Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, May 29, 2025

UPCOMING MEETING NOTICE RCSC Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, May 29, 2025

Agenda and Supporting Documents : HERE
• Board Meeting Agenda – May 29, 2025 (Only one motion about insurance and no appointment for vacant director position)
• Board Meeting Minutes – April 24, 2025
• Treasurer’s Report – May 29, 2025
• Management Report – May 29, 2025
• Balance Sheet and Public Income Statement – April 2025

Cardholders are welcome to attend RCSC Board Meetings. Currently, you are NOT required to present your RCSC Member or Privilege Card upon entry. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Source: RCSC E-blast https://mailchi.mp/a060e6a280ec/board-meeting-agenda-may30-7788259?e=f18f779945

 

There exists the possibility that a decision has been made to appoint no one to the vacancy, and instead, wait for the next election to take place.

 

Apparently so.

If you received the email Blast from the RCSC notifying that the Candidate Packets will be available on June 2nd it mentioned that there were 4 open positions. Three position for three years and one position for one-year.

Anita Borski
Chris Nettesheim
Steve Collins
Open Seat to replace Connie Jo

I do believe that Steve Collins can serve for the one year term. He was elected only to a 2 year term in December of 2020. So he has only served for 5 years.

 

I also have the ability to serve a one year term. My first term was for 2 years as I was elected to complete another members term. My second term was indeed for three years, as that is what I was elected to.
I had rather hoped to have had the opportunity to compete for the open vacancy with the opportunity to transition to a one year term. Big dreams of trying to becoming an agent of change. Would love to see some of the ideas brought forward on TOSC to fruition.

 

Is Steve Collins a favored preference? I can withdraw my resume and forgo any ideas I may have. Actually, probably the best choice at this point.

 

So today's (May 29th) Board meeting was another meeting only attended by about 25 Members!

Shameful!

I guess free coffee and cookies just doesn't cut it anymore?

 

FYI,
With the members open availability to speak at will removed, there is little impetus to want to attend. These meetings are informational only and are not really designed to include member input. The reality of it is member participation is limited to 3 minutes per month. There’s so many ways to involve the members in this conversation but it’s not happening, and unless the board seeks ways to be inclusive of the members, little will change.

 

Carole said it all below, time to get rid of the limitation of comments to just motions. We never used to do it that way, until the decision was made to shut down discourse from and by the membership.

 

Most of the hour long meeting was about RCSC 2025-2026 Insurance renewal.

Co-Chair of the Insurance committee, director, Chris Nettesheim, presented this motion:
“Insurance Committee – Vice President Nettesheim – I move, based on the Insurance Committee and the RCSC Insurance Broker’s recommendations, to approve the 2025-2026 insurance renewal proposal for the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. The insurance renewal proposal includes the same insurance coverage, terms & conditions and most of the same carriers per RCSC’s expiring coverage. The overall premium increase for all coverage during 2025-2026 period will be $301,007 or 20%.”

There was much discussion by board members and one owner member in attendance about the 20% increase.

Nettesheim provided great details and read a letter of explanation from the Insurance committee.

Slips and falls, and other liabilities, as well as lawsuits filed against RCSC influenced the increases, even the one that was dismissed!

This first reading passed unanimously.

Second reading is at the June 26, 2025 board meeting, 9am, Sundial.

• That letter will be shared with the membership soon.

• The meeting video is on the RCSC YouTube channel is available NOW, HERE.

 

With such a limitation on member comments, perhaps its time to just eliminate the requirement that all motions must have a second reading?

Why not just once and done? Seems like Member comments have no affect anyway?

 

It’s as simple as changing a word. Instead of “comments” it’s “discussion”? This changes the dynamic from the audience merely sitting and listening to the ability to speak and expect a response to the situation. It’s allowing for actual conversation between the board and the members. If the topic becomes heated, advise the member the topic will be taken under advisement and perhaps brought up another time. The member can then be advised that their opinion was expressed and appreciated but there is no final answer or outcome at this time.
This is a corporation for the support of the facilities and the amenities that members want and desire. Making the leadership available is also a tangible part of the corporation, and should be considered open and accessible to the members. There should be no iron curtain between the members and the directors.

 

VIDEO RCSC Board Meeting 5/29/2025, 56:55
HERE

 

I think you'll find the majority of us agree, they are doing far better than recent past boards. That said, the monthly board meetings with virtually no agenda items to speak to/on scream, "don't waste your time coming." You go back far enough E, before comments were limited to motions; is it reasonable to consider allowing remarks beyond motions? Or should we stay the course so the board can get off the stage and out of the room as quickly as possible?

 

That 20% increase ($301,007) is pretty remarkable, as is the new premium of $1,795,204!!!!

I can only imagine what effect that will have on next years budget and the increase in our assessments?

Just my opinion but...perhaps they need to insert a "Use of the RCSC provided facilities is at your own risk" clause in the Facility Agreements? Of course that would not apply to those who have already signed the agreement, but it will affect all future newcomers. And of course it won't apply in all cases if some sort of neglect by the RCSC was at fault, but it will, I believe, at least give the RCSC something to point to when defending their position? It may even prevent a lawsuit before it even started?

Just my opinion!

