ABI REGISTRATION STEPS

1. Look for and pay your annual invoice emailed Nov 1st (mailed USPS to those without email). If you don't see your invoice in your email inbox, check your SPAM and be sure to change your settings to accept email from us so you don't miss important information. Pay your invoice directly through the email PAY NOW button, mail your payment to ABI at PO Box 365, Crownsville, MD 21032 or drop your payment off at the Town Hall (locked) Dropbox located at 1020 Omar Drive.

ALL ANNUAL FEES AND MANDATORY USER INFLATION FEES MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO ORDERING AMENITIES

2. Order your beach and amenity passes. Passes are NOT automatically mailed upon payment of the annual invoice. Owners must complete the Owner Beach Pass & Amenity Order Form before passes can be mailed. Note that the Registrar will not know who to issue passes to without completion of the order form. All Non-Owner Residents over the age of 21 must request credentials individually using the Non-Owner Beach Pass & Amenity Order Form.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED VERIFICATION DOCUMENTATION WITH AMENITY ORDER REQUESTS IN ORDER TO BE PROCESSED IN A TIMELY FASHION. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT STORED BY ABI.  ORDERS WITH MISSING DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.

3. Pay your order invoice in a timely fashion so that the Registrar can complete the order process and get your credentials to you. Note that owner and owner dependent (21 and under) beach passes are no charge. If you are only requesting passes, they will be mailed upon receipt of your signed order form.

Visit the "ORDER MY STUFF" page on this website for other ordering needs.

A [Recent Flyer] mailed to every Arden resident from an anonymous source calling themselves “Concerned Citizens of Arden” is a cause for concern, not just from the ABI and ACA boards, but from residents as well who are reaching out to the Boards for clarification. These requests have prompted the necessity for this response.

Unfortunately, the flyer is written with the opinions of the concerned citizens of Arden, based upon the writer’s interpretation of Arden’s [1950s deed covenants] and [ABI Bylaws]. In defense of the good efforts being put forth by the volunteers, both past and present, elected to lead these efforts and to recognize documented historic facts, we offer the following:

• In [1984], ABI proposed to grant one share to lot owners in addition to any current shares owned, thereby enabling all lot owners the ability to serve on the Board of Directors and an opportunity to participate in voting events and ABI functions. This proposal was made in the hope of resulting in increased community spirit and cooperation in caring for Arden beaches. This effort failed.

• In 1988, a [Letter to the Editor] was published in the [February Edition of the Newsbuoy]. This letter recognizes and supports the necessity of user fees to offset the insufficient revenue stream from the deed-mandated lot assessments, encouraging owners to purchase shares and participate in the voting process for ABI business. This is an important read and supports the actions ABI has taken to date to secure the future of the organization and its beach and park properties for generations to come.

• In [2023], ABI proposed to grant one share to lot owners in addition to any current shares owned through the proposed 3-year implementation of user fee inflation, for the same reasons proposed in 1984 and at the request of the majority of the shareholders expressed during the January 2023 annual meeting. During the subsequent [March 2023 Vote], this effort passed.

Accusations are being made in the referenced flyer by the concerned citizens of Arden:

1. that the voting process is controlled by a very few people who control the majority of the votes in ABI, and always will:

• All lot owners may purchase shares in the organization

• There are 512 shareholders (55% of owners)

• In the 2023 annual voting process, only 179 shareholders (35%) participated

• In the 2024 annual voting process, only 58 shareholders (11%) participated

• The 2024 vote resulted in an amendment to the Bylaws to prohibit the one share granted per tax account from being transferred, thereby ensuring that every lot owner has a vote in the organization and the ability to serve on the Board as a volunteer. All lot owners, by this process, will become shareholders upon payment of the user fee due January 1, 2024; however, no owner is forced to participate in ABI business. Participation is highly encouraged but completely voluntary.

2. that ABI is threatening to attach liens and fees to lots for non-payment of the new fees without a recorded document:

• ABI has the legal right to attach a lien for non-payment of the deeded annual assessment only. 

• User fees are stipulated in the [ABI Bylaws] and non-payment thereof will be tracked in the ABI financial system.

• Owners not paying the mandatory user fee in accordance with its Bylaws will not be able to order beach and amenity passes.

