Ok, I hesitate to post this comment here as I assume the board reads this assumes we fall under the patriot act and should not be let in. However, I do want to try to assist with correcting the situation the community is in rather than just sound like I am complaining. However, I believe to achieve this we must act soon as we have hit the tipping point.

I believe we are now in trouble as all the White Paper rhetoric has ceased. The truth and reality of the choices are becoming increasingly apparent. Obvious issues are upon us. I am sorry Bennett is getting the brunt of aggression here.  I am a Bennett for the People Fan.   Not a real effective solution nor does he deserve the brunt of the aggression.    I am not one of the Impeach Bob Crowd either;  however, I will hold him and the board accountable.    I am very concerned and passionate about the community. Aside from my anger, frustration and general bad feelings about the choices made, I do believe in Big Canoe. What I am starting to get really stirred up is the community apathy that exists.  These members that tap me on the back and say good idea. Then when it comes to speaking up. They go silent.  We need the silent majority to wake up here and smell the roses and act.

I would like to see this Forum evolve into a more solution oriented forum. I would like to propose a new idea section that isolates problems and makes suggestions. I believe we have a great deal of punch list items that can be corrected. I also believe some fundamental core procedures need to change for this ship to turn. There are some very permanent decisions made by the board and the committees that cannot be completely corrected. However, there are many things that can be done to move forward. I am not ready to throw in the towel. I have worked through many management issues  as employee, executive and entrepreneur. I have found there are always folks that push their agenda and play out their management fantasies. We can correct the course here. My proposal is to provide ideas and solutions. Lets work together create answers to this issues.

Here are a few ideas and solution oriented suggestions:

• Bring Breakfast back - Its cheap to provide and even the most poorly run private restaurants seem to achieve profits.
• Create a no reservation required menu plan. If you want the specials you will need a reservation. You should be able to service burgers, pizza, and salads on the fly.
• If you make a reservation and cancel within 24 hours you should get charged.
• Provide high speed wireless internet for the place and have morning area where you can gather.
• Buy some decent coffee from a real roaster and offer it with real danishes, Bagels and muffins baked by someone who cares (not Sysco food service)
• Get real mustard and ketchup and do not put in on the table. Have it come with the meals.
• Dim the lights at night inside.
• Have more community events that involve food services. More speakers at Breakfast and special dinners for all residents to enjoy not just the mens club.
• Provide childcare options during dining (Ok for the I may get sued crowd - Get more liability coverage)
• Have Happy hours with free food (wings, pizza, etc)
• Have an outdoor singer on the patio during the sunset on weekends.
• Have Golfer’s Breakfast before the tournaments
• Get rid of all the levels of Directors and hire one good restaurant executive and let them manage as needed.
• Hire more staff and train them to understand their job is based on their ability to please the customer and not the management
• If you cannot find staff, figure out how all the other continuing profitable business’ outside the gate seem to do it
• Blow out the wall from the bar to the restaurant and make the profitable use have more space.  Reduce the fine dining as we know that is just a pipe dream anyway.
• Blow out the rail to the outside deck, repave it with stamped stained contrete and build an outdoor fire place
• Have outdoor food service with patio heaters for  fall use and spring use.
• Turn the downstairs card rooms into to a Media center where movies and sports events can be viewed while you are served expensive and profitable beverages.
• Increase prices across the board 25%, eliminate required tipping for members and provide a  discount of  25% if you charge the  tab to your account.  That way non members  and those renting will pay resort pricing  as expected.   The tip should be earned by good service.  Base pay could increase slightly to offset the cheapskates
• Provide locker rental for personal beverages that could be rented to folks that wish to have a beverage on Sunday. Mixers would be provided for a fee.
• Theme your nights where we have dining with unique hard to get items -  King Crab and Oyster Roasts with music
• Build an outdoor grill and make hamburgers all the time  - with real “non frozen made by hand” meat.
• Buy BBQ from the folks that make it well and offer it.  I know a few brothers in Ball Ground that do a darn good job
• Rotate temporary chefs in from the Atlanta Culinary schools for training and offer different cuisines during the rotation.
• Finally, stop telling people what they cannot have and tell the customer you will do whatever is possible to satisfy their need.

Please spend some time thinking of additional ideas.  Follow a creative model process where no idea is shot down until we have 500 to chose from.  Then we can pass these thoughts to board in a public manner.   Positive but without individual censorship.

Thanks for all your passion.   My battery is running out and I have more thoughts but need to hold back so others can add to the Punch list.

Have a Great 4th and God Bless America and Big Canoe!