What does sense of community mean to you?

One small step...but was it?
Yesterday was eye-opening for me. I went to the RCSC interim general manager's open house at the Lakeveiw rec center board room. It was essentially downplayed, what those of us familiar with the grocery business would call a "soft opening."

Mike Dirmyer explained this was more a trial run to see if it made sense. I liked the approach, and given the hot summer months, the promise of pizza and sodas and the fact it was such a far removed concept, who knew what would happen?

By the time i left, a little an hour after the 11 am start time, we were closing in on 20 attendees. It would be easy to say, horrible turnout. As i have aged, i have become far more focused on quality over quantity. It's kind of like those good old days of waddling into the Country Buffet restaurants rather than going across the street and ordering off the menu, a meal, not and endless feast.

I would argue, as i wrote last night, the single hour i spent there, was spectacular. Not because what was said, but because what it did. Mike opened doors and a handful of us walked through, back to a point in our history where we were most successful. That time when those living here chatted over the back fence with their neighbors, stopped off at pot luck dinners on a monthly basis or better yet when every new buyer came to rec centers for the monthly meet and greet coffee gatherings.

It was that damned good. I can only imagine the potential and then question if anyone else in the room understand the dramatic impact this small step can have going forward? Hopefully so, and if the RCSC learned anything, it was the idea they need plan, promote and structure better, dare i say differently.

Building the perfect community!

I've given countless speeches in my 22 years living in Sun City. I purposely put my hand up to do things others often shied away from. Just my nature; doesn't make me better or worse for it. In fact, most of the time i did it was because i loved that aspect of the Sun City way of life.

One of the comments i used in those early years often triggered folks in the audience. I pointed out Sun City was created in a way that appealed to either political leaning. For my friends on the right, Sun City had a kind of "pull your self up by your bootstraps mentality." For my friends on the left, Sun City had an eerie kind of commune vibe. It was a place where everyone paid whether they did anything or nothing.

Yikes; killing two birds with one stone. Imagine creating that kind energy today anywhere in this country. Damned near perfection.

Anyway, i have always been a collectivist at heart. Without regard to political party, when people work together for their greater good, we win. Let me give you a good example: There may not be a more hopeless group of self-inflicted pain than druggies and alcoholics. I know, i am one.

I've never hidden it, but then i don't wear it on my sleeve either. It's a personal choice; for all of us. I know, even though i went through treatment, my salvation came from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It was those smoke filled rooms (yes its been that long), where all of struggling to get our shit together, sat and leaned into those with more sobriety.

I'd be less than honest to at least acknowledge, it didn't/doesn't work for everyone. You have to want it, you have to be willing to work for it. Even then, for many it's a challenge. But that's really not what this is about other than i know putting people in a room and helping them solve problems works.

We have 65 years of history, most of it rich in the traditions of those moving here, taking ownership and working together to forge a better place to live before they died or moved home. We took a wrong turn along the way; the idea wasn't wrong, it simply didn't work. Sun City wasn't built to become like the 3000 other age restricted communities... we were built to be exactly who and what we were built around and for.

All of which leads me back to the header...

What does sense of community mean to you?

You see quite clearly, i am asking what a sense of community means to you? It's a personal question and as i argued in my post last night...the answers are deeply personal in nature. We've gravitated away from the "we" and become focused on the "me."

It was, and let me be clear, it was and still is a "society thing." Nope, not attacking anyone; we just changed direction and let the gravitational pull take us to that point where many of us only cared about what was important for me.

Take your pick: Lawn bowling; golfers; tennis players; club members; pickleball players; theater watchers and dog lovers just as an example. There's way more and if you think not, look back over the past twenty years and weigh who got what and how much of it was due the squeaky wheel theory?

We lost sight of several things along the way:
1). Maintaining costs without regard to maintaining everything we owned.
2). Thinking we had enough money to afford anything/everything people wanted.
3). Running from the tenets and values this community was built around.

Look there's others, but after yesterday's small but powerful gathering, i came to realize the largest single missing ingredient over my 22 years was the collective "all of us." I admitted last night, i had withdrawn, in large part to the pandemic. I came in when stuff was needed, not because i wanted to be there along with my neighbors friends, but more out of frustration than the joy of being there with others.

I could lament further about the changes in our society, but it serves to purpose. I cannot do one damned thing about what goes on outside these white walls. I/we can change what happens within them.

And let me be really clear: It doesn't take 100% of us; not 75%, not even 50%. It takes a commitment to change that starts within the smaller community and that as we evolve, change and grow the circle, others join because they want to. The old adage most always rings true; "everyone loves a winner."

Our history screams that as us. Sun City was supposed to fail. The experts said it had no chance; NONE! And then, the sheer force of nature and inertia and the will of countless residents refusing to let it fail turned Sun City into one of the greatest social experiments known to mankind.

I've been writing since the day i arrived (even before), the single most important aspect behind Sun City and its stunning success was that endearing sense of community. That wasn't by accident. Our history has been years in the making and the path forward has never varied...we did.

