Sunset, S.C. – With a focus on the family, The Reserve at Lake Keowee has introduced its Legacy Membership, an incredible expansion of benefits to the community’s Full and Premier Members. The Reserve’s Legacy Membership now allows Members to extend their membership privileges beyond their spouses and minor children to include their parents, adult children, and grandchildren. Existing members need only complete a Family Registration Form to activate their Legacy benefits.

“We have always been a very family-oriented community and have tried hard to cater to the desires of members and to carry out our promise and vision as a place to create family legacies,” explains Chuck Pigg, VP of Greenwood Communities and Resorts and Community Manager of The Reserve. “Upon reflecting on our 10th Anniversary year, we recognized once again how important it is to our members to share The Reserve with their families. We felt that one of the best things we could do to enhance the membership value for existing and future members, as well as further strengthen our commitment to family, was to offer membership privileges to the parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren of the member.”

The “value” of including family in the club experience or bringing family together in a central gathering place has, in recent years, become more of a driver for private club membership. A feature in the November/December 2010 issue of Club Management magazine outlined the Top 12 national trends affecting individual clubs, according to survey results from the General Managers of the top 25 premier clubs across the country. “Intergenerational issues” – defined as the challenges presented by longer life spans (also called lifestyle longevity) and the need to serve multiple generations with different perspectives and lifestyles under the same membership – ranked the highest, with 83% of respondents categorizing these as having a very high (33%) or high (50%) impact on their clubs. Also ranking in the Top 5 trends was “emphasis in family programming”, with 61% of all GMs responding that trend’s having a “very high” or “high” effect on their clubs.

Likewise, in an October 2010 Resort Real Estate Consumer Survey conducted by Kelsey & Norden entitled “Consumer Trends Emerging from the Economic Crisis,” the authors surveyed more than 6,000 current and prospective owners of resort real estate. Their findings identified the most distinct difference between near- and long-term buyers as being a much greater desire on the part of near-term buyers to own a vacation home in which they can spend more time with family and friends.

Among Kelsey & Norden’s other notable findings was that, for the first time, the market of interested prospective buyers has more Generation Xers than Baby Boomers (48% to 42%, respectively). This finding may denote “a significant requirement to provide products and experiences that meet the current needs of our historic customers, the Baby Boomers, while also creating products and experiences tailored to a generation that comes with a number of unique differences in behavior and preferences.”

The legacy aspect of The Reserve’s new Legacy Membership answers a growing demand among Baby Boomers, as evidenced in the Kelsey & Norden’s study, to transition their vacation/second home into a retirement home. More than half of the Baby Boomer respondents indicated that they are “likely” to “very likely” to retire in their vacation/second home. And though no one can deny the keen eye all buyers have toward the perception of value-for-price, Kelsey & Norden found that “the recession forced people to reevaluate their priorities and values. Many families concluded that spending quality time together away from their regular stressful, time-constrained lives is now more important than ever.”

Full-time residents Barry and Carol Hudson echoed those same sentiments: “We decided to build at The Reserve because we believed this would be a place our kids and grandkids would want to visit and that has certainly been the case.  Keeping the family together is a priority for us, and The Reserve is the perfect place to do that. So, naturally, we were delighted to hear about the new Legacy Membership. Our son, Shannon and wife, Melissa, live in Greenville and are excited to know they will have full membership privileges making The Reserve amenities more easily accessible.  Our daughter, Barbara Ann, and husband, Kirk, visit several times a year even though they live in Oklahoma.”

The Hudson Family congregates at The Reserve every summer, over the Fourth of July.  They enjoy the Family Olympics at Turkey Ridge Park, watching the fireworks, golfing, and of course, doing all manner of activities in and around the lake and pool.  During Fall visits, the whole family takes to the trails.

For part-time residents Doug and Sandy McKinney, too, the impetus for building a home at The Reserve has always been to bring their large family together: “We have five children, four sons-in-law, a son who is recently engaged, and eight grandchildren,” Sandy McKinney explains. “Our lakefront home at The Reserve can sleep 23 people, and we included a great beach with boats and jet skis, not only so that our kids would want to come visit, but also our grandkids. Our property is wonderful, but The Reserve and its amenities make it doubly wonderful.”

The McKinneys are fortunate in that all of their children and grandchildren live within three hours’ drive of Lake Keowee. On some weekends, their children use the lakehouse to entertain their own friends and their families. In past summers, their grandchildren have participated in the Summer Bible School, and they all enjoy the Blessing of the Fleet, Fourth of July festivities, Pooch Parade, and parties and picnics on The Great Lawn.

