Presidents Letter

By Jeff Janssen | Email

Our Fox Point community is an outstanding place to grow families; to build relationships, and to simply experience the blessings of life.

Within our community, there is a group of residents that have been willing to serve on our Fox Point Board and to strive to make our community the best it can be. The new year welcomes new members to the board and forces us to wish our best to those concluding their terms.

We sincerely express our appreciation to four members who concluded their time on the Fox Point Board.

• Therese Donoghue led our tennis endeavors and partnered with First Serve to provide tennis lessons/activities for our residents. Fox Point Tennis celebrated the long-awaited homecoming of the Biltmore/Fox Point Trophy!
• Tammy Kerr served as our Pool Chair and worked hard to ensure as many people as possible could enjoy our wonderful pool. She extended our pool hours and laid the groundwork for getting our new deck chairs that will hopefully arrive in time to welcome in the 2017 Pool Season.
• Chris Kitzman most recently served as Vice President and our Social Chair. He led a huge group of volunteers that make all of our amazing events throughout the year possible. Chris also made numerous contributions in various roles during his 6 years on the Board.
• Mike Uhran served as a Treasurer and was successful in raising our long-term planning to new heights. Mike will continue to contribute to our financial team by serving as our Assistant Treasurer.

Of course, we give special appreciation for all of the accomplishments and countless hours provided by all of our Fox Point Board members. A big THANK YOU to our entire Fox Point Board for all of their contributions during 2016.

If you missed the Annual Meeting, please allow me to give a very quick summary.

Each Board member provided a recap of 2016 and any thoughts for future years for their respective areas. In addition, we unveiled our new Fox Point Website that will serve as a great resource to our residents and encourage potential buyers to join our neighborhood. 

Thank you to Therese Donoghue and her Election Review Committee for developing our new Election Guidelines that were approved by the Board in 2016. We put them to good use with our Annual Meeting and Election held on January 30th at the Village Church of Barrington. Per the election guidelines, we had 3 election clerks validating and counting ballots. Thank you to Cindy Cremer, Margaret Graff, and Amy Sauer for serving the role of election clerks for this year’s election. Also per the election guidelines, we had Brad Kovach, CPA from Picker & Associates, supervising our election because we had more candidates than Board openings.

Thank you to all 8 candidates for their willingness to serve on the Fox Point Board.

We had 65 ballots cast which resulted in Mike Moran, Christine Mickey and Stephanie Paine being voted in from Lake County and Steven Shanfeld from Cook County. Our election resulted in the rare situation of a tie for the last remaining spot on the Board between Horace Seely-Brown and Steve Livingston. Our bylaws call for a special election to be scheduled for a future date unless a candidate withdraws from the election. Steve Livingston graciously withdrew his candidacy and immediately offered his services to assist Horace with his future responsibilities as the Pool Chair. I personally applaud this fine example of community and am even more inspired that we live in Fox Point where acts of kindness and generosity are not rare.

Please join me in welcoming in our new Fox Point Board and congratulating those outgoing members that have served Fox Point well!

• President: Jeff Janssen
• Vice-President & Civic Affairs: Erik Vandenbergh
• Treasurer: Lynn Douglas
• Secretary: Steven Shanfeld
• Lake: Geoff Ommen
• Pool: Horace Seely-Brown
• Social: Stephanie Paine
• Tennis: Christine Mickey
• Common Grounds: Mike Moran
• Architecture: Marc Muhs
• Safety & Welfare: Bob Ben

Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving as President. Please contact me or any of the Board members if you have any questions or comments. We look forward to hearing from you!

Treasure’s Report

By Lynn Douglas | Email

2016 Year-End Financial Statement Now Available

Attached to the newsletter are the 12/31/2016 year-end Financial Statements. The Statement is also available, anytime under the Governance Tab. The Association continues to operate in a fiscally responsible manner within both the Operating and Reserve Accounts.

