News

SAMLARC held its Annual Meeting of the Membership on February 20, 2025. The meeting included the introduction of SAMLARC’s 2025 Board of Directors, which include: 

• Jeff Halbreich, President 
• Greg Schnieders, Vice President 
• Greg Wieckert, Chief Financial Officer 
• Deborah Christensen, Secretary 
• Jeff Beardsley, Director at Large 
• Kyle Wolack, Director at Large 

Each Director will also serve on a variety of Committees and as Liaisons to various community organizations. These roles will be assigned at the February 25, 2025 Board of Directors Meeting. 

In addition to the alignment of Board Directors, the SAMLARC management team provided an overview of SAMLARC’s community foundations, 2024 achievements, and goals for 2025.  

SAMLARC's Scale and Vision 

• The Size of SAMLARC: 13,646 homes, 13 parks, a 31 million-gallon lake, pools, trails, and more! 
• Community Growth: Over 500 new families joined SAMLARC in 2024. 
• SAMLARC's Mission: "To perpetuate a positive, reputable and distinct identity for the SAMLARC community while maintaining a reasonable assessment fee." 
• SAMLARC's Vision: A place where well-kept neighborhoods, social events, strong partnerships, and a connection with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita all come together. 

Behind the Scenes: SAMLARC's Hardworking Team 

• Volunteers are the Heart of SAMLARC: The Board of Directors and various Committees pour their time and expertise into the community. The Committees include: Budget and Cash Flow, Landscape and Facilities Enhancement, Community Lifestyle, Architectural Review, Covenant, Communications, Election, and Insurance Committees as well as the Sports Council. 
• Dedicated Staff: A team of 22 dedicated team members are on-site, partnering with a larger team at FirstService Residential. The SAMLARC team won the 2024 Onsite Team of the Year award, competing with hundreds of other California communities for the award. 
• Strong Partnerships: SAMLARC collaborates with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, the Chamber of Commerce, RSM Cares, and other local organizations to support community growth. 

Maintaining SAMLARC's Beauty and Value 

• Supporting Cohesion: SAMLARC has an aesthetic inspired by the Mediterranean, with guidelines to help homes keep a consistent look. This year, two neighborhoods took charge of their curb appeal and completed neighborhood-wide painting projects. The results are neighborhoods that look bright, warm, and valuable!
• Making Improvements Easy: Help is available for homeowners who want to make changes to their property. More than 425 home improvement projects were successfully completed this year!
• Financial Responsibility: The association's finances are carefully managed, with a focus on long-term strategies. The annual budget is developed based on historic and anticipated expenses; the largest expenses are for landscaping, maintenance, and water. Based on these calculations, the 2025 assessment rate has been established at $87 per month. 
• Caring for Community Assets: A long-term plan is in place for maintaining and replacing important features like pools, playgrounds, etc. Throughout the year, professional vendors will execute maintenance projects that protect the aesthetics and structural integrity of amenities.
• Thinking Ahead: SAMLARC is preparing for wildfires, potential droughts, insurance increases, and the aging of community facilities. 

Life at SAMLARC: Amenities, Activities, and Fun! 

• Something for Everyone: SAMLARC boasts a beautiful lake, a seasonal beach club, clubhouses, and pools. The Central Park soccer arena as well as the Altisima Pool facility both received extensive overhaul in 2024, creating beautiful spaces for Members to play and relax.
• Staying Informed: SAMLARC offers a variety of ways to stay up-to-date, including a website, newsletter, and social media. There are SMS 
• Volunteering: Opportunities abound to give back to the community. Event day volunteers make lifestyle events special, while Committee volunteers support specific initiatives throughout the year. 
• Events and Activities: From clubs to classes to large-scale events, there's always something happening at SAMLARC. 2024 events saw record-high attendance, and the Bacon, Bourbon, and Blues: A Gatsby Gala was a hit! The 2025 event calendar is full of fun for all ages. 

SAMLARC is dedicated to fostering a dynamic community. Stay tuned throughout the year to learn more about the projects, events, and activities ahead!