 

Emily,
Are you in favor of only allowing the members to have 3 minutes a month to present their opinions to the board? There are many issues that need to be addressed, and only the board can decide to allow the many changes suggested. With the limited time allocated to members of 3 minutes per time at the microphone only once a month, trying to even present half of the ideas discussed will take forever. The need for discussion that includes ideas and suggestions more than once a month, more than three minutes a month is clearly needed to achieve the changes discussed. We all share ideas of what we would like to see occur, but there is a need for changes, and those changes require action. Action items are needed for things to change, and change will require more than 3 minutes a month. Just my opinion.

 

FYI, again you fill the world with your uniformed opinion, but if you had actually attended committee meetings you would know more. That sort of ties in with that self governance thing you harp on a lot. But that’s me.

A little Insurance 101 to help. The purpose of insurance is risk transference, a company that will accept a certain amount of a risk, a your ownership of a car, against certain perils, accidents, tree falling on it, being stolen, etc. for a specified premium subject to a deductible. Since not everybody drives the same, what companies charge is based on experience ( insurance word), your driving experience as well as the company’s both locally and nationwide. This is how insurance companies set rates for various coverages. Now consider fires, hurricanes, floods, drought, property damage and auto damage nationwide you can see how insurance rates can go up dramatically. Ask people in Florida or California how their insurances rates are going.

Now RCSC has to figure in these nationwide calamities along with the claims made under various policies that are being considered for renewal you can see that there will be increases but guessing how much. Will it affect the assessment for next year? Don’t know at the moment but you will know via a town hall. Of course you could always attend a Budget, Finance and Audit committee meeting to assist you in that self governance thing.

By the way the RCSC doesn’t have to post your sign in the rec centers as there is an implied assumption of risk (legal term) when participating in any RCSC activity including golf. Proving negligence can be a dicey proposition depending on the facts of the case.

Hope this helps you understand more what’s going on. You can always type me questions which I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

 

As Einstein may have said "if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." A one-minute prepared statement can cover just about anything.

 

What does the RCSC 3-minute limit look like?
It can be done effectively.The key is to be concise and impactful, focusing on a core message.

A 3-minute presentation typically contains between 360 and 480 words, assuming an average speaking rate of 120 to 160 words per minute. More precisely, if you speak at around 140 words per minute, your presentation would be about 420 words.

Tips for planning:
• Time Practice: Record yourself and time how long it takes to deliver your practice presentation.
• Adjust Content: Trim or add content as needed to fit within the allotted time.
• Use a Speech Time Calculator:
https://easywordcount.com/

• What a 420-word speech looks like, example:
"Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about the beautiful and important space we have in our community – Marley Park in Surprise, Arizona. This park isn't just a place to play; it's a vital part of our town's fabric, offering something for everyone.

Marley Park boasts lush green spaces, perfect for picnics and leisurely walks. The park also features a beautiful, wide open area ideal for sports and games. The park's vibrant flowers and trees create a tranquil atmosphere, providing a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Beyond its natural beauty, Marley Park is equipped with a variety of recreational facilities. There's a playground area for children, a skate park for teens, and walking trails for all ages. The park also has designated areas for sports, making it a convenient and accessible location for local teams and events.

Marley Park plays a crucial role in fostering community connections and promoting healthy lifestyles. It provides a space for families to come together, children to play, and residents to enjoy the outdoors. By investing in parks like Marley, we invest in the well-being of our community.

In conclusion, Marley Park is a treasure that we should cherish and protect. Let's continue to support initiatives that enhance and preserve this wonderful space for generations to come. Thank you."

 

Emily, which is why I followed up my comment about if things become heated. The reality is that we need a well balanced Parliamentarian at every meeting. Someone who knows the rules of order and conduct. I personally take it as an affront that in order to have my say as a member, I have to rotate to the back of the line to speak. To not be allowed to address the BOD, as a member, and have the ability to complete my thoughts and requests without getting back into a line is disrespectful to the members. Which is precisely why I don’t bring my ideas and suggestions, because I deserve to be allowed to speak and present my thoughts and ideas without interference and with respect for the time I spent putting together my recommendations and thoughts. Limitations on the members ability to speak, then treated like a child and told to go to the back of the line and try again is insulting. I truly suspect this is a big factor as to why more people don’t come to share ideas, they feel why bother. That’s why I don’t come, why bother being treated like a second class citizen and be relegated to the back of the line. Why do we not have dialogue rather than “comments”?

I have made numerous comments and suggestions as to how to improve member outreach. I have made numerous suggestions on this site in regards to training, something I am keenly familiar with, and yes, I have ideas, but I will not be placed in a position of round robin storytelling in order to present my ideas. So, I feel there are many others who feel the same way. In the end, it’s the members and the RCSC’s loss that such great knowledge isn’t shared due to lack of open communication. Go ahead and keep your timer and see how well the ideas turn into action items. Stifling the members is one more top down way to prevent member participation. In my opinion.

 

To the comments posted above, thank you for sharing. And once again my ideas for bringing in training, member outreach plans as well as other suggestions for the RCSC organization will stay with me, quietly. I know how to do presentations, I used to do it for a living, and to offer a clear, concise picture of what is needed, established timelines for a project to come to fruition, and demonstrate expectations for each project takes more than three minutes.