“I’m pretty sure that the new Legacy Membership was designed with our family in mind,” chuckled Chad McKinney, the youngest of the McKinneys’ five children. Chad, 28, has recently become engaged and holds guys’ golfing outings at The Reserve a couple times a year. “We come to The Reserve often, but we haven’t taken full advantage of all of the amenities because Mom or Dad needed to be there with us. Now that I have my own membership privileges and can, for example, golf at the member rate, I’ll feel so much more comfortable going to the club while I’m there to play a round and get a nice meal.”

The McKinneys couldn’t agree more. “With all of the amenities, we feel like every weekend we go down to The Reserve is like a mini-vacation. It’s like having your own resort. The Legacy Membership will help our kids and grandkids enjoy The Reserve with their friends and families. This is going to be a huge thing. This will be phenomenal for them.”

More than perhaps a membership, the Legacy Membership is an opportunity to experience The Reserve more fully for today’s families.

“We feel so privileged to live here,” the Hudsons continue. “The memories we make here we want to leave behind for our children and grandchildren. We’ve always said that when our family comes through the gate at The Reserve, we want them to feel that this is their home. Our children have grown to love The Reserve. It’s our hope that, when we’re gone, they will view The Reserve as their home, to build their own legacies here by the lake.”

In just the first few weeks since announcing the new Legacy Membership, more than 160 parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren have already enrolled in the new program.  Prospective members will learn about the Legacy Membership for the first time at a series of Live South real estate shows which target buyers interested in vacation, second and retirement property in the Southern U.S., beginning January 15 in Chicago, Ill., and on from there to Greater New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pa.; Greater Washington, D.C.; and Columbus, Ohio.

For more on The Reserve at Lake Keowee, visit their community profile.

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Sunset, S.C. – The Reserve at Lake Keowee Charitable Foundation’s Board of Directors and Outreach Committee, along with Executive Director Kathryn Coleman-Gravely, recently distributed four $5,000 checks to Prevent Child Abuse of Pickens County, Pickens County Meals on Wheels, MARYS House, and Helping Hands.

These four non-profit organizations, all based in and serving the families of Pickens County, were chosen by The Reserve’s membership earlier in 2010 to receive the Foundation’s annual gift which, this year, totals $40,000, half of which was already distributed to the organizations in April. Though the organizations knew that they were beneficiaries of the funds, the amount of the gift was a surprise.

The 2010 total donation of $40,000.00 was distributed in two equal payments of $5,000 per benefiting organization. The funds making up last week’s distribution of $20,000 were raised through The Reserve Foundation’s annual charity golf tournament that took place on October 18, 2010. The funds making up the April 2010 distribution of $20,000 represented 10% of The Reserve Foundation’s budget for 2009, including the proceeds generated from the 2009 charity golf tournament.

Meals on Wheels of Pickens County’s executive director Meg Benko said, “This gift along with the previous donation of $5,000 this year will purchase 2,257 hot meals that will feed 9 people for an entire year. The Reserve at Lake Keowee also helps Meals on Wheels by delivering meals.  Thirty – four residents make up The Reserve Driving Team.  They drive three different routes and are on the road every week delivering a hot meal and hope to people who would otherwise go hungry.  With their help, Meals on Wheels was able to complete its Six Mile expansion.  The expansion added 7 more recipients and divided one of our most rural routes.  Reserve volunteers have also stepped forward to assist with the new frozen meal program that serves the homebound who live out of the service area.”

“This has been a tough year for Meals on Wheels to maintain its growth,” Benko continued.  “The Reserve has once again come to our aid so that we can continue to serve seniors who need us.  This gift and their volunteerism are tangible examples of their compassion toward the people of Pickens County.”

Jennifer Barbour of Helping Hands explained, “This was a blessing to Helping Hands!  We have so many small children – 17 four and under and 3 that are five and six!  We need so much for Christmas and this will help us with gifts, food, etc. The donations we have received in the past from The Reserve have primarily been used for milk, which is served with every meal and snack. Our milk bill runs about$600 – $1000 per month, including formula and special milks needed by our children. [The Reserve’s] donations have been an answer to our prayers.”

