I struggled with the header, strictly speaking, it should read, "It's Good To Be Queen." It's the lyrics from a 1990's Tom Petty song, and for some reason it kept playing in my head as i sat watching the June 30 board meeting unfold. So much so, i scribbled it a couple of times in the note pad i bring along with me. Most folks trying to read my notes would gouge their eyes out trying to understand my gibberish, but i get it. Then when i decided to commit my thoughts to paper, i was hesitating on whether i was being unkind using this snarky piece to take a bite out of the board presidents backside. Oh what the hell, i elected to use it and then let you tell me if i am being overly caustic. (please wait to see the video, then tell me). Perhaps i've set my expectations to0 high. After reading several columns from the new president of the RCSC where she told us it was the dawning of a new day, we'd all be working together and signing Kumbaya in perfect harmony, i left today a tad disillusioned. Ever since we were coerced (sounds way better than strong-armed) and sought the safety of a single board meeting where only comments regarding motions have been allowed, there's been something strange in the air. I would describe it akin to a rotting fish smell, but i may have a bias and it may in fact be showing. See, in the last three months, going to a board meeting has been just like watching a really good ping-pong match. Back and forth, head snapping each way. The problem wasn't from the board members disagreeing with one another (though there's been some of that), my challenge has been listening to the board president tell us what could be a motion and what couldn't. To be concise, there is no clarity. One month the motions have come from a committee, the next month we are told they can be made by a board member. To make it even more confusing, if it comes from a committee, it has to come with supporting documentation. Then there's the time committees over-step their bounds When that fails, we shift gears and find something else like blaming Robert's Rules of Order being the fall guy. Who knew RR was going to be that divisive. The newest twist was, when a non-majority board member makes a motion, the board president leans into the parliamentarian and we quickly hear, not allowed and then cites some passage that when looked at closely has nothing to do with the denial. Apparently, it sounds good to her. And there-in is the beauty of being king. Once she utters her edict, it's over. Challenges, legitimately raised are instantly squashed with the wave of her scepter (by the way, that's a figure of speech, she hasn't really brought a scepter with her...yet). Actually there were only two instances in the meeting where she flexed her power, watch it and tell me what you think they are/were. My ability to be objective may be waning. I wanted to believe she was truly interested in what the membership had to say. With each passing day, i feel less and less likely that will ever be the case. We simply are going to suffer the whims of the majority and what they deem we are worthy of. I will let this thread play out with others chiming in. I went planning on objecting to the 56K being spent on the ASU survey. It appears there is more to it and then when Bill Cook told us the price wasn't really that much, only $45K i bought in. The explanation was made the survey the long range planning committee had worked tirelessly on would be in fact be kind of used, i felt better. But alas, when it came time to adjust the amount spent on the motion, the general manager who announced the lower price told us, he wanted it all. Really? Why waste our time even throwing those numbers out there? See, i do listen closely and carefully; now i know better. There is so much to report on. I made some comments relative to golf and the motion Director Collins was making. I supported it, even though it was too low. Rather than blathering on, i will start a separate thread, i need to ask all of you a question and i want an answer. Stay tuned, more to come.
Robert's Rules isn't that divisive. The problem is, nobody understands Robert's Rules and the Chair, along with her parliamentarian, always seem to interpret the rule the way THEY want them interpreted. I'm sure the interpretation will be different in the future if the motion was proposed by one of those board members of favor? In fairness, most members of the board don't understand them either. Those board members who keep getting shut-down by the ruling from the chair should just STOP accepting those decisions and move-on. They need to appeal those rulings, and with a "second" on that motion the vote automatically goes to the entire board. Now....they may vote to sustain the ruling of the chair but at least everybody will see how each member voted. More on this later...
It's also interesting (and you'll see it when the video comes out) how the Chair was so ready to cite Robert's Rules, 12:6 and call Director Nowakowski's motion to amend Director Ege's motion "out of order" because it wasn't germane????? Are you kidding me? Director Nowakowski was attempting to find out what that $50,000 addition to the budget entailed! Certainly seems germane to me since his inquiry was about the very Pickleball court they were budgeting? And why was it that Director Nowakowski's concerns were finally explained after the fact? Why didn't he know what was involved in that construction quote from the start? Are only some/certain board members privy to that information? Gee, and I thought the board was to function as one, not in select groups? Boy, how stupid can I be?
