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Post by dlwdwdvc on Feb 17, 2024 15:21:38 GMT -5
Live Stream
Tuesday 2/20 2:00 p.m.
I think I can remember
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 19, 2024 9:46:56 GMT -5
I did an exclusive 5-minute construction video update for MO yesterday, starting with the Big Pile o Dirt planned for the future amphitheater. Enjoy!
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 20, 2024 10:00:49 GMT -5
I think I hear the trucks showing up with the tank pieces! Time to go get some video!!
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 21, 2024 9:41:38 GMT -5
Yesterday went really well. The tank installation was a smooth, carefully coordinated event involving multiple contractors, engineers, DHEC and other professionals. It went off without a hitch, in less time than planned. DHEC approved the tanks as installed and we were able to backfill and compact the area by the end of the work day. Nice! Here's the long form video from the 2pm live stream on facebook. I plan to trim this down significantly for a shorter youTube version today and will post that video link as well for those following here that may not use facebook. www.facebook.com/CampStandingPines/videos/740590058043901/In other construction news and updates: - We are now #2 in queue for swimming pool DHEC review.
- Construction loan closing rescheduled for this Friday. Fingers crossed.
- The country building permit is pending; this is holding up plumbing/foundation concrete. This delay is on our team - the permit request did not go in as early as I wanted. However, there is plenty of room in the timeline to absorb delays in the welcome center build, so a short delay here is unlikely to be a problem.
- Pond excavation is moving along nicely now. My rough estimate is that we are somewhere around 60%-70% complete.
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 21, 2024 17:28:37 GMT -5
I spent entirely too much time creating this 3 minute highlights video today.
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 23, 2024 11:03:31 GMT -5
After months of talking about when to kick off a weekly live stream show for construction updates, we are ready to go with this now. These will be live streamed on Tuesdays at 1pm on Facebook, with follow up highlight videos posted on Fridays on youTube. The first in the new series will be this coming Tuesday, focusing on Planning the Pond. To join, just click: fb.me/e/1fNgHb9KB  So that's the good news. Construction is going well. Now for the frustration. Apologies - this is a vent. **EDIT: I deleted the vent which followed originally. It was an expression of frustration on timing, unreasonable past-last-minute bank requests and other irritations. Suffice to say that I was furious last Friday. The issues causing the emotions were resolved with the bank after venting here. Blowing off the steam let me use AI to craft the necessarily hard edged push back in a professional and constructive manner. That may have been one of the hardest things yet for this project - - constructive fury is quite a trick." |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Feb 23, 2024 12:38:20 GMT -5
Ha ha! I still enjoy that song all these years later.
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 26, 2024 18:45:14 GMT -5
 We closed on the construction loan this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the paperwork is done. The initial funds reimbursing our business for expenses we covered above/beyond bank requirements should be available tomorrow. Which is great, because there will be continuing operating expenses not covered by the construction loan over the next 6-8 months. Fingers crossed everything flows smoothly for that final funding piece! |
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Post by Brian5581 on Feb 26, 2024 21:03:45 GMT -5
Mazel Tov on the construction loan closing!!!
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 26, 2024 21:18:46 GMT -5
Mazel Tov on the construction loan closing!!! Thank you!!! |
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 27, 2024 9:11:06 GMT -5
Not everyone following this thread uses Facebook, so I'm duplicating yesterday's reminder post about the livestream at 1pm here. This has been one of the most popular, engaging posts we have tried on facebook so far - 28 likes, multiple shares and several new people following the page. We are up to 948 facebook followers now.  |
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 27, 2024 15:44:35 GMT -5
And I just got the email confirmation from the bank that everything closed and we are fulling funded for the loan!!!! Happy dance and huge relief! Evidently this was the emotional closure I needed to actually celebrate a huge milestone for the project - - I feel so much better right now!
Here's a copy of the email - names removed to protect privacy:
Yes, of course I had a preplanned thank you message, complete with a fun visual, prepped and sent within 2 minutes of receiving the email from the bank.
Oh wow. This really is an amazing sense of relief and break from stress/worry about getting this loan over the finish line!
Now back to editing today's live stream for highlights, publishing the good news on closing with a carefully phrased LinkedIn update and oops - nope, that will have to wait. It's time to run for an update meet with GC.
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Feb 28, 2024 10:22:09 GMT -5
Congratulations That’s really good news !
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 29, 2024 8:53:12 GMT -5
dlwdwdvc - thank you!!
I posted the Unlock the Dates challenge on the facebook page for SPR. Granted, I rigged the game to make the first unlock easy. Still, in less than 24 hours, the community grew from 970 to over 1000 followers! That unlocked the first reward, the Grand Opening date announcement. Here's the video for the announcement.
Please keep your fingers crossed this unlock challenge meets the target. My intent is for it to be the boulder tipping over the edge, starting an exponential increase in followers and therefore potential future guests for SPR. I just checked to see how we are doing. Since meeting the 1000 number yesterday evening, we are now up to 1045. That's a slightly faster rate of growth than yesterday. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for how to keep this rate of growth increasing?
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 29, 2024 11:36:19 GMT -5
Gosh, more good news! The initial estimate of $100,000 for electrical equipment from the power company (transformers, etc) came back as a final cost just over $56,000. That's a great update from a budget perspective!
The facebook challenge continues to grow - now up to 1,069 followers. I suspect I will be creating and posting the next reward announcing the soft open date this evening.
I had a very productive hour this morning with our reservations company. Everything is now in place for the December 1 grand opening date, the anticipate soft opening date and the reservations go-live date. Literally, everything is already programmed in for these dates now. I'm simply watching the KPIs for the challenge to publicly announce - all the behind the scenes work is now done for reservations to go live on our schedule.
And our SBA consultant called to share we've been approved as one of their major success stories for this year. That's free publicity! Also bragging rights and something else I can share on social media to drive interest once it is public.
And now I need to get back to some more of the unglamourous work aka administrivia keeping this whole project moving forward. More updates soon!
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" HINT: Join the livestream for details on how you can help us meet the challenge and unlock both the Grand Opening Day and the day reservations will open!