Account Balances

Overall, Fox Point has a solid financial position. The Reserve Fund holds $557,826, up $122,029 from the preceding year. The Operating Fund had a balance of $59,150, Social $1,001, and Swim $10,703. Note that the amount exceeding $50,000 in the Operating Fund will be transferred to Reserve shortly.
 

Operating Fund Variances

• Administrative expenses were under budget due to savings in insurance and accounting expenses.
• Pool expenses exceeded budget largely a result of incremental management expenses associated with extended hours as well as unexpected repairs.
• Utilities were under budget for the year.
• Common Grounds was under budget as actual expenses were less than the budget for tree removal, snow plowing, and holiday decorations.
• Lake/Creek expenses were over budget as weed control along the creek exceeded expectations.
• Reserve Fund Variances
• Several projects were delayed during the year including the purchase of pool furniture ($40,000) and island restoration ($45,000). This was offset by excess expenses upgrading the lighting and landscaping at the front entrances.

2017 Annual Dues

At its January 2017 Board Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the proposed 2017 Budget which had previously been distributed to all homeowners in the December 2016 Newsletter. The 2017 Budget can now be viewed anytime, under the Governance Tab.

2017 calendar year Dues are $975 per household and are due by 3/31/2017. Invoices will be mailed during the third week of February. If you do not receive your invoice, let me know and I can arrange for a new one to be issued.

Visit the Annual Assessment page for payment options

Editor News

By Doreen Coletti Muhs | Email

As of the February,  I’m excited to be the new Fox Point editor!

My husband Marc and I have called Fox Point home for 20 years with our 16-year-old son Payton and our 10-year-old son Quentin. Over the years I have had the honor to serve on our outstanding board as the Social Chair for 8 years and the President for 2 years. Besides serving on the board I have chaired several social events over the years, co-chaired swim team, served on the nominating and election committees, the by-laws committee and the architectural committee. While my husband Marc has been the Water Polo Chair, the Golf Chair and presently serves on our board. So it’s definitely no secret- We LOVE Fox Point and couldn’t be more thrilled to be living here.

We have been so grateful to this wonderful neighborhood and feel that our newsletter is what brings all the assets of the community in one place on a monthly basis. The goal each month is to have the newsletter out about the first of each month. Plus, don’t forget to check out past issues on our brand new website. I hope to follow the long tradition of the newsletter and all its past editors with putting together a great publication

A HUGE thank you to Amanda Schrof who over the last year has served as the newsletter editor. She has done an amazing job and I hope to follow her lead in the role. THANK YOU on behalf of our community!

If you ever have any newsletter questions, please do not hesitate to contact me  by email or phone (check the FP Directory for the number).

2017 Annual Fox Point Card Party

Saturday, March 11th at Barrington Hills Country Club

The event has been sold out for a few weeks now but we welcome anyone to the wait list and will work to get everyone playing at the event. To get on the waitlist please drop off a check made payable to Fox Point Social for $45 a person. Drop off at 100 Old Mill Road. Questions please contact Doreen Colletti Muhs (Email).

Pool

By Tammy Kerr (Outgoing Chairperson)

We are excited to announce that we will be having NEW lounge chairs coming for the new season.

The board and I selected them a few months ago and they will be a welcomed addition to our pool. I’d like to take this time as departing as the Pool Chair to thank everyone that has been helpful in many areas of the pool over the last three years. Finally, I want to wish Horace Sealy- Brown all the best as he takes over as the Pool Chair for 2017!

Architecture

By Marc Muhs | Email

This is a good time to start thinking about Spring 2017 Projects.

I am including the Architecture Guidelines link to have your property reviewed and approved. The board and I selected them a few months ago and they will be a welcomed addition to our pool. It’s a simple process that I’ve been through many times over the years so if you have any questions please contact me.

Visit the Architecture  & Design Guideline page for all the details. 