RCSC Board of Directors Meeting Summary June, 30, 2022 Three pages: https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BOD-Mtg-Summary-6-30-22.pdf No video posted as of 5:00 pm https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCdLy0Uy9sKWCJNLz37tn5ug
You need to watch the video. It's long and frustrating. I used to say, two steps forward, one step back. My new mantra is two steps backward, one step forward. Going in the wrong direction gang, the wrong direction. Gotta love the pickleball argument; of course pickleball players were delighted to get the tennis courts at Lakeview. Did you all think they would say hell no? How did the tennis players feel? Oh wait, we never talked to them did we? So we are clear, i am not opposed to the Lakeview courts per se. My first question to Dale after the meeting was, "have you told the home owners on the lake?" Nope, why should we, the mountain will buffer the sound. Will it? Or will it simply travel more easily over the open water? Will at 6 in the morning and 8 at night be unnoticeable? Other than the homes on Dawn Lake, the Viewpoint homes are the second most expensive properties in the community. I don't know the answer, i would surely want (and expect) one if i lived on the lake. The second item that hit me was a discussion from last year when a tennis player asked why the courts hadn't been fixed at Lakeview? He was told point blank they weren't going to spend any money there because they were going to remodel the center. True, but it's like in 2035. All of which begs the question, will these new courts be permanent or when the center is rebuilt, will they be torn down? They are questions that need be asked and answered. Then i started thinking about an item on the PIF budget. The folly of the two story administrative building and where exactly was that to be located. It was a dumb idea from the get go. Interestingly enough, the only board member ever kicked off the board by the membership was in 1992. Art Williams board president decided the RCSC needed a new two-story administrative building where the Bocci courts are at Sun Dial. When the uprising started from the membership, the vice pres quickly said he wasn't for it. Art was a stubborn old cuss and refused to back down, hence making RCSC history. FYI mentioned the failed amendment motion from Director Nowakowski. He wanted to know the parameters for the pickleball bid but was told the amendment wasn't pickleball related or something like that. Really, it appears to come down to who presents motions rather than what they are about. But hey, maybe that's just me. Lots more to digest and as i write this, i find myself needing to reach for a big old bottle of Pepto-Bismol. Before i go, i reflect on a comment i made to a couple of pickleball players as we talked about Lakeview. Director McAdam had made a couple of them angry. Her point was clear, at least to me; whatever we do, we should make a point to do it well, not half-assed. Case in point, will the new Lakeview courts have to be plowed under in 5 or 10 years? Seems to me it wasn't all that long ago we did the Mountain View PB courts and now they will be relegated to the ash heap. That is just poor planning IMHO. Of course if we have so much money we can just throw it away in the short run, i guess it doesn't matter. One other thing, were the Mountain View Pickleball courts done under PIF? If so, they have to have a 15 year life; has anyone looked at that?
Absolutely! The Fox is watching the Hen House! And did I hear it right yesterday from Bill Cook...the RCSC has 70 Million dollars? Not sure what type of corporation Bill came from but he was kinda proud of having that much money! I guess if you come from a for-profit corporation it's great to have that much but how about a non-profit corporation? Seems a little overkill if you ask me, but what do I know!
I appreciate all the talk and intelligent conversation about things that really matter to us here in Sun City. Bill, you are spot on and see so much that needs to be brought out into the light of day. I appreciate all of you. Thank you for being involved and keeping your eyes on what is happening, and speaking up.
Thanks for the kind words Nia. It is frustrating because we all love Sun City and all it has to offer. Unfortunately over the past 15 years, anyone questioning or being critical of decisions made all too often in a vacuum is simply dismissed as haters. It's what happens when you evolve from a community where the community had a real voice and reduced it to one where the decisions were made by a handful. The collective process we know existed throughout the community's first 50 years was cumbersome, everything took time because the process was all about inclusion. Sadly, we became a community where exclusion became the norm and they could just do as they please. I personally see that as a huge mistake. Sun City could and be so much better, more than it is.
