Lindsay Hogan Drew Deurlington Carlynne Fajkos Cynthia Cendreda Jesus Antonio Vazquez Camy Marotta
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Annie Rosenfeld | General Manager arosenfeld@tahoedonner.com
Miah Cottrell | Director of Information Technology mcottrell@tahoedonner.com
John Groom | Director of Land Management + Open Space jgroom@tahoedonner.com
Jason Hajduk-Dorworth | Director of Administrative Services jhajduk@tahoedonner.com
Lindsay Hogan | Director of Communications + Member Relations lhogan@tahoedonner.com
Justin Malley | Director of Finance + Accounting jmalley@tahoedonner.com
Jon Mitchell | Director of Capital Projects + Facilities jmitchell@tahoedonner.com
Mike Peters | Director of Food + Beverage mpeters@tahoedonner.com
Miguel Sloane | Director of Operations msloane@tahoedonner.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President | Benjamin Levine blevine@tahoedonner.com
Vice President | Denise Gauny dgauny@tahoedonner.com
Treasurer | Don Koenes dkoenes@tahoedonner.com
Secretary | Courtney Murrell cmurrell@tahoedonner.com
Vice Treasurer | Jay Wertheim jwertheim@tahoedonner.com
POSTMASTER: Periodical postage paid at Truckee, California and additional mailing offices. Send address changes to Tahoe Donner News + Life, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161; (530) 587-9400, Fax (530) 579-3224
EMAIL: comdep@tahoedonner.com
ADVERTISING SALES: CC Media + Publishing is the exclusive advertising representative: (775) 742-9850 | laura@ccmpublishing.com
PUBLISHING INFORMATION
Tahoe Donner Association holds the exclusive service mark right to “Tahoe Donner.” Any unauthorized use of such will be regarded as an infringement of that service mark right and is prohibited. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Tahoe Donner Association or its board of directors of the products, services or views contained therein.
Tahoe Donner News + Life (ISSN 1550-6061) is the official monthly publication of Tahoe Donner Association, which is located at 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161. Each membership parcel receives one subscription to a domestic address. Cost to produce and distribute this publication is offset by advertising revenues. Periodicals Postage Paid at Truckee, CA, and additional mailing offices. Member letters to Tahoe Donner are published in the Member Portal; details available at tahoedonner.com/member-letters
Tahoe Donner News + Life is created largely in-house and is printed on certified recycled paper stock using soybased inks.
President’s Welcome
In 2024, following several years of rule development and community discussion, the Tahoe Donner Board of Directors adopted a new Amenity Access Rule, completing the most significant update to our amenity access system in 35 years.
At its heart, the new rule represents a renewed commitment to strengthening member benefits and to putting members’ use and enjoyment first at the private amenities. One goal was to ensure that Tahoe Donner members can enjoy those amenities without feeling nickel-anddimed or crowded out by non-members. To that end, the rule was carefully designed to remove barriers to member use and enjoyment, whether those barriers were costs, confusion, or crowds.
The rule was also written to strengthen the financial stability and sustainability of the private amenities by aligning common expense obligations with the member duties established in Tahoe Donner’s governing documents.
In accordance with the rule’s phased implementation plan, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, private amenity access became a core member right and benefit included with the annual assessment. The annual Recreation Fee and member Daily Access Fees were eliminated, allowing card-carrying Tahoe Donner members to enjoy the private amenities without additional entry fees.
To support member priority and reduce crowding, short-term rental tenants are now subject to blackout dates at the private amenities, including all holiday peak periods. Additionally, to protect your member rights and privileges, we are strengthening the integrity of the private amenity access system through improved procedures for identifying, documenting, and addressing suspected fraud and abuse. We are also continuing our Member ID validation efforts to ensure that all card-carrying Tahoe Donner members are truly members.
When writing and adopting the Amenity Access Rule, the board and the management team understood that practical experience would reveal areas needing clarification and opportunities for improvement. That expectation has proven true. Over the next few months, the board will be considering a number of clarifying, technical, and process-oriented updates.
The updates already under consideration include refining a few definitions for clarity, making technical updates to address property sales and ownership transitions, refining the Member ID Card Exception Process to make it more efficient, and clarifying private amenity privileges for long-term resident tenants, cohabitation relationships, and coresident relationships.
What these updates will not change is the Amenity Access Rule’s focus on improving member benefits and protecting your member experience at the private amenities. The rule is grounded in a simple idea: as shared extensions of our private homes, Tahoe Donner’s private amenities should first and foremost serve Tahoe Donner members, with priority given to their personal use and enjoyment.
This spring, members will receive a mailer with the proposed Amenity Access Rule updates and supporting materials explaining their purpose and effect. The board invites you to review the proposal, attend the upcoming board meeting where the updates will be considered, and submit written comments during the 45-day notice and comment period.
As always, please look for me around Tahoe Donner, say hello, and let me know what’s on your mind!
Benjamin Levine Board President blevine@tahoedonner.com
Nikki Ritcher (Header)
Get Verified Early. Get Ready for Summer. Get Rewarded.
Get Ahead of Tahoe Donner Member Access Verification Requirements
Tahoe Donner’s Amenity Access updates require all Member ID Card holders to complete family eligibility verification by Dec. 31, 2027. But why wait? Members who complete verification by June 30, 2026, will be entered into a drawing that includes prizes like:
• 2026/27 Ski Season Pass
• Tickets to Summer Concert on the Green
• A Ride-Along on a Snow Cat
• $200 Gift Card to The Lodge Restaurant & Pub
• Tickets to Wild West Fest and Fall Fest
• VIP Foursome at Tahoe Donner Golf Course
• VIP Marina Experience for Four: lunch, a designated parking spot, equipment rentals, and VIP happy hour seating at the Beach Club Marina
Avoid a last-minute rush—check it off your list with confidence. Verifying now ensures uninterrupted access to Tahoe Donner’s private amenities and enters you into a drawing for a chance to win.
Our 2026 goal as an association is ambitious but achievable: 12,500 verified members by the end of the year! By completing your verification early, you’ll help us reach that milestone – and you’ll be entered into exclusive incentive drawings along the way.
Why Member Verification is Required
In response to member feedback, the board adopted updates to the Amenity Access Rule in October 2024 to better address misuse and ensure these valued benefits are prioritized for qualifying property owners and their immediate family members. As part of this update, documentation verifying family relationships is now required to receive a valid Member ID Card.
As of March 15, 2026 over 6,600 members have been verified!
Member ID Cards provide access to Tahoe Donner’s private amenities, including the Beach Club Marina, Northwoods Pool, Tennis + Pickleball Center, and Trout Creek Recreation Center, as well
as member-exclusive pricing and benefits across the association. To ensure these benefits are reserved for qualifying property owners and their immediate family members, documentation verifying family relationships is now required under the updated Amenity Access Policy.
Verification helps:
• Maintain fair and equitable access to private amenities
• Keep member records accurate and up to date
• Prevent delays or interruptions during peak summer and winter seasons
• Support the long-term sustainability of Tahoe Donner’s amenities
All Member ID Card holders must complete verification by Dec. 31, 2027 to maintain an active status. Making changes to the current Member ID Cardholders will trigger automatic verification. Taking the opportunity to verify or make changes now ensures uninterrupted access during the peak summer months. If you add or change members on your account, verification is required at the time of the update.
Who Needs to Verify?
All Member ID Card holders – both existing and new members – must verify eligibility, including owners. Owners listed on the deed will simply need to provide a copy of their government-issued ID and submit supporting documentation to verify their family members. Only qualifying individuals may receive Member ID Cards, including:
Children ages 3+ count toward your property’s Member ID Card allotment.
If you add or change members on your account, verification is required at the time of the update.
Upon successful completion of your verification, Member Services will issue your new Member ID Card!
How to Get Verified
The process is straightforward and can be completed online in just a few steps:
1. Log in to ShopTD and select “My Account.”
2. Review who is currently listed as a member on your property.
3. Gather documentation that verifies qualifying family relationships (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption records, trust documentation, or government-issued ID for owners) for those listed on your account as “Members”.
4. Complete the “Member ID Card Verification Form” and upload documents securely through the online portal. To make the process even easier, a downloadable Member Verification Checklist is available on the Amenity Access webpage at tahoedonner.com/amenity-access
Learn More and Get Started
We’ve created a new webpage titled “Your Guide to Member Verification” that includes step-by-step instructions, downloadable resources, FAQs, recap videos from past information sessions and upcoming verification events. Visit the website at tahoedonner.com/amenity-access or scan the QR code to the right to learn more.
Virtual Verification Information Session
Monday, April 6 at 5:30PM
Join the Tahoe Donner Member Services team for a live Verification Information Session on Monday, April 6 at 5:30PM. During this virtual event, we’ll walk you step-by-step through the member verification process, explain documentation requirements and answer common questions to help you get everyone on your account verified with confidence. Can’t attend live? No problem. A recap recording will be available afterward on the Amenity Access web hub so you can watch at your convenience.
Visit tahoedonner.com/amenity-access to register for the event.
A Trail of Transformation
trails & vistas renowned art hikes return to tahoe donner this summer
BY CYNTHIA CENDREDA
Tahoe Donner is thrilled to host Trails & Vistas’ 2026 Art Hikes Aug. 22-23, with stunning performance art installations gracing the landscape along a 2.2-mile loop beginning at the Alder Creek Adventure Center (ACAC) and continuing along Whoop It Up trail.
Trails & Vistas Founder and Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez recently sat down with Tahoe Donner News + Life to share a little bit more about what one can experience on these celebrated Art Hikes.
Cynthia Cendreda: For starters, what is an Art Hike?