Safety & Welfare

By Erik Vandenbergh (Outgoing Chairperson)

Just a friendly reminder that the pathway leading to Lines and Station is there so that Fox Point families may walk to school without having to cut through homeowners’ yards.  It is not intended to be used as a drop-off and pick up zone for Fox Point families or any other Lines and Station families.  Lately there has been an increase in traffic on Oak Ridge Circle and this creates a safety concern for those families who are on foot, as intended.  In the past, several children have been nearly struck by automobiles.  While I understand that it is not always convenient to drive through the Lines or Station drop off/pick up line, we are asking that you follow the same rules as all other families.  If you choose to walk to school from home, please take advantage of the pathway provided, otherwise drive through your respective drop off/pick up line. Thank you for understanding, and while we believe you will comply with the rules we have set, Lines and Station schools will be made aware of this issue.

Common Grounds

By Mike Moran

We had another productive year in 2016 completing many projects within the common grounds of Fox Point. At this point, I have budgeted for some additional updates and projects for 2017 as the board continues to reinvest in all of the Fox Point assets. Once the new budgets are approved at the January meeting and the new board is in place, I know that the common grounds committee we will have another productive year!!! As a neighborhood, we have an enormous amount of assets that need to be maintained outside of the big three obvious ones being the Lake, the pool, and the tennis courts. We continue our goal of reinvesting in all of these assets.

I hate to bring up snow removal but at this point, it looks like we will again be under budget for our snow removal unless we have a very white February & March. Always nice to be under budget!!

Welcome

Please welcome Ann and Jim Dillon, and their three children to their new home at 161 Red Barn Lane. Ann enjoys gardening, cooking and entertaining. Jim enjoys biking. The entire family loves outdoor activities.

The Dillon family moved here from the Village to be closer to their friends, the O’Riordan family.

If you know of anyone who has moved in and has not received their welcome, please contact Sarah Giunchedi (Email). Thank you for helping us to continue to provide a warm welcome to our newest neighbors.

Condolences

Roger Owens, one of Fox Point’s longest living resident, passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2017.  He moved into Fox Point (north) in 1972 with his family after accepting a promotion in Chicago, IL from IBM.  He and his family loved Fox Point and Barrington so much that he and his wife turned down his next few promotions with IBM to put roots down here.  He was 87 years old and is survived by his wife, Carol, 8 children and 12 grandchildren.

Read Obituary Here

Water Polo

Time to start thinking about FOX POINT WATER POLO!

While the season doesn’t start until the end of May/early June, registration season is upon us. The team is looking to cultivate new players as well as field returning players – all FP boys and girls age 9-15 are welcome!  

The official season starts after school gets out and goes until the end of July.  Matches are held weekly on Monday evenings June19-July 24. Practices are held 2-3x on weeknights between 4:30-6:30p (specific practice schedule will be worked out closer to the season). 

We’re thrilled to announce that COLIN KERR will be leading the 2017 Dolphins as Head Coach. Colin was an Asst Coach last year and received many kudos for his leadership, skill and coaching style. He is a senior at BHS and plays on both the high school and BSC club team.  He and I will be working during the next couple of months to map out the practice schedule. And, depending on team size hiring assistant coach(es).

PLEASE LOOK FOR OTHER DOLPHINS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS and register on the Team Unify Dolphins Site. (Registration opens at the end of Feb/early March)

**If you’d like to be added to my Water Polo email list and kept up to date on registration/season details please reply to this note.

Water Polo Registration fee is $110 if paid before April 15 (after that date a $25 late fee will be charged as we cannot hire assistant coaches without know the team size).

2017 Match Schedule:

• MONDAY, JUNE 19 —FP@ Home vs Tennaqua
• MONDAY, JULY 3  — FP @ Home vs. Old Willow
• WED, JULY 10 — FP@Lincolnshire
• MONDAY, July 24 — FP@Farmington
• THURSDAY, JULY 27— End of Season Fun Scrimmage
• All Teams @ Old Willow

 Many of last year’s players will “age out” after this year –so we are looking for new players!?
Questions? Please contact Margaret by email (Email)