September 2020

President’s Report - Tim TrockeGreetings, Members! As the park is winding down, I wish everyone safe, healthy, and enjoyable times on your journey. With everything going on in the world I am thankful for our community at TCCOM. As many of you know I believe strongly that TCCOM is and needs to be a safe, relaxing venue. My wish for every member and their guests is that when arriving at the park

there is a feeling of relaxation and peace. TCCOM is a place where our permanent members have developed a sense of community while beautifying the park for weekend members and guests to enjoy. To quote a past TCCOM President, Dave Chapman, “TCCOM is a Resort Country Club”. In keeping with that theme my main responsibility is safety and the security of our park. This is not a campground but a resort. We have many nice amenities and our great volunteers working year-round so we all can enjoy the park and not have it trashed by disrespecting people wandering into our park. It is no secret that TCCOM has an aging infrastructure. To try to prepare for the inevitable failure of one our systems, dues were raised by 8% or about $12 per month at the September BOD meeting. TCCOM functions from those serving on our various committees. This BOD will rely heavily on the recommendations brought to the BOD by committees. This system provides all our membership with the ability to be active in the direction of the park. This is your park. If you feel strongly about an issue, want to help, meet people, please get involved in a committee. This committee does not exist yet, but the one change I feel that TCCOM needs is a strategic planning committee. This committee would identify the priority needs of the park working with or be an extension of the financial committees sticking to the short term and long-range plans. This way we can prepare and plan for expenditures rather than kick the can down the road. Some of the items identified as priorities are the aging pool, septic systems, storm shelter, front gate area, and the welcome building.

As a method to keeping our dues at a reasonable rate TCCOM needs to generate income. This BOD is open to ideas and finding creative solutions to pull off money raising ideas. We were able to build the Give-n-Take building with creative fundraisers. I am challenging all our members to help. Let us hear your ideas! Just as an example of some ideas already floating around: Beverage cart for events and golf course, A $60 steak golf tournament, garage sale proceeds, a pro shop, tiki bar, bingo on a weekly schedule, pickle ball tournament, pool party, and many more!

I have been asked several times why I ran for the president position? My answer is that I did not run but was asked to serve and I will do the best that I can for TCCOM. This BOD has some energy and is ready to serve our members. Hopefully, the landscape will return to normal for 2021 and we can participate in events lost in 2020. This was supposed to be my year to win the hole-in-one contest!On a personal note, thank you for adhering to the MDH policies and practices allowing TCCOM to remain open. I know it was not convenient but with all your help we stayed open and were able to enjoy a few events. Please take the time to thank our TCCOM staff and many volunteers.

NO TRESPASSING

PARK CLOSEDFOR SEASON

NO WINTER ACTIVITIES

“If elected, I promise to play golf and leave you alone for four years!”

Garden PlotsWhen you have finished cleaning your plot, bring your stakes to the office and bring your leftover plants to the compost pile – PLEASE do not throw them in the dumpster. It’s never too early to think about summer in Minnesota! So, if you would like to sign up for a garden plot next year, please let us know.

Laundry Room 3 more washers/dryers opened Sunday, September 13th – the “Pink Side”. Bathrooms are now closed but you can walk around to the top of the clubhouse and use the restrooms upstairs if necessary.

Golf Cart StorageIf you have signed up for winter storage for your golf cart, you can now drop them off at the Activity Building on the playground side. Please bring your keys to the office so we know to move it into the building. I am looking for volunteers to help with this task. If interested, please see me or Marty.

Well, looks like we made it! With that being said, some final reminders and updates to get us to the end:

Vice President - Duffy Hansen As another year at TCCOM comes to a close, I’d like to thank all who helped make it a little easier for all of us in these difficult times:

✓All the committees and their chairpersons

✓All the many volunteers

✓All the Board of Directors

✓Marty and his crew

✓Tami and her office staff

They all had a hand in helping us negotiate a year full of social distancing, mask wearing, sanitizing, power and water outages, and new protocols too numerous to mention.

I’m also happy to report that I am returning to my role as VP of the board for next year and that our new president is Tim Trocke.

Have safe travels and a safe off season and I hope to see you all next spring!!

“I use so much alcohol-based hand sanitizer, my hands had to join a 12-step program!”

New Hours are 12 noon to 2 p.m. — the last day to donate is Saturday 9/19. The last day to acquire treasures from Give -n- Take is Saturday 9/26.

OFFICE HOURSReduced office hours beginning

October 1st. New schedule is TBD.

Water SoftenersPlease return your water softeners by October 15th. You can drop them off at the pool garage door and then let the office know you dropped it off. You can also sign up for a water softener for next year. There is a clipboard in the clubhouse.

And now for the Top 10 “funny” things I have heard this summer from some of our members:

Thank you to my staff, the maintenance staff, the Board of Directors, the volunteers, my parents, my friends, all of you lovely, lovely people who made a difference this year, who pitched in, took the lead, it did not go unnoticed! You are all the rock and foundation of TCCOM! I will miss you all in the off-season and I am already looking forward to April 15th!

Stay kind! Stay safe, TCCOM

Tami

Norm’s Farm MarketWeather-permitting, their last Saturday will be September 26th. If you have any plastic or paper bags that can be reused, any unwanted flower pots or even canning jars/canning bands, please bring them to the wagon on Saturday. Jean could really use these items and will pay .50 cents each for “Canning Jar.”

COMPRESSORSAvailable at the

clubhouse. Please

reserve your time on

the sign-up sheet in

the clubhouse.

