Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Community! Every year, Lakes of the North members have the opportunity to help shape the future of our Association by voting in the Annual Board of Directors Election. Whether you have owned property here for many years or are a newer member, your vote is one of the most important ways you can participate in your community. The individuals elected to the Board make decisions that influence the Association's finances, amenities, governing documents, long-term planning, and overall direction. The choices made today help shape the experience of every property owner for years to come. Voting is about more than selecting names on a ballot. It's an opportunity to learn about each candidate, consider their experience and priorities, and choose the individuals you believe will best represent the Association. 2026 Annual Election Election Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 Polling Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Location: Lakes of the North Clubhouse 6273 Pineview Drive Mancelona, MI 49659 The Annual Membership Meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m., immediately following the election. Voting Options To vote in the Annual Election, you must be a member in good standing. If you have questions about your membership status, please contact the Management Office before Election Day. Members may cast their vote in one of two ways.
The candidate resumes and responses are published exactly as submitted by each candidate. To learn more about each candidate's background, qualifications, and priorities, please click the link below to view the candidate resumes before casting your ballot. Click Here for Candidate Resumes Every Vote Counts! Serving on the Board of Directors is an important responsibility, and the individuals elected will help make decisions that affect the future of Lakes of the North and the experience of every member. Every ballot represents a voice in the future of our community. Whether you choose to vote in person or by absentee ballot, your participation helps shape the leadership and direction of the Association for years to come. We encourage every eligible member to make an informed decision, cast their vote, and take part in this important annual process. Your participation matters. Your vote matters.
You May Be More Qualified Than You Think With the July 10 deadline for Board of Directors candidate packets coming up, Lakes of the North members have a chance to get involved in the community by serving on the Board. Running for the Board can seem intimidating to many. Some people think they need board experience, or that they must know about association rules, legal issues, or finances before they can help. Others just assume someone else is more qualified. But in truth, many great community leaders start just like most candidates - with a desire to help and an openness to listening. Serving on the Board isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about sharing your perspective, asking good questions, listening to others, and working together to tackle the Association’s challenges and opportunities. Strong boards come from having people with different backgrounds and experiences. Business owners, retirees, teachers, tradespeople, healthcare workers, veterans, volunteers, and community advocates all bring valuable skills to the table. Here are some qualities that often make someone a good director: • A willingness to listen to different viewpoints • An interest in learning and understanding issues • Strong communication skills • Sound judgment • Respect for differing opinions • A commitment to serving the membership as a whole • The ability to work as part of a team No one expects a director to know it all. Serving on the Board is a team effort, and the best boards have members with different experiences and viewpoints. Being on the Board is a chance to learn how the Association works and to help shape its future. The responsibilities are important, but many directors have found the experience rewarding, educational, and meaningful. Even if you’ve never thought about running before, take another look at this opportunity and think about stepping up. You might be more qualified than you realize. You can get candidate packets for the 2026 Board of Directors election from the Association. Please submit your completed packet by 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 2026. There are many ways to get involved in the community, and serving on the Board is one of them. When members step up, give their time, and share their experience, they help make Lakes of the North stronger for the future. Please consider serving.
What Makes a Community Like Lakes of the North Successful? Communities the size of Lakes of the North do not stay successful by accident. With thousands of properties, multiple amenities, year-round operations, seasonal demands, maintenance projects, events, and daily member services all happening at the same time, it takes constant effort from a lot of people working together behind the scenes. One of the biggest things that keeps a large association running well is having people who genuinely care about the community and take pride in the work they do. From the maintenance department and golf course staff to the administration office, restaurant, campground, and clubhouse staff, along with the support of the Board of Directors, every department plays a role in the member experience. In recent years, Lakes of the North has also benefited from a skilled and experienced team of managers that have continued to focus on improving communication, strengthening operations, and creating a more service-oriented culture throughout the organization. A successful association also has to think beyond just today. Daily operations matter, but long-term planning matters too. Over the past several years, Lakes of the North has continued investing in amenities, infrastructure, equipment, and facility improvements across the community. Some of those projects are highly visible, while others happen quietly behind the scenes. Either way, they all contribute to maintaining and improving the overall experience for members and guests. As communities grow and age, planning becomes more important. Equipment wears out, buildings require updates, and infrastructure needs ongoing attention. Communities that plan responsibly are better able to handle those long-term needs without losing sight of future improvements. Communication is another major piece of the puzzle. Members want to know what is happening in the community, where projects stand, and how decisions are being made. Over time, Lakes of the North has continued working toward better communication through blogs, project updates, town halls, financial reporting, social media, and member outreach. But no association succeeds on staff and leadership alone. Member involvement is one of the most important parts of building a strong community. Whether it is attending town halls, volunteering for events, serving on committees, supporting amenities and local activities, or simply being involved and informed, engaged members help shape the direction and culture of the community. Some of the most successful events, improvements, and traditions at Lakes of the North have happened because members stepped forward with ideas, participation, and support. A community works best when people feel connected to it and invested in its future. No community this large operates without challenges, differing opinions, or periods of disagreement. In organizations of this size, progress requires leadership that can stay focused on long-term stability and the overall good of the community, even during difficult conversations or changing circumstances. A great community is built by people who choose cooperation over division and long-term progress over personal conflict. Looking ahead, Lakes of the North continues to focus on maintaining strong operations, improving amenities, investing responsibly, and creating an environment where members feel welcomed and informed. People choose to be part of communities like Lakes of the North for more than just the amenities. It is the friendships, traditions, events, volunteer involvement, and shared pride in the community that make this place special. Over time, those connections are what turn an association into a true community. At the end of the day, the continued success of Lakes of the North comes from people who care about where they live, stay involved, support one another, and continue working together to build something meaningful for future generations. Interested in getting involved in the community? Consider joining a committee! Please contact the Management Office at 231-585-6000 or sign into Member Central on the website for a list of committee chair contact information. Thinking about running for the Board of Directors? Candidate packets are due back to the Management Office via email in PDF format no later than 5:00 PM on July 10, 2026. Please visit Member Central and the Association Documents page to access candidate packets and additional information.
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