LAKE BEEBE TENNIS CLUB and EAGLE ROCK RACQUET CLUB
A- THE LAKE BEEBE TENNIS CLUB (A Partnership) 1976-1977
July 3, 1976
There was a meeting at the Wolons to discuss the formation of the Lake Beebe Tennis Club, the predecessor to the Eagle Rock Racquet Club (ERRC).
July 10, 1976
The Breckenridges, Pritchards, Sondergelds, and Zeolis met at the Wolons and hammered out a set of By-laws .
July 14, 1976
A flyer was put together stating that we planned to lease two acres of land (from Joe and Mary Wolons, adjacent to Route 30 on the south road to Lake Beebe) for 10 years with an option to buy at a predetermined price. The estimated cost of construction two courts was about $15,000. We indicated we were looking for 10-15 members who would pay $1500 to $1000 per membership. Eva Breckenridge, Mary Sondergeld and Nick Zeoli stuffed mail boxes with these flyers with little success. We ran into some resistance from potential members to being an unincorporated association.
July 24, 1976
We had an organizational meeting of the Lake Beebe Tennis Club and elected officers (President-Don Sondergeld, Vice President and Treasurer-Joe Wolons, Secretary-Jody Zeoli, also Directors are Alan Breckenridge and Gene Ravkin).
August 14, 1976
People at the Lake Beebe Property Owners' Association meeting questioned whether we would be violating the restrictive provisions in our deeds by building tennis courts as a tennis club would be a multi family use. After the meeting Alan and Don inspected two sites-i) property owned by the Wolons behind the Menagh's, and ii)a triangular parcel of land owned by Addie Marcell.
August 29, 1976
Don and Mary Sondergeld stopped at the Kings and Solomkas to see if they might be interested in joining the tennis club.
September 4, 1976
Don and Alan tried to lay out three tennis courts on the Marcell property-but could only fit in two. They then went to the Lake Hortonia Property Owner's' meeting and tried to get people to join us in our tennis club but had no takers. They stopped at the Kings and learned the Kings are still interested.
October 10 1976
Seven families(Abelsons, Breckenridges, Kings, Ravkins, Sondergelds, Wolons, and Zeolis) purchased a triangular piece of land from Addie Marcell for $3000 ($1500 cash and a $1500 mortgage). The dimensions are: 375’ feet on Delancey Road, 250 feet along Route 30 and 333.99 feet thru the woods. We decided to build two tennis courts. The deed is recorded in Book 22 Page 522 and includes a right of way to Echo Lake.
October 23, 1976
Alan Breckenridge and Don Sondergeld cleared the property of trees from 0945 to 1630 hours.
April 27, 1977
Don Sondergeld wrote to John Wehse, Manager of the Vermont National Bank telling him that seven families had formed a partnership and each planned to invest $1500, a total of $10,500 and asked for a $7500 loan to cover the estimated $18,000 for land and construction of two tennis courts.
May 10, 1977
Don wrote to the directors (Alan Breckenridge and Nick Zeoli) and furnished the latest total cost estimate of $23,900.
May 20, 1977
A letter to the seven family partnership stated the cost would be about $24,000. We hoped to reduce that by $1500 and get additional families to further reduce the cost.
May 28, 1977
Herve Chartrand completed grading the tennis court site.
May 31, 1977
Don wrote another letter to John Wehse, Manager of Vermont National Bank stating we had signed a contract with Wilk Brothers for $18,000, which with the $3,000 in land, means our total needs are $21,000. As the seven partners are investing 10,500,we need a $10,500 loan.
May 31, 1977
Don's letter to the seven family partnership indicated we could build the courts for a total cost of $21,000 by using Wilk Brothers, who will start work early June. Each family was assessed an additional $900 by June 15 bringing the total assessment to $1500 per family or $10,500 in total. Each family was asked to send a net worth statement to Vermont National Bank, so we could borrow $10,500.
