Should members vote on the big stuff?

Hi, Yes I too think members should vote on the big stuff. I think if that option was offered, you would see more members coming out to meetings and to vote. It's our money, isn't it?

 

Exactly. All we hear is no one wants to participate, there is no sense of community, no one shows up to the meetings. Then we get a post like this:

My short answer “No”. My reasoning is based on my experience of group dynamics.
The cost to coordinate a community vote, ballots mailed, literature printed and distributed and the collection of the ballots is an expensive task and we, the members, pay for that cost.
Once a vote is taken, there will be those wanting a recount or some other referendum to amend the vote because the outcome was not fair. With only about 1200 people participating in these elections, I don’t think the apathy goes away because of the cause for the vote.
As stated before, when asking for more money from the members, you can almost predict the outcome. It pretty much won’t matter the reason, every time there is a perceived cost the members, there’s a negative reaction. Guess what folks, the cost of gas, water, seed and labor has gone up and those costs need to be addressed.
With a vote of the members dictating projects moving forward, what is to stop a group from forming a voting bloc in order to get the outcome desired? What about the ability to contest the vote?
The system in place has its limits, but to put this out to a member vote looks to increase costs and cause additional delays in anything needing to move forward. Having expenditures be a member vote item is, in my opinion, not a productive option to address constituents needs.
Until such time we have an informed and interactive process of including members on information shared, it seems to be a process lost to ask for a vote on any expenditure. Current method of posting numbers with a written summary is inadequate, in my opinion.
So, my answer to should members vote on expenditures is no.

SunCityGal, Yesterday at 1:03 PM

Do we let one person dictate what happens within this community? Currently we have 9 that do. This is a public blog. Any person from anywhere in the world can view it without a log in, read only, no contributions without being a member. Let's post the general (main page) link to other social media sites and try to get more people involved.

 

All members Josie, not a small group. Everybody who owns a home, pays the dues, owns a card, should vote on the big things coming up. Thanks

 

I have no doubt you excel at History. I also have no doubt your understanding of written conversations, i.e. this blog, totally confuses you. No more explanations from me.

 

I am talking all members. Did you read the whole thread? SCG was talking about "concern about several members being able to create special interest group, called a “bloc”, not me.

 

Here is the letter to the editor I just submitted.

Letter to the Editor

Have you ever wondered what the $1,000,000 allocated on the RCSC PIF schedule to BOP Golf is? I did so I researched it on the internet and found it was the Brotherhood of Pigs golf tournament. WHAT? That can’t be right. I spoke to some fellow members (I do that a lot) and they said the reference was to a very expensive form of mini golf bar and restaurant called POP golf. Huh I wonder who put that in the PIF schedule that also contains $750,000++ to redesign the sand traps at north golf course, a $1,500,000 ++ indoor dog training facility and a $14M ++ special purpose theater with an orchestra pit?

I find all of these proposed (some approved) expenditures to be the product of a very poor ad hoc system of long term planning driven by special interests. Some, including me, would argue RCSC has no consistent process for long term planning and thus we are stuck on the new board new plan merry go round.

I am proposing to fix this systemic defect in our governance by introducing amendments to the bylaws at the annual membership meeting on March 11th in the Sun Dial Auditorium/Performing Arts Venue. These bylaw amendments will require RCSC to adopt a data based professionally developed Master Plan (i.e., a long term plan to achieve our mission, vision and values) for members to vote on. It is about time we get professional help and give the members the right to vote annually on the big stuff.

Please attend the Annual Membership Meeting on March 11 at the Sun Dial Auditorium to vote on these amendments. Registration begins at 5:00 PM.


John Fast

 

I love my community! In the 10 years we have lived here, I am able to pick and choose where I invest my time for activities and relationships. The clubs I belong to provide friendships, learning new skills etc.

I think there is a small fraction of people that are unhappy and are not looking at being part of the solution, but the problem. I attend all exchanges and board meetings. I have been thru 3 GM’s and several board members. No one is perfect, but I feel very hopeful with this board and management to continue to streamline operations and continue to make need attention to deferred maintenance, improvements, and be wise in decisions.

what I dislike immensely is the petition to recall the GM. It is divides people. Is that the image that Sun City makes us proud. The previous GM and boards created much of this mess.

come on Sun city, we are better than this!

 

P.S. be careful what you wish for. It could be worse

 

Skipper 53,

I agree there are some unhappy members and some of them are vocal.

I believe there are some significant performance issues with the current GM that need to be addressed. I think his supervisor recognizes the issue and is taking steps to help him overcome the issues, but I really don't see any sincere effort on the GM's part to recognize the performance issues and work on them. Nobody wants to spend the short time they have left on petitions and the like but how else will change happen? I believe that those that are speaking up for change have the community's best interest at heart.

But you are right - change for change sake is not the answer. I hope you will read my amendments with an open mind. Having been on the board I am proposing them because I think they represent a more professional and sustainable way to plan for our future...

 

Actually, it worked out very well Dave. Both candidates that resigned are still working hard to effectuate positive change.

 

I am aware of that.