Nancy Tieken Lopez: Trails & Vistas’ Art Hikes are a fusion of art experiences and forest immersion. Led by an experienced guide, Art Hike attendees travel in small groups, pausing at seven to nine art performance installations.
CC: Can you describe for readers what an “art performance installation” involves?
NTL: An art performance installation is an immersive, site-specific performance that transforms spaces into experiences. An example might be hiking up to a ridge with a stunning view of Devil’s Peak to find ballet dancers dancing along the edge, or hiking into a forest glen to find a thousand, brilliant-orange clay poppies running down a hillside intermixed with lava rock, and then, being serenaded by an acoustic guitarist and a beatboxer (Royal Gorge Art Hikes, 2024). The Art Hike theme, the artists and the performances change every year to offer new experiences. Each Art Hike features environmental storytelling, land art and an invitation to connect with each other, to be curious, to embrace a variety of cultures and to celebrate the environment through the arts.
CC: That all sounds incredible. Can you share what the theme for the 2026 Art Hikes is yet?
NTL: Yes, this year’s theme is “borrowed landscape,” or shakkei (借景). In Japan, shakkei is the art of incorporating distant scenery, such as mountains, trees or lakes, to make an intimate space feel larger and more integrated with its surroundings. This technique uses elements like a strategically placed opening or a framing device to “capture” the background view. This summer, I will be collaborating with over fifty artists to create a seamless blend of man-made elements and the natural world, allowing participants to connect to nature and culture, to people and place.
CC: What types of artists can TD members expect to see on this year’s Art Hikes?
NTL: We are excited to welcome back Capacitor Dance Company from San Francisco. Capacitor’s award-winning work has been praised by The New York Times as “ingenious.” Capacitor’s Artistic Director, Jodi Lomask, is choreographing a solo dance titled ‘The Perfect Flower,” as well as a duet, “Tangled Green.’’
We are also thrilled to have harpist Motoshi Kosako 古佐古基史 performing. Motoshi is a Japanese-born concert harpist, composer and improviser. Harp Column compared his introspective soloing to that of Keith Jarrett. In addition to producing seventeen albums, Motoshi regularly tours internationally.
Reno Taiko Tsurunokai, a Japanese drumming group based in Reno, Nevada, will perform on Sunday. Taiko drums are so physically demanding to play that each group can only perform one day. Reiko Shimbo, founder of Reno Taiko Tsurunokai, says that the reason people instantly connect to Taiko drums is that “[y]ou don’t just hear
it in the ears, but feel it in the body.”
Additional artists include dancer, Jill Salak; sculptor, Aiya Jordan Kawasaki; fiber artist, Lorna Denton; Truckee High School designer, Keira Ching; drumming and dancing group, Matachines Guerreros de Reno; Joffrey Ballet-trained local dancer, Leigh Collins; and equestrian performer, Kansas Carradine, aka Circus Cowgirl, along with four site-specific installations of my artwork.
We’d be remiss not to mention that this year’s incredible artist lineup is partially made possible by a generous grant from the Martis Camp Foundation.
CC: The Art Hikes were last held in Tahoe Donner in 2009. How long have the Art Hikes been going on, and how did they get started?
NTL: I like to say, it all started with one rock! While I was in graduate school, I left river poems inscribed on 20 rocks in a streambed. I enjoyed seeing how people moved and interacted with the rocks until one day, when I came back to find all of the rocks gone, except for one that read, “Is No More.” I thought that was so clever. That interaction inspired me to create my very first Art Hike in 1997 as my Master’s in Fine Arts thesis project.
CC: And what has been your favorite performance installation from your twenty-two-year history of the Art Hikes?
NTL: Honestly, each year has been a special memory, but the first Art Hikes were exciting because it was at a time in the 90s when young installation artists took risks and didn’t worry about insurance or permits. Dancers dangling down a cliff from fabric, making earth art on the hillside, riding on the back of a bulldozer with poetry boulders – you just did it!
However, I will say that the “Terra Caeli, Earth Sky” Art Hike in 2009 in Tahoe Donner is a favorite of mine. I worked closely with choreographer Elizabeth Archer to create a mix of dance performance and equestrian arts on Sundance Trail. We started with a Dancing With Horses Workshop that summer for local youth dancers of InnerRythms Dance Theater, which was taught by acclaimed choreographer Alain Gauthier, as well as Kansas Carradine at the Archer’s ranch in Sierraville. The equine workshop developed into three Art Hike performance installation sites! Ranging in age from 14 to 17, the dancers learned life lessons from working with these majestic animals
alongside Alain and Leslie Anne Webb, an equine healing facilitator.
With all of my performance installations, I want to fill each Art Hike participant with a sense of profound but equivocal mystery, discovering the art that lies hidden in the landscape and within our own imagination.
CC: Tell me about some of your other events.
NTL: Every fall, Trails & Vistas holds our Dreaming Tree field trip for 450+ thirdgrade students in Truckee and North Tahoe. The field trips are mini-interactive Art Hikes. The students learn from Culture Bearers of the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada, march with a bagpiper, sing with a guitarist, write poetry with a spoken word poet, listen to a storyteller and create their own art.
This year we will hold our third annual Awe Walks for veterans, senior citizens and individuals with sensory, physical and cognitive differences. The Awe Walks are a fusion of our Art Hikes and forest bathing. Held on an ADA-accessible trail in Donner Memorial State Park, participants are invited to slow down and connect with nature through the arts.
We also host free community art workshops every year, usually in the spring. This year, we are collaborating with the Sierra Teen Education and Parenting Program to provide free art classes to local teen parents, and this spring, we are working with local high school students on two poetry salons and an open mic.
Finally, we put on the Truckee Historical Haunted Tour every October. Participants are taken on a guided tour of historic Truckee buildings where volunteer actors perform historical vignettes.
Purchase Tickets
trailsandvistas.org
On Sale for Tahoe Donner Residents* on April 17 at 12PM (and for the general public on April 22).
Early Bird Pricing: Adults $60; Kids $15
Private Pod: Groups of up to 20 can purchase a Private Pod for $1,400 before April 15 by contacting Veronica Derrick at veronica@trailsandvistas.org
*Look for a direct link to the sale in the Tahoe Donner weekly email on April 14, or sign-up today to receive the email at tahoedonner.com/subscribe
All photos courtesy of Nancy Tieken Lopez (featured) and Trails & Vistas
ELECTION INFORMATION + KEY DATES
TWO BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITIONS OPEN
The 2026 Tahoe Donner Board of Directors election is officially underway, with two open board positions to be filled by member vote this June. The board plays a crucial role in shaping the future of Tahoe Donner, overseeing financial decisions, capital projects, policies, and more – all as dedicated, unpaid volunteers elected to represent property owners. As the election process continues, now is the time for members to stay informed, review candidate guidelines, and engage in the community-driven process that helps guide Tahoe Donner’s direction.
The key dates listed below are summarized. A 2026 election timeline is available on the Tahoe Donner Elections website at tahoedonner.com/boardelections and should be read together with the Election and Voting Rules at tahoedonner.com/election-rules
APPLY TO RUN FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PROSPECTIVE
CANDIDATE Q+A SESSION
Optional Zoom only session for members who may be interested in becoming a board candidate to ask questions of current board members about their experiences.
CANDIDACY FORMS SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Candidates must submit their Candidacy Forms via email in PDF format to the Elections Committee at electionscommittee@tahoedonner.com
Member Advocates must submit their Verification Forms via email in PDF format to the Elections Committee at electionscommittee@tahoedonner.com
As Candidacy Forms are submitted to the Elections Committee, the eligibility of the candidates will be verified and the candidates will be notified within seven days.
After the close of nominations, if there are two or fewer eligible candidate for the two open director positions, the Association bylaws and Election and Voting Rules provide for conclusion of the election by acclamation. A board meeting will be scheduled to consider the candidates elected by acclamation. A notice will be sent to members communicating that this meeting has been scheduled. If acclamation requirements are not met, the election process will continue and a notice will be sent to members with the final list of candidates (in random order), the election meeting date, the ballot packet mailing date, information about returning ballots and other important voting details.
APRIL 30 12PM
SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR DIRECTOR ELECTION STATEMENTS
Each candidate may submit a Director Election Statement (in PDF format) to electionscommittee@tahoedonner.com They may also submit a personal election website and their contact information to be linked on the elections website. See other specific requirements at tahoedonner.com/boardelections.
Member Advocates (who applied by the deadline) may submit a Director Election Statement that is reasonably related to the election, as well as an election-related website and contact information to be linked on the elections website. See other specific requirements at tahoedonner.com/boardelections
Previously verified Member Advocates who wish to speak following all candidates at the June 2 Director Election Forum must notify the Elections Committee via email by this date.
MEET THE CANDIDATES + VOTING INFORMATION
MAY 4
MAY 22 5PM
DIRECTOR ELECTION STATEMENTS + LINKS AVAILABLE ON ELECTIONS WEBPAGE
Director Election Statements received by the deadline of April 30 at 12PM will be posted online at tahoedonner.com/boardelections along with email addresses, headshots and links to candidate and member advocate personal election websites, if provided.
DEADLINE FOR MEMBERS TO SUBMIT TOPICS FOR THE DIRECTOR ELECTION FORUM
Deadline for members to submit topics of interest for the Directors Election Forum which will be held on June 2. Submit all topics to tahoedonner.com/submit-topics
HAVE A TOPIC YOU WOULD LIKE THE CANDIDATES TO ADDRESS?
If you could sit down with the candidates, what topics would you like them to address? We are looking for discussion topics for the Director Election Forum. Submit topics you wish to see candidates discuss to tahoedonner.com/submit-topics by 5PM on May 22.
