Everyone gets a key, plus there is an extra key in the lockbox attached to the front door. The combination for the lockbox is XXX. You will not receive your end-of season refund until you have returned your key to Lorrie.

I will stock the cabin with basic supplies (dish soap, laundry soap, dishwasher soap, t.p., paper towels, cleaning supplies, antifreeze, and sand). As these run out please replace them and send your receipts to me for reimbursement.

Utility bills were a big expense last year. Be mindful of the heat. Turn it down at night and when you leave for the day. You don't have to be the last one to bed or the last one to leave. If it's after 10 p.m. at night, or 8:00 am in the morning, and the house is reasonably warm, turn the heat down to 60'.

We will buy a 1/4 cord of wood to start. If we use it up we'll buy more. There may be wood in the garage that belongs to the owners. If we use this we will be charged for it at a higher rate than if we buy our own supply. (I think). I will delineate which is ours and which is theirs. Keep me posted as we run low. If you light a fire, turn down the heat so hopefully we will either incur incur a firewood expense or a utility expense but not both.

Don't leave stuff in the fridge until it gets scary. There'll be a pen attached to the fridge. Label your stuff. If you're leaving and you won't be back for a while, re label it "eat me" or "community" or take it home with you. Feel free to go through the fridge and throw away the scary stuff as your chore.

Do a chore, please. Guests too. There will be a list on the fridge. If you're planning to come back to the cabin after skiing on Sunday and you want to do your chore then, let other people know so they don't think that you're not being responsible. (This has happened.)

Chores include:

- Empty garbage - Clean bathrooms (one per person)

- Run dishwasher - Vacuum living room and hall

- Clean kitchen counters and fridge - Vacuum bedrooms

- Clean kitchen floor - Shovel walks and garbage hut

- Take home recycling - Straighten living room & dining room

Closing Down the Cabin

By Saturday morning, decide who is designated "Last to leave". This person will be

responsible for closing down the cabin. Be sure that everyone knows who this person is.

To close down the cabin:

- Make sure all doors and windows are shut and locked.

- Turn the heat down to the minimum setting.

- Turn the handle in the room under the house (the 5th door in the downstairs hallway) to shut off the water.

- Flush both toilets and add 1/2 cup of antifreeze to all drains and the toilet tanks.

- Shut off all the lights.

Sheets and Towels

Last year the cabin came with lots of sheets and towels. If you use them, wash them before you leave. If you can't, or can't finish the process, please leave a note as to the status of the laundry.

Leave your stuff in one of the hall closets. You won't always get the same bedroom. Storage space in the kitchen is limited. Try to leave your stuff in paper bags with your name on it, or label your stuff directly. Respect these labels.

Keep in mind that some people arrive very late on Friday night. When you go to bed, put a note on the door of the room as to its occupancy so that someone does not come in and turn the light on to check it out. Remember, if you are alone you don't necessarily get a bedroom to yourself. Couples, especially member couples, have priority on the smaller rooms. Also, leave your cars keys out, or make arrangements, if you plan to sleep late or need to leave early.

The garage holds two cars and the driveway holds four. For you new folks - the driveway is steep and can be slippery. We have a plow service but when it's really stormy that isn't always enough.

Options:

You have to use your calling card to make long-distance phone calls. Sometimes it seems like you get disconnected when you are dialing your access number. I think this happens if you pause for more than a second while dialing.

We are entitled to buy passes to use the Trout Creek Rec. Center. The least expensive pass card has a $20 value. One visit costs $6. To get a card you must take a letter to the Association office at the clubhouse (not the Rec. center) during business hours. I will make sure that photocopies of the letter are available at the cabin.

Members can use the cabin as often as they like, for as long as they like, with as short a notice as they like, however, to help things run smoothly, any notice is better than no notice. Please e-mail or leave me a phone message any time you make or change plans to use the cabin. Each Monday I will send out e-mail regarding the following week. I will publish updates as often as possible. If you cancel your plans please let us know. Other members might use this information to bring guests, more guests or have a bedroom to themselves. If you cancel your plans on Friday, please leave a message on the cabin answering machine.

* Guests are charged $18/night Sat & Sun, and $12/night Sun - Thurs.

* Guests must be accompanied by a member host.

* Any one guest is limited to three visits per season. This is to avoid taking advantage of members, who will most likely pay a much higher per night cost for their use over the season, and especially to avoid taking advantage of couples who have paid the season rate times two.

* You are not limited in the number of different guests you can bring during the season or on any night, if space is available.

You can pre-schedule two guest visits during the season. Other guest visits should be based on the availability of cabin space as of the Monday before the weekend. Members have a priority for beds and bedrooms. If it works out for you to have one of the smaller bedrooms and you want to share it with several friends sleeping on the floor that's up to you.

Sleeping in the living room is the least desirable option since this is inconvenient

Both to the sleeper and to others arriving late or leaving early.

All guests should sign-in on the sheet that will be posted at the cabin. They (or you) can either leave their payment in the envelope provided or mail it to me within a week. (Checks only!)

Last year we had some serious maintenance and communication problems with VPM (Vacation Property Management). In order to keep on top of what goes wrong and when VPM gets it fixed I need to know about every problem and every call to VPM. Therefore, if we have a maintenance problem:

If you break something and can fix it (like a picture frame), please do, or we will all

Be charged

The end-of-season rebate is based on return of security deposit plus guest fees minus season utility bills and other miscellaneous costs divided by 15. You must return your key by May 5th to receive your rebate. Checks will be mailed out by the end of May.

If this sounds complicated or onerous keep in mind that it really comes down to two things - consideration of other cabin members and adequate communication so that the cabin is available, comfortable and smooth-running for all.