Published: April 19, 2007 06:58 am         

UNDER THE UMBRELLA: What do I get for my money?

Many times we are faced with this question in our daily lives. Sometimes the answer is clear, sometimes not so clear, and sometimes we just don't care because we have an emotional response to consider.

Take purchasing a home for example. When looking for a new home, many factors figure into the purchase, some of the costs associated with this purchase are clear, but we most surely have to make some compromises until we satisfy our emotional side and we are comfortable with our decision. This is just human nature. That is why we all have different styles and types of houses in widely varied locations. Now take that diversity, put it into a community and try to get agreement. It is much more difficult now to reach a comfortable decision.

So when it comes to capital improvements here in Lake Tansi, many factors are considered for each decision. Some are easy, like which bank will be used for short term investment. Others become more difficult, like determining which project has the highest priority based on getting the most benefit for members for the money invested.

We do not always get a monetary return on money we invest. Sometimes the return is less tangible but no less satisfying. For example, if we invest in a big-screen plasma television, our return on this investment is years of entertainment, not capital appreciation. Real estate and banking investments usually return more than our initial investment, but these investments are certainly not guaranteed.

My point is, that when the POA makes expenditures, we are investing in the future of the POA membership. Some of these "improvements" are not viewed as necessary by some members but are fully embraced by other members. When we add fish to the lake, members who fish think this is great while those who do not fish think it is a waste of money. The same is true of improvements to the golf course. Some of our improvements, like the new cottages, actually return the money invested plus more, while some investments return only pleasure, entertainment and that good feeling we get living in our community.

Your investment in Lake Tansi Village cannot always be measured solely in dollars. So when someone asks, "What do I get for my money?" Entertainment, security, improved equity in my property, satisfying entertainment. The list is endless. As our community grows, the diversity of our investments must respond.