Neil Brydon (Header/2022
Photo Contest Submission)
MAY 27
BALLOT PACKETS MAILED
The voter list is finalized, and the date of record for the election is set. Voting packets containing ballots and instructions are mailed to all eligible voters. Packets are sent to the address on file for your invoices. Please work with all owners of your property regarding your vote.
JUNE 2
6-8PM
DIRECTOR ELECTION FORUM
Community Meeting Online via Zoom
Topics of interest previously submitted by members are discussed by candidates. The Inspector of Elections is the moderator. Verified Member Advocates who notified the Elections Committee by the April 30 deadline may speak on the same topics following all of the candidates.
To update your contact info, visit tahoedonner.com/update-your-profile by May 4. Ballots will be mailed to all members of record on May 27.
CA Civil Code 4041 requires updated contact info annually.
OPT OUT OF EMAIL SHARING
JUNE 26
9AM-5PM
ELECTION BALLOT MEETING + REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Northwoods Clubhouse and Online via Zoom
On-site voting and replacement ballots are available until 5PM. The Inspector of Elections will attend this meeting to oversee the ballot counting process if a 25% quorum has been achieved.
The deadline for receipt of ballots mailed or personally delivered to the Accountancy Firm in Reno, Nevada is 5PM. A locked ballot box will be placed in Member Services at Northwoods Clubhouse from Tuesday, June 23 until the morning of Sunday, June 28 for ballots not completed in time to be received by the Accountancy Firm in Reno, Nevada by the 5PM deadline on June 26.
California Senate Bill 323 (SB 323) grants any member who makes a formal request for the membership contact list access to your email address and contact information for the purpose of communicating about the association. Any member may remove their contact information from this shareable list by going to tahoedonner.com/sb323.
CAMPAIGN SPENDING
JUNE 28
MEETING
10AM-12PM
VOTING
10-11:30AM
ELECTION DAY + ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
Northwoods Clubhouse and Online via Zoom
The Annual Meeting of Members will be held from 10AM-12PM. Hand-delivered ballots are accepted from 10-11:30AM, at which time voting will conclude.
Replacement ballots will be available until the conclusion of voting. Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, if a 25% quorum has been achieved and the election results are certified by the Inspector of Elections, the election results (including vote count) are announced.
The results will also be communicated to the membership via email and on the website. If less than 25% of voters have submitted valid ballots, the failure to achieve a quorum will be announced and the meeting, along with the culmination of the election, will be adjourned to the following day.
JUNE
29
IF 25% QUORUM NOT MET
If there is a failure to achieve the 25% quorum requirement as of the Annual Meeting of Members, the meeting is reconvened at Northwoods Clubhouse for the purpose of counting votes and concluding the Election of Directors with a reduced 15% quorum requirement as specified in the bylaws.
As soon as the election results are certified by the Inspector of Elections, the results (including vote count) are announced and communicated by email.
Tahoe Donner campaign guidelines encourage candidates to conduct an economical campaign that employs costeffective outreach techniques. To support this objective, the association provides Directors Elections Statements and links to personal websites and email addresses at tahoedonner.com/boardelections. The Elections Committee also hosts the Director Election Forum, an online event on June 2.
CAMPAIGN CONDUCT
To increase member confidence in the governance of the Tahoe Donner Association, and to encourage high standards of behavior collectively and individually, the Board of Directors has adopted the following Code of Conduct for its board members. SPEAK RESPECTFULLY. SHOW COURTESY. BRING A POSITIVE MESSAGE. BE INCLUSIVE. FOCUS ON YOUR OWN MESSAGE. PRACTICE CIVILITY. BE FACTUAL.
OR
AT
@TAHOEDONNER.COM.
Caring for the Land We Share
Tahoe Donner Land Management:
2025 Highlights and 2026 Priorities
Tahoe Donner’s forests, trails and open spaces are among the community’s most cherished assets. They provide recreation, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and critical protection against wildfire. Each year, the Tahoe Donner Land Management team works across thousands of acres to care for these landscapes while ensuring they remain safe and accessible for members. The 2025 Land Management program brought significant progress in forestry, defensible space trails and community stewardship. As the association looks toward 2026, the focus remains on wildfire resilience, thoughtful forest management and improving recreational access across Tahoe Donner’s extensive trail network.
Major Progress in Forest Health and Fuel Reduction
Forest management and wildfire mitigation remain among Tahoe Donner’s most important responsibilities. In 2025, the Land Management team and its partners completed forestry work on 1,058 acres to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. Of this total, 871 acres were on Tahoe Donner lands, while 187 acres were treated on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands as part of collaborative regional efforts.
• Tahoe Donner’s own forestry crews treated 158 acres, while 14 forestry contracts accounted for another 260 acres of fuel reduction work. At the same time, private property owners contributed significantly to community resilience, completing 409 acres of defensible space improvements around their homes.
• Partnerships also played a key role in expanding the reach of these projects. Collaborations with the U.S. Forest Service, Town of Truckee, NV Energy and the Truckee Donner Public Utility District helped accomplish an additional 231 acres of treatment within and around Tahoe Donner.
• One notable effort occurred along Tahoe Donner’s east perimeter near Alder Creek, where the U.S. Forest Service completed approximately 187 acres of thinning and fuel reduction to help protect the community and the critical Highway 89 North evacuation corridor.
• Within Tahoe Donner itself, forestry crews also addressed priority locations such as Bermgarten, where crews removed 45 dead trees and treated roughly 27 acres of steep hillside forest below nearby homes.
Grant-Funded Work Expands Wildfire Protection
Several major projects in 2025 were supported by grant funding and specialized contractors, allowing crews to reach areas that require more complex treatment. With support from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, forestry crews completed thinning, limbing and mastication on slopes above Interstate 80 near the Glacier area. This work helps reduce fuel loads in a high-risk wildfire corridor and improves overall forest structure.
• Additional wildfire resilience work occurred near Skislope Way, where a steep-slope contractor utilized a specialized Spider Masticator to complete targeted fuel reduction in the Flash Fire burn scar area. This effort builds on initial work completed in 2022 and helps stabilize vegetation while reducing future fire risk.
• A large scale multi-year CAL FIRE grant administered through the Truckee Fire Protection District funded approximately 64 acres of fuel reduction and tree planting work around Crabtree Ridge, Hawks Peak and Glacier Ridgeline.
• A Measure T grant awarded in 2023 enabled the Forestry Department to purchase a masticator allowing for the efficient removal of brush and smalldiameter trees.
These projects demonstrate how targeted investments, partnerships and grants allow Tahoe Donner to address difficult terrain and high-priority wildfire mitigation areas.
Strong Member Participation in Defensible Space
Wildfire safety is a shared responsibility, and Tahoe Donner homeowners continued to play a vital role in the community’s success.
In 2025, 984 properties completed defensible space work, covering more than 409 acres of private property. Member participation resulted in an impressive 99.8% compliance rate across the community. To support this effort, staff conducted 4,173 inspections and reinspections, often meeting with homeowners several times to provide guidance and ensure compliance with defensible space standards.
The defensible space program also supported the local real estate market, with 220 properties inspected during home sales and 150 dead tree removal permits issued throughout the year.
Trail Improvements Enhance Recreation
Tahoe Donner’s trail system continues to grow and improve, offering residents and visitors access to the surrounding forests and meadows.
In 2025, several projects also improved connectivity and trail sustainability.
• The Lower Fools Gold trail was reconstructed and extended with about 200 yards of new singletrack, reducing the need for road travel and improving trail flow for bikers.
• Another major project created the Cinnamon Twist missing link, adding roughly half a mile of rustic singletrack that improves trail connectivity to Euer Valley while slowing bike speeds along this popular route.
• Additional work included rebuilding the Hansel Mailbox East Perimeter trail entrance.
• Restoring horse paddocks in Euer Valley.
• Continuing trail monitoring at 12 locations throughout the system.
• The trail program also designed and launched two new interactive trail maps on the Tahoe Donner website. One of these maps highlights active work areas and future plans. The second map is
A masticator at work, followed by three sets of beforeand-after fuel reduction photos (top to bottom).
Ongoing mastication and wildfire resilience work on the south-facing area behind Skislope Way.
available for download and can be utilized with popular map apps for offline use.
• Design and production of 300 new wayfinding signs to be installed across the system in 2026.
Community Stewardship and Education
Beyond physical improvements to the land, the Land Management team also invested in community education and engagement.
In 2025, Tahoe Donner hosted 32 stewardship events, including bird and wildflower guided walks, trail workdays, forestry tours and educational programs focused on fire safety and ecology. These events attracted more than 1,100 participants, including members, local families and youth groups. The strong response from the community has led Tahoe Donner to plan for expanded stewardship programming in 2026.
Looking Ahead: Key Priorities
for 2026
While 2025 delivered significant accomplishments, the Land Management team is already preparing for the next phase of work.
One of the most important efforts will be updating the Land Management Plan, originally adopted in 2016. Staff are reviewing the latest wildfire science, ecological data and community input to guide future forest management decisions.
One element of that plan will be a Timber Harvest Plan, a comprehensive regulatory document that outlines how forest restoration and timber harvesting can be carried out responsibly on private lands while protecting wildlife habitat, biodiversity and environmental resources.
Several new forestry projects are also planned for 2026, including:
• Approximately 50 acres of CAL FIRE grant-funded fuel reduction in the Bermgarten and McGlashan Springs areas adjacent to Tahoe Donner.
• Defensible space inspections will focus on the Northwoods and southern zone, where 1,049 properties are scheduled for inspection as part of the next community cycle.
• Trail improvements will continue as well, with projects planned for the East Perimeter Trail, Coyote Crossing and a new Glacier Way accessible interpretive trail designed to serve a broader range of users (see more on page 14).
