As HAH prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in a couple of years, it's no surprise that various things around the "The Hills" need some attention to prepare for the upcoming decades. And as a member owned-and-operated community, it's important to note and recognize the volunteer efforts that help ensure infrastructure and amenities for the future.
While HAH maintains its own maintenance staff, which does a great ongoing job, it's the work of the member committees that has made tremendous differences through the years. Right upfront you'll see the recent evidence. 2008 saw major work done on the dams at Lakes Deerfoot and Arrowhead, and then there's that inviting new playground right inside the front security gate. The dams project was completed by an outside contractor, along with help from the maintenance staff, and the playground was planned and completed by the Parents Committee and the Adopt-An-Area Committee....with all time donated.
The volunteers had already put a whole new face on the front buildings, including the gatehouse and mailhouse, and also have made major improvements to the landscaping and sign that offer a renewed welcome to members and guests. Various materials and equipment for the projects were donated by members, by the way.
You'll also find major changes at the lodge, including a major makeover of the lower level great room (following 2007's re-do of the restaurant upstairs). The Adopt-An-Area folks are now finishing exterior work, including re-staining of the exterior and reworking of the lodge entry. And again, other members have stepped up with donations of materials to complete the picture. Upcoming work will involve re-do's of the parking lot lighting and parking.
And wait, there's more....with ongoing work to provide a refreshing new look at the North Park common area, including additional canoe storage racks.
When prospective members and guests ask about the club membership fee (currently about $3,500) and ongoing monthly assessments (currently $137.22), these are the sorts of things that show just where the money goes. Most of the new member fee supports the amenities improvement process (with requests from the amenities fund made directly by the various member committees), and it's more than hard to imagine a community association anywhere maintaining the amenities HAH offers for a monthly assessment of less than $150.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
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