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Come out and learn the Big Canoe version of bocce. All communities play bocce with slightly different rules and in Big Canoe, we have our own specific regulations for playing in a league. To keep things consistent, we ask that all league players and substitutes attend one two-hour session of bocce orientation if the are new to Big Canoe’s bocce ways.

We are offering two-hour bocce orientation sessions — full schedule below.

Call the Racquet Club (706) 268-3367 to register for orientation. There is no charge for orientation, but you need to register.

Fall Bocce Orientation Dates & Times
Thursday, August 5 – 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.
Friday, August 6 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 7 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 8 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Monday, August 9 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 10 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 11 – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Don’t want to play in a league? No worries. We are happy to teach you regardless of whether you play in a league. We welcome all Big Canoe residents to come out and enjoy the game.

Contact Linda Powell at lpowell@bigcanoepoa.org with any further questions. 

The post Get Your Bocce On: Sign Up for Big Canoe Bocce Orientation appeared first on Inside the Gates.

By Rich McLeod
Strategic Planning Committee Chairman

As Big Canoe readies to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we are in the midst of a professional strategic planning initiative to chart our community’s next half-century. You may have heard that there is a committee of property owners on this and have wondered what and why they are involved?

With that in mind, below are some essential details about how we are developing and drafting this roadmap to Big Canoe’s future:

Q: What is strategic planning?
A: The purpose of strategic planning is to set and achieve the strategic objectives of an organization. While it has a mid to long-term view of where we are going, it’s used as a context for decision-making in driving short-term goals and annual operating/business plans. The plan acts as a roadmap for where we are going and provides guide rails to ensure we stay on course.

Q: What’s included in a Strategic Plan?
A: A good strategic plan includes:

Mission and vision statements that answer why we are here, what we want to be, and where we are going.
High-level strategic objectives examining what we need to do at a high level to achieve our mission and vision.
Situational analysis, which examines where are we now vs. where we want to be.
Action plans to guide short-term operation plans, mid to long-term plans, and the master plan.

While the strategic plan does not include annual operating plans and action plans, it is used by operations as a guide in decision-making and prioritization of annual operating plans.

Q: Doesn’t Big Canoe already have a strategic plan?
A: A strategic plan was developed in 2015. While this plan was distributed through the POA website, it was not widely communicated and now needs to be updated. In the 2021 property owner satisfaction survey, awareness of the strategic plan had among the lowest ratings in the survey.

As a result, the POA Board chartered a Strategic Planning Committee to update key parts of the strategic plan and to develop a process to ensure the plan is used for decision making by the POA Board, Long Range Planning Committee and Big Canoe operations.

Q: What is the purpose and role of the Strategic Planning Committee?
A: The temporary committee is tasked with:

Updating the Vision Statement for Big Canoe to reflect the needs and aspirations of property owners.
Develop high-level strategic objectives to guide the POA Board, Long Term Planning Committee and POA operations in decision making, prioritization, detailed goals and action plans.
Develop a process for ongoing development, communication and use of strategic planning principles throughout Big Canoe that is consistent with our overall vision and strategic objectives.

Q: Who’s on the Strategic Planning Committee and how was it formed?
A: A range of Big Canoe property owners with an expertise or strong interest in strategic planning. The 10-member committee was designed to include a cross-section of the community represented by new and long-term property owners; rental property owners; part and full-time residents who own; retired and still-working owners; and owners from a mix of age groups. Current members include Scott Auer, Bob Bachman, Bob Baird, Regis Falinski, Rich McLeod, Deneen Morgia, David Sharp, Joe Thompson, Michael Trinkle and Greg Whitaker

Q: What has the Strategic Planning Committee done and what is it doing?
A: The first mission is to develop the vision of what we want Big Canoe to become over the next 50 years. To succeed, this requires community-wide input reflecting the needs, wants and vision of all property owners. For this, we have enlisted T4 Associates, a Chicago-based consulting company specializing only in surveys and data analysis around the voice of the customer (VOC). This business and information technology term was coined to identify a very specific in-depth process of capturing customer’s expectations, preferences and aversions. T4 is applying the same kind of analysis to accurately determine the voice of the Big Canoe community.

Q: Didn’t we just do this in 2019 with the Chambers Planning Survey?
A: The 2021 satisfaction survey and 2019 Chambers study both focused on our current status and tactical issues. The purpose of the strategic plan is to look at strategic questions. For example, are we primarily a community or a resort? Do we want to be a high-end luxury community, a mid-level quality community, or a low-level economy community? Do we want to be a private, semi-private or public-access community? And how fast are we willing to move to realize our ultimate vision?

Neither the satisfaction survey nor the Chambers study was strategic. Both failed to provide the data on major strategic issues needed in a strategic plan.

Q: Why do we need to hire another consultant? Can’t POA staff manage this?
A: To get the very best results, we need professional specialists with expertise in consulting and analyzing the voice of the community. There is a precision to properly conducting a survey, to what and how a question is posed, that directly affects its accuracy. T4 has a proven track record having delivered powerful results for Fortune 500 companies. Hiring an outside firm also ensures the kind of objectivity not possible if it were left solely up to Strategic Planning Committee members.