June 8, 1977
Arnold Abelson felt that we should change from the loose partnership arrangement to a corporate form of ownership.
B- THE EAGLE ROCK RACQUET CLUB (A Corporation) 1977-to date
June 20, 1977
The Vermont National Bank said they would not loan us the $10,500 we had requested - unless we incorporate. They must have been talking to Arnold. So, we incorporated as the Eagle Rock Racquet Club Inc., and borrowed $11,100. The additional $600 covered incorporating.
June 21, 1977
The asphalt was put down.
July 1, 1977
Mary and Eric Sondergeld drove to Rutland to meet with Norm Storrs of Vermont National Bank and our attorney Bart Costello regarding the mortgage.
July 4, 1977
The first meeting of the Eagle Rock Racquet Club, Inc. was held at our new tennis courts. There were the same seven families, (Abelsons, Breckenridges, Kings, Ravkins, Sondergelds, Wolons, Zeolis) from the Lake Beebe Tennis Club, who have each invested $1500. The Directors voted to borrow $11,100 from the Vermont National Bank, and to also purchase the land from the Lake Beebe Tennis Club for $3000. Nick Zeoli agreed to get combination locks for the gates. We needed to have a membership drive. All but the Kings were able to attend this meeting.
July 9, 1977
The fencing was completed.
July 13, 1977
Four coats of slurry were completed. Alan and John Breckenridge, Don, David, and Eric Sondergeld, and Nick, Steve, and Nicki Zeoli transplanted lilies to the west side of the tennis courts. Mary Sondergeld and Alan Breckenridge planted pachysandra around a pine tree on the east side.
July 14, 1977
The lines were painted on the surface. Of course-where else? We also had a tennis court open house and ribbon cutting ceremony--attended by the Abelsons, Breckenridges, Sondergelds, and Zeolis plus guests: Contants and Vanderventers.
September 3, 1977
We had a Special Meeting at the Ablesons on Echo Lake . All seven stockholders were represented. We needed cash. If we couldn't get the Chapins, Shibers, Wrights, Solomkas, Capitans, Delanceys, or Dubois to join, we would each pay in $150. Arnold Abelson volunteered to do the tax reporting.
December 5, 1977
Each of the seven stockholders was assessed $150, as we have no new members.
April 14, 1978
A financial statement showed that each of the seven families had paid in $1650 or a $11,550 total. That plus an $11,100 mortgage gave a total of $22,650. We had spent $22,366.82 : $782 to Herve Chartrand for grading and fill between 3/14/77 and 6/21/77; $16,760.00 to Wilk Brothers for courts, nets, fencing, etc., $3100.00 for land, $929.43($295.06 for land closing on 3/14/77 and $634.37 for incorporation) to Webber & Costello, $255.92 Miscellaneous and Insurance, and $539.47 to Vermont National Bank for Interest on the Mortgage. The net cash on hand was therefore $283.18.
The courts had survived their first winter, and we were hopeful the Chapin and Ziontz families would each pay $1500 for stock.
July 3,1978
The annual meeting was held at the tennis courts. The price of shares of stock will increase to $1650 on 1/1/79. We discussed possible new members. Members were assessed $100.
September 1, 1979
The annual meeting was held at the tennis courts. With the addition of the Chapins and Morans, as new members, we have 9 stockholders. The bank has changed our interest only mortgage to monthly installments over a three year period. At the end of the meeting the Tuckers joined by paying $1650 bringing our membership to ten. The cost of a membership will become $1800 on January 1, 1980.
August 30, 1980
The annual meeting was held at the tennis courts. The Holts had recently purchased a membership for $1800, bringing our stockholder count to eleven. At the meeting the Earls purchased the twelfth membership for $1800. We increased the price of memberships to $2000 for subsequent memberships - if any. All members were assessed $25. Our loan at the bank can now be paid off.
August 22, 1981
The annual meeting was held at the tennis courts. The price of stock was increased to $2200. We assessed each member $35. We agreed to purchase a sign that says "Private Club, Members only".
