes
• $7,000 in insurance
• $27,109 in subcontracting
• $4,200 in trash removal
• $3,000 in pool supplies
• Plus miscellaneous other expenses such as pop machine, ice machine, supplies for the secretary and treasurer, maintenance, etc.

Without your dues, we would not be able to open so it is important for everyone to pay their dues on time and in full.

Kathy Brown, Executive Treasurer, Grand View Bend

Reminders:

• Golf Carts – You must be 16 years old with a valid driver’s license or have a beginners permit with an adult in the front of the cart.
• There is a 10 miles per hour speed limit which starts at the gate.  Please watch for children as they dart without looking.
• The only freestanding unit allowed in the campground according to the definitions in the restrictions is a gazebo or a pre-manufactured screen room.

TENTATIVE ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Please note all dates are tentative.  Please check the bulletin boards each weekend.

May 26 – Little Red Barn 8:30-10:00 for coffee & donuts

May 26 – Auction, Pavilion – 4:00 p.m. to ?? Snacks available

May 27 – Pancake Breakfast, Pavilion – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

May 27 – Soup Cook Off – Fundraiser – Pavilion, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

May 28 – Memorial Services, meet at Little Red Barn at 9:30 a.m.

June 2 – Little Red Barn, 8:30 – 10:00 for coffee & donuts

June 2 – Annual Meeting, Pavilion, 1:00 p.m., snacks

June 9 – Movies starting on Saturdays at dusk depending on weather

June 16 – Car Cruise In by Little Red Barn 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Little Red Barn open during event.

June 23 – Hay Stack Dinner – fundraiser – Pavilion, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

June 30 – Craft Show, Little Red Barn, 9:00 -11:00 a.m., LRB open during event

June 30 – Golf Cart Wash – Fundraiser at Little Red Barn 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., LRB open during event

June 30 – Bicycle Parade children, meet at Pavilion at 12:30

June 30 – Golf Cart Parade, meet at Pavilion at 2:30

June 30 – Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, Little Red Barn, 2:00 p.m.

June 30 – DJ or Band, Stage at Big Red Barn, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

July 1 – Pancake Breakfast – Pavilion – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

July 7 – Santa Clause for Children, Pavilion, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Lots for Sale

Remember, only a few people will be receiving the written newsletter.  If you would like to post your lot for sale on the website, please contact Cindy Perry.  I would be happy to take a picture to post as well.  It is $5 for a one year posting (from the date of the posting).  Take your lot posting World Wide!

If you purchase or sell a lot, it is your responsibility to inform the secretary.

2004 Covington Park Model by Forrest River.  12’x36’ concrete patio. 12’x36’ aluminum awning by “Patio Enclosure”.  1 8×12 shed, golf cart, landscaped – ready for summer.  Call Bob and Linda at 1-219-838-1610

Asking $16,000.

Please call: 863-840-1975

• Two teams to open water lines
• People to help pick up limbs in all common areas
• Picnic tables back to reciprocal camping area
• Leaves and other debris cleaned off playgrounds and other common area
• Put out swings
• Clean Pavillion for carry in lunch and meeting

I can’t believe that the winter season is nearly half over.  In just over 3 months, we will be opening GVBA once again for a season of sun and fun.

But first, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped with a successful closing once again. It was a beautiful day and we all worked together in harmony. We had a great turn out and everyone pitched in to get all the little things taken care of and/or helped to feed all the volunteers.  They were: Don Guernsey, Maintenance Chair, Rex Tom, Delbert & Eva Miller, Tracy and Brooke Miller and friend Kylie, Roger, Sue and Amanda Rogers, Kathy Brown, Bill Grice, Jim Davenport, Kevin and Cindy Perry, Bob Porter and his Number One Gal Haley, Vern and Jo Ann Andreshak, Gus Hershberger, Greg and Tracy Sharp, Don Hippenhammer, Bruce and Daisy Christopher, Bud and Phyllis Holm, Dottie Stepp and George and Peggy Enboden. If I have missed anyone, I am very sorry and thank you for your help as well.  Many others were helping friends get their own campers ready for the winter.  We also had a wonderful lunch complete with ice cream.

