Dear Fellow Property Owners,
We owe you an update, and we recognize it’s overdue.
Over the past two weeks, POATRI has experienced significant changes on the Board of Directors. Three directors have resigned and one director was removed by the Board under the authority provided in Article 4.05 of the Bylaws. These changes have brought us from nine directors down to five. We understand this is alarming, and we want to be straightforward with you about where things stand and what we’re doing about it.
We also want to acknowledge that we should have communicated sooner. We were focused on stabilizing operations and working through proper procedures, but that’s not an excuse for leaving you in the dark. You deserve to know what’s happening with your association, and we’re committed to doing better on that front going forward.
What happened
We are not in a position to share the specific reasons behind individual resignations or the details of the director removal. Resignations are personal decisions, and the removal process took place in executive session as required by the Bylaws. What we can tell you is that the Board followed the procedures set out in our governing documents at every step.
Similarly, recent personnel changes at the ranch — including the elimination of the HR position and the departure of the Operations Manager — are confidential employment matters. We understand the concern these changes have created, and we want to assure you that each action was taken through proper authority and in accordance with the Employee Handbook and our governing documents. The functions previously handled by the HR position have been distributed among existing staff to ensure continuity.
Where we stand today
Your Board currently consists of five directors: Vincent Slominski (President), Larry Drgac (Vice President), Jim Spofford, Chuck Hinson, and Alan Garcia. Five directors constitutes a quorum under our Bylaws, and the Board remains fully authorized to conduct POATRI business.
Jim Spofford is currently volunteering his time to oversee daily ranch operations while we work to fill the Operations Manager position permanently. We are grateful for his willingness to step up during this transition.
What’s next
We have several priorities and we want you to know what they are.
First, we need to fill our board vacancies and get back to full strength. We have posted a call for Director Applications on the POATRI website. If you are a Member in Good Standing and are interested in serving, we encourage you to apply. This is your association, and we need people who care about Terlingua Ranch to step forward.
Second, we are actively working to post the Operations Manager position. Our goal is to conduct a thorough search and hire a qualified, permanent manager as soon as possible.
Third, a Special Board Meeting has been scheduled for May 26. The detailed agenda will be posted on the POATRI website at least fourteen days in advance, as required by our Bylaws. Among the items on the agenda will be amendments to the Policies & Procedures Manual that will allow us to seat new directors more efficiently. This will be an open meeting and we encourage members to attend. The meeting time and location will be included in the posted agenda.
A note about transparency
We hear you. Several members have reached out with questions and concerns, and we understand the frustration that comes with not having answers. We want to be as transparent as possible, but we also have legal and ethical obligations to protect confidential personnel and executive session information. When we can’t share specifics, it’s not because we’re hiding something — it’s because our governing documents and the law require us to protect that information, just as they would protect yours.
What we can promise is this: every significant board action going forward will be communicated to you promptly. We are committed to keeping you informed as we work through this transition.
We appreciate your patience, your trust, and your willingness to hold us accountable. Terlingua Ranch belongs to all of us, and we take our responsibility to you seriously.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Vincent Slominski President, POATRI
