Seabrook Island, SC – The Seabrook Island Club (Club) and Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA) held their annual meetings Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the Club Island House with approximately 350 people in attendance. Both organizations reported positive financial results for 2015.
Seabrook Island Club-The Club Treasurer reported the 5th straight year of beating budget, while meeting funding targets for the reserve plan with a reserve fund balance at the end of the year of over $3 million. The Seabrook Island Real Estate Company reported the 6th straight year of increased property sales since the “Great Recession”, with 2015 being the best year since 2006, realizing a 30% increase in sales volume over 2014. The Club General Manager and Chief Operating Officer reported on investments for the future including: golf course master plan renovation of driving range, Island House renovations, and Beach Club oceanfront grill installation.
SIPOA-SIPOA held its 29th Annual Meeting and reported that the Association is in excellent financial condition. During 2015, SIPOA undertook several initiatives that significantly reduced expenditures, which has made it possible to fund a robust capital investment program in 2016. Outgoing SIPOA Board President Chuck Fox reported that: “The relocation of Captain Sam’s inlet earlier this year already has achieved positive impacts. The 2015 beach renourishment has already increased the critical habitat area for threatened species and started the process of dune creation and restoration. The successful relocation project also was instrumental in limiting the beach erosion that occurred during the October flooding associated with the heavy rain and astronomical tides.”
Incoming SIPOA Board President Janet Gorski announced that “In 2016, SIPOA will continue to build upon its successes in governance, volunteerism, fiduciary responsibility, and environmental stewardship, and will continue to build on its collaborative strategic interests with the Town and Club, as well as on responding to the rapid changes in technology to enhance property owners’ ability to communicate and access desired information.”
Both organizations recognized outgoing Board members and introduced new Board members. During the interlude between the meetings, a video was presented that highlighted 2015 results and key events on Seabrook Island. The video can be seen on either http://www.discoverseabrook.com or http://www.sipoa.org.
Seabrook Island Attributes- The Club and SIPOA highlighted successes in governance, volunteerism, fiduciary responsibility, and environmental stewardship that together enhance the lives of residents at and visitors to Seabrook Island’s beautiful oceanfront community.
In respect to governance, Seabrook Island is one of only a handful of communities on the East Coast that governs its own affairs through property owner volunteers for SIPOA, the Town of Seabrook Island, and the Club. These entities work collaboratively on strategy and to support paid management to achieve strategic objectives.
Seabrook Island property owners also volunteer substantial time and financial resources to improving quality of life on Johns Island and in the greater Charleston community by creating, managing, and participating in a variety of philanthropic endeavors, most notably, Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic, Sea Islands Habitat for Humanity (including its WomenBuild program), Backpack Buddies, NextSteps, Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club, Our Lady of Mercy programs, Respite Care, and the Seabrook Island Greenspace Conservancy.
In addition to philanthropic endeavors, property owner volunteers create, design, and manage informative and recreational activities and forums that enhance quality of life at Seabrook Island for property owners and visitors. Over 150 Seabrook Island volunteers participated in the record 2015 Turtle Season with 75 oceanfront turtle nests producing 6,095 hatchlings. Perhaps the fastest growing new volunteer endeavor in 2015 has been the daily electronic post of activities of interest to Seabrookers, the Tidelines blog, with 12 volunteer editors and over 1,100 daily subscribers. During the October-November 2015 weather and king tide emergencies, Tidelines was the preeminent real-time, crowdsourced information application for Seabrook Island and Johns Island road condition and flooding alerts.
With respect to fiduciary responsibility, SIPOA and the Club initiated in 2007-2009 its $31 million Horizon Plan so that today property owners and visitors enjoy world class, state-of-the-art facilities at the Lake House, Island House, Beach Club and Racquet Club. These facilities now rank among the newest and best infrastructure assets on the East Coast. Seabrook Island has become a significant engine of growth for the greater Charleston community.
With regard to environmental stewardship, success occurs only when a community cares to protect its natural resources. As an oceanfront community, the beach is a critical environmental asset for recreation and habitat. Seabrook Island property owners have devoted significant reserve funds each year to conserve beach resources that not only meet regulatory requirements through best coastal management practices, but also that continue to have a positive impact on wildlife and flora. Seabrook Island has earned recognition as a Green Community in the Audubon International Sustainable Communities Program.
For further information, contact:
Caleb Elledge, Club GM/COO, celledge@discoverseabrook.com or 843/768-2500
Heather Paton, SIPOA Executive Director, hpaton@sipoa.org or 843/725-1557
Submitted by Jerry Farber
