One of the fascinating pieces of the puzzle in our history has been how over-valued the officers of each of the organizations have evolved. Virtually all of the various non-profit organizations in Sun City have governing documents where the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer's duties are spelled out. They do put added emphasis on them, but ultimately a board of nine (or whatever the size determined in those documents) is still each board member has one vote and no one's vote is more valuable or important than the next. All too often those with the titles think they are more important. It's a flawed hierarchy and one i have long argued with as a member of boards' for as long as i have been here. Think not? Board's when there is a finding of fault in failing to do their duty are sued in total. We taught board members and trustees over the years a no vote on an issue may well not be a defense in the case of litigation. One board member/one vote with an obligation to speak out. The bigger problem, from my perspective and after watching 2024 blow up in the board member's faces, is the same old problem we have been trapped in since 2006. For whatever reason, RCSC board members have refused to hold the general managers accountable for their actions. The GM is the only employee of the 450 plus they have an obligation to manage and have absolute oversight of. If we were to go back to our documents, which i have done, those before 2006 compared to after 2006 are wholly different. For 45 years the gm was given the duties and authority of managing the day to day operations. After 2006, the grab for more control, more duties and less oversight was the norm and she was allowed to write them with virtually no push back by or from the board. It wasn't an accident, it was intentional. During that same time we saw the role of committees either greatly diminished or in some cases, removed completely. The board not only allowed it, but had to vote to approve it happening. It is exactly how we got to where we are today. Now the only questions are who becomes the officers, and more importantly, will they start to hold the gm accountable for his actions?
My guess would be Foster as President and Jim Rough as VP. Sad if they bypass Rick Gray who could offer many lessons he has learned dealing in the State legislature.
Speaking from personal experience, becoming a board member has a steep learning curve. By the time a director has enough experience to challenge the current leadership and management, it is almost impossible to gain a consensus of fellow directors to be the change. The GM will have continued to be the sole force for governing and the director may feel feckless to be the change agent needed. All the more reason to put training new directors as a top tool to allow these new directors to become effective as soon as possible. The amount of time it takes to develop a clear sense of Sun City and its working relationship to the members is needing a clear path forward for success moving forward. One more thing to add: this community needs directors who are going to lead and govern. This will involve more than 2-3 hours a week of time.,To be involved with directing the government of Sun City one needs to be involved to a level that means the directors can make decisions for the community that is in the best interest of the residents and stop hiding behind closed doors.
Yeah, but just remember how Tom Foster became Board President! He was only an appointment and he hadn't even served one full year! Nothing against Tom, he's doing a good job, but I believe as you, we need to offer training for Directors especially because at least 1/3rd of the Board changes every year!
If you don’t know what it is you need to know, then that means leaving the newest board members in a vacuum. One is elected, then to start a leadership position one knows very little about. As a new director you have no idea what is going to happen from this point forward. If the existing board members are pushing an agenda, the new director has little to do but go along for the ride. Depending upon the integrity of the existing directors, there may be an opportunity to learn and develop a better understanding of the community. Or become wary of the current board members and may even need to take a defensive position. Because the business of Sun City is done behind closed doors, leaving the members excluded from the decision making process, members become even more jaded as to what governance we really have. Training new directors is an important tool for success of the board and the community.
2025 RCSC Board Officers Announced The RCSC Board of Directors have announced the selection of Board Officers for 2025 as follows: President: Tom Foster Vice President: Chris Nettesheim Secretary: Connie Jo Richtmyre Treasurer: Anita Borski
How does the Recall Petition potentially affect this RCSC Board of Directors? Is it in progress or abandoned? Thanks for any update. (Enlisting replies from cited credible sources, please, none from those who share hearsay and/or attack just for asking….thanks.)
I believe it has been abandoned to give this new Board a chance, however, if this new Board ends up pissing people off again, I wouldn't be surprised to see one started-up all over again?
Bill, I agree with most of what you said however I think the situation is a bit more nuanced. In actuality only the President of the Board has supervisory authority over the GM, including delivering his performance appraisal. As we have seen this dynamic leads to some very biased results.
I would question that comment by saying that I believe, "YES," the President has supervisory authority over the GM but not until those decisions have been approved by the entire Board. As far as "delivering" the GM's performance...the President may be the singular one who sits down with the GM, but here again, the GM's job performance must be determined and based on the opinions of the entire Board. If what you're implying is true, then the remaining Directors are delinquent in their duties to be serving as a Board member if they allow him/her to get away with it. The Board President is not King and I see no such individual power granted in the Bylaws? Articles of Incorporation, Article VIII 1. The affairs of the Corporation shall be conducted by a Board of Directors... Just my opinion!
FYI, when I was on the Board each Director submitted to the Board President their assessment of the GM’s performance for the year. The Board President would then meet with the GM to deliver the news. Can’t speak as to how it is done now.
And that's why Directors need to be educated and trained on how to function as a Board! There apparently is no consistency.
I don't understand why the new board can't go back to the previous architectural designs that were for MV, and pursue getting those done. If this board is going to scrap all the efforts of that SAC committee and not use what was drawn up, this, I don't understand at all. A lot of time gets wasted, and new boards keep having to come in and start at zero again. I don't know. I wonder too if turmoil was happening with this new GM and him just spending money. I am not feeling confident that the dysfunction is not going to continue. The public meetings are becoming a running soap opera, it makes the boards, react..just being reactive is not getting things done. From what Bill and others who have lived here a long time, it seems like there is always a push-back on everything that gets brought up. We can all see how tough roles of leadership really are.
Eileen, Your frustration is palpable and shared by this reader as well. I realize the current GM is new, is he clear on what the role and scope of his duties are? Is it clear that he is answerable to the board? Is it because the board has not set a clear definition of what the role of the GM is to be? Does anyone know if the board set forth guidelines for the GM’s scope of responsibilities and expectations of meeting these requirements? The GM should be the one consistent guiding force between the board and the community. The board should have set the expectations and guidelines for the GM and the community needs at the onset. Perhaps these need to be reviewed yearly with the GM and if expectations are not met, seek an appropriate remedy. With the board members changing yearly,,there exists a need for a clear roadmap for the GM and the community to follow. Brings us back to the long term plan for the community.