Q: Who is T4 Associates and how were they selected?
A: We evaluated several strategic-planning and voice-of-the-customer consulting firms to bring a high level of professionalism to this project. We received competitive quotes for evaluation based on their proposed cost, expertise and approach. T4 was selected because they specialize in voice of the customer surveys – that’s all they do – and have done so since 2006 with over 400 engagements and having conducted over 24,000 in-depth interviews.

Their approach for this project is a combination of focus groups, in-depth interviews and a community-wide web-based survey.

Q: What is the overall timetable and steps for completing the Strategic Plan?
A: The first step is to complete the voice of the community survey. T4 will have finished VOC research and data analysis by mid-August.

Using the T4 findings as a foundation, the Strategic Planning Committee and ad hoc members will then meet to draft a new vision statement and high-level strategic objectives for review and comment by the POA Board and the larger community at a Town Hall meeting in September. The vision and strategic objectives will be finalized in September.

Development of the process for ongoing strategic planning is independent of the vision and strategic objectives and has already begun. Elements of the strategic plan, planning tools and templates (i.e. situational analysis, SWOT [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis, gap analysis, goals and action plans, communication, etc.) will be completed by mid-September.

Training and coaching for POA staff to adopt strategic plans will be conducted in September, with the goal of completing work plans and performance goals by mid-November.

Recommendations for how to ensure strategic planning becomes ongoing in Big Canoe and is communicated to all property owners and stakeholders will be presented to the POA Board by mid-October. At that point, the Strategic Planning Committee will have completed its chartered mission and will disband.

The hard work of the members of the Strategic Planning Committee and the support of both the POA Board and General Manager Scott Auer will position Big Canoe for a very bright future.

The post The roadmap to our future: What to know about Big Canoe’s Strategic Planning Committee appeared first on Inside the Gates.

Starting Sunday July 18 from 10:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Brunch will be back at the Clubhouse.

Reservations recommended: (706) 268-1253 or on the Open Table app on the dining page when you log on at www.bigcanoepoa.org

This is a $29 price point Brunch; $15 for 11 and under. Kids three and younger eat free.

Brunch Menu Summer 2021

LUNCH

Dijon and Garlic Encrusted Pork Tenderloin or Top Round Beef-Rosemary Demi and/or Peach Chutney
Chicken Marsala or Fried Chicken
Trout or Salmon Almandine

BREAKFAST SIDE

Boar’s Head Bacon and Sausage
Truffle Grits and Honey Butter Biscuits and White Sausage Gravy
Belgian Waffles and Macerated Berries
Omelet Station with all the topping Tomatoes, Cheese, Mushrooms, Onions, Ham, Salsa, Peppers, etc.
Fruit and Local Cheese Display
Smoked Salmon Display Bagels, Red Onion, Capers, Parsley Dill Cream Cheese, etc.
Salad Bar- 2 Composed Salad- Macaroni, Potato, Greens or whatever we need to use for that week/day
Dessert Station- Key, Lime, Limoncello Poundcake, Pecan Pie, Chocolate Mousse.

ADDITIONAL DISHES TO BE ADDED IN THE COMING WEEKS:

Summer Time Squash with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan
Smoked Gouda and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Soup- Chowder or Tomato Bisque

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From delays in asphalt repaving to the twice-canceled family movie night, the weather-related disruption to life in Big Canoe was relentless in June.

And don’t even get us started on how many times a downpour repeatedly delayed repairs to the Disharoon Lake drainage system. Some key stages of much-needed work have been postponed for as long as a week and a half.

Sure, we can tell you that we’ve had buckets of rain, but why take our word for it when Big Canoe is blessed with its own weather experts in Joseph Raley and Bill McClatchey?

Measuring the conditions atop Sanderlin Mountain, Bill keeps tabs on the temperature, which in June had an average high of 78.6 degrees, up slightly from 77.4 degrees in the same month in 2020.

However, our resident precipitation guy Joseph, who also monitors from Sanderlin, recorded much more dramatic results: he measured the rainfall for June at 9.8 inches, up from 6.8 inches in that same period in 2020. To put that amount in perspective, the average rainfall for June over the last 32 years has been 5.8 inches.

So, yes – we are getting a lot of rain. And unfortunately, assorted weather services are forecasting more in the coming weeks.

Keep that umbrella handy!

The post Rain, rain won’t go away appeared first on Inside the Gates.

By Tom Durban

“Any property owner can go online and reserve the Marina watercraft up to 90 days in advance.”

Did you know you can reserve online any type of watercraft rented by the Marina? This includes the pontoon boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).

Like golf, the Marina allows property owners to reserve watercraft in a limited window of time. Any property owner can go online and reserve the Marina watercraft up to 90 days in advance.  Reservations can be made by clicking on “Marina Watercraft” on www.bigcanoepoa.org.

