SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT TVRA MEMBERSHIP!
by Mark Flynn, VP Membership
As you have likely seen on the banners around the Village, October is Membership Drive month for the TVRA! As a 501 c7 non-profit, we are categorized as a Social Club, but our organization is oh, so much more! We’ve all heard the misinformation that goes around, so now is a good time to explain just what TVRA membership means and set the record straight –
- “You join New Villagers, then afterward you can join the TVRA.” – The truth is you can have a membership in both organizations, doubling your opportunities to engage, plug in, and learn about all that life in East Tennessee offers.
- “Why should I join the HOA (now TVRA) when I already have to belong to the POA?” – The POA is the governing body in Tellico Village. They maintain the roads, water infrastructure, docks, golf courses, budget, restaurants and much more. In September 2025, we changed our name from the Tellico Village HomeOwners Association (HOA) to the Tellico Village Residents Association (TVRA) to alleviate much of this confusion. We are a volunteer organization with nothing to do with governing Tellico Village.
- “The TVRA is just another social organization in Tellico Village” – This one gets me the most. Yes, the TVRA has numerous social outings annually . . . In fact, the TVRA has hosted enough outings from January – September to accommodate more than 5000 participants! We host monthly socials to bring residents together for information, entertainment, and socialization, we organize cultural events, outdoor adventures, opportunities to experience new and unique dining venues, attendance at sporting events, and everything in between.
While it is true that the TVRA has many social opportunities to unite our community, we also perform many functions to inform our members of important issues the Village-at-large experiences – In fact, we have representatives attending every POA Board meeting, every Town Hall, and every Advisory Committee meeting monthly and making their reports available to all our members .
The TVRA relies heavily on the many members who like to “give back” to their communities and actively volunteer to engage in civic initiatives that benefit the entire Village. If you drive down Rt. 444 on Saturday mornings, you might see our TVRA Litter Angels in yellow vests collecting trash along the roadside to keep our main thoroughfare beautiful. We are also beefing up our Aesthetics and Environment Committee to educate and organize volunteers in projects to sustain our natural environment and support neighborhood beautification.
It’s a bit ironic that this letter appears in the TVRA newsletter—reaching those who are already members and who understand the many ways the TVRA benefits all residents of Tellico Village. To you, I offer my sincere thanks.
If you can, please take a moment to talk with your friends and neighbors about joining. Invite them to one of our socials — They’re open to everyone in the village.
And if someone asks, “Why should I join the TVRA?” you can share my response:
For just $20 per household per year… Why wouldn’t you?