welcome letter
Date: June 2019
Dear Island Vacationers:
We understand that you will be guests at a cottage this summer on Malden Island and on behalf of the Island Home Club we would like to welcome you in advance. The Island is a unique place comprised of numerous families and friends brought together by a community dining hall. We hope you, your family and any guests enjoy our special place as much as we do.
Over the years we have established various guidelines and rules that enable us to live safely and serenely, in this close knit community. We have agreed as a group to abide by these written rules and regulations and ask you to extend us the courtesy of doing the same. Please take a few moments to become familiar with the information provided in the links below. Be sure to share it with everyone else who will accompany you, especially children. While all of the information is important and useful, we recommend that you become familiar with the Boating & Safety Rues first and foremost. Part of the beauty of the Island is the setting and location, which also requires the necessity for caution.
You may also download a pdf file of the entire IHC Rules booklet. The cookhouse forms and other information follow, below.
We wish you the most wonderful of summer holidays and look forward to seeing you on the island. We hope this information answers many questions you may have and encourage you to contact your cottage owner with any questions.
Sincerely,
Megan Mulcahy, President
Cora Hall & Dick Walker, Cookhouse Managers
Polly Walker, Secretary
IHC Rules
Read the IHC Rules then check the box below and sign your name.
the cookhouse
The Cookhouse Meal Tally order sheet options as well as other important information is included here:
Cookhouse Meal Count Form (before your week)
As a community we find that we are constantly reminding ourselves of the Cookhouse Guidelines. Topics such as hours of operation, dress code guidelines, and general policies are addressed here. As always it is important that these guidelines be followed. Please ensure that your meal counts are in on time as described below:
In addition to the items listed in the booklet, the following are special topics for consideration.
Special permission must be obtained through the owner, in advance, any time there more than 8 individuals are anticipated to reside at a cottage. This is due to the limited Island’s limited sewage processing capacity, the finite supply of water on the island and availability of Cookhouse seating. It is your responsibility to notify the owner from whom you are renting well in advance of your arrival.
The meal schedule count must be received on Tuesdays, a week prior to your arrival. We request that you complete and mail the order form for your initial week well in advance of your stay as instructed. Changes can be made subsequently, so please do not delay your submission as it may result in an overall food shortage for everyone. Orders by email are strongly encouraged. Either form is acceptable. Mail orders are accepted, but phone orders are not, except in extenuating circumstances. Take into consideration that, if using the US Postal System to the island, delivery can be very slow. Allow a week for delivery. If ordering via the internet please send your order to thecookhouse1@gmail.com. A confirmation will be returned by the cookhouse staff. If you do not hear back within 24 hours, then you need to follow up by re-sending your order or a phone call. Changes should be marked “Revision”. Lobster orders cannot be revised after Wednesday preceding the weekend.
If you are adding additional last minute diners for any meal, please make a request directly with the staff to insure that there are sufficient quantities available for your guests. All IHC members and renters are requested to refrain from calling the Cookhouse kitchen one hour before or after meal service.
Payment for all meals will be collected weekly. You will be required to complete and calculate the Meal Tally sheets. Please deposit your Tally sheet and payment in the envelope located in the front hall of the Cookhouse no later than noon on Sundays. Tally sheets will be available in the cottage and at the cookhouse.
It is the Island Home Club policy that anyone staying on the island is responsible for paying for all meals served in the Cookhouse whether eaten or not.
Please be mindful of the dress code at all meals. The dress code is covered in the Rules and Information booklet.
The Cookhouse staff will make every effort to accommodate special requests for food sensitivities and life style decisions, but they must be discussed directly with the Chef at least one week in advance. You are encouraged to bring your own “specialty” foods as they may be difficult and overly expensive to acquire through our food suppliers. All food sensitivities must be listed on your meal order sheet(s) in addition to having spoken with the Chef to assure that these may be taken into consideration with their overall meal preparation.
The Cookhouse is open for meals Tuesday to Sunday. Please refer to the Meal Schedule as to daily meal servings and luncheon “sign out” or picnic options. You may sign out for lunch any day. On days where picnic lunches are available orders are to be submitted to the Cookhouse staff by 9:00am. A picnic/sign-out sheet is posted in the Cookhouse vestibule. At the time of your order submission you will be advised as to when to pick up your picnic.
The Chef tries to provide proper amounts of food for reasonably sized portions and “seconds” to be available. Please have consideration for others coming in later to meals by moderating your servings and waiting for everyone to have served themselves before going back for another.
Food and dishware should not be removed from the dining room unless cleared with Cookhouse staff. If you know that you would like to take coffee back home with you, please consider bringing your own cup.
water & Sewer
We would like to bring to your attention the proper use and maintenance of our fresh water and septic systems. Many steps have been taken to protect our environment and we ask that you conserve water and pay attention to the guidelines regarding the Island Services. A state of the art septic system is operational. This system is very sensitive to certain chemicals and non-biodegradable products. We ask that you use the approved cleaning materials supplied by cottage owners. Please keep the following in mind when you are on the Island.
Only biodegradable products can be drained into the system. It cannot accept Kleenex, paper towels, disposable diapers, tampons, condoms or any other item of a non-biodegradable nature.
Clorox or any product containing bleach or chlorine must not be used.
Grease is also very detrimental to the system. Dispose of all cooking grease and wipe out all pans prior to washing them in the sink.
Our Island Home Club Rules and Information booklet includes the sections: Procedure in the Event of a Fire, Procedures in the Event of a Medical Emergency and Location of Emergency Equipment. Please be sure that you and all members of your party review this information carefully to help ensure a safe and enjoyable vacation for all. The AED has been moved to the cookhouse.
Recycling
We have trash/recycling/returnable efforts to be compliant with town regulations. All of our trash and recyclables go to the Georgetown transfer station.
All recyclables must be separated out from the trash. The Caretaker cannot pick up and remove your trash if it is full of recyclables as the transfer station will not accept them. Please separate out all glass (washed), metal (labels removed), plastic and paper. All cottages are planned to have a separate bin(s) for these items. Please see the posted instructions in your cottage for system, instructions and general guidelines.
All returnables are to be clean, empty (no cigarette butts or other trash) and placed in plastic garbage bags.
