I suspect you all know the meaning, but just for fun, let's fill in the blanks: "Conundrum; a problem that is difficult to deal with." Yesterday the Independent arrived with a header that said; "Leadership vacancies mount at RCSC." I won't bore you with a list of who and what we need, suffice to say at first blush, it sounds daunting. And then upon reflection, i asked myself, is it? I know this is where some of you may roll your eyes, because my query is based solely from a historical perspective. Nothing new there, but stay with me as we trudge through my logic. Sun City enjoyed a long standing string of successes. It wasn't until the decision was made to drift from the storied past. The general manager was (for the first 45 years) the person who ran the day to day operation. That was pretty much all the documents allowed them to do. It wasn't until 2006 the board decided to step back and give the GM more freedom. That freedom led to massive changes in structure. Boards became less important, committees became less important and the last peg to fall was when the memberships voices and safeguards were stripped from our documents. Until that time, boards, committees and members all played a more influential role in the decision making process. Until that time, boards knew full well what the general manager did and they knew what each department head did. No they didn't oversee their daily activities, but they were acutely aware of their performance. Committees provided invaluable oversight and the membership was actively involved. If anything went sideways, or ran amuck the stuff quickly hit the fan. Anyone who has followed my rantings knows how strongly i feel about the past 15-20 years. But this has nothing to do with what was; it is truly all about what is, what can be. I would argue, the general manager being gone, the director of golf leaving shortly and an open board position has the potential to be a massive opportunity for the current RCSC board of directors. The organization is simply too large to operate in a vacuum of leadership. It's pretty obvious, lots of folks are stepping up and filling in from the management team...and i suspect in part by the board members themselves. What a great opportunity for some deep reflection on their own. As they help bridge the gap and come to see the importance of those open positions, they also have an opportunity to better understand the critical role those management positions play. And to be really blunt, the better they understand it, the better the potential to get the replacement hires right. The basis of this piece is really about how far afield we got. As board members were displaced by a management team, we allowed them to make so many of the decisions that used to be board/committee/member based. All well and good if they understood what our needs/wants were, but based solely on the outcomes, they missed the mark miserably. I look at what is going on at the RCSC as an enormous opportunity. Not that i want the board to go back to full time running the show, but to better understand what the expectations of the new general manager are. To set goals and standards for the next director of golf to meet and exceed. And, to find a 6 month board member who can and will step in and see if the position is one they want to run for in the coming election. I've long held the opinion (both personally and organizationally) that our challenges, trials and tribulations provide the best leverage to change direction. I know some fail to see it that way. I will tell you, Sun City's history tells us those mistakes we made were inevitably responsible for the improvements we made along the road to becoming the unique and dynamic community we are. So, while some of you lament our position...i see it as a wholly new beginning. We'll see eh?
I think we need to see what happens? It's just my opinion but unless and until the board starts delegating some of their duties to Members not much will change. I still believe that there should only be one Director to serve as either Chair or Co-Chair of a committee, and I believe they need to pass off their liaison positions as well! I'm not sure how much input or influence a Director has acting only as a liaison, but if they attend simply for the purpose of knowing what's going on, any Member can convey that information either in person or through a report back to the board? Is it just me or do others think the Directors are spending more time than necessary on things that can me handled in other ways?
I truly believe there is much that could be handed off to other staff members or volunteers. My first example will be the volumes of emails received by each director. Probably from the same people, daily. That correspondence could easily be attended to by others, keeping the most relevant ones to be forwarded, and replying to the others with a polite letter expressing your thanks for being in touch. My other suggestion is to get a facilities manager to review, maintain, and follow through with the work necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the buildings. The board of directors should not be sitting down to discuss air conditioning size and placement. This position, in my opinion, is sorely needed to help keep the buildings in good repair as well as have the oversight for future work needed in regards to maintenance buildings and the like. The directors should not have to spend time discussing air conditioning or other building maintenance issues as there time could be better spent in other areas. In my opinion of course
Carole, RCSC is working on it Facilities Project Manager Lead - West Valley Department: Building & Infrastructure FACILITIES PROJECT MANAGER LEAD Job Summary: The Facilities Project Manager Lead is a member of the Facilities group that plans, directs, and oversees new construction, building structural changes, remodels, repairs, maintenance and related improvements for all Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC) buildings, amenities, and real property. The Facilities Project Manager Lead is responsible for managing all aspects of construction projects that take place at RCSC facilities, including working with outside architects, contractors, and other professionals to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Facilities Project Manager Lead directly supervises assigned staff in the completion of projects and their overall duties, setting expectations, assigning tasks and making sure they are meeting expectations. Excellent supervisory skills are required. Supervision Exercised: Facilities Group: Project Managers & Coordinators Learn MORE
I find that most interesting as this opening wasn’t mentioned when I stopped by the RCSC yesterday morning and suggested such a position. But it was a suggestion I wrote about on TOSC several times.
