Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

The Glass is Really Half Full

Commentary from Dauphin Island

To all members of the Dauphin Island Property Owner’s Association (and anyone else you would like to share this with):

We have seen several Emails being distributed by a local group here on the Island. Those of you who take time to read their Email updates know that they can be quite vocal and tend to present a rather one sided point of view regarding the POA operations, its staffing, and local Island politics. They regularly point out many types of perceived problems and issues, but seem to lack any kind of truly workable solutions that can lead to positive results for the operational health of the POA facilities short of shutting it down. They rarely refer to any of the positive changes that have already been occurring at the Isle Dauphine, and here on the Island. It seems from their point of view that their, and therefore our, glass is certainly close to empty and we might as well just give up on it…?

Wrong! There are so many more of us here that have a much more positive point of view. Using a more positive approach, we are working hard to turn things around and bring the POA, and with good results, the Island, into a much better financial condition. We are already experiencing successes and will see many more given a reasonable amount of time and some weather luck.

In their last Email dated 06-02-11, among other things, they requested that Property owners withhold their voluntary annual dues of $100.00. Now Folks, does that really make a lot of sense as a good solution to the financial problems the POA is incurring? It’s sort of like “If you’re running out of water in the desert, you should just pour the rest on the ground so you can die of thirst a lot quicker”… As for us, we’re pretty sure we have an oasis there just over the dune and we think that with a little positive effort from the rest of us, we can and will get there.

It seems timely to us that you hear from a larger group (maybe we’re the “silent majority”) here on the Island that believe there is a much better side of the picture than what has been presented to you thus far. And, yes, the Glass is really Half Full with a positive future for the POA, the needed and valuable golf course, and for the Island itself, potentially right in front of us. We have several opportunities to obtain positive results that are awaiting those of us who will look forward, be creative, and most of all, be willing to work together to make it happen for the good of the organization, the Island, and therefore all of us who own property here on the Island.

Now, there is no question that the financial position of the POA is not as it should be. However, there are many more reasons that go beyond any one person’s management or any one Board of Director’s management of the Isle Dauphine and POA. Gas royalties used to be a main source of repeat revenues which have now become significantly smaller and less consistent as a source of major income. The many storms actually starting more recently with Hurricane Isadore in 2002, with Ivan in 2004, with Arlene, Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, Rita in 2005, and in 2008, Gustav and Ike, all took their toll on this beautiful Island’s physical and economic condition and specifically on Isle Dauphine as well.

We then were blessed with the 2007 – 2009 national economic meltdown having its own major negative impact on our local economy which of course is driven by tourism. Now let’s throw on the 2010 icing of the BP Spill which is still lingering as a negative in the Press and on the Internet. The main point is that there are many more past and current events outside of our control that have weighed in on not only the POA financial condition, but also on most of the Island businesses including you the property owners who have seen your property values drop substantially. There is no doubt it has been a tough 10 years.

So… is the glass still half full? You better believe it. All of us in our lives have had emotional, financial, and physical setbacks. Most of us have rebounded from those tougher times with a renewed enthusiasm and renewed knowledge of how to do things better. That is exactly where this Island, the POA, and the Island Businesses and Property Owners all stand today.

The POA board and current management have taken some tough steps of putting money where others’ mouths are by doing needed repairs to the restaurant, pool and cabana area. That effort immediately created a growing source of revenue and a pleasant place to spend some time for property owners and their guests. More events are being booked into the main club house and on the grounds for receptions and weddings. This is another growing source of revenue that can be sustained and expanded upon.

The golf course itself is going to be a challenge to bring back to a course of excellence. It can be done, but will not be done overnight and will take the creative talent and efforts of many in the advertising and other business fields that are willing to volunteer and kick in and help. Local businesses rely heavily on the availability of the golf course as a year round draw to our Island. With proper increased advertising and positive support from our local businesses through golf packages, and other customer incentives, we can grow the current base and thus improve the revenue stream substantially over time. Remember though that we will need to spend more to make more – that is a tried and true fact from Business 101. Advertising, grounds maintenance, improvements to the building, and other things will need to be done to step up to the next level of operation.

Yes, this will take time and will not be accomplished over night. Realistic expectations for any business including making positive changes in the financials of the Isle Dauphine is at best a two year process, but it can and will be done given the support financially and emotionally of the vast majority of property owners that go far beyond the nay-Sayers who offer little in terms of viable and workable solutions to help the POA work its way back to an even cash flow over the next couple of years.

In summary, while that other small group keeps hammering away with the same old and frankly rather tired information, we want the positive sides to be given to you as well, and we will continue to provide you with the “Other Side of The Story” so to speak going forward. Yes, we have financial difficulties in front of us, but contrary to what you have been hearing, we already have good people and strong supporters in place to continue and accelerate the process of bringing our POA and with its influence, our entire Island economy back to a healthy and growing status.

And of course, if you do not want to receive these Emails from us, please do not hesitate to just reply back with “remove” in the subject area, and we will remove you from any of our future mailings.

Thank you in advance for your time and support,

Kelby Linn

Primary Resident - Residential Property Owner

Primary Island Business – Commercial Property Owner