Each year the Board Treasurer notifies owners in the Sheldon Dunes subdivision about dues set by the Board for the year. (See details for joining on the "About" and "Guidelines" pages.) Upon payment, the owners become voting members of the Association. Renters of properties (within the mapped boundaries on the "About" page) for one or more years may also join. Shorter-term renters may only use Association amenties, if their property-owner landlords have joined the Association and if said landlords monitor the renters to ensure adherence to Association guidelines.

Membership dues are primarily accumulated and used for maintaining and, if necessary, replacing amenities shared by all residents, including entrance signs, bike racks, stairways, decks and seawalls at Sheldon Dunes beaches. Additonally, dues are used to cover the cost of communicating with residents via newsletters and flyers as well as minimal administrative costs for running the Association. Directors and officers are prohibited from receiving any compensation for serving the Association, although expenses may be reimbursed.

Each SDHA member is a shareholder (owner) of the corporation. A corporation is a legal entity that may function as, and has similar rights as, an individual. As a member, your liability is generally limited to the assets of the corporation and does not extend to your personal assets. Non-members could be named individually in any litigation concerning the access sites, since they still retain a personally held interest in the sites. Non-members’ personal assets could be at risk and are not protected by SDHA’s insurance.

Using the lake access areas without paying your fair share of upkeep in the form of minimal dues is thought to be inconsiderate in our community. Paying dues (that are much less than most associations') also allows you to vote in elections of the Board, which  administers Association funds. And it provides you group liability coverage if someone were to sue you for injury at a lake access area. Owners who pay annual SDHA dues may use lake access areas, including fire pits and picnic tables located there. Long-term renters of more than a year may also use access areas if they or their property owners have paid dues. Short-term renters of less than a year may only use access areas if they are accompanied by dues-paying owners. They may, however, traverse the stairs to get to public beaches and parks; but they may not use access beaches, fire pits, picnic tables or beach supplies stored there, such as sand chairs, umbrellas and sand toys.