Member Engagement - Who's job is it?

As always, there's volumes of materials available regarding Gen X, The problem is always thinking one size fits all, it doesn't; never has never will. Here's a quick Generation X Google search with an AI formed response:
Key Traits and Characteristics:

• Independence and Self-Reliance:
  Gen Xers are known for their self-sufficiency and a strong sense of independence, often taking on responsibilities at an early age.

• Work-Life Balance:
  Gen X values a balance between their professional and personal lives, seeking flexibility in their work arrangements.

• Skepticism:
  They often exhibit a skeptical attitude towards authority and traditional institutions, valuing authenticity and transparency.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit:
  Many Gen Xers have an entrepreneurial mindset, opting for independence and flexibility in their work.

• Technological Savvy:
  Comfortable with technology, they have witnessed the evolution of digital tools and the internet.

• Results-Oriented:
  They are known for their results-oriented approach to work, focusing on achieving goals and delivering quality outcomes.

• Strong Work Ethic:
  Gen Xers are known for their strong work ethic, but also seek flexibility and a good work-life balance.

• Resilience:
  Having come of age during times of economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancements, they are known for their resilience.

• Cynical Sense of Humor:
  They often have a cynical sense of humor, reflecting their experiences and perspectives.

• Holistic Health:
  Gen Xers are known to be into holistic health and well-being.

• Financial Responsibilities:
  They have major financial responsibilities

• Family Values:
  They place a high value on family and personal relationships, often making choices that prioritize the well-being and security of their loved ones.

• Communication Styles:
  They prefer straightforward, concise communication and appreciate both emails and face-to-face interactions.

• Adaptability:
  They have navigated significant technological and economic changes throughout their lives, making them highly adaptable to new situations and challenges.

 

Very thought-provoking observations. What will RCSC do in response to this demographic shift? Will members care about what comes next? Who will be the thought leaders that position our recreation offerings for the next generation? Do you see any of those forward-looking thinkers on the Board or in the committees? How do you convince members to plant a tree the shade of which they may never sit under? As you know, I think an urban planning expert would help the community answer these questions.

 

Just my opinion, and others my age, no one wants rates raised to pay for that tree they may never sit under. There are a lot of people living in poverty here and the ones I have spoken with do not want their money given away to their neighbor's heirs. Not when we need it so badly.

Not to mention SC does not have anything Gen X wants with the exception of pickle ball. No room for walking trails and bike trails. It will work for low income, but I doubt it will attract the ones that can afford Trilogy or Wickenburg Ranch,

 

I`m for doing a simple uncomplicated survey. We have an obligation to know the wants and needs of the community. Most people won't come to meetings, but if you ask them to write down what they think is important, they will share. The time is now.

 

Here are some guidelines from Apricot for creating an effective member survey...

5 Tips for Creating an Effective Member Survey:
Here are 5 tips to help ensure your online survey is effective in capturing the information you need:

1. Set clear objectives.
What are you trying to learn? What metrics do you need to help you achieve your goals? You might want to work backwards – first think about what results you want, then determine the questions you need to ask. I’ve learned the hard way to consider how you’ll apply the data before you craft the questions.

2. Keep it short and simple.
You’ll probably get a better response to a brief survey, simply because it will be less time consuming. It’s also important to ask concise questions with well formulated answers. Giving participants specific choices (e.g., yes, no, rating scale, multiple choice) make the questions easier to answer and simplifies analysis as well.

Plus, don’t forget to include an explanation as to why you are conducting the survey as well as a thank-you at the end of the survey. That little bit of appreciation can help members feel like their contribution is valued!

3. Test it and time it right.
Once you’ve drafted the survey, test it out on a small group of members, such as your board or highly engaged members. Get their feedback and take a look at the type of results you receive to be sure your format is effective.

In terms of timing, research suggests that you’ll get the best response on Monday, Friday and Sunday – so these might be the best days to send your invitations or post the survey.

4. Promote it.
Promotion is key if you want to achieve a high response rate to gain a true representation of your members’ viewpoints. There are a number of ways you can promote your online survey, including:

• Posting on your website
• Personalized emails
• Posting on Facebook
• Write a blog post or forum post with the link and timelines
• Including a note and the link in your e-newsletter

5. Share the results.
While you are conducting the online survey to meet your own objectives, it’s also important to share the results with the participants and your membership in general. It offers an opportunity to thank those who participated and to leverage the results for additional member content.

Ready to put your survey together? Check out our list of sample questions to get started.

 

My understanding is about 9.8% of RCSC members are living at or below the federal poverty level of $37,650 for singles and $64,550 for couples. There are a variety of factors that contribute to financial hardships. On the flip side there are 90% of RCSC members who live above the poverty level.

