Annual Association Dues

For 2026, the Southwest Shore Association is collecting $100 per cabin. Of that amount, $40 goes to the SWS General Fund to pay for the SWS Association’s general operating and administrative expenses, and the other $60 is used to purchase a Regular Membership in National Forest Homeowners (NFH) Association for the participating cabin, as described below.

In 2026 the Southwest Shore Association Dues is $40, which is a reduction from $60 in 2025, because we have accumulated sufficient funds to handle ongoing expenses as well as an emergency reserve. The Association Dues are used to provide services to all cabins in the Southwest Shore Colony, such as the following:

• Annual brush removal and clearance project

• Improvement projects as needed, such as upgraded cabin numbering and road signage

• Representation in the San Bernardino National Forest Cabin Coalition (SBNFCC), a liaison group between local cabin owners and the local Forest Service supervisor and staff

• Website and Newsletter operation and maintenance

• Annual dues processing and accounting

• Support for occasional SWS social events

• Reserve for unforeseen or emergency projects.

We hope that each cabin group will choose to support and collaborate with their SWS neighbors by paying the SWS Dues of $40 to fund the maintenance and operation of our Southwest Shore Association.

The National Forest Homeowners (NFH) Membership Fee of $60* per cabin supports NFH activities and efforts on a national level. NFH represents and advocates for all the 13,000+ Forest Service cabin owners nationwide. Many issues, policies, regulations, and legislation are national in scope, affecting all Forest Service cabin owners. We Southwest Shore owners, along with all other Forest Service cabin owners nationwide, definitely need the ongoing national expertise, representation, and influence provided by NFH representatives located in Washington, D.C. Those representatives lobby Senators and Congressmen to advocate for policies and legislation that are favorable to our interests as Recreational Residence permittees and cabin owners on U.S. National Forest lands. Our annual NFH Membership Dues support the continued efforts of our NFH representatives.

In addition to supporting NFH advocacy programs and representatives, your NFH Membership also provides the following services and programs:

• NFH Website (Available to anyone): General information about the Forest Service Recreation Residence Program; Permits and Fees; Fire Emergency Preparation; Cabin Security; Books and Resource Recommendations

• Members’ Section of the NFH Member Website: Trusts & Ownership Information, and Cabin Insurance Options

• NFH Newsletter

• Quarterly Forums and Annual Conferences

• Annual voting for new NFH officers

• Volunteer involvement opportunities for committees and leadership

We are fortunate in 2026 to have one of our Big Bear neighbors, Roy Glauthier, serving as President of National Forest Homeowners. Roy owns a cabin in the Metcalf Tract, located along Forest Road 2N10, behind the Performing Arts Center. Roy is a long-time friend of our Southwest Shore Association, and has frequently attended our Annual Meetings. He will be a reliable source of information, as well as an effective local advocate regarding Forest Service activities, policies, and staffing.

In summary, although the annual SWS Dues and the NFH Membership Fee are both voluntary contributions, most cabin owners choose to contribute to both activities. We hope that all our Cabin Owners find benefit in supporting the local projects and services provided by our SWS Association, while also finding value in the NFH efforts on a National level. We need a strong NFH presence to insure that national policies and legislation consistently favor and support the continuance and funding of the Forest Service Recreational Residence Program on U.S. National Forest lands.

Dues Invoices

The Southwest Shore Association sends invoices annually in May via text or email to each Cabin Representative. The Annual SWS Dues Assessment of $100 may be paid automatically using a credit/debit card, PayPal, Venmo, or direct bank transfer. For those who prefer to pay by check or Zelle, the manual payment instructions are on the invoice. Please make your payment promptly when you receive your invoice, in order to reduce the amount of follow-up work we need to do.

To be sure that your online invoice does not go to your spam folder, please add the following email address to your Contacts file: “Big Bear SWS Association (quickbooks@notification.intuit.com).” Note: This address is a “No Reply” address, which is NOT for sending information or inquiries to us at the Southwest Shore. By placing this “quickbooks” address in your Contacts file, you are simply informing your computer’s email system that mail from that address is not spam. If you wish to email us at the SWS Association, please use the Contact Form in this website, or send an email to info@southwestshore.org.

*Note: National Forest Homeowners has both a “Regular Membership ($60)” and a “Cabin Membership ($120)” option, in case you have multiple family members who would like to have the benefits of an NFH Membership. Please follow this link to review the different NFH membership options. If you wish, you can select one of those options when you make your SWS Dues and NFH Membership payment.