DUMPSTERSAfter the final pickup October 19th, they will be locked. No more trash can be left

behind!

OFFICE ADMIN2021 position open for approximately 16 hours/week.

Please visit the office for an application.

ELECTRIC BILLSPayments are due

October 15th!

10 My mind’s made up so quit

confusing me with the facts!

9Every now

and then a blind squirrel gets a nut.

8I might go

fancy pants style!

3Who?

Captain Grumpy?

2We just

need to go thump ‘em.

1That’s my wood. It’s definitely

aged!

5Golf is just a complicated

walk!

7I’ve got as

much artistic ability as a

ground squirrel.

6Sometimes you

win...and sometimes you learn.

4 I’m like the tin-man... it’s hard to get

moving in the morning.

Golf Committee - John BoehmeIt has been an interesting year for the Golf Committee and I would like to give special thanks to the committee members: Shawn Beaudette, Bill Dietman, Dave Klein and Steve Gustafson for their help while I worked remotely. I would also like to thank the members who volunteered for the Caddy Shack and Rangering! This has been a challenging year with all the new and ever changing COVID protocols. We appreciate the members and guests following the new guidelines. 90 Degree Policy: By now you have most likely seen the signs for the 90 degree holes and the cart path only holes. The purpose of the rule is to speed up play while preventing cart traffic from going down the fairway. You should be staying on the cart path until you near the location of your ball. At that point, you take a 90 degree turn to your ball, hit your ball and then a 90 degree back to the cart path.Click here to view a video on proper 90 Degree driving while on the golf course.

We wish you a safe and healthy Winter and look forward to seeing everyone back in the park next Spring!

Maintenance and Golf Course Report

Riverbank TrimmingGreat news from the Maintenance Department… The riverbank trimming is finally complete. We know that there are still some trees and branches that obstruct some views of the river. Unfortunately, those trees and branches are off-limits for us to trim. We are working on a bid from our vendor for annual or bi-annual trimming and this information will be reported to the TCCOM President and Directors for a decision on how we will move forward in the future. Thanks and have a great winter!

Al Mahowald (#116) and his son added a new mantle to the lower level (library) fireplace. Stop in and take a peek! And...when a fellow member was down and out because of surgery, Jan Bishop (#212) was a superstar neighbor and jumped right in to help do their laundry.

Thank you Al and Jan for spreading kindness!

Al Mahowald and Jan Bishop...We Caught Ya doing something nice!

John is in there somewhere!

Because of COVID, we needed to routinely clean the playground in order to keep it open. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help with the cleaning:

Diane Tuchtenhagen • Tom Posthumas • Keri LarsonKim Eagles • Deb Pearson • Chuck McColgan

Funkhana and Bean Bag TournamentWhat a fun family day of events! We had a great turnout with lots of Funkhana Racers, Bean Bag

Tossers and Food Truck Visitors. Huge thanks to Dennis Oberloh and Rick Couette for organizing the event and to Dave Rangel for MCing the race. Once again, Jeff and Mary Pierret organized the

Bean Bag Tournament that had 34 teams participating. The winning team was from Lot 801. Thank you to everyone who participated, whether you raced, tossed or observed!

1st - Marty Abel/Roz Daman - 23.45 Seconds2nd - Tim Trocke/Daughters - 23.76 Seconds 3rd - Butch Tupy/Butch, Jr. - 24.01 Seconds

Funkhana Winners

A big ol’ thanks to all the kiddos who helped clean up the park and earned their official Kids Crew vest. You are the future of TCCOM!

When you drive around the park, keep your eyes open for the many fairy gardens. Some of them are even offering treats for the little ones in the park.

We appreciate this kindness and the kids love it!

In MemoryWe regret to inform you that Bob Baldock passed on September 7, 2020. He was a

member of TCCOM for over 20 years. Survivors include his son, David, daughter, Nancy along

with three grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren

If you have an event or announcement you would like to have in the monthly newsletter, please email Julie Lonning at jmlonning@gmail.com or drop it

off in the office. Be sure to include your name and lot number.

Follow TCCOM on Facebook!This is a great way to stay connected. Learn about upcoming events and see photos from past events.

Find and Like Our TCCOM Page on Facebook!https://www.facebook.com/TCConMiss/or Search: Travelers Country Club on the Mississippi

Set Notifications to See TCCOM in Your Newsfeed!Go to the TCCOM PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/TCConMiss/Click FOLLOWINGClick next to NOTIFICATIONSAdjust your notification setting to SEE FIRST (recommended)Watch for posts on activities, event schedules, tournament results, Committee News, Volunteer opportunities, job postings, etc. Comment and share postsUse the “Check In” (to TCCOM) FeatureRecommend TCCOM (Rate & Write Review)Share Your Own Posts of TCCOM Happenings and Fun (Tag People)Invite Your Friends & Family to LIKE Our TCCOM Page!

Want to Help Cover Events? Contact Greg Elwell, Lot 162, gregory.elwell@gmail.com

Click Hereto go to the page

What to do? You can download the Xcel Energy app on your phone and check for outages and restoration times. Click here to view an outage map or visit the Xcel Energy website outage section to check for restoration times. You can also check TCCOM’s Facebook page — we usually update FB as best we can. Lastly, when the power is out it’s a great time to go run those errands in town where there is power or go get a coffee, shopping, etc. The office and maintenance realistically does not have any more information than what’s on the website.