              |
President's Letter
Under this directive, the Board formed a Bowman Basecamp Committee and charged it with assembling a needs assessment, funding options, and start-up operating plan. The committee also was responsible for establishing a dialog with the owner and reporting back to the Board with a purchase price and recommended course of action. After many months of research and negotiations, the Bowman Basecamp Committee recommend that the RMC not proceed with the purchase of this property. The main reason to pass on the property was the ultimate $150,000 asking price for the 11 acres and building, a price the committee thought was unrealistic. Former RMC President and structural engineer Jeff Tirey examined the building in detail and provided the RMC with a written structural assessment with the following conclusion, "When looking at the amount of demolition to be performed, i.e., gutting the building, and the associated cost of disposal of the debris , a significant expense will be associated with this work. When adding the replacement of windows, doors, roofing, insulation, wiring, heating plus all the structural work that will be required, it is my opinion that the cost to renovate this building will equal or exceed the cost of a new building on a different site. I believe that the RMC would be better off to consider construction of a new building which can be designed for the proper loads and the Club's program space needs for the same or less cost. I recommend that the RMC not purchase this building for its own use."
The good news is that the Bowman Basecamp Committee has morphed into The Valley Home Needs and Search Committee. This new committee will be looking at land or buildings in Randolph that meet our criteria for a permanent RMC home for our summer trail crews, caretakers on their days off, and possibly our archives collection. If anyone has suggestions regarding space or other assets available, please let me know. The committee already has one good lead but would welcome as many options as possible to make the best plan for the future of the RMC. We hope to have more information and, possibly, a plan to present to members at the upcoming annual meeting. This may well be the most important move the RMC will make since our decision to rebuild our camps on Mount Adams. Regardless, I do hope to see you for the annual meeting on August 9. Our guest speaker will be RMC member Tom Stone, who returned not long ago from a multiyear walk—around the world! It should be quite an evening. Sincerely,
Mike Pelchat
|
Last
August at our Annual Meeting, I read a letter from David McMurtrie
regarding his Bowman Basecamp property and his desire to sell
the property at a reduced rate. The membership present was enthusiastic
in its wish that the RMC Board explore the possibility of buying
the property as a permanent home for club operations.
The
RMC says a big "Thank You" to Jeff for all his donated
time in performing the building evaluation and providing the
Club with a detailed written report with supporting photographs.