This presents a challenge that all active adult lifestyle communities face when determining the amenities offered and the cost of membership. Josie, I humbly admit I don't have an answer to this heart wrenching question. I think one of the key elements of any fee discussion has to be affordability as this is one of the things that differentiates Sun City from other age restricted communities. The other key element has to be stretching our recreational dollars to provide as much value to as many people as possible. I don't think our leadership does a good job of treating our capital money as a valuable and limited resource. IMHO examples abound; $6M to redo a 9-hole golf course is ludicrous. Expensive special purpose buildings (theaters and indoor dog facilities) should not be on our radar.

 

Your numbers are over twice the federal poverty level which is $15,650 for a single and $21,150 for a couple. I know many in Sun City that live and live well earning below the numbers you used.

 

They are, thank you. And 9.8% is a high number. Unfortunately, that number has changed.
In 2024, the percentage of people in Sun City, AZ living below the poverty line is 11.7%.

• Poverty Rate: 11.7%

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Sun City CDP, Arizona

For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., in 2025, the federal poverty level (FPL) is $15,650 annually for a single individual, $21,150 for a household of two, $26,650 for a family of three, and $32,150 for a family of four.

Poverty Guidelines | ASPE

 

One of the arguments often heard by those of us who have been involved with the RCSC/SCHOA and the Sun City Foundation has been the lament there are members being priced out of their homes, so we best not do the stuff we need to do. It was a faulty and flawed argument that led us to 2o million dollars in deferred maintenance, technology that was badly outdated and golf courses that were suffering from too much use without enough investment to maintain them well.

Sorry, there's always been a segment of our population that simply can't afford to live in Sun City. Not being callous, just being realistic. When we retired i looked at 4 other Sun City communities; all were more expensive and was smart enough to understand, as time went on, the cost would grow even more beyond my means.

It's easy to throw out names of other senior communities and how much more attractive they are to Gen X. The names are meaningless without the price tag that goes with them. One of the best pieces the RCSC produced was the exact comparative costs for other Sun City properties. They don't compare, they are much more expensive and most without the infrastructure to help those who outlive their means.

Both Sun City and Sun City West have those safety nets in place. It's what makes our two communities so unique. It's also why the expanded role of the Sun City Foundation is so darned important as we plow forward. It's also why, from a hands on point of view, simply throwing out poverty levels as the measuring stick for help is failed and flawed logic.

I've asked this before, i'll do it again: Put yourself on the board of the Sun City Foundation to process applications for assistance. A member who applies and falls below the federal poverty guidelines (we used to us 150%) and is struggling to make the $650 lot assessment or is pre-2003 and is paying half that, has a home owned free and clear with a valuation of $250,000-$300,000, do you weigh that as an asset against assistance? We always requested their financials.

It's not an easy question and most assuredly not an easy answer. When we faced those issues as Foundation members, we often heard members explain they didn't want to touch the equity in their home, they were saving it for their children. Okay? Then what? Most often we were looking at was this a one time need or a potential ongoing liability till the day they died or moved? Was there an answer that helped them beyond the one time payment that helped them over the longer haul? Could their kids they saving the house for help them?

The Sun City Foundation is not awash in cash, nor is the Sun City Community Assistance Network, nor is Banner Olive Branch, nor many of the other smaller typically church groups with limited social service functions. We live in a community that allows reasonably fixed income for seniors a quality of life that is pretty darned good; unfortunately, not everyone can afford to live here...they never could.

We cannot run the community based on what the small minority of members can afford, because the amenities must be maintained and enhanced (when needed to remain competitive). When all is said and done, we still have the most amenities at the least cost. We still are a neat, clean and comparatively safe community to live in. And, the exact reason we need to grow the Foundation to be able to help those who truly need it.

Here's the beauty of this discussion, the more we engage the membership, the more members understand the importance of community...and the more likely we are to raise the money to help those who truly need it.

 

And I have answered this before. If your only asset is your home, you are suggesting people take money from their home. Do you even realize what that entails for $650? Getting a HELOC is not free. Title fees, appraisals, loan processing fees, recording fees. What are you thinking??? Then you have to pay the loan back with interest? You will pay more than $650 to get a HELOC! (FACE PALM)

 

I like the way Bill puts it: There will always be members who cannot afford to live here even though we are the most affordable active adult community in the country. I also understand Josie's point about folks needing financial assistance with their assessments. It is a very difficult balancing act. The assistance requires verification of need which is intrusive. There are no perfect answers and sometimes there aren't even good answers. On balance, RCSC has IMHO been pretty compassionate while remaining disciplined about the issue. I too agree that the level of affordability should be determined by the majority of the members.