You want it back? You want a community that you own? You want to hand over to those coming after us, something extraordinary? Get up off your butt and pitch in. Sorry to be blunt, but we all need to quit waiting for the next general manager or the next board of directors to fix it. Had residents taken that tact, Sun City would have died a fast and ugly death and been nothing more than a footnote in history.

We are the answer...we've always been. That's what a sense of community means to me.

What about you?

 

This came to mind on a very surface level…the camaraderie, where people know and care about you …a place where you belong! (Alcohol not required.)

 

That's the thing about community eyes, it means different things to different people. It can be as small as Cheers and the bar (which was wildly popular, in large part because of their interpersonal relationships), or as big as 32,000 plus RCSC members working in concert. Finding it again shouldn't be that hard. Sadly we know it because technology has made us all "better."

Too bad i can't post a photo; i have a great one of me and Ted Danson who flew into Mpls/St. Paul for HERE strike. The dang thing is, he still looks young while i've aged like crazy.

Go figure.

 

So, what can “we” do to retrieve our sense of community? What is a good plan of action to take back our community spirit and share it with the members of the community? What can any one of us do to get this ball rolling in the direction of restoring our sense of community?

I want our members to want to be a part of this process of change. I want us to regain the spirit of this community. Each of us have written ideas, suggestions, proposals and dreams, but wanting things to change and accomplishing them seem to be at odds. I don’t think bringing in some planner is going to produce the desired results. I still believe it starts with the board acknowledging the need for the change. Not trying to be the naysayer, but until and unless the board decides to make the strategic decisions that can start the change in the stinkin thinking and doing the same thing day in/day out, how, do we, as a community, start a change process that will allow the members to help make change happen? Do the members need to start a coup to get things done around here? Jeez, we can’t even get a plan completed for a renovation of a small recreation center located in the outer reaches of the community without angst and upheaval.

So, how do we do this? How do we get our community together again? What action can we do to change the situation as it is now? What actions can be taken to make this community stronger and better for the people of this community?

 

It could start by having the RCSC provide an area where more than 10 people can gather without having to get permission from the RCSC!

When I was a member of the Sun City Advocates, we use to meet in the breezeway at Sun Dial after the Board or Exchange meetings. We were warned by staff about having more than 10?????

BP-10: "Groups of ten (10) or more who desire to use RCSC Facilities, excluding golf courses or bowling centers, must submit to the Corporate Office their request for approval in writing thirty (30) days prior to the use date. The request will be reviewed and the party informed whether approved."

And it would be nice if that area had a coffee bar with tables and chairs! Heck!!! I don't even care if it's only a paid coffee machine as long as there were also seating areas!!

Although I'm not a member of the Men's Club I've been there, and that, IMHO is the type of environment we need that everybody can enjoy! It's a place to do certain things or to do nothing at all except too mingle!

 

I have an off the wall idea that I have no clue if it can be done, but here it goes.

How about after every meeting where we have meetings with members gathered, immediately after, we have a discussion about what we, as members, can do to make things happen? Not with the board members, but invite the members present to discuss what ideas they have about our community and what everyone feels we can do? The audience is already present, just ask them for their input on the conversation and the community. Now I see a need for a moderator of sorts, but allow the members to share ideas and discuss what they feel is impactful to them. It gives the community a voice, right then and there, to share their ideas about how they feel about where we are going and where we can go?

No idea if using Sun Dial for a membership meeting following a board meeting is possible, but it could open the door to members feeling valued again?

 

We could take small group meetings to the various rec centers during different days and times and offer member discussion sessions? Be inclusive of those that work and have some flexibility about days and times. Ask the members for their thoughts and input. Get them involved by asking them what they want or need in the community.

 

I didn't go into much/any detail regarding the meeting yesterday, but the room isn't really conducive to group discussions of any size. I'm not talking hundreds, had 20-40 members shown up it would have been really tight and even less comfortable. We need a setting where small groups can gather, talk and help formulate a plan of action.

We saw the cusp of what could be yesterday. Members talking about the bus and how well it was received; and then asking why it ended? About setting up a separate venue for new residents to pick up their cards and meet with what i call hostesses, but in reality are just more seasoned members who can help them better understand how Sun City works. Members talked about whenever they had visitors, they took them through the community and anyone they took around was blown away; has anyone that lives here not experienced that?

We barely scratched the surface. I think Mike got it and vowed to continue. Rick Gray showed up, saw and heard some of the same stuff. Those in the room felt listened too and appreciated. It wasn't some giant thing; it was just people/members talking amongst one another and finding common ground and common goals for the common good. Imagine that.

I've mentioned before, coming out of the 50th anniversary year-long celebration we had about $45,000. We approached the RCSC about converting the meeting room at Lakes East/Lakes West to a community gathering room. They said hell no, the rent on Tailsman Hall was too important. We knew there were tons of flat space rooms available, but they had no interest.