It was subsequently stolen.
August 21, 1982
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergelds. The Kings are negotiating a sale of their stock to the Contants. The price of stock was increased to $2500. Alan Breckenridge was thanked for donating three benches to the tennis courts. Members were assessed $50. We again decided to keep our membership at twelve families.
September 3, 1983
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergelds. The price of stock was increased to $3000. We decided to keep the membership at twelve families. Dick Contant and John Moran patched some cracks. Arnold Abelson's motion to change "Loans to Members" on our books to "Paid in Surplus" was passed. Members were assessed $45.
August 25, 1984
The annual meeting was held at the Earl's. We agreed to purchase two new nets. The price of stock was increased to $3200. The suggestion to erect a bubble over the courts was ignored. Members were assessed $60. Mary Wolons agreed to replace Joe Wolons and officially became Treasurer. The cream does rise to the top.
August 24, 1985
The annual meeting was held at the Abelson’s. The price of stock was raised to $3500. Members were assessed $20. It was agreed that President Sondergeld would talk informally with the Dellamontes, Eldens, and Masons about their being able to play free on a non priority basis. John Moran and Nick Zeoli are to get in touch with Pike Paving to get materials to repair cracks.
August 16, 1986
The annual meeting was held at the Wolons. The price of stock remains at $3500. When a motion to purchase a second squeegee was narrowly defeated, Dick Contant said he'd pay for it. A motion of appreciation with applause for the new bench - was awarded to Dick Contant - master carpenter. Members were assessed $110. We discussed the new tax assessment by Hubbardton, which indicates we are being assessed on 2.7 acres - whereas we only own about 1 acre.
August 22, 1987
The annual meeting was held at the Wolons’. The price of stock was increased to $4000. Members were assessed $80. Property taxes increased from about $100 in 1985 to $640.34 in 1986. On appeal Joe Wolons was able to get that reduced to $510.87, about a $10 saving per membership.
August 20, 1988
The annual meeting was held at the Contant’s. The price of stock remained at $4000. Each membership was assessed $125. John Moran, a crack engineer, had repaired cracks.
August 26, 1989
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergeld’s. The price of stock remains at $4000. Our crack engineer, John Moran, said he found many. We decided to start to accumulate capitol for repairs. We made a special assessment of $100 per membership plus the annual assessment of $125.
August 25, 1990
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergeld’s. The price of stock stayed at $4000. Members were each assessed $225 for the coming year. We discussed how to handle delinquent amounts owed the Corporation by members. Dick Contant was asked to draft an appropriate amendment to our by-laws, which would enable the corporation to collect delinquent amounts before stock ownership is changed. It was also agreed we need an estimate from Wilk Brothers on repairing cracks in the courts.
August 17,1991
The annual meeting was held at the Breckenridge’s. The price of stock stays at $4000. Members were each assessed $250. Wilk Brothers will charge: (a) $670 to repair cracks, (b) $4400 for cracks and resurfacing, and (c) an additional $990 per court to replace nets and net posts. We voted to do (a), or $670. The by-laws were amended to delineate the procedures to follow in (i) making major assessments and (ii) collecting debts before stock ownership is changed.
August 29, 1992
The annual meeting was held at John and Betty Moran’s and was followed by a pot luck dinner co-hosted by Jeanne and Sol Holt. The price of stock was voted to stay at $4000. Members were assessed $400. Don Sondergeld and R J Contant tied for first in the Betty Moran Tennis Tournament with 12 points and Mary Sondergeld came in third with 11 points. We voted to have the cracks repaired, new concrete for the center net posts, new concrete bases for 6-8 fence posts and the courts resurfaced for $7500, or less, if John Moran, our crack engineer, can negotiate a lower price with Wilk Brothers of Center Rutland.