 

Which was why we always asked the question; was it a one time request, or could it go on for the next 20 years? Because, doing the math here for you, 20 years put that request at $13,000 (and that's without any increases).

Had you ever bothered to volunteer as a board member, the other most notable outcome of working with seniors, was it wasn't just the lot assessment. More often than not they had financial issues across the board and the lot assessment was minor; which allowed the board member doing the interview to direct them to other resources available in the community.

In all of the things i have done in this community, serving on the Foundation was unnerving and challenging. There's never easy answers and in some cases there are no answers. Resources available dictate what can or cannot be done. The good news is, the Foundation is growing in both assets and donations; that bodes well, but they will never solve all of the ills of a society where seniors are out-stripped by the cost of living.

 

And there's something going crazy with home prices. No wonder they're not selling.

A home right near me that practically bumps-up to Thunderbird Blvd, with noisy traffic and sirens, is on the market for $495,000. And when you consider and add another $5000 for PIF and CIF you're talking about a half-million dollar home????

I suspect that home will remain vacant for a very long time.

 

I found a way around it. One of my many issues with Bill was last year when I tried to apply I asked a simple question. Who has access to my paperwork. Can my volunteer neighbor see my financial information? Are the records locked up or can anyone who works/volunteers at SCF look up whatever they want to. Asking for help is not easy. Bills response to me was basically what difference does that make followed by the quote" no one gives a shit who you are". I will never ask RCSC for anything again. I solves my problem on my own, however others may not be able to and I pray they don't run into Bill. The following is his philosophy pure and simple:

When i do things, get involved with stuff or even when i write, i don't really care if the things i am doing or saying is well received or if people like me. It's just never been a priority in my life. I don't have many friends, try and get along with people, but if we don't, that's okay. So what i am going to say here is just me, being me.
BPearson, Apr 4, 2019

 

Bill I worked with the senior community for 17 years. Raising money, grants, to help the people here who could not pay, or could pay a little, help with bathing dressing, ADL's. I went to their homes to help fill out doctor information, pick up medical records. Don't even go there with me.

 

It's been don with ASU and ignored. Also if a survey is done now you will get boomer answers. Do you want to know what Gen X wants or boomers?

 

I do think for folks at the poverty line, living alone, I think we need to have a very reduced fee for them. If there is no other living with them and under poverty line.
Look if you are at that within Federal guidelines, you already don't pay any taxes per annum.
We should look at this for some. I agree with Josie on this one.

 

Yes, we need to include everyone. I want to know what they think and want.

 

Okay and how do you monitor that Eileen? Should they have lived here a month, a year, 20 years? If their house is paid for and is worth $300 k but they qualify under poverty guidelines, do they pay less? Half? You realize the minute we start exempting some, it comes at the expense of others?

We already have the benefit of property taxes not being paid to local school district taxes; will this "relief" mean we attract more people who can't afford to live in Sun City? My news feed the other day had an article about Paradise Valley becoming the new destination for rich people, rather than Scottsdale. We didn't buy there, we simply could not afford it.

The challenge for those clamoring for Sun City remaining a "cheap place to live," always needs the follow up question; "where would you go to live more affordably, and have what we have here?" The answer is two-fold: If you use the amenities, the answer is nowhere. If you don't use them because of age, health or because you elect not to, the answer is there are options...the question is will it be the same?

In most cases not, in some cases, moving to Youngtown may well be as/more affordable (or certain other locations not-age restricted) and with a plethora of other difficulties found in mixed age communities. There's always options, some better, some worse.

Sun City wasn't built to satisfy every social/economic crisis that is thrown at us. The day we start trying to solve those challenges is the day we erode the foundation, principles, values and tenets we were built on and around. We have safety nets in place, the reality is they weren't built to catch every one that falls into difficult times.

 

The point you don't understand, and for someone who is as smart as you it makes me wonder. Do I need to line item costs for a HELOC for you? Also I was under the impression the "gift" was one time only. My issues cover a lot of things in SC back to 2003 when they discriminated against singles because the powers that be were too inept to keep track of deaths. All other Webb communities can, makes us look pretty sad. I also think you should take a step back as you have a tendency to brutalize people, and you admit you don't care what anyone thinks of you. Not conducive to winning new home buyers over. Tom McClain, Gary Cooper, me. According to what I read Mr. Cooper had seen you do the flailing arm screaming thing a couple of times.

I realize I made the biggest mistake in my life by staying here after I retired. Can't go back in time, so I will make the best of what I have now, pray it changes, and warn as many people as I can.