Big Canoe Trails Committee
Charter
Mission Statement
The Big Canoe Trails Committee (BCTC) is dedicated to maintaining, enhancing, and protecting Big Canoe’s trail system to ensure it remains a premier amenity for residents and visitors. Members are expected to take an active role in the stewardship of the trails, working within the guidelines and direction provided by the POA leadership.
PURPOSE
The Trails Committee is a working group responsible for the ongoing maintenance, preservation, and enhancement of Big Canoe’s trail system. Members perform hands-on trail management, including erosion control, vegetation management, infrastructure repairs, and improvements to the user experience. While the committee operates independently in its day-to-day work, it maintains ongoing coordination with the Director of Operations on a near-weekly basis to discuss permissions, planned events, and community concerns affecting the trails. Additionally, the Chairs hold a scheduled yearly meeting with the General Manager to review past work, discuss future plans, and address any concerns or questions, ensuring alignment with POA policies and long-term community planning.
Key responsibilities include:
Conducting regular inspections and performing necessary maintenance to ensure trails remain safe, accessible, and enjoyable.
Addressing erosion issues, managing vegetation, and removing obstacles such as fallen trees or debris.
Repairing and maintaining trail structures, including bridges, steps, and benches, to ensure safe footing and usability.
Proposing and implementing trail improvements, which are informally discussed with the Director of Operations and/or the General Manager as needed, subject to approval.
Producing the Trails Brochure, and overseeing public outreach through kiosks, the website, and social media.
MEMBERSHIP
The BCTC is composed of dedicated property owners in good standing, approved by the Committee Chairs and confirmed by the POA Board of Directors. Membership is a privilege, not a right, and is reserved for those who demonstrate a strong commitment to the committee’s mission.
QUALIFICATIONS
Committee members must:
Be Big Canoe property owners in good standing with the POA.
Exhibit a proactive, cooperative, and constructive attitude when working within the committee and with POA leadership.
Be willing and able to commit time and effort to actively participate in trail maintenance and committee initiatives.
Work effectively as part of a team, recognizing that the committee functions under the direction of the General Manager and Board of Directors.
Toxic behavior, disruptive attitudes, or a lack of teamwork will not be tolerated.* The Chairs have the authority to revoke membership if a member is determined to be a poor fit for the committee or fails to fulfill their responsibilities.
TERMS AND EXPECTATIONS
Membership is ongoing, but participation is subject to regular review by the Chairs using the logs captured by the online reporting system on a daily or weekly basis. Members who do not actively contribute, fail to meet their responsibilities, or consistently fail to report their work may be removed at the discretion of the Chairs.
Members are expected to complete assigned tasks and report their work through the designated system.
Failure to participate without prior communication may result in removal from the committee.
If a member is unable to fulfill their duties, they must notify the Chairs so a replacement can be arranged.
REPORTING AUTHORITY
The Trails Committee operates as a working group and does not have authority to incur expenses or make financial commitments on behalf of the POA. Committee members report to the Chairs, who in turn report to the General Manager.
MEETING FREQUENCY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The committee will meet quarterly, or more frequently at the discretion of the Chairs, to discuss trail management, review progress, and coordinate work efforts.
Meetings will focus on strategy, updates, and operational planning.
Minutes will be recorded and shared with committee members, the General Manager, and published in the POA website’s members section for all property owners.
GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION
Members are assigned specific trails or sections and are expected to conduct regular inspections and maintenance.
Work must be documented using the designated reporting system.
Failure to fulfill assigned duties without prior communication may result in dismissal from the committee.
Members experiencing challenges fulfilling their responsibilities should communicate with the Chairs to discuss adjustments.
The Chairs reserve the right to remove any member who fails to meet expectations or who negatively impacts the function and effectiveness of the committee.
LIAISON AND REPORTING STRUCTURE
The Big Canoe Trails Committee (BCTC) reports to the Big Canoe Property Owners Association (POA) Board of Directors through the General Manager. The Committee works closely with the Director of Operations, who oversees trail-related activities and reports directly to the General Manager. While there is no designated liaison from the POA Board at this time, one could be appointed if deemed beneficial in the future.
SELECTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHAIRS
The Chairs are responsible for upholding the integrity and reputation of the committee through teamwork, active engagement, and a commitment to high standards.
The BCTC shall have two Co-Chairs to ensure shared leadership and continuity. Chairs are selected by a departing Chair or appointed by the remaining Co-Chair. If both Chairs are stepping down simultaneously, they will consult with long-standing committee members and the GM to identify suitable successors.
Chairs serve at the discretion of the GM and the POA Board, both of whom have the authority to make leadership adjustments if necessary.
The Chairs are responsible for the overall coordination of the committee, ensuring that maintenance tasks are completed, meetings are organized, records are maintained, and working with management to plan and approve necessary expenses related to trail maintenance.
If concerns arise about a Chair’s leadership, committee members may bring their concerns to the GM. The GM, along with the POA Board, has the authority to remove and replace a Chair if necessary.
*For the purposes of this document, toxic behavior includes persistent negativity, hostility, personal attacks, refusal to collaborate, obstructionist conduct, disregard for POA leadership, or using the committee for personal gain. Members engaging in such behaviors may be subject to removal at the discretion of the Chairs.
Application
By filling in the application below you agree to the above terms. The application is an embedded Google Form, and if you’d rather go directly to the form on Google, here is the link.