President's Letter to the Membership 2012
I am pleased and proud to communicate to you, our Avalon members, highlights from the 2011 year, as well as our excitement about the 2012 upcoming seasons. We are proud to have been honored in 2011 by Richmond magazine as one of the best recreational clubs in Richmond, which is a tribute to Avalon’s standard of excellence for teaching and performance in aquatics and tennis, as well as a tribute to our beautiful facility.
During the winter months the Avalon Board has been working to develop exciting new programs in tennis and aquatics. Working together with our members we revived our aquatics and tennis committees. In doing so we hope to provide improved swim programs for all age levels, along with additional tennis pro options for our adult community. The Board has set in motion an aggressive drive to fill the remaining available family memberships by offering a $100 referral fee to any member who signs a new member, as well as a $100 referral fee for local realtors. The Board has recognized the challenges the economy has brought to young families, and has rolled back our initiation fees below $1,000 to fill our pools and tennis courts with young aspiring swim, dive, and tennis champions. The Board also held annual dues constant for the third straight year, while continuing to invest in the highest level of facility maintenance.
On the financial side, in 2012 the Board will trim Avalon’s mortgage rate and reduce club costs for banking, bookkeeping, internet and phone service by leveraging opportunities with local banks and businesses. By the end of February, 2012, Avalon will receive draft financial audit results of the 2009 and 2010 calendar years, completed by the accounting firm of Pilc and Moseley. Ellen Moseley, our independent auditor, will begin a less costly financial review of the 2011 financials this spring, with results expected by summer 2012.
As we look back at 2011, a few highlights stand out. Avalon hosted Dive Championships in 2011, and as we continue to promote a strong dive program we will host Dive Champs again in 2012. Avalon’s swim team finished third in their division – Go Gators! Two Avalon juniors won the 2011 Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) summer series for ages 12 and 16. In 2011, Avalon fielded a junior tennis team at every age level, the only recreational club to do so. Once again, Avalon hosted a successful tennis Autumn Cup, adding two more participating clubs this year and generating a $2500 donation to the RTA. At the pool, Avalon has built a fun and competitive summer bridge league, culminating in bridge trophies awarded to our summer champions.
As I look ahead, Avalon has already posted the Spring Tennis schedule on the web Site, and plans for Gator Camp, tennis, swim and dive are underway. I look forward to greeting you at Avalon’s opening adult social on Friday of Memorial Day weekend, featuring live music and great food, beer and wine. As I usher in Avalon’s 54th year as your community association, I look forward to seeing you at the pool and on the court in 2012.
Sincerely,
Jeff Wrobel,
2012 Avalon Board President