Posted by: thepinetree on 02/18/2014 10:49 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/19/2014 07:43 AM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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Bear Valley's Future...The Community Makes It's Move
Bear Valley, CA....Sky High Pizza was packed on Sunday afternoon as the vision for community ownership of Bear Valley Mountain Resort and Village was presented to the public. The Cooperative has been formed, goals have been set and a workable financial framework has been created. Now it is time to see if the Bear Valley community and the area at large agrees that this is the best plan for a stable and prosperous future. With Bear Valley Mountain Resort and Village on the market the community will be competing with other resort and development companies that are suitors for the properties....
Click Above to Find Out More on The Project And Participate
Now that the plans have been announced speed will be the mantra for the group. The Cooperative's goal is to get to 1,000 members as soon as possible with a long term goal of 4,000 members and $10,000,000 in capital raised for the Mountain and Village assets.
One of the goals as Bear Valley Real Estate's Joel Barnett commented is the opportunity for the community to decide what they want development in Bear Valley to look like and become. What is in the best interest of all the community.
The Cooperative will also allow businesses and interested parties that rely on Bear Valley as a draw for their businesses to have partial ownership and a voice in how it is managed.
There are models for this type of development and ski resort ownership. Sugar Bowl, Bridger Bowl, Mad River Glenn, Bogus Basin and more have made a community ownership model work.
If you take community ownership to the public company model you can even end up with a model such as the Green Bay Packers who have even won Super Bowls as a community owned organization with over 300k shareholders.
Bear Valley's development future and the various ownership groups have had the locals always hoping that maybe this is the time everything will work out as planned. The roller coaster ride has been a bit bumpy at times.
Hope springs eternal because Bear Valley is a very, very special place. As the decades have rolled on and with many of the resorts becoming part of large corporate operations Bear Valley with it's snow covered roads, true village persona becomes a true throwback to a quieter time.
We hope for all of us that the community model gains traction and can provide a well deserved happy ending or our little winter village at the top of the hill.
Below are some details from the Bear Valley Mountain Cooperative's website....
Mission: Preserve the unique characteristics of Bear Valley Mountain through community leadership and ownership. The cooperative believes that Bear Valley Mountain Resort is inextricably linked to the economic vitality of Bear Valley Village and the surrounding communities.
The Bear Valley Mountain Cooperative was an informed evolution of form and function. From the passionate desire of a few homeowners to see Bear Valley reach its full potential to the encouraging town hall meeting, the evolution was both organic and cultivated. The coop exploratory team interviewed key individuals involved in the development of other alternatively managed ski areas including Mad River Glen coop, Bridger Bowl 501c4, Bogus Basin 501c3, and the Sugar Bowl homeowner model. The undeniable sense of ownership, ability to raise funds quickly, and less arduous process of legal and financial formation led to the final decision to form a cooperative.
Cost for membership
A membership share in the Bear Valley Mountain Cooperative is $2,500 which you pay only once. This share provides you with the right to vote, receive member benefits, and have a say in how the mountain and village are operated. You can pay for this share up front or over 36 months at $70/month with a $100 initial payment, but either way you receive membership benefits immediatly upon joining. You can also sell your share back to the cooperative in if you decide that you no longer need the benefits or move away from the area (fee may apply). There will also a ~$299 annual Advance Purchase Requirement (APR) that is paid each year before the winter season starts which can be applied to your season pass purchase, lift tickets, mountain services, or retail store merchandise.
What is a cooperative?
A cooperative is an organization that is owned and controlled by the people who use its products, supplies and/or services.
Do I get benefits?
Yes, the coop will determine what benefits serve the needs of the mountain, village, and community as well as the members. These benefits will be both financial and convenience.
How is it organized?
The coop is registered as a corporation with the California Secretary of State and has filed Articles of Incorporation. The board will form committees focused on specific areas of expertise; financial, operations, and marketing using members that have expertise in those areas.
How is it governed?
The members elect a volunteer board of directors who serve for 3 years to fulfill the fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty and duty of care to the coop. They must abide by the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws.
How is it managed?
The board hires employees that run the business. The managers and staff make the daily decisions and execute the business operations in accordance with the boards’ directives.
Bear Valley Mountain Coop Structure
Vision: Provide safe and enjoyable year round recreation in many modes to enthusiasts and their families both human powered and motorized.
Mission: Preserve the unique characteristics of Bear Valley Mountain through community leadership and ownership. The cooperative believes that Bear Valley Mountain Resort is inextricably linked to the economic vitality of Bear Valley Village and the surrounding communities.
Board of Directors: The Bear Valley Cooperative membership will elect a board of directors that represents a mix of residents, homeowners, and business owners with diverse backgrounds in areas that would benefit the ongoing needs of the mountain, village, and community. Each BOD term is 3 years and they serve on a volunteer basis through a membership voting process managed by the coop board.
Committees: After the cooperative elects a BOD they will for committees that will specialize in areas that reflect the ongoing needs of operating the cooperative in a sustainable way that fulfulls the vision and mission of the cooperative.
Mountain and Village Management: The coop BOD will be responsible to develop an ongoing strategic plan for the mountain and village. The coop board will be responsible for hiring key and oversight for the personnel that will operate and manage the day to day operations. That management structure will be put in place once the membership has elected a formal BOD.
Elections: Each year the membership will elect new or re-elect board members that reflect the needs of the cooperative. BOD members are volunteers and serve 3 year terms and can be re-elected. It is important that there is a diverse representation of homeowners, business owners, residents, homeowners, and others that use the mountain and facilities.
Annual Meeting: Every year there will be a membership meeting that will be used to inform the membership about the actions of the board, financial status, strategic planning, benefits, and other concerns of the membership. This is also an event where members can raise issues and discuss topics directly with their board. It is also a free and fun ski day on the hill.
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