Also, this winter has been hard on many of the trees at the campground.  There are a lot of branches down all over the campground.  Please do not put them in the roads.  We need to be able to access all roads in case of emergency even in the winter.  In the spring, we will have a clean up day and can bring the wagon around to pick up branches if you have them next to road.  If you need help in removing branches, please let us know.

This brings us to Opening Day which will be on Saturday, April 14^th.  Volunteers should meet at the big barn at 9:00 a.m.  As with closing, there are many tasks to be done including turning on the water, moving the picnic tables back to the reciprocal camping area, and picking up branches and leaves from the various common areas.  We will need a lot of help in getting GVBA back to beautiful for the summer season.  We hope you will volunteer to help us get the season started right!

God bless during the remaining winter months and see you soon!

Tracy Miller

From One of Our Own!

Maumee Graduate Awarded Army Commendation Medal Army Staff Sgt. Rob Schmidt was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor.  Schmidt received the award for bravery while engaging the enemy on August 11. A 2004 graduate of Maumee High School, Schmidt enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006.  He is currently stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., and is serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He will return to the United States in January. Schmidt is married to Ashley Schmidt. He is the son of Heidi Schmidt of Maumee and Bob Schmidt of Swanton and the grandson of George and Vicki Dunham of Maumee. He is also the brother of Joe Schmidt. He is also the nephew of Ken and Kyle McPherson.

Thank you Kyle for the wonder article and we are very happy that he is coming home safe.

Dollars and Sense:

Please see the enclosed letter regarding Association Fees and Golf Cart tags.

Kathy Brown, Executive Treasurer, Grand View Bend

Newsletter Update

We will now be posting all Newsletters on line so this is the last Newsletter that will be printed and sent to everyone. If you do not have access to the Internet, please send me a note with your name and address so a printed newsletter can be sent to you.  This will save the campground approximately $100 each month on the newsletter since we currently have approximately 210 printed each month and most are mailed at now $.45 each.  Included on the website are blogs, newsletters, lots for sale ($5 per year), ways to volunteer and more.  There is also a members’ only portion for the minutes and financials.  The Restrictions and Code of Bylaws will also be posted this year.  To be part of the members’ only site, please send your name and e-mail address to info@grandviewbend.com attention Secretary (you can access this at our website: www.grandviewbend.com and it is also connected to our Facebook page.  Sign on today to see what information is available as well as post a reply.

Thank you,

Cindy Perry, Secretary

PROPOSED MEETING DATES FOR 2012:

March 10^th at 2:00 p.m. Savory Restaurant, Sturgis

April 14^th at noon Pavilion

May 12^th at 9:00 a.m. Pavilion

June 9^th ANNUAL MEETING 12 noon Pavilion (this may be changed)

July 14^th at 9:00 a.m. Pavilion

August 11^th at 9:00 a.m. Pavilion

September 8^th Membership vote 12 noon Pavilion

October 6^th at 9:00 a.m. Pavilion (one week early due to closing)

All dates and times are subject to change. Please check main bulletin board for changes.

BID SHEETS:

These are available on the website or you can contact us via the phone or mail and they will be mailed out the same day.  These bid sheets MUST BE RECEIVED VIA MAIL by the March 10^th meeting.

LOTS FOR SALE:         

Remember, only a few people will be receiving the written newsletter.  If you would like to post your lot for sale on the website, please contact Cindy Perry.  I would be happy to take a picture to post as well.  It is $5 for a one year posting (from the date of the posting).  Take your lot posting World Wide!

If you purchase or sell a lot, it is your responsibility to inform the secretary.

oh as many of us know it is that time again for severe weather, and sometimes most of us don’t have T.V. to watch while at the campground to keep an eye on the radar system. I have found this to be very helpful in assisting with weather safety while camping.

http://www.wndu.com/weatheralerts

Click on the bar that says Get Weather Alerts Sent to your cell phone and follow the prompts.

I clicked on Elkhart County and Lagrange county

Let’s all stay safe this year.

We are willing to work with everyone regarding your dues, so please if you can not pay them by the April 14th deadline call the number listed below.
For members with questions regarding membership dues, payment arrangements Please contact:
Kathy Brown Executive Treasurer @ GrandView Bend phone (260)-499-1443.

Please do not put the limbs in the road way, we need to keep the roads as clear as possible

.Also if you do drive thru the park please use extreme caution.

We will all be very busy this spring with clean up.

Thank You