To avoid being charged for a reservation, the property owner is required to cancel the reservation online or by calling the Marina, 706-268-3303. The only exception to this reservation process is the Fourth of July; reservations for July 4 are taken by phone or in person at the Marina starting at 8 a.m. on Jan. 2.

Here are two reminders for those looking at the online reservation screens.

Pontoon boats require a charging period of one-hour between each reservation.
Your future watercraft reservations can be viewed on the reservations screen by clicking on the “My Activity Reservations” tab.

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By Tom Durban

The POA and the Lakes and Marina Committee have worked over the years to create rules so Lake Petit can be enjoyed by guests and property owners, including those living on the lakefront. These rules are designed for safety and to maintain the character of Lake Petit while allowing everyone to enjoy the beauty of the lake.

Swimming: In 2014, the POA established a swim area on Lake Petit that allowed property owners and guests to enjoy the lake while respecting the lakefront property owners. Please observe the designated swimming area, which is roughly between the dam and Eagle Island, so we can continue to swim in Lake Petit. Swimming in Lake Petit is only allowed from a boat or watercraft; you cannot enter from the shoreline.
Watercraft: All personal watercraft used in Big Canoe are required to have a BC sticker. Also, all watercraft must be Coast Guard-approved unless tethered to another craft that is also capable of supporting individuals on the tethered watercraft.
Fishing: A Big Canoe fishing permit is required to fish on any Big Canoe lake. The permit can be obtained from the Marina anytime from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a limit of four trout per day and only two fishing poles per person. We ask you don’t return the trout to the lake after being caught; These trout rarely survive. Fish fact: Did you know more than 12,000 pounds of trout are added to the lake each year and our local eagles eat about 900 pounds annually?
Eagle Island: To protect the habitat of the two nesting American bald eagles, no one is allowed on Eagle Island. Please respect the symbol of America that graces Big Canoe.

Enjoyment at the Marina
The outdoor tables and the veranda porch at the Marina are open for your enjoyment. Feel free to enjoy the sunshine or gather with your friends. The Marina has coffee, water, soda, beer and wine for sale, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. We welcome your visit and are happy to show you the changes to the Marina over the past six months. Info:(706) 268-3303.

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Ernest Hensley

Access Control Supervisor

Do you prefer to authorize your guest for entry by calling Big Canoe Dispatch at 706-268-3376? If so, have you specified on your property a verbal confirmation code used to verify your identity when calling on the telephone?

Many today are searching for ways to circumvent security measures. A phone call from an unknown person without a verbal confirmation code requires Public Safety staff to attempt to verify the caller’s identity via phone numbers, email addresses, etc., which is information that’s now relatively easy to find or to buy.

A verbal confirmation code is an additional knowledge factor—a type of authentication credential made up of information possessed by a user—that differs from a website password. It’s all easy to say over the phone, which is very important, and is more secure than a searchable piece of information such as date of birth or your mother’s maiden name.

A Property Owner can enter a verbal confirmation code via computer or by telephoning Big Canoe Dispatch at 706-268-3376. A long-term tenant with a lease can telephone in guests but should specify a verbal confirmation code. Short-term rentals cannot authorize guest entry.

However, it is more efficient and accurate for property owners to use their desktop computer or dwellingLIVE mobile phone app to personally enter a guest name with the arrival date. Property owners may register for dwellingLIVE by emailing maingate@bigcanoepoa.org. Both the iOS and Android versions of the app are available to download for free in the Apple Store or via Google Play.

An ongoing major issue for Public Safety is the failure of property owners to authorize guest entry before their guest arrives at the gates. The gate staff is trained to deny entry when the guest’s name is not listed in the dwellingLIVE system.

The post What to know about approving guest entry into Big Canoe appeared first on Inside the Gates.

While everyone loves taking in a meal on Clubhouse Veranda with a breeze coming off of Lake Sconti, many regulars have long pined for the days when the space was live-music hotspot, a gathering place for to friends gathered and, if the spirit’s willing, take took over the dancefloor.

Dancing days at the Clubhouse are here again starting with the 7 p.m. Friday, July 16 performance by Sound Incorporated, a band that proudly describes itself as practitioners of “ ‘60s and ‘70s good time rock ‘n’ roll.”

The show is the first in a monthly series of performances aimed to restore the Clubhouse’s status as a weekend hub of fun.

“We’ve been hearing from not just our patrons but from people around the community who really miss being able to come down to the Clubhouse, catch up with friends and take in some live music at the end of the week,” says Amenity Manager Robert Sabat. “Now, we can help to make the Clubhouse even more of the gathering place that we all envisioned it can be.”

Sound Incorporated is just the first in a program of upcoming performances that includes but is not limited to shows on Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 13 and Nov. 12. The Clubhouse is looking at adding additional dates.

Only beverages – no food service – will be available at the Pub and Veranda bar during the performance, which ends around 10 p.m. However, dinner will be available in the dining room until 9 p.m., with the last reservation at 8 p.m. As always, reservations are strongly recommended.

For more info or reservations: (706) 268-1253 or use the Open Table app under the dining tab when signing onto bigcanoepoa.org.

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