Thanks for posting this, Evan. I'm a member at Wildwood and it's a great place to hang out. Connie, Rick, and Murray have done a wonderful job with the place and I've felt welcome since day 1.
Hopefully we can keep another naturist spot from becoming a hostile place for our way of life.
As you said, this resort is among many that are on the market or about to be. What is the national organizations role in 'saving' resorts for future generations to enjoy?
they'll say nothing, but it should be something......it is odd though, historically, very few privately owned clubs have ever managed to convert any of these to co-ops/ non-profits, shareholder situations...even if the dollar amounts do not seem that high, passing the hat or maybe trusting someone to lead the passing of the hat has rarely gone anywhere...Lake Como did and it was only due to kind of a quirk that it succeeded......even people with money will rarely invest, but then complain afterwards.....I ran a company that had a stock buy-in, all doctors, best year ever was 8 out of like 350 eligible, and what was it, just investing a lousy $2-$4K each, all of the guys/gals made 100x that or more, they wanted a guaranteed return, or something, you know, having a sound company guaranteed them a job, but only I guess if someone else paid for it .......the paperwork was a waste of time and I quit in after 10 years, ......one time when I was in college, a neighbor growing up was selling a 1% stake in our local telephone company, she said she would give me first right to buy it, and I knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime. I sold comic books, baseball cards, worked 16 hour days at the mill that summer, sold a gun, used my Junior and senior tuition I had saved from high school, and I even begged to have a payment plan with the elderly lady. Spring break trip? No way.....I got a job for a week, listed dogs at 0.50/ a dog for three townships, but heck that was $800!.....Now I got lucky in that I was awarded a scholarship for free tuition senior year, but man did I work, and when I graduated, I had her paid off, had $15 to my name, no school debt, but owned a chunk of a private company that today had paid me back 50 times and is worth 100x what I paid for it. Sometimes, when these opportunities come up you just have to find the money, I know 4Million is a lot of money, but 1,5M down payment x 50 people is only $30,000. each...... IMHO if the members and residents are running that tight to the bone, maybe forming a co-op is a bridge to far as operations will get them later on. Good luck
The members are trying to save it from sale. The owners are not trying to save it, though they would prefer that it stay a naturist club, it is not a stipulation of sale.
Evan, in all due respect, they always say that, but if a developer comes by tomorrow with cash, nudists versus money, it is ALWAYS money....none of this is that hard to do, but you have to plan ahead of time...Lake Como had a legal right in that they had formed a homeowners association and were protected by FL law in that the homeowners had a right to match the offer and did....now I do NOT know Texas law... but ALWAYS surprised how no one ever thinks "hey what happens if the owners sell?" yet they put Park models on rented lots.....or don't heed and follow examples like Como's, now that happened 20 years ago....but in nudism and nudist industry no one knows anything it seems.....maybe AANR needs to get their head out of the sand and actually advise people of what has been done. I also heard the Goodland deal fell through....rumor? IDK, if I was a member of one of these clubs owned by older owners without an obvious plan, I'd be talking to owners, making a co-op ......but that is just me......I am a Como member (co-op), Avatan member resident (non-profit), Paradise Pines resident (Condo association) and so these problems are solved............. I guess I used to guest lecture for a business class, so maybe I think about these things....idk, frustrating looking at this from the outside.......sort of like me getting mad at the Minnesota Twins
I have substantial experience with entities (usually non-profit) raising funds for a specific purpose like this. Without a doubt, the most important thing the sponsoring entity can do to capture the interest (and donations!) of a broader audience is to demonstrate a very high level of commitment by the "insiders". In this case, they claim there are 50+ residents and another 75+ members who are doing their best to raise $30,000 to launch an acquisition effort that will require $1.5MM. This seems quite reasonable on its face.
But when I reviewed their progress on the donation site, only 18 people have stepped up and the average donation is under $100. If they are fully committed to raising Funds from "outsiders", who typically only commit funds to a campaign that appears to be fully supported by the "insiders", they really need to step up. They should be able to raise at least $1,000 from each resident, and perhaps $500 from each non-resident member, which would get them $87,500. When you can demonstrate that level of commitment to the "outside world" I think you will find many more people joining in the mission to preserve this precious community.
Without strong "insider buy-in", good luck trying to convince donors you are not just another bunch of dreamers that will never step up and get it done.
Thanks for posting this, Evan. I'm a member at Wildwood and it's a great place to hang out. Connie, Rick, and Murray have done a wonderful job with the place and I've felt welcome since day 1.