A Shared Commitment to the Landscape
Tahoe Donner’s forests and open spaces define the character of the community. Through coordinated forestry work, homeowner participation, trail improvements and stewardship programs, the association continues to invest in the long-term health of these landscapes.
As the community moves into 2026, the focus remains clear: protect the forest, improve wildfire resilience, enhance recreation and ensure Tahoe Donner’s natural environment remains vibrant for generations to come.
By the Numbers –Tahoe Donner Land Management
2025 Forestry + Fire Safety
• 1,058 acres of collaborative forestry work completed
• 871 acres treated on Tahoe Donner lands
• 187 acres treated on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands
• 158 acres completed by Tahoe Donner forestry crews
• 260 acres treated through contracted forestry work
• 409 acres of defensible space completed by homeowners
Defensible Space Success
• 984 properties completed defensible space work
• 99.8% compliance rate among Tahoe Donner Homeowners within the 2025 Defensible Space Inspection Zone during the inspection cycle
• 4,173 inspections and reinspections conducted by staff
• 150 dead tree removal permits issued
• 220 inspections completed for real estate transactions
Trails + Recreation
• 46 miles of singletrack trail maintained
• ½ mile of new trail added through the Cinnamon Twist extension
• 200 yards of new trail added to the Lower Fools Gold section
• 300 new wayfinding signs produced for installation in 2026
Stewardship + Community Engagement
• 32 stewardship events hosted in 2025
• 1,100+ participants including members, families and youth
• Educational programs included wildfire safety, forestry tours and trail volunteer days
Lower Fools Gold trail reconstruction and extension to mitigate erosion concerns and alleviate as much road traverse as possible.
Tree planting at Glacier Way for Truckee River Day.
Janie Sharp & Kristi Hood
Accessible Nature Immersion
AN EXCITING NEW FEATURE COMES TO THE GLACIER WAY TRAILHEAD
BY CYNTHIA CENDREDA
The popular Glacier Way trailhead offers a jumping-off point for exploring the ridgeline above Donner Lake and connecting into the robust Tahoe Donner Trail System and Donner Lake Rim Trail. Ideal for hiking, biking and snowshoeing, the area offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding Sierra Nevada. As of July 2025, the trailhead was enhanced to include additional parking spaces and a permanent restroom facility. But, more recently, a project is underway to create an even more inclusive and immersive experience.
Glacier Way
INTERPRETIVE LOOP
Entering the construction phase, a new half-mile-long, five-foot-wide loop will be installed this summer. This new trail will be comprised of decomposed granite material compacted into a firm and flat surface for leisurely walking and to accommodate strollers and other adaptive devices to support mobility. The trail will feature vistas and educational signage highlighting local flora, fauna and other unique facts. Four picnic tables will be added, two at the trailhead and two along the path, as well as two benches for quiet enjoyment. There will also be passing areas and rest zones for anyone wanting to take a tranquil pause along their walk.
Working with the Truckee River Watershed Council, Tahoe Donner Trails Manager Leslie Loveland will meet with members of the Washoe Tribe to learn about and incorporate their early history with the land into the interpretive signage. Project completion is anticipated for early August. In all, the Glacier Way Interpretive Loop will provide a uniquely experiential component for Tahoe Donner residents and visitors to enjoy.
To learn more about the Tahoe Donner Trail System, visit tahoedonner.com/trails.
Meet Tahoe Donner Trails Manager, LESLIE LOVELAND
If you frequent the trail system, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Leslie Loveland, Tahoe Donner’s resident trail expert and manager. Hailing from South Dakota, Loveland’s educational background and career experience lend themselves to the extensive and intentional maintenance of Tahoe Donner’s most cherished natural resources. Having grown up in the outdoors, Loveland grew up hunting, fishing and hiking with her family. Graduating with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries, she has since dedicated her career to preserving and protecting the environment, whether for sustainable recreational use and enjoyment or conservation practices.
Loveland spent the first 15 years of her career as a wildlife technician. She volunteered at the Gavin’s Point National Fish Hatchery during Pallid Sturgeon spawning season. She then landed her dream job working for the National Park Service on the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers, studying threatened and endangered shorebirds from a kayak. She next became a tour guide on a Glacier in Seward, Alaska, and then later discovered a love for researching raptors for various nonprofit wildlife organizations – most recently the U.S. Forest Service. Loveland monitored and researched bird habitat and movement, specializing in forest raptors: spotted owls, goshawks, peregrine falcons and bald eagles. Additionally, she surveyed these species for forest thinning and trail projects, and conducted post-fire restoration work on many of California’s largest wildfires.
Loveland now spends her time in Tahoe Donner restoring meadows and damaged sections of the trail system. She helps to realign trails for improved connectivity, install wayfinding signage and revitalize local habitat and ecosystems, all while continuing to monitor the area’s wildlife. She enjoys collaborating with other departments and receiving support and guidance from her fellow Land Management team members. While trails management is her job, she confesses it doesn’t feel like work, “My real passion is getting outside and playing in the dirt!”
Among her repertoire, Loveland has a commercial driver’s license, which allows her to drive semi-trucks, move heavy machinery and drive the Tahoe Donner buses. She is an experienced operator of excavators, skid steers, chainsaws and other machinery. And, she spent five years working on a trail crew for a local nonprofit, where she fell in love with seeing trail projects through from start to finish.
As for her other interests, Loveland enjoys backpacking, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, boating, white-water rafting and kayaking with her husband and two miniature pinschers.
Buzz The
LOCAL ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, DINING + MORE
Spring Has Sprung
I must be a houseplant, because I find myself arching toward the sunlight with a renewed sense of energy and excitement for the days ahead. By the time this goes to print, I may be eating my words, but I have confidently put away my snow shovel in exchange for my rake and green waste bins in preparation for my defensible space maintenance.
There is something – dare I say –soothing about this necessary annual ritual, the raking and decluttering of dead or decaying needles, pine cones and old brush, that brings a sense of calm and order to the yard, while the sweat, the pulling and pushing of garden tools, the hoisting of garbage bags, gently primes the body for summer adventures. I’ve learned to love the quiet work as a sacred time of cleansing, both the yard and the soul.
On the subject of defensible space, the inspection cycle will begin as soon as conditions permit this spring. Turn to page 24 for properties included in this year’s cycle, rebate opportunities and more.
Plan Ahead for Your Next Adventures
While enjoying a beautiful spring season, now is the time to start planning your summer and next winter activities for the whole family.
• 2026/27 ski season passes are on sale now for the lowest price of the year. Purchase now and lock in the best deal on unlimited and unrestricted skiing at Tahoe Donner ski areas. Pass pricing goes up
May 15; learn more and purchase now at tahoedonner.com/skiseasonpasses
• Registration is open for all summer camps and day programs. Learn more about fun and exciting offerings for kids at tahoedonner.com/summercamps
• Registration for the PGA Junior League Home, Travel Development and Travel teams opens on April 1. Discover what makes Tahoe Donner’s summer team sport an enriching experience for young golfers at tahoedonner.com/ junior-golf-programs
• Celebrate the season at the Winter End of Season Party + GM Happy Hour on Saturday, April 4, from 2-4PM at Alder Creek Adventure Center. Raise a glass to another memorable Tahoe winter on the trails, with live music, great company, huge discounts on retail goods, happy hour specials available all day, and the après menu served until 5PM.
permitting) or visit the website for the most up-to-date information.
The Member Services office will also be updating its spring hours from Monday to Saturday, 8AM-5PM and closed on Sundays from April 12 to May 17. Afterhours inquiries can be sent via email to info@tahoedonner.com
Edible Indulgences!
Burger + Beer Month
It’s Burger + Beer month all of April at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub, featuring Chef Jack’s juicy Angus smashburger and a refreshing draft beer for $20 (not valid on Easter Sunday, April 5).
Easter Brunch Celebration
Gather with family and friends for The Lodge Restaurant & Pub’s annual Easter brunch celebration on Sunday, April 5, from 10AM-2PM. Enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffet, featuring Dungeness crab with seafood station, a carving station, made-to-order eggs Benedict and the ever-popular dessert station. Adults can also enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne or a fresh mimosa, while kids explore arts and crafts, an egg hunt and a very special surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Reservations are required for brunch only. Visit tahoedonner.com/the-lodge for all the eggs-citing details.
BOGO Deals
With longer days, plenty of sunshine for outdoor dining and “buy-oneget-one” deals at your favorite TD restaurants, dining in TD has never been so delicious!
• Registration opens for junior tennis and pickleball camps on April 7. Discover hourly and weekly options for kids ages 5-17. Learn more at tahoedonner.com/tennis
Don’t Miss Trails Day on Saturday, April 25, from 10AM-2PM. Join the TD Trails and Open Space Committee at the Trout Creek Trailhead as we celebrate Trails Day! Sponsored by Rails to Trails Conservancy, take a walk on the paved path and learn about Tahoe Donner’s trail system. See details at tahoedonner.com/events
• Summer amenity opening dates are just around the corner! See page 17 for scheduled openings (conditions
Pizza on the Hill: From April 17 through May 19, members with active Member ID Cards can enjoy an exclusive BOGO deal of 50% off a second pizza (limit one per family)! Plus, sip and savor happy hour pricing from 4-6PM, featuring $7 draft beer and house wine and 25% off appetizers. Visit tahoedonner.com/pizza for hours, menu and more.
The Lodge Restaurant & Pub: From April 22 to May 21, TD members with an active Member ID Card can take advantage of a remarkable BOGO deal of 50% off a second entrée (of equal or lesser value).
