FEBRUARY 2009

shenandoah continued from page 24
er than monthly.) This year’s food and
beverage spending minimum is $900,
a decline of $300.
Most dramatic is the drop in buyin
for equity in Shenandoah. In 2004,
members paid $12,000 to buy in; that
rate has steadily decreased since. Today,
it costs just $3,000 for an equity
share and there is no cost beyond
dues to join as a social member.
Those who bought in at higher
rates are “obviously disappointed,” said
CPA Jason Alkamano, past board treasurer
and co-chair of the Finance Committee.
“I bought in for $6,000 in 1998
or 1999,” he said. “But you get in when
you get in. There are no rebates.”
Shenandoah cut costs by closing
the member-only dining room
in January and February, and, in a
bid to grow membership, is offering
social memberships in which people
pay annual dues but not the buy-in
sum, giving them use of the club but
no equity or voting rights.
‘Hard Feelings’
Developer Hikmat Zeer is one of the
original 100 members of CIAAM,
the club formed in the 1960s. He
said he’s resigned from Shenandoah
“but they haven’t accepted my resignation.”
Nevertheless, Zeer said he is
no longer paying dues.
“I resigned because I was frustrated,”
he said. “The club is in such a
deep hole I don’t know if they can
come out of it. I feel bad for what is
happening to the club – this is hurting
all of us and there are a lot of hard
feelings with people dropping out.”
Zeer believes Shenandoah does
not offer its members enough in the
way of amenities such as exercise facilities.
“They should have made it a
complete health club so the whole
family can go there and enjoy,” he
said. “Fifty percent of the money
they spent is a waste.”
Mike George said he understands
why some members have left in these
tough economic times, but said those
who can afford the dues are making a
big mistake by quitting.
“Those who feel there is no value
should go on the Internet and look
at what other country clubs do and
the services they offer,” George said.
“Our rates and our requirements are
so minimal that even a public golf
course is more expensive than we
are. Membership is 20 times more
and dues are at least double, if not
more, at other country clubs.”
Alkamano said that while mistakes
have been made, it’s important
for people to put Shenandoah
in the context of its times. “Maybe
it should have been built in stages,”
he said, “but when it was built the
economy was good, membership was
What’s
Happening
with the CCC?
More than Shenandoah has
people buzzing. What, many
wonder, is holding up the opening
of the Chaldean Cultural Center
(CCC)?
The state-of-the-art museum,
which is housed in Shenandoah,
was first expected to open in November
2005. There have been
numerous delays and for now, no
tentative opening date will be set
until all funds are in place, said
CCC Director Mary Romaya.
Thus far, $3.2 million has been
raised or committed to the project
through donations, fundraisers
and grants. Romaya said another
$1 million is needed and that a
bank loan may be sought.
strong and everyone was doing well.”
Bacall said a “Rolls Royce”
mentality is to blame for many of
Shenandoah’s problems, with power
brokers believing they deserve only
the best facility – and wanting to
show such a facility off to the world
— despite the fact the funds are not
there to back it up.
“Egos made the club too big –
much bigger than they could afford,”
Bacall said. “By all means we needed
to upscale our operation [from Southfield
Manor] but not by that high. We
were always profitable at Southfield
Manor; we could learn a lot from it.”
Dramatic changes are needed, Bacall
said. He advocates selling the golf
course to West Bloomfield Township,
which he said has expressed interest.
Less than 40 members are active golfers
who play at least three times a week,
he said. Selling the course would save
as much as $500,000 a year in taxes,
maintenance, upkeep and personnel
costs, he said. Many golf courses in the
state are suffering economic hardship
these days, he said.
“I would much rather lose my
hand than my whole body,” Bacall
said of the idea to sell the course.
“All options are on the table,”
said Current CIAAM President Neb
Mekani, “but I don’t see a viable
market for selling the course with
the economic climate we’re going
through. A few years ago that was in
discussion with a few companies but
nothing came to fruition.”
Mekani believes Shenandoah will
weather this storm.
“With the community holding
together I think we can get through
this,” he said. “There is a strong
enough core of dedicated individuals
who are the glue that hold the community
together.”
26 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2009