Heather Witt, director of Prevent Child Abuse of Pickens County, responded, “We hope to use the additional donation to leverage funds in order to support our girls empowerment program that we hope to start in the 2011/2012 school year. These funds will help us to raise the self esteem of these young ladies so that they make better choices and don’t become future clients. A big thanks to all the members of The Reserve and the Foundation.”

MARYS House’s executive director Ashley Cummings commented, “The extra money was a blessing to MARYS House this holiday season. The money this year was used to help with operational expenses at the Shelter. In 2010 MARYS House shelter has served 167 women and  their children from Pickens County and surrounding areas.”

“The Reserve at Lake Keowee is very much a part of the Pickens community,” stated Kathryn Gravely, executive director of The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s Community and Charitable Foundation. “Many of our community members are deeply involved in volunteering in a variety of ways.  Volunteering interests range from working with the arts, the environment, local animal shelters, and with organizations dealing with personal issues that we can all relate to.  Being able to donate financial support to these four worthy organizations throughout 2010 has meant so much to The Reserve Community.  We appreciate all that they do to make our area a better place to live, and their commitment to help those that need it.”

The 2010 Reserve at Lake Keowee Charity Golf Tournament took place on October 18 and exceeded all expectations, thereby securing a significant end-of-the-year donation to this year’s four beneficiaries. Player participation increased 55% from the inaugural tournament held in 2009, and 29 sponsors supported this year’s event. Sponsors included The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Greenwood Communities and Resorts, who contributed substantial manpower and time, Leonard Financial Group (Platinum Sponsor), and Justin Winter Real Estate, Ridgeline Construction, and Sexton Griffith Builders, LLC (Golf Sponsors).

The Reserve at Lake Keowee Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organization created to enhance the quality of life at The Reserve and in the local area while fulfilling a sense of community and philanthropy for The Reserve’s members. The Foundation has four major functions, one of which is to provide outreach for neighboring communities in Pickens County. The Charitable Foundation operates as a supporting organization for the philanthropic goals and intentions of The Reserve at Lake Keowee Community Foundation. Charities chose to receive donations are suggested by property owners. Reserve property owners voted by emailed ballot on the slate of area charities under consideration via email in February. The Trustees give priority to the charities suggested by the results of the property owners’ ballots.

Upon joining The Reserve, new resident members are given information about local charitable organizations in their welcome baskets.  The Community Foundation at The Reserve then works to pair up interested residents with area community organizations based on their various interests.

For more on The Reserve at Lake Keowee, visit their community profile.

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The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, SC boasts some of the most beautifully designed, architecturally dynamic homes in the country. Of these beautiful Reserve residences, many have been showcased in magazines and won numerous awards. Most recently – two were recognized by Residential Design & Build Magazine and awarded “2010 Design Excellence Awards” for their unique character and outstanding architecture.

These award-winning homes are designed by Neal Prince Architects of Greenville, SC and — as yet another testament to the strength of The Reserve’s Showcase Builder Program — both homes were constructed by members of the Showcase Program:  Potter General, Inc. and Sexton Griffith Custom Builders, who also received an excellence award in 2009.

Stephanie and Gary Burns had a vision of greatness as they chose their homesite in The Reserve, a sloping promontory overlooking the pristine waters of Lake Keowee. In order to maximize the panoramic views, the architects at Neal Prince designed a series of rooms strung across a long bending axis in the natural landform, resulting in a curvilinear plan that affords spectacular viewpoints from the majority of rooms. Trey Lee, founder of Potter General, Inc. and Reserve Showcase Builder, relied heavily on his years of experience in building on the terrain around Lake Keowee as his team constructed the radial, vaulted great room featuring floor to ceiling windows provides a strong connection to its exterior surroundings of stone retaining walls that carve landscaped terraces into the terrain, allowing for decks, porches and a swimming pool that encourages life lived outdoors.

After Chris and Dick Bishop chose their stunning lakefront homesite, they knew that — with the help of their architects at Neal Prince — they would carefully design their home to take full advantage of the property’s 300 degree view of Lake Keowee and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. Taking cues from the site, Sexton Griffith’s team of experts placed the Bishop’s home prominently on the broad peninsula so that it embraces family and friends as they approach, but also spans the waterfront with framed views of the lake from every room. With a casual, open presence the home provides unobstructed movement between the indoor rooms and the outdoors spaces, but the crown jewel of this magnificent home is what the Bishop’s call the “observatory” — a level of windows with open views across the lake to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

For more information on The Reserve at Lake Keowee, visit their community profile.

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