Tahoe Donner
1
Quilt Club Meeting at Northwoods Clubhouse
See page 19
4
Winter End-of-Season Party + GM Happy Hour at Alder Creek Adventure Center tahoedonner.com/ winter-end-of-season-party
5
Easter Brunch Celebration at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub tahoedonner.com/the-lodge/specials
Easter Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub tahoedonner.com/ easter-eggstravaganza
6
Member Verification Virtual Webinar tahoedonner.com/events
8
Prospective Board of Director Candidate Q+A Virtual Meeting tahoedonner.com/events
9
Wildfire Defensible Space Compliance Virtual Webinar tahoedonner.com/events
15
Quilt Club Meeting at Northwoods Clubhouse
See page 19
17
Member BOGO Deals Begin at Pizza on the Hill tahoedonner.com/pizza-specials
22
Member BOGO Deals Begin at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub tahoedonner.com/the-lodge/specials
24
Regular Board Meeting at Northwoods Clubhouse tahoedonner.com/board-meetings
25
Adult, Child + Infant
CPR/AED/First Aid Class at Northwoods Clubhouse tahoedonner.com/events
Celebrate Trails Day at the Trout Creek Trailhead and Nature Loop Trail tahoedonner.com/events
Tuesdays
7, 14, 21, 28
American Mah Jongg Club at Pizza on the Hill
See page 18
Wednesdays 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
No Corkage Wednesdays at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub tahoedonner.com/the-lodge/specials
Fridays 3, 10, 17, 24
Free Family Movie Night at Northwoods Clubhouse tahoedonner.com/ family-movie-night
Pro Shop + Golf Simulator Wednesday-Sunday Through April 19 | 10AM-4PM Reservations required Course + Driving Range Driving Range scheduled to open May 16
Golf Course scheduled to open May 22
Recreation Hut (530) 587-9413 tahoedonner.com/recreation-hut recreation@tahoedonner.com
Something doesn’t feel right… Ignoring that odd feeling, sound or smell can lead to disaster. The picture shows a serious accident waiting to happen. The rear axle bearings and cage were destroyed. Fortunately, the owner realized something was not right and had it checked and repaired in time. This was most likely caused by insufficient gear oil in a differential, leading to excessive friction, overheating and eventual mechanical failure. Metal shavings produced by grinding gears circulate and cause rapid, widespread damage to bearings and internal components.
Symptoms of Low Gear Oil
• Noises: A high-pitched whining or howling that often increases in volume with vehicle speed and may turn into a deep growling or grinding sound.
• Vibrations: “Chatter" or shuddering, particularly during acceleration or while turning.
• Burning Smell: Overheating gears cause the remaining oil to burn.
• Handling Issues: Difficulty turning can occur as the internal gears struggle to rotate at different speeds.
If you’re interested in learning more or joining the TD 4-Wheelers Club, visit TD4Wheelers.org
American Mah Jongg Club
Hi Mah Jongg lovers! Here is an interesting observation about the game. The following is an excerpt from a post by a player in Mah Jongg, That’s It. “People say ‘it’s just a game’ about Mah Jongg – but that misses the point. Mah Jongg isn't just tiles. It's strategy, risk, psychology, memory and reputation. Game theory shows that games model real life. Whenever people interact with incentives, risk, cooperation and competition, strategic dynamics appear. Some people optimize for money, some for skill, some for harmony. Sometimes conflict happens during games when people are playing for different goals at the same table.”
I'm proud to report that playing with our wonderful club members has been and continues to be a very joyful experience! We all aim to be kind to one another, no matter what our goals for playing might be. We have fun!
Come join us on Tuesdays from 12-3PM at Pizza on the Hill. We play using the American Mah Jongg League rules. Since winters are slow, check with Dori Schick at doridans@hotmail.com on Monday to see if there will be a game on Tuesday. If you are already a club member, contact the group at tdmahjongg@googlegroups.com
Men’s 9-Holers Golf Club
Welcome to springtime! We are looking forward to great course conditions again this year. To join the club, please complete an application form and submit the $25 dues. The form and payment instructions can be requested through the club email at mtd9gc@gmail.com.
We will play at 8:30AM on Thursday mornings and plan to include some scrambles with small prizes. We may also
use a small portion of each member’s dues to create a hole-in-one pot.
Before June 22, the pre-season green fees for TD members will be $55, including a cart. After that, the fees will be $60. NonTD residents’ green fees, including a cart, will be $70 pre-season and $85 during the regular season. No walking rate available. Any of the play packages will be accepted for our morning play. We only have 16 spots (4 foursomes), so advance sign-ups are highly recommended.
We are a casual club, no handicap needed. All are welcome, whether you are returning, new, or just wanting to play a relaxed nine. Lastly, we encourage you to attend the pre-season golf social with the other golf clubs on May 24. Details regarding the event will be out soon!
For more information, contact Raymond Cadei at raytoni110@gmail.com or Michael Eyton-Lloyd at hmsmike1@aol.com
Men’s Golf Club
The arrival of spring has our golf maintenance crew hard at work ensuring we have the best possible course conditions for opening day, anticipated in late May (weather permitting). Pictured below is the team working in early March using a snowcat to clear snow from the ninth green.
With golf just around the corner, the Tahoe Donner Men’s Golf Club has set its 2026 schedule of over 30 events featuring a variety of individual and team events, both competitive and fun, throughout the fivemonth season. There is no better time than now to join the club! To join and to view our 2026 Calendar of Events, please visit the club’s website at tdgolfclub.com
For more information about the Men’s Golf Club and for any inquiries around membership, visit tdgolfclub.com or contact Membership Chair Dave Janiszewski at janiszewski.tdgolf@gmail.com.
Quilt Club
April showers bring May flowers? Well, with the winter we had, I had to throw snow over my daffodils in early March! I’d like to have a few words with that groundhog…
During the winter months, some of us were very busy. I, for one, was able to complete a small log cabin wall hanging (a late Christmas present for our friends), complete a large lap quilt, trim another one and actually make space in my sewing room!
Our friend Emily Desfor made two large quilts and brought them to show us. Here she is peeking from behind one of them. Her work is always beautiful and an inspiration to us all.
We are prepped to make more small pillows for the infusion center at the local hospital as soon as they need them, and will soon deliver some baby quilts to the county program Healthy Baby. So, we keep on sewing!
If you would like to know what we do, contact me at odette.turmel@gmail.com. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, in the Meadow room at the Northwoods Clubhouse from 1-3PM. Please stop by and visit if you have time. We welcome sewers of all levels, and are happy to answer questions (or at least try) if you need help with a project.
Women’s 9-Holers Golf Club
We are in the process of signing up members for this season as we build our calendar of events. Our pre-season events will include an orientation on May 11 with
free pizza and the Tahoe Donner Golf Clubs’ social over Memorial Day Weekend on May 24.
Highlights of our golfing season will start on June 25 with the President / Vice President Challenge and Luncheon, followed by our second annual Invitational Tournament and Luncheon on July 23. In August, we will have our two-week Summer Fun Tournament on Aug. 20 and 27, followed by our annual members meeting and banquet on the evening of Aug. 27.
In addition to these highlights, we will have our regular Thursday morning golf, Monday night twilight rounds and clinics, and Tuesday afternoon play. These dates are now available in Google Calendar format on the website. New this year, you can subscribe to the calendar so you always have the most up-to-date information. As we build out the season, the calendar will also include a link to sign up for each event.
Join now at td9holers.com
Women’s Golf Club
Registration is now open for the Tahoe Donner Women’s Golf Club! Visit our website at tdwomengolf.org for club information, our newsletter and to view our calendar of events for the 2026 season. Members can look forward to social and golf events, club luncheons, invitationals and more!
The Women’s Golf Club welcomes experienced 18-holers, as well as developing golfers with an index of 54 or lower. Some members are highly competitive, both within our club and at regional tournaments. Others are there for the pleasure of walking the course, sharing conversation, and enjoying the outdoors. No matter the goal, everyone tees off together!
Come join us for
CLUB CONTACTS
4-Wheelers
Tim West club@td4wheelers.org
American Mah Jongg Dori Schick
doridans@hotmail.com
Equestrian
Susan Terrell terrellsf@earthlink.net
Gardening
Kate Fanter tdgardeningclub@gmail.com
Hiking
Robin Reese rbtahoe@sbcglobal.net
Junior Golf
Molly Springmann mspringmann@tahoedonner.com
Limited Abilities
Persons’ Golf
Mike Srago msrago@comcast.net
Men’s 9-Hole Golf
Raymond Cadei raytoni110@gmail.com
Men’s Golf
Michael O'Connell tdmensgolf@gmail.com
Mountain Bike
Dustin Young dustinyoung75@gmail.com
Quilt Odette Turmel odette.turmel@gmail.com
Rowing Val Brinker vbrinker@dicksonrealty.com
Running Scott Bauhs info@tdrunclub.com
Senior Alpine Ski Joe Rosenfeld info@tdski.com
Women’s 9-Holers Golf
Wendy Lockhart td9hole@gmail.com
Women’s Golf
Mary Liz Wardlaw tdwgclub@gmail.com
Form a Club!
Whiskey? Dance? Cribbage? We want to support you in developing and promoting your club. Learn more and get an application at tahoedonner.com/clubs
the Tahoe Donner Golf Clubs’ annual welcome social on May 24 to meet other members and learn more about the 2026 season.
Friends on the Fairway
Inside a Women’s Golf Club
Where Community, Confidence and Camaraderie Thrive
BY CORAL CAVANAGH
On a beautiful mountain morning, as the dew lifts from the fairways, a group of women forms near the first tee. There is laughter, coffee, and the familiar ritual of warming up on the putting green or chipping area. For longtime members, there is the comfort of routine – and the anticipation of seeing friends. New members get their questions answered, golfers chat with the pro, and all gather for the announcements about the game of the day, upcoming events and recent victories and accomplishments. This is how most Tuesdays begin for the Tahoe Donner Women’s Golf Club (TDWGC), with conviviality and connection.
