Company: Big Bass Lake Community Association, Inc.
Company Description: Non-Profit Association in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania which promotes high quality of life and protection of property values through prudent use of resources.
Nomination Category: Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Achievement in Organization Recovery
 Nomination Title: BBLCA - Recovery is just the First Step!
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated organization's organizational recovery achievements since the beginning of 2022, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization's history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 199 words used.
Big Bass Lake Community Association, Inc. (BBLCA) was formed in 1971 as a Poconos Mountains “getaway” destination for those from New York, New Jersey, and Greater Philadelphia. The purpose of BBLCA is to promote a high quality of life through enjoyable living and recreation in an environment that is safe and maintained in as natural a state as possible. This is accomplished through the prudent use of natural, human, and financial resources, utilizing committed volunteers and staff, enforcing equitable rules and regulations, performing careful planning, development, and establishing good relations with the surrounding Community of the Poconos Region.
For the first 48 years, BBLCA had continual but structured growth in terms of new homes and new Members. During COVID, however, BBLCA faced a federal investigation into fraud, with former employees stealing through payroll during the lockdown, as the Board of Directors and other Volunteers were in “lockdown.” This dark time for BBLCA resulted in not only the IRS and FBI investigating the corporation, but it jeopardized the Community’s reputation with the Chamber of Commerce, Professional Organization Membership, and BBLCA’s prestigious Firewise Community designation.
2022 was the beginning of BBLCA’s “recovery” and a future void of this dark period.
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
We will be submitting written responses.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 247 words used.
At the beginning of 2022, BBLCA was juggling four different lawsuit/state unemployment claims (all which were dismissed), a harsh forensic audit result of internal cash failures, a personnel exodus, and on the verge of losing its existing relationships and designations.
Upon arriving, the new GM & COO began performing corporate and operational triage. First priorities were ensuring business partnerships were repaired immediately. Through many engagements, a recommitment to ethical and best industry practices, our Gold Star Community status was preserved, and our Firewise Designated Community was reinstated (one of only three in Pennsylvania).
Second priority was addressing the forensic audit, which called out 12 material weaknesses spread across poor cash controls, inadequate checks and balances, more than $1.3M of cash uninsured, and general lack of institutional control. For 12 months, a commitment was made to focus on each of these deliberately and intentionally in order of precedence. Upon return of the 2022 Audit, no significant areas of concern or material weaknesses remained.
The third priority was to “recover” the culture of the Team. Although all these triage efforts were happening simultaneously, one cannot simply expect trust and confidence overnight. Although it took longer than the 12-month goal of recovery, the efforts were incredible. In September 2023, after a third-party survey of all remaining and new Team Members, BBLCA was awarded a Great Place to Work designation by the Great Place to Work organization. Results came back highest in integrity, honesty, and confidence in the executive leadership.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
Unfortunately, the world of Associations has had its fair share of similar threats and fraud. A simple Google search will yield numerous instances of this same type of situation occurring, however very few times will you hear the recovery side of the story. In the case of BBLCA, the recovery has been nothing short of amazing, let alone a gold standard for the industry as a whole.
BBLCA has recovered its relationship with two separate Chamber of Commerce in our local region. We’ve reinstated our Firewise Designation (one of three in PA). Our CAI Keystone Chapter Gold Star designation has been extended. And recently, achieving the Great Place to Work Designation from an independent third party puts BBLCA as only the second Community Association in the nation with the prestigious recognition (over 370,000 Community Association’s exist nationally).
Big Bass Lake Community Association, Inc. has separated itself as the only Community Association in the nation with a Great Place to Work Designation, Firewise Certified, and a Gold Star Rating from its professional governing body, Community Associations Institute (CAI).
During this tenure, BBLCA also became a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and had one Team Member obtain the SHRM – Senior Certified Professional Designation. BBLCA is also now a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association as well. The goal of re-joining, recovering, and exploring these professional affiliations is to continue to make BBLCA the elite of resort living and hospitality in the Poconos Region.
- Optional: Reference here any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and explain how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 79 words used.
We have provided links and photos to show the recovery process through the lens of our Members and the Greater Community. It's easy to toot our own horn, however it's more meaningful when others do it for you!
https://www.scrantonchamber.com/big-bass-lake-community-association-inc-earns-2023-great-place-to-work-certification
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7065370
https://bblca.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/87248508
https://www.facebook.com/bblcaofficial
https://www.visitpa.com/region/pocono-mountains/big-bass-lake-cabins
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA/Firewise-USA-Resources/Firewise-USA-sites/State-listing-of-participants
https://caikeystone.org/member-services/community-associations/gold-star-communities-award/
https://lakelubbers.com/lake/big-bass-lake-pennsylvania-usa/
https://www.knowyourh2o.com/projects/big-bass-lake-drinking-sampling-and-testing-outreach-program
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