The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a new directive related to its attempts to restrict the spread of Covid-19. As a licensed campground, Forest Hills Club is under the jurisdiction of the MDHHS and must therefore comply with this directive. If the club fails to enforce these directives we could be fined up to $1,000 and possibly lose our campground license. The section related to gatherings in non-residential venues without fixed seating applies to our clubhouse. The highlights of this section are as follows:
1. No more than 20 persons per 1,000 square feet of any occupied room. For our clubhouse this means no more than 26 people in the main room of the clubhouse.
2. No more than six persons at a table.
3. EVERYONE must wear a face covering (mask).
4. Persons who are not part of the same household must maintain physical distance of 6 feet or more. In other words, you can sit next to people who live in your home away from the club, but you must maintain a distance of 6 feet from people who do not live in your home away from the club.
The Board of Directors met today, October 31, 2020, and passed a motion related to enforcement of this directive. That motion is as follows:
1. All members and non-members must comply with the all directives issued by the MDHHS as listed above and any future directives.
2. Any member or non-member who refuses to comply with the directives of the MDHHS as listed above or any future directives will be required to leave the clubhouse.
3. Any member or non-member who refuses to leave the clubhouse when so directed will be notified that they are banned from using the clubhouse and will be subject to disciplinary action by the Board up to and possibly including the revocation of membership in the case of a member or denial of admission to the grounds in the case of a non-member.
We all know that this pandemic has caused much disruption to our lives. We may have personal opinions about the effectiveness of masks or social distancing or even of the legality of these directives. But this is not about our opinions. It is about following the law. And after all, how much of a disruption is it really to slip on a mask before you walk into the clubhouse.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Chuck Brower, Chairman
On behalf of the Board of Directors