A Tradition Built by Women
The club’s story began decades ago, when a group of women decided they wanted something more from their time on the course. It was the early 80s, and Tahoe Donner Golf Course was only a few years old. The group organized as a TD club, with regular playdays and competitions. Over the years, TDWGC’s membership grew, traditions took root, and new generations of women joined, each adding their own chapter to the story. Longtime members recall with affection how the club has evolved over the years. “When we were a new club, we tried to jump-start by hosting many events, which took a lot of work,” one golfer notes. “There wasn’t really a swanky Pro Shop or luxury locker room or anything, but we had each other, and we loved golf.” Today, that same spirit remains, even as the club has expanded its reach and offerings.
More Than a Round of Golf
Weekly rounds form the backbone of the club’s calendar, spiced up with special games and opportunities to win prizes. Events include an annual President’s Cup match-play tournament, guest days, luncheons and more. In addition, the club’s affiliation with the Northern California Golf Association allows members to play in regional tournaments. The fun starts every summer with an annual Season Welcome party, which is hosted jointly by the Tahoe Donner golf clubs.
Getting together at the Pavilion for food and drink after golf is the norm. Of course, as a fourseason community, members also connect with club friends for social events and recreation when the golf course is not open. Some members keep their form sharp in warmer climates, while others dive into winter sports here in Tahoe Donner. Many members describe friendships that extend year-round into everyday life – traveling together, celebrating milestones and being there for one another through life’s ups and downs.
Encouragement and Empowerment
Ask members what keeps them coming back week after week, and while they mention the joy of golf and a desire to improve, they also gush about our beautiful course, the variety of special games and events, and most often, the fun of getting together with good friends. Yes, the club provides sporting opportunities, but it also offers something less tangible – a community that shares a love for the game and the outdoors, and encouragement to stick with a challenging sport.
For many women, joining the club marks a turning point. Some arrive after years away from the game, rediscovering a passion they once set aside. Others have recently made the “jump” from nine to 18 holes, learning not just how to improve, but how to claim space on the course with confidence. Still, others have found in the club a way to work in some healthy “me time.”
One of the club’s newer members, a member of both Tahoe Donner’s Women’s 9-holers Club and TDWGC, says this about joining, “I like the idea of mixing in fun games on some of the weekly play days. Playing 18 holes strengthens my mental and physical game. Previously, playing nine holes was not enough, yet 18 always seemed too much. So, I’m working on my focus and techniques to complete 18 holes with a smile.”
Golf, members say, has a way of reflecting life. There are good days and frustrating ones, moments of patience and moments of grit. Within the club, women learn to trust themselves to take the shot, to recover from a mistake, to celebrate progress rather than perfection.
Looking Ahead
As the club looks to the future, it remains rooted in the values that have shaped its past: inclusion, friendship, volunteerism and a love of the game. New members bring fresh energy, ideas and enthusiasm, while traditions continue to anchor the group.
Volunteerism is not only part of the club's lifeblood but also the key to continued success. Participation and support from club members allow TDWGC to keep the fun coming year after year, and help build community among us. Leadership rotates, voices share, and the club adapts, but the heart stays the same. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply seeking a welcoming community, there is room for you here.
An Open Invitation
The roster has grown by a few golfers as the club board plans for this year, and membership is still open. TDWGC welcomes experienced 18hole golfers, as well as developing golfers with an index of 54 or lower. Some members are highly competitive, both within our club and at regional tournaments. Others are there for the pleasure of walking the course, sharing conversation and enjoying the outdoors. No matter the goal, everyone tees off together.
For women curious about joining, the message from members is unanimous: come try it! Attend a play day. Join for a round and see what unfolds. “Come for the golf,” one member says with a smile, “stay for the cool people.” For more information, visit tdwomengolf.org or email tdwgclub@gmail.com
20
18-19
Championship September 8
Meeting and Luncheon
August 28 + September 1 Exchange with Incline Village
September 17 TD 18-Holer/9-Holer Play Day
THANK YOU, 2025 DONORS TAHOE DONNER GIVING FUND
In 2025, through the generosity of Tahoe Donner members, the Tahoe Donner Giving Fund proudly awarded $352,000 in scholarships and grants through the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, which administers the TDGF.
$52,000 – Traditional Scholarships
$60,000 – Nonprofit Organization Grants
$240,000 – IMPACT Scholarships
$352,000 Total 2025 Giving
In addition to the many donors listed below, a special recognition and thank you to two tremendously generous donors:
Since its inception in 2014, founding partner Jaimie Waltman Legare of Elements Mountain Company has supported the Tahoe Donner Giving Fund by donating $1 per snow removal contract each year to cover administrative expenses so that 100% of members’ donations go directly to scholarships and grants. That’s approximately $4,000 annually.
Every year since 2019, an generous anonymous Tahoe Donner member has fully funded the IMPACT Scholarships, contributing $1.5 million cumulatively to support students in our community.
With much gratitude, we sincerely thank all donors for their continued generosity and commitment to strengthening our community. The Tahoe Donner Giving Fund Committee: Marcia Argyris, Melissa Welsh Barker, Lisa Boyd, Diane Campbell, Jill Ernst, Mary Fahey, Fred Hertlein, Toni Moore, Natalie Shea, Karen Stine
Thank You to Our Generous Donors
Al and Susan Adams
Betsy and Jay Adams
Chris Adams
Jack and Debbie Angel
Andrew Argyris
Marcia and George Argyris
Vivian Auslander
Andrew Azadan
George and Sandra Baldocchi
Craig and Sylvia Banta
Simona Bartl
Cindy Basso
Bruce Bauer
Bettina Bazzini-Lapin
John and Sarah Biebl
Helen Blau
Glenn Borchardt
Steve Brandwein
Barbara Brickell
Priscilla Broberg
Dean Browne
Fritz Brunner
Carl Buck
April Bullock
Linda Bunker
David Burke
William Burns
Raymond Cadei
Diane Campbell
Manette Chadwick
Ron and Mary Chapman
Patricia Chin
Jeffrey Citron
Jim and Marie Colbert
Lynn Cordner
Kathy Cote Guarnieri
Leanne Cummins
Barbara and Ed Czerwinski
Gary and Shirley Day
Monika De Martini
Charles Deloney
Veronica Derrick
Monica and Dan Devoy
Jeannette Duff
Jodi Eggli
Rick Elfman
Robert English and Anna Maria Zara
Randy and Kathy Erickson
Jill and Brian Ernst
Walter and Mary Fahey
Dan and Linda Fairfax
Merle and Michael Fajans
Susan Fernyak
Brian Ferrall and Laurie Poston
Christine and Ken Ferrone
Lexi Filer
Mariya Filippova
Donald Freed
David Friese
Bryan Furlong
Mark Gerberman
Laurie Getz
Larry Geweke
Martha Gilbertson
Christine Gordon
Bruce Green
Mike Gridley
Timea Griset
Eli Groppo
Ralph Guggenheim
Therese Gutierrez
Rosemary Hallett
Daniel Harfe
Jon and Connie Hartung
Peggy Headley
Lindsay Hogan
Ana Paula Holm
Harold Honath
Herb Hwang
Stacy and Keith Jackson
Bill and Margaret Jensen
Benjamin and Karen Johns
Meredith Jones-McKeown
Dan Kates
Elina and Igor Khurgin
William King
Joshua and Luz Kirsch
Mark T. Kubo
Patricia Kurtz
Donald and Susan Lane
Terry Larkin
Spencer and Alecia Larson
Jeff Lasker and Brian Howell
Carol and Bill Leimbach
Laura Lindgren
Charles Lu
David and Julie Lydick
Carole Kay and Jack Lynn
Thomas Mader
Steve and Carole Mahoney
Tom and Ann Malko
Linda and Rick Martellaro
Jennifer Martin
Trina Martynowicz
Christine Massetani
James and Jayne Matthews
Aaron Matto
Frances McGeever
Sean and Carman McHugh
Catherine and Stephen McLin
Doug and Mary McWilliams
Nan and Jerry Meek
Edward Melia
Rosa Mere
Hilary and Jerry Milana
Kellie Mattson
Patrick Molnar
Toni Moore
Elise Morgan and Joachim Seitz
Donald and Carol Morris
Trudy Muller
Cameron Murray
Jesse Myres
Kelson Neidig
Stephanie Neill
Betsy and Mike Noonen
John and Donna Novitsky
Sylvia Nunez
Matt OBrien
Daniel Odishoo
Sandra and Tom Olinger
Oliver Charitable Fund
David Osleger
Jeff Paduan
Melissa Palmer and Michael Marshall
Michael Paparian
Kristen Parker
David Parsons
Tim and Cathy Pellegrini
Jon and Janet Peterson
Matthew Piersol
John and Mary Podesta
Graham and Lynette Powell
Zachary Price
Joseph and Nancy Radovsky
Barbara and Bill Ramsey
Karin Rankin
Katina Rapton
Sheila Raumer
Cathy Ravano
Lara Rector
Dana and Steve Rieger
Robert Riopel
Richard and Judy Robinson
Dennis Roseman
Annie and Joe Rosenfeld
Mark and Pamela Ross
Eric and Lisha Ruud
Thomas and Carol Ryan
John Sadler
Jill and Tom Sampson
Peter Sawyer
Karol Scheiner
Lauren Schmidt
Janet Scholes
Nancy Segreto
Gerald Serventi
Natalie Shea
Anne Shelchuk
Sherry Shirkey
Lisa Smith
Julian and Deborah Snow
Linda Sonner
Ward and Heidi Sproat
Claire Sternlicht
Susan and Larry Stieber
Karen and Peter Stine
Marie Stosz
Suzanne and Shaun Sullivan
Tahoe Donner Men's Golf Club
Gary and Sandy Tamkin
Earl and Tammy Tanner
Stanley Taylor
Nancy and Mark Thomas
John Thompson
Julie Thornton
Whitney Thwaite
Janiele Tovani
Kirsty Traill
Michael Turner
Gina Vadnais
Ronald Van De Pol
Joe and Katie Veni
Julie Vietor
Bob and Diane Wagner
Dr. Melissa Welch
Jay and Jeanette Wertheim
Claire Whaley
Frances White
Rod and Linda Whitten
Keith and Suzanne Williams
Alisyn Wilson
Carol Wilson
Mary Wolfe
Sandra Wong
Victoria Woo and Philip Brewer
Susan Woodward
Julie and Craig Wyreman
James Young
Terry and Doug Young
Dennis and Linda Zaiko
ANONYMOUS
If you donated in 2025 and your name is not listed here, “Anonymous” may have been checked when making your donation. We sincerely thank all anonymous donors.