Hopefully we can keep another naturist spot from becoming a hostile place for our way of life.
Wildwood has been instrumental in my naturist journey. It’s a great place with great people. Its where I ran my first naked 5K.
As you said, this resort is among many that are on the market or about to be. What is the national organizations role in 'saving' resorts for future generations to enjoy?
they'll say nothing, but it should be something......it is odd though, historically, very few privately owned clubs have ever managed to convert any of these to co-ops/ non-profits, shareholder situations...even if the dollar amounts do not seem that high, passing the hat or maybe trusting someone to lead the passing of the hat has rarely gone anywhere...Lake Como did and it was only due to kind of a quirk that it succeeded......even people with money will rarely invest, but then complain afterwards.....I ran a company that had a stock buy-in, all doctors, best year ever was 8 out of like 350 eligible, and what was it, just investing a lousy $2-$4K each, all of the guys/gals made 100x that or more, they wanted a guaranteed return, or something, you know, having a sound company guaranteed them a job, but only I guess if someone else paid for it .......the paperwork was a waste of time and I quit in after 10 years, ......one time when I was in college, a neighbor growing up was selling a 1% stake in our local telephone company, she said she would give me first right to buy it, and I knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime. I sold comic books, baseball cards, worked 16 hour days at the mill that summer, sold a gun, used my Junior and senior tuition I had saved from high school, and I even begged to have a payment plan with the elderly lady. Spring break trip? No way.....I got a job for a week, listed dogs at 0.50/ a dog for three townships, but heck that was $800!.....Now I got lucky in that I was awarded a scholarship for free tuition senior year, but man did I work, and when I graduated, I had her paid off, had $15 to my name, no school debt, but owned a chunk of a private company that today had paid me back 50 times and is worth 100x what I paid for it. Sometimes, when these opportunities come up you just have to find the money, I know 4Million is a lot of money, but 1,5M down payment x 50 people is only $30,000. each...... IMHO if the members and residents are running that tight to the bone, maybe forming a co-op is a bridge to far as operations will get them later on. Good luck
did you say the Current owners are trying to save it? why have the offered it for sale?
The members are trying to save it from sale. The owners are not trying to save it, though they would prefer that it stay a naturist club, it is not a stipulation of sale.
Evan, in all due respect, they always say that, but if a developer comes by tomorrow with cash, nudists versus money, it is ALWAYS money....none of this is that hard to do, but you have to plan ahead of time...Lake Como had a legal right in that they had formed a homeowners association and were protected by FL law in that the homeowners had a right to match the offer and did....now I do NOT know Texas law... but ALWAYS surprised how no one ever thinks "hey what happens if the owners sell?" yet they put Park models on rented lots.....or don't heed and follow examples like Como's, now that happened 20 years ago....but in nudism and nudist industry no one knows anything it seems.....maybe AANR needs to get their head out of the sand and actually advise people of what has been done. I also heard the Goodland deal fell through....rumor? IDK, if I was a member of one of these clubs owned by older owners without an obvious plan, I'd be talking to owners, making a co-op ......but that is just me......I am a Como member (co-op), Avatan member resident (non-profit), Paradise Pines resident (Condo association) and so these problems are solved............. I guess I used to guest lecture for a business class, so maybe I think about these things....idk, frustrating looking at this from the outside.......sort of like me getting mad at the Minnesota Twins
I have substantial experience with entities (usually non-profit) raising funds for a specific purpose like this. Without a doubt, the most important thing the sponsoring entity can do to capture the interest (and donations!) of a broader audience is to demonstrate a very high level of commitment by the "insiders". In this case, they claim there are 50+ residents and another 75+ members who are doing their best to raise $30,000 to launch an acquisition effort that will require $1.5MM. This seems quite reasonable on its face.
But when I reviewed their progress on the donation site, only 18 people have stepped up and the average donation is under $100. If they are fully committed to raising Funds from "outsiders", who typically only commit funds to a campaign that appears to be fully supported by the "insiders", they really need to step up. They should be able to raise at least $1,000 from each resident, and perhaps $500 from each non-resident member, which would get them $87,500. When you can demonstrate that level of commitment to the "outside world" I think you will find many more people joining in the mission to preserve this precious community.
Without strong "insider buy-in", good luck trying to convince donors you are not just another bunch of dreamers that will never step up and get it done.
I wish you great success in your endeavor!
Excellent advice I will be sharing with the members. Thank you!