• ABI has the right to deny access temporarily or permanently for any infraction of the organization’s rules and regulations as described in the deeded covenant.

3. that ABI’s actions are illegal:

• A [legal opinion] was obtained

• The deeded covenant has not been altered

4. that the whole community was not informed of this plan: 

• All residents (not just shareholders) were informed of increase proposal

• Emails of the [informational flyer] were sent to all owner resident email addresses in ABI’s database

• Printed copies of the [informational flyer] were hand-delivered by ABI board members and volunteers for those addresses without emails

• All non-shareholders were encouraged to purchase shares to participate in the upcoming voting event

• ABI continues to provide annual meeting notification and information to all property owners, not just shareholders.

• All information is also available on the [ABI Website]

5. that monies changing hands is going to be done illegally, unethically, and in a non-transparent manner:

• More detailed information has been provided for the past two annual meetings than ever before.

• An annual budget proposal is presented to the shareholders for approval during the annual voting event.

• Emergency purchases over $3,000 require the board majority approval as outlined in the ABI Bylaws.

• ABI bank account requires two-signature authentication

• ABI internal processes are in place for segregation of duties

• ABI is required to hire an independent accounting firm to perform a financial review of the organization’s books on an annual basis

6. that ABI is breaking a contract by implementing said user fee to recognize inflation:

The [1950s deed covenants] are outdated and include verbiage that would not be legal today. Despite this outdated recorded document, here are the facts:

• ABI is the owner of Arden’s private beach and park properties (not shareholders) and is an independent corporation identified for not-for-profit tax purposes only as a social club responsible for the maintenance and operations of said properties on behalf of the community of Arden on the Severn.

• ABI is designated as the Grantor responsible for the collection of the deed-mandated annual lot assessments and the owner of such funds for the maintenance of said properties, at its sole discretion.

• Payment of said lot assessments is required by all lot owners regardless of use (and whether or not the lot owner is a shareholder).

• ABI has the deeded right to set rules and regulations for use of its properties, and along with that right, the ability to deny access temporarily or permanently for any infraction of its rules and regulations without impairing the lot owner’s obligation to pay such charges. 

• Reasonable use of ABI properties is determined by ABI in accordance with its rules and regulations and granted only by ABI in writing (issuance of beach and amenity passes) to lot owners who are in compliance with its rules and regulations. Payment of the annual deed-mandated assessment does not automatically give the lot owner access to ABI properties without its written consent in accordance with its rules and regulations.

• Non-payment of the deed-mandated annual lot assessments shall constitute a lien or encumbrance on the land with respect to which said charge is made.

Additional concerns may be addressed by attending monthly ABI meetings or by emailing ABI directly at BoardDirectors@ArdenBeachesInc.com. 

ARDEN INFORMATION SESSIONS SCHEDULE

Info Sessions with ACA Membership Renewal & ABI Payment & Amenity Processing

NONE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED

Make this website your "GO TO" source of information. Communication is important to all of us in Arden. While the registrar may post information and instruction through social media, correspondence IS NOT tracked through that platform. Please [CONTACT THE REGISTRAR] directly if you have any questions or need assistance. Registrar hours of operation are posted below. For ABI emergencies, please contact your beach representative listed on the website. ABI would like to thank you in advance for helping us to keep our lines of communication open and productive. We look forward to seeing you around the beaches.

Arden on the Severn's beaches are PRIVATE PROPERTY for use by qualifying members and authorized guests ONLY! Arden residents MAY NOT sponsor another Arden resident as a guest. All property is posted "PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO TRESPASSING, TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED". Here in Arden, we value our private beach properties and WILL NOT TOLERATE trespassing, underaged drinking, and unauthorized social gatherings on our private properties. Security, neighborhood watch, and hired police patrol are on duty all year and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

If you are not an Arden resident with the proper current credentials to use Arden's private beaches, DO NOT COME HERE. Thank you! [CLICK HERE] to read the current law pertaining to private property and no trespassing.

IF YOU HAVE ANY WEBSITE SUGGESTIONS FOR US, PLEASE CONTACT THE ABI WEBMASTER [HERE]

Interested in learning more about ABI properties? [CLICK HERE]