IN HONOR OF
Bruce and Mony Bauer
Roger Bernstein and Tryntje Young
Yvonne Biliardi
Sameh Boujelbene and Mahdi Ben Hamida
Diane Campbell
Jack Chapman
David DeMartini
Inderbir Kaur and Hitendra Patel
Rose Kent
Henry and Agnes Kowal
William Murrell
Mike Nethersole and Linda Russell
Joseph and Cortney
Niedringhaus
Al and Josi Noyes
Stanley and Georgene Pasarell
Hilary Papendick and Toby Roessingh
Benjamin and Judy Roberts
Janene and Lowell Shields
Cary Stevens
Deborah Sullivan
Bob and Nancy Talbott
Paul Thomas
Wayne Thalken
Talley and Paul Webb
Michael Yang and Mai Yee Mok
Roger Yang and Sharon Phamduong
Gary and Susan York
IN MEMORY OF Christopher Argyris
Robert and Jeanne Campbell
Meyer Citron and Bernice Cole
Betty Maffei
Charles Rankin
The Tahoe Donner Giving Fund Committee is chartered by the Tahoe Donner Board of Directors to carry out the mission of the Tahoe Donner Giving Fund: to inspire generosity and charitable giving among Tahoe Donner members to support deserving programs and youth in the greater Truckee Community. The Tahoe Donner Giving Fund is administered as an affiliate fund of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN 68-0416404. All contributions are voluntary, irrevocable, and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tahoe Donner Giving Fund grants and scholarships are made through the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's annual review process.
The Tahoe Donner Giving Fund Committee thanks our founding partner, Elements Mountain Company, who has supported the Tahoe Donner Giving Fund since its inception in 2014, and the anonymous Tahoe Donner member who has generously funded the IMPACT Scholarships each year since 2019. FOUNDING PARTNER
What to Expect for the 2026 Defensible Space Inspection Cycle
Fire Resiliency in Tahoe Donner begins with critical property and home maintenance
Defensible space is your property’s frontline of defense against wildfire. Creating and maintaining defensible space around your home can dramatically increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire and improve the safety of firefighters defending your property. CAL FIRE statistics show that properties in compliance with defensible space requirements are five times more likely to survive a wildfire.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE IS CRITICAL TO YOUR HOME PROTECTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Tahoe Donner is proud to be a certified Firewise community, recognized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for its commitment to fire safety. This designation can be especially beneficial when seeking insurance. A copy of the Firewise certificate is available online at tahoedonner.com/defensible-space. The Tahoe Donner Forestry Department is intent on helping homeowners bring their properties into compliance with state, local and association fire safety standards as well as in accordance with Tahoe Donner’s Land Management objectives. Clearing excess forest and household debris from properties can mimic fuel reduction zones – areas of strategic thinning of vegetation that help prevent the spread of wildfires – and contribute to ongoing forest restoration efforts that preserve important natural resources and biodiversity in the landscape. Additional information on Tahoe Donner’s defensible space requirements and practices can be found at tahoedonner.com/defensible-space
2026 INSPECTION CYCLE
Staff will begin inspections as soon as conditions allow in the summer of 2026 to provide the earliest and most accurate information for homeowners who need to complete defensible space maintenance in 2026. Homeowners are encouraged to get a head start by reviewing Tahoe Donner’s requirements at tahoedonner.com/property-requirements.
2026 Defensible Space Inspection Zones
All of Unit 1: Lots 1-499, Unit 4: Lots 234-643, and Unit 5: Lots 416555. This includes all or portions of the following streets: Skislope Way, Rhineland Avenue, Northwoods Boulevard, Norse Avenue, Chappelle Place, Davos Drive, Christie Lane, Ramshorn Street, Heidi Way, Swiss Lane, Innsbruck Avenue, Weisshorn Avenue, Bolzano Drive, Zermatt Drive, Baden Road, Bern Way and Bernese Lane
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH INSPECTION NOTICES
Throughout the year, homeowners receive inspection notices from the Tahoe Donner Forestry Department notifying them of property maintenance requirements, important deadlines and resources to ensure that proper and effective defensible space can be achieved. The 2026 defensible space notice timeline is as follows:
MARCH 2026
Email reminder for 2026 program
APRIL 2026
Tahoe Donner News + Life inspection notice and reminder
MAY-JULY 2026
Forestry staff will visit to inspect properties
MAY-JULY 2026
Official Notice of Non-Compliance letter with 45 days to correct (and online inspection report with maintenance requirements and photos)
MAY-AUGUST 2026
Forestry staff are available to meet with property owners or their contractor to discuss the findings detailed in the inspection reports
JULY-AUGUST 2026
Due dates fall within July or August
Creating defensible space typically entails the regular removal of dead, decaying and flammable vegetation such as pine needles, excess brush and overly dense trees and limbs that are too close to the ground or structures.
INSPECTION AUTHORITY
Authority for these inspections comes from the state of California Public Resources Code 4291, Truckee Fire Protection District Ordinance 02-2012 and Tahoe Donner Association C&Rs Article VIII, Section1 (a) iii and iv.
Per the Defensible Space Inspection program, if the Forestry Department finds any maintenance issues, property owners have 45 DAYS TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
How You Will be Notified
As required by the Tahoe Donner C&Rs, the information provided here serves as a written notice that inspections will take place in the summer of 2026, usually between May through end of July. Inspections will occur between 8AM-5PM. Members whose homes are within the inspection zone will also receive an email stating that their property will be inspected as part of the 2026 program cycle. Inspectors will walk through the property to complete the inspections.
As inspections occur across approximately 1,000 properties, homeowners will receive a letter stating compliance status. Property owners not in compliance will receive a Notice of NonCompliance along with an email describing how to access their online inspection results. Homeowners will be given 45 days to correct any issues or to provide a copy of an agreement with a contractor covering the scope of the work required. Homeowners may request on-site visits with forestry staff who are available to meet with owners or their contractors, however, this should be done after the inspection report is provided to offer the best information possible.
HOME HARDENING REBATE PROGRAM
In addition to defensible space, your online inspection report will identify optional home hardening best practices. Home Hardening is crucial in improving the resilience of your home against the threat of wildfires. Home hardening measures have been found to be effective in reducing ember ignitions on and around structures.
Truckee Fire Protection District offers rebates for home hardening upgrades. Rebates cover up to 50% of project costs (maximum $2,000) and are issued after project completion and approval. Applicants must resolve all “Zone Zero” defensible space issues before applying.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Determine Your Eligibility
Schedule a full-access defensible space inspection online at truckeefire.org/hardenyourhome or call (530) 582-7888. If you have already had an inspection, you may access your report online at defensiblespacereport.org/tahoedonner or request a printed copy.
2. Complete the Upgrades
Review the Home Hardening Recommendations in your report. Complete upgrades and resolve all Zone Zero defensible space issues within five feet of your home.
To further empower residents, a Defensible Space webinar is scheduled for 6-7PM on Thursday, April 9. This session aims to provide homeowners with the resources and knowledge necessary to safeguard their homes against wildfires, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in wildfire preparedness. Visit tahoedonner.com/wildfire-defensible-space-compliance to learn more and register.
3. Request the Rebate
Collect your receipts and photos. Submit your application through your defensible space inspection report at defensiblespacereport.org/tahoedonner. Click the “Rebates” tab and create a login to apply.
To review all information on eligibility, upgrades and to apply, visit truckeefire.org/hardenyourhome
Covenants Reminders
No Drones
Flying drones on Tahoe Donner-owned property, including the trails and open space, is prohibited unless authorized by Tahoe Donner.
Respect Quiet Hours
Loud music, barking dogs and late-night partying are prohibited from 10PM-7AM.
Lights Out
Tahoe Donner is a Dark Skies community. Enjoy the mountain stars and minimize light pollution by turning off outdoor lighting after 10PM.
No Inoperable Vehicles
No dilapidated, unlicensed or inoperable vehicle, trailer, boat, airplane, recreational vehicle or commercial vehicle shall be stored on the properties, except within a fully enclosed structure.
How to Make A Covenants Complaint
Email compliance@tahoedonner.com
Visit the member portal at tahoedonner.com/member-portal
Call (530) 414-8166. Phone is staffed five days a week 8AM-5PM, with afterhours answering service evenings and weekends.
What Information to Provide
When making a complaint, be prepared to provide:
• Your name, address and email.
• Address of property being complained about.
• Nature of complaint with times occurring.
• Evidence: photos, video, etc.
• Details about how this behavior is affecting you.
• What actions have been taken (e.g. called police).
Town of Truckee STR Helpline
– (530) 450-2430
Report STR violations including noise, trash, parking and more
Park on Pavement
Parking vehicles off-pavement, on another person’s property or on access easements is prohibited.