Last three RCSC Organizational charts include facilities 2020 https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020_09_01-Organizational-Chart.pdf 2024 https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-Org-Chart-for-Publishing.pdf 2025 https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RCSC-Org-Charts-revised-4-15-25.pdf
Thanks for the comments gang; all spot on. In the past 24 hours since posting, more than 500 clicks/reads. The reason of course is the link i posted on a Facebook group page. People read, people care; most often they have no idea what they can do about a problem. We have simply been functioning in a vacuum for so long, the new norm is to either ignore or just turn a blind eye. Think not? One member showed up for the RCSC Candidate Informational Meeting. One! If they doesn't scream at the existing 8 board members, what does? At what point do you look in the mirror and ask, how flocked are we? We (Sun City/RCSC/Anyone who cares one whit) needs to take a deep breath and ask ourselves is this the path we want to be on? A couple of weeks back, i stopped at the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum for Del's birthday party. It was the day after the partnership presentation at Sundial and had a chance to chat with one of the program's presenters. Not to speak out of school, but the challenges condos are facing are even more daunting than those of the RCSC or SCHOA. There's 384 or so, individual condo associations. By Arizona state statutes, they fall under Title 33, The Planned Communities Act. By law they have to elect a board and follow the law based on the number of units. The bigger the association, the more formal the structure is. That's not their only challenge though; historically the association member's monthly payment covered the outside units insurance. Typically the condo owner purchased insurance only on what was inside. That's all changing, as some insurance companies are dropping their condo coverage. Association's are telling their member/owners they have to buy their own coverage. That's problematic for a lot of reasons. Worse yet costs are spiking across the board. All of which is resulting in less condo owners willing to run for board positions. For years, some associations have contracted out the financial side of the equation mandated by statute. That was expensive, but manageable. What i found out now, some associations are hiring management companies for 100% oversight. And that's really expensive. Sadly, if no one living in the units will do it, there is no other choice. By now, i'm sure you get the picture. If members refuse to step up, what are the alternatives? How long before the RCSC has no candidates, before we decide we should just hire people to do the job for us? I know, some of you are saying it won't happen and hopefully you are right. Personally, i don't feel that secure in the idea we'll always have members willing to do it. I've long argued: Cause and Effect. Simply put, when we don't nurture those moving here to understand or appreciate how and why the community works, the result is exactly where we are today. The tragedy is it isn't even all that hard to fix. It takes a commitment an understanding and believing that when members know, they become far more involved than when they are clueless. Until we begin to fix that, it will continue to be a long slow drip of erosion from the concept of self-governance. Of course, that's just one man's opinion.
And it will never get fixed as long as the RCSC hogs all the responsibilities and keeps on ignoring the Members. By removing some of the mundane or unnecessary responsibilities from the Directors and allow the Members to be involved would be the best first step to show the Members that their input is important, needed and required. After all, we have Members in the community who were professional's in their field and could run circles around many of the Directors. Why are we allowing that resource to be just wasted? I think if the community can start to see how input and participation from the Members can benefit the RCSC, others will join-in? But if they allow the same crap to happen as they did with the SAC committee nothing will change. And what do I mean by that? Many Members spent many, many hours coming up with the plans, ideas, and research for the Mountain View renovation project only to be tossed out the window as we are still debating what MV will finally look like! Not to mention, I believe relationships were strained and Directors lost in the process! Just my opinion!
Well said Tom and let me be really clear: Whenever there was a problem or challenge within the community, the answer never varied; trust/turn to the members. It wasn't until we turned away from them where we got in trouble. As many have said, the community is filled with smart people, why are we treating them like throwaways? I'll have to go dig up my 4 page newsletter i printed when i was running for the board in 2011. I have copies laying around here somewhere and even then i was laying the groundwork for becoming member focused. People thought i was nuts (some still think that), because there were three candidates for three open board positions. You might call it overkill eh? I didn't need to spell out my vision, but i did anyway. I was uncomfortable with the RCSC's direction even back then and i had hoped to help reshape where we were headed. I failed (miserably) and we've continued down the path as we marched/ran away from members to containing the community's direction first in the GMs hands and once she left, the board making every decision for us. Tom and other's are right, open the doors and welcome members in to be part of the solution. Just being recipients of the board's genius isn't enough. I know that sounds smart assed, but no one person (or small group) is smart enough to have all of the answers.
“…when i was running for the board in 2011.” ~ BPearson SunViews November 2011 edition, page 2 2011 Board Elections - Candidates Linda Lindquist, Carole Martinez and Bill Pearson brief bios. Here! Fascinating issues to reflect on…through the years! 2011 - June 2025 Here!