August 28, 1993
The annual meeting was held at the Contant’s. Members were each assessed $200. There was a four way tie for first in the Betty Moran Tennis Tournament (run by Eva Breckenridge in Betty's absence). Alan and Jenny Breckenridge, R J Contant, and Nick Zeoli were the competitors. Stock price stays at $4000.
July 3, 1994
The annual meeting was held at the home of Joe and Mary Wolons, our first Sunday. The assessment and stock price remain at $200 and $4000 respectively. Wilk Bros. have agreed to repair the cracks that opened from last year's repair. R J Contant won the Betty Moran Tennis Tournament by one point.
July 1, 1995
The annual meeting was held at the Abelson’s. We admired their remodeled home. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively. The cracks have reappeared in the tennis courts. Don has written Steve Wilk. The Betty Moran Tennis Tournament was rained out.
August 24, 1996
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergelds. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively. Mary Sondergeld and R J Contant were co champions of the rain delayed Tennis Tournament.
August 31, 1997
The annual meeting was held at the Zeoli’s. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively. Much discussion on court repair. Linda Sue Contant won the Ladies Tournament, and Eva Breckenridge was runner up. R J Contant and Steve Earl were co champions for the Gentlemen.
July 11, 1998
The annual meeting was held at the Contant’s. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively. Again, we decided $20000 for Har-Tru plus a well was not practical. Decided to purchase new chains for the locks. The Betty Moran Tennis Tournament was rained out, but rescheduled for Labor Day Sunday.. A motion to increase the number of memberships was defeated.
July 10, 1999
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergeld’s. Our crack engineer, John Moran, indicated the courts have cracks…but are playable. At some point we need to resurface the courts. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively. John Moran won the rain delayed Tennis Tournament held on July 11, 1999.
July 8, 2000
The annual meeting was held at the Moran’s. Arnold Abelson suggested purchasing a ball machine. Joe Wolons voluteered a generator. RJ Contant offered to build a shed. A motion was passed to spend no more than $1000 for this endeavor. The assessment and stock price stay at $200 and $4000 respectively.
A Resolution was passed to make Sol and Jean Holt Honorary members for Life and Thereafter, once they have transferred their stock to their two daughters Barbara Apstein and Marjorie Heins.
July 14, 2001
The annual meeting was held at the Breckenridge’s. We rescinded last year’s motion to purchase a ball machine. The cost of building a shed, getting electricity brought in, and purchasing a ball machine exceeded $1000. Don bought another new lock. Arnold suggested a three week training course. The Town of Hubbardton has increased our assessment 17% from $38000 to $45000. The Tennis Tournament was postponed until September 2, 2001. We assessed members $500. The stock price remains at $4000.
August 17, 2002
The annual meeting was held at the Sondergeld’s. A motion was approved to spend up to $40,000 for court resurfacing sometime within the next three years. We assessed members $500. The stock price remains at $4000. Don Sondergeld and Carl Apstein were co champions of the Tennis Tournament.
August 31, 2003
Two meetings, the Annual Meeting and a Special Meeting, were held at the Contant’s.
Annual Meeting: A motion was passed to accept Vermont Recreational’s quote of budgeting $41,206 and hope we only spend $34,706. The $34,706 includes all new fence posts (uses the existing fence), $2,000 for 130 lineal feet of drainage along the north edge of our courts, new net posts and nets, and reclaimed and resurfaced courts, lines, etc. An extra $6,500 is budgeted for an additional six inches of gravel base, if during the reconstruction process we agree it is needed.
Betty Moran Tennis Tournament: R J Contant won. Eva Breckenridge and John Moran tied for second.
The following motion on stockholders with excessive debt was passed. If the outstanding indebtedness for a stockholder equals or exceeds $3,500, the president may offer the indebted stockholder the right to tender such stock in exchange for the debt, in which event the stockholder’s debt to the corporation would be extinguished and the stockholder’s stock would be redeemed. It was agreed that after the courts are reconstructed, new stock memberships may be issued for $4,000, if the membership has dropped below 12, to bring our memberships back to 12.