Leash Up
Pets must be on leash at association facilities and must be within voice control on Truckee streets. Don’t forget to pick up after Fido, too.
No Smoking
Smoking is prohibited on Tahoe Donnerowned property, including facilities, parking lots and open space.
Trash
Lock it up in your bear-proof container. Dumping is never allowed anywhere in Tahoe Donner. Trash day is Tuesday, and the recycling/green waste cart pickup is on a weekly alternating schedule.
What Happens Next
Tahoe Donner will review your complaint and make every effort to contact the owner of the property being complained about, share details about the complaint and request voluntary compliance. We will:
• Call the primary phone number on file and speak to the owner or leave a message.
• If no answer, call additional phone numbers on file to speak with or leave a message for owner or designated contact.
• Email the owner via any email on file.
• Send follow-up email to the complainant confirming attempts to contact owner.
Please utilize the Helpline if you wish to report a property that is in violation of the Town of Truckee’s short-term rental ordinance.
Briefs
FORESTRY Forest Health Inspection Notice
The forest in Tahoe Donner is currently experiencing widespread tree mortality caused by insects, disease and storm damage. The Forestry Department will begin inspecting properties for forest health issues this spring when conditions allow. These inspections focus only on identifying dead, dying or storm-damaged trees and debris that pose safety or wildfire risks.
Please note: A forest health inspection is not a full defensible space inspection. It does not assess other vegetation or structural clearances around the home. Property owners are encouraged to request a full defensible space inspection to ensure broader compliance with wildfire safety standards. This notice serves as official written communication, as required by the Tahoe Donner Association Covenants and Restrictions. Inspections will occur between 8AM and 5PM.
If forest health issues are found, property owners will receive a notice of required maintenance – forest health letter along with an inspection report. The letter provides 30 days to complete the necessary maintenance.
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING TDXC’s Ski School Director Receives National PSIA Award
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center (TDXC) is excited to announce that Ski School Director Andrea Brideau Miller has been awarded the 2025/26 National PSIA Snowsports School Leadership Award. The annual award from the National Professional Ski Instructors of America recognizes members who demonstrate positive leadership within their snowsports schools through consistent collaboration, communication and cooperation with peers and guests. Whether they have formal titles or not, these members serve as role models, mentors and champions in their locker rooms and on the snow. Speaking on Andrea’s impacts on TDXC, “Andrea leads the way as a champion of XC skiing. The passion she exudes and the high standards she sets are reflected in the excellence of the instruction provided by the TDXC teaching team. Our Ski
School wouldn’t be half of what it has become without her dedicated leadership.”
While TDXC may be closed for the season, we want to wish her many more years of success as the Ski School Director.
SPECIAL EVENTS
10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival – On Tour Comes to Tahoe Donner
Saturday, May 2 | 5:30-8:30PM
at Alder Creek Adventure Center
Join Mountain Area Preservation (MAP) for the 10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival –On Tour, coming to Truckee, CA, for two nights in May. Get wild with MAP and award-winning, inspiring films May 1-2 at two different locations, with two dynamic events for 2026!
Mark your calendars for both nights – Friday, May 1, from 5:30 to 8:30PM at Alibi Aleworks located in Historic Downtown Truckee, and Saturday, May 2, from 5:30-8:30PM at Alder Creek Adventure Center in Tahoe Donner.
Both nights will feature live entertainment, a raffle with giveaways, food and libations from our amazing venue hosts and the community. MAP will also launch a silent auction the week of the event to support MAP’s missiondriven environmental advocacy.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 3, at 9AM. With only 100 seats at each venue, we expect to sell out fast! Learn more about MAP’s signature, family-friendly event at mountainareapreservation.org/wsff
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Instructor Recognized for 50 Years of Service with Achieve Tahoe
From Move United: Katherine Hayes Rodriguez has been a pioneering force in adaptive skiing for nearly five decades. Beginning in 1976 as a volunteer with a program for visually impaired skiers in the Tahoe Basin, she became instrumental in professionalizing adaptive ski instruction across the United States. Katherine was an early leader of Achieve Tahoe, Move United’s first chapter, and served as a lead author of the first adaptive technical manual. She led clinics across the country, and her work was crucial to the Professional Ski Instructors Association’s adoption of adaptive
skiing as an official discipline in 1986. Learn more about her incredible journey and career on Move United’s adaptive sports podcast at moveunitedsport.org/adaptive-sports-podcast
ASSOCIATION UPDATE 2026 Boat + Trailer Storage
Boat and trailer storage applications will be available April 1-15. Tahoe Donner offers boat, trailer and RV storage (29-foot max) for Tahoe Donner members with a valid Member ID Card. Storage is available from May 1 through Sept. 30 (conditions permitting), and is not for short-term or weekend accommodation. Only members in good standing may apply for and rent storage space.
Cost: $415
For more information on application requirements and to apply, visit the website at tahoedonner.com/boat-and-trailer-storage
BEACH CLUB MARINA
2026 Kayak + SUP Storage Lottery
Reservation of kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) storage at the Beach Club Marina in the 2026 season will be held by lottery. Members with active Member ID Cards who would like to enter the lottery must:
• Log in to their ShopTD Account on April 1, at 9AM to April 15, at 5PM.
• Purchase your desired storage option (four sizes available).
• By purchasing a storage option, you will be automatically entered into the lottery.
• Drawing will be held April 16, 2026.
• All entrants will be notified of their storage status. Purchasing storage does not guarantee a spot. Those not receiving a storage spot will be refunded the full purchase amount.
There are four options for storage:
• 1 kayak spot: $245
• 2 kayak spots: $490
• 1 SUP spot: $245
• 2 SUP spots: $490
Purchases are limited to one spot and lottery entry per family. Any member with multiple entries will have their storage privileges revoked and be granted a full refund. Please email the Beach Club Marina manager at ichung@tahoedonner.com for questions.
Board Meeting Recaps
Regular Board of Directors
Meeting
February 27, 2026
Adoption of Proposed Community Standards Fine Changes
The board received an update from staff on the 45-Day Notice for the proposed changes to the Architectural Standards and Covenants Fine Schedule. Following a discussion, the board adopted Resolution 2026-1, Adoption of Updated Fines Schedule presented as Exhibit B. Motion passed 5-0.
Unaudited 2025 December and 2026 January Financial Report and New Executive Dashboard Preview
The board accepted the Unaudited 2025 December and 2026 January Financial Reports. The new Executive Dashboard discussion was deferred to a later date.
Q4 2025 Treasurer’s Report
The board received the Q4 2025 Treasurer’s Report.
Management Update
• The board received an update on Phase I of the Tennis + Pickleball Center Court Improvement Project.
• The board received an update regarding the upcoming program registrations, including spring season pass sales and summer programs.
• Staff provided the board with an overview of Land Management work accomplished in 2025 and a preview of upcoming 2026 programs and projects.
Amenity Access Rule Update Discussion
Staff presented proposed updates to the Amenity Access Rule and related Operating Plan. The board discussed the proposed revisions and provided feedback.
Go to tahoedonner.com/board-meetings to see presentations and video recordings of past meetings. To provide feedback to help improve the overall association, please submit your comments and concerns at tahoedonner.com/feedback
Board meeting dates subject to change. Visit tahoedonner.com for dates.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 –Trails + Open Space
Monday, April 6, 2026 – Tahoe Donner Giving Fund
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 – Elections
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 –Architectural Standards
Thursday, April 9, 2026 –Long-Range Planning
Tuesday, April 15, 2026 – Elections
Thursday, April 16, 2026 – Finance
Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Covenants
Monday, May 4, 2026 – Tahoe Donner Giving Fund
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Elections
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 –Trails + Open Space
To get meeting details, including Zoom meeting registration information and time, please send an email to executiveassistant@tahoedonner.com
ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Architectural Standards | Rod Whitten cso@tahoedonner.com
Covenants | Jim McNamara compliance@tahoedonner.com
Elections | Steve Meyers electionscommittee@tahoedonner.com
Finance | Joe Niedringhaus financecommittee@tahoedonner.com
Long-Range Planning | Jerry Meek lrpc@tahoedonner.com
Tahoe Donner Giving Fund | Toni Moore tdgf@tahoedonner.com
Trails + Open Space | Peter Sawyer tos@tahoedonner.com
Homes on the Rise
The Architectural Standards Committee reviewed and approved the following plans in Feb. 2026.
UNIT/LOT ADDRESS SQ. FT. PROJECT 06/132 12379 3,626 House/ Stockholm Garage Way 03/463 15520 1,624 House/ Glacier Garage/ Way ADU
Covenants Violation Hearings
The Covenants Committee levied the following fines in Feb. 2026.
VIOLATION FINE
Garbage Violation $100 Road
Lights + Noise $200 Drive Violation Herringbone Fire Safety Violation $1,000 Way
Go to tahoedonner.com/covenants to view covenants rules and how to make a covenants complaint.
Where in the World
is Tahoe Donner News + Life?
The Dynjandi Waterfall, Iceland
Ken and Bobbie Lebovitz stopped at Dynjandi (also known as Fjallfoss), a multi-tiered waterfall and protected national monument in the Westfjords region of Iceland.
Cappadocia, Türkiye
Wesley Leong and Deborah Lowe took this photo while getting ready for their early-morning balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Santorini, Greece
Dave and Karol Scheiner in Santorini, wrapping up their bucket list trip to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and the Greek Isles.
Yukon Island, Alaska
The Huser/Smith family at Yukon Island in Alaska.
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS
Email your “Where in the World” photos to comdep@tahoedonner.com
Please submit only JPG files of 300 dpi for printing. Photos must include a copy of Tahoe Donner News + Life. Please list the names of everyone in the picture, where it was taken and a short description. Note: Please be patient; it could take several months to see your photo published.