To the condo discussion, I think that's why a lot of them are on the market now. The condo associations that still have the total coverage are paying very high prices.
I want to personally thank the board for taking the time to share their experiences. The points that resonated with me were as follows: The board works well together - Has good chemistry Board unity and action orientation seem to be key drivers I wish there was more discussion on how to increase the participation/engagement of the members.
Well said John, the board appears to be in sync; so what? I know that sounds flippant, but your point in conclusion says it all and it's what always frustrates me: There's rarely, if ever, discussion on how to increase member participation and engagement. Thanks to eyesopen for digging on the bio summary from the 2011 election. I was wrong, there were 4 open positions and only three candidates. I have in front of me the 4 page "Sun City Community News" paper i used as my campaign pitch. * Front page header: "Election date looms...why bother to vote." * Page 2: "History matters in Sun City." * Page 3: "Sun City...AD (After DEVCO)." * Page 4: "Sun City...a Sense of Community." Bonus header: "Can we make it better?" I know, all ancient news, this was all written nearly 14 ago. Little has changed and i decided to run because i was watching live and in person the dismantling of a structure that had served us so well for so many years. Nope, not claiming to be the smartest guy in the room, never was, never will be. However, i had become a student of Sun City's history and along with the leadership skills/training i had over the years, i saw us heading down a path that would not end well. And, i freely admit i/we made no difference in stopping it. Page 4 was a literal blueprint for change. It had my "short list of agenda items" i stated i would bring before the board: *More effective open communication. * Total transparency to the residents. * Marketing Sun City along the lines of Meeker's remarkable successes. * Reducing the quorum and once again having quarterly membership meetings. *Strengthen our position on the internet for a more viable presence. * Enhancing the RCSC's role in bringing people and organizations together. Let me repeat, i was an abysmal failure. We went the other direction and all Carole and i could do was watch in horror and vote no. Here's the paragraph on page 4 following my short list and before closing and reminding members when and where to vote: "There's more, but simple changes like these can go a long way in building a better Sun City. We know from our history that our greatest growth came when there was a strong sense of community. We know even in the most trying of times, when people worked together for the good of the community we were better off. Most importantly, we know that Sun City was, is and always will be at its best when it's the collective WE, not me, I or them running it." All these years later and all these similar thoughts have apparently just been the ramblings of one tired old man. That said, this one sentence is still the single best summary of what Sun City needs and should be all about (IMHO): "Most importantly, we know that Sun City was, is and always will be at its best when it's the collective WE, not me, I or them running it."
I was advised of all of the outreach to other organizations is occurring, as well as the Leadership Council just to name one. The directors have several meetings lined up with other organizations. my answer was How are the members supposed to know about these actions? How are the roughly 18% of the members who do not have access to electronic media supposed to know what is going on in the community? And those of us who do have access to the internet, ever tried to find anything on the website? I was trying to locate the summer programs to show a member who stopped me as she said she couldn't figure out where to go for help at the Lakeview center. I pulled up the RCSC website and began searching for the June activities and never did find them. I found May's. I at least knew to try the RCSC website, She said she looked for a newspaper for some information but never found any. That is a prime example of how our members feel about getting information about the community they live in. If this was just one person, willing to stop a stranger for help, think of the rest who don't ask? We are not reaching anyone in a productive manner, and a new website, no matter how pretty it is, unless it is available to be interactive and intuitive to help users navigate, will still cause heartburn. Any what about those we are not reaching at all? Are they just collateral damage in the electronic age? A conundrum indeed.
Oddly enough, i attended my first and only leadership council earlier this year. I was invited as a guest and as i sat and listened i was excited by what i heard and saw. As we were leaving i asked if anyone took a photo to post on social media or to send to the newspaper? No, we don't do that? Huh? I was stunned as what was happening within and on the community's behalf was powerful and compelling. To your point Carole, everything good was contained in the vacuum of the POSSE's office. For all practical purposes, it didn't happen. Except of course it did. As a community we don't think about how little those living here know. We think the Independent is how we reach, but even that's on it's last legs. Hell, they quit delivering south of Grand Ave. We all know we aren't a city and consequently we all live in the tiny recesses of whatever the particular organization does. Obviously the RCSC is the largest, has the most resources and the best reach. That said, it's nowhere as good as it could be. Then couple every smaller organization the community members rely of with each doing the best they can with the limited resources they have and we realize the massive task in front of us. The structure wholly inadequate, and rather than understand the challenges, we all just keep doing the same thing. In fairness, the joint venture program between the RCSC, SCHOA and COA was great. But in all honesty, it was just a start. What's next? How do we capitalize? Can we begin to create an internal structure that crosses multiple organizations and embraces social media as a tool? We lost the WE along the way, and i see little in the way of efforts to rebuild it.