I know folks get tired of hearing my stories, but you can't make this stuff up. It was just choices made by those in power who saw so little value in empowering the community. If anything, the goal was to foster, fester and foist their belief they had every answer. As always, i ask; how did that work out for us?

Anyway, back to the topic at hand; i think this effort will grow organically. I see, as members step up, speak out and push for a bottom up revision of what matters, those in positions of authority coming to grips with listening and then acting.

Kudos to Mike Dirmyer for opening the door, now we need to walk through and push it to the point where we are the ones who make the difference. In the end, if they elect to ignore us, that's on them. And if they do that, perhaps there is no hope.

Honestly, i don't see us being anywhere near that point.

 

Then perhaps they will deserve the criticism that they receive?

When the Articles of Incorporation say the RCSC needs "To do anything and everything lawfully necessary in the interest of the Members of the Corporation" but then refuses to do so, how should the Board then expect to be treated?

 

Sent Mike a thank you e-mail this morning, included this:
“Thank you for hosting the successful launch to “Meet with Mike,” chat and lunch! There was definite interest in the event.

Pizza and beverages weren’t the primary motivation, though very tasty!

Most chose to participate to get to know you and talk about RCSC matters. There were great questions and suggestions discussed in this cozy setting. All were welcomed and acknowledged as you guided the dialogue expertly with honesty and respect…building relationships.”

I think RCSC management and board need to do the same when engaging with the membership as we restore Sun City’s sense of community.

I encourage the venue for future gatherings to accommodate around fifty participants. Otherwise the close group feeling is lost, becoming just another Exchange or board meeting.

Rotating the locations to the different recreation center neighborhoods is a great idea.

 

Bill,
I think we need to readdress the space At Talisman, it was a great sized space. I don’t know how much revenue that particular space generates, but it needs to be reviewed as a potential space for a new group to be created for the benefit of creating membership experience and creating meaningful relationships with the members.
It could also be a central location for meeting the need for planning membership expansion and a meeting space or turn in into a conference center for new members to be greeted and offered additional support as being a new RCSC member.
I know the prior GM was against offering the space and used the income generation as the reason it was never pursued.
I think it needs to be reviewed again.

 

The challenge CM is the space is booked through the year. Moving members/groups is always a challenge. That said, the space at Bell where the old spa was is a temporary option. We know from the study done 4 years ago or so, the 27 flat space venues were well-under used. Several of us have lobbied for some sort of space utilization committee, but to date we have heard nothing. Same logic, that 25-30% utilization have users expecting its their for life.

John Fast has suggested this effort to consolidate be one of the tasks of master plan. That works for me, because long before we begin buying or building another property to drive up costs, lets figure out how to best use what we already own. My hope, coming out of Mike's soft launch, is recognition of the potential for these types of gatherings and to provide them a more comfortable setting. The board room is truly limiting. It could work if members attended a select number of guests who signed up in advance, but that might detract from the looser open-house format.

Many of us have argued the one thing Sun City is missing has been a dedicated community center. That central location where community gathering was dedicated to building that sense of community and sense of belonging. Nope, not going on about the Lakes Club, that ship has sailed. I'll only say that was the one opportunity to redirect the wrong turn the community had taken and most likely why the GM wanted no part in the purchase.

As far as Tom's response, give them a chance brother. If by year's end they have failed to take up the cause of rebuilding and rebranding the essence of the community, we can talk about different courses of action. I think the message is slowing seeping through. One of the easiest measurements will be whether the bylaws working group can see their way to allow a "mere member" to hold one of the co-chair positions. If they cling to two board members we'll see they have no faith in taking some of the workload off the board and helping bring members along towards actual positions on the board.

Too much of the RCSC direction has been this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mindset. Stops and starts, wrong-headed direction and never ending internal drama has made us look more like an afternoon soap opera than a cohesively run community where the membership helped shape the outcomes.

This is their chance.

 

Mike said, “RCSC is in the business of customer service.”
Our Articles of Incorporation demand it!
"To do anything and everything lawfully necessary in the interest (service) of the Members (customers) of the Corporation"

 

He did say that and i applaud him for acknowledging it. The unspoken words were the membership, as owners, have a stake in the outcomes. It's how we got in trouble when we decided we were little more than customers/consumers. Jan Eck did a great job on focusing on customer service, she actually trained all of her employees in the art of customer service. Beyond that, the colorful shirts were to create a more friendly atmosphere.

The challenge for any community is it is the sum total of all its parts, not just some of them.

 

So that I understand, you support a group being formed to focus on ways to improve member engagement and improve morale? Can you see what and how this group would function? Can you see how much benefit crafting a group of members together to create outreach to the members? I can see and feel the value of such efforts,but how successful can it be without board support? Would it be beneficial for this proposed group be a dedicated team with a goal of being member liaison and outreach group? Working in tandem with the board, not subservient. Be able to be effective with strategic planning and goals with extremely strong and boisterous communication.
Then the spa space at Bell can be a central hub for the group to meet and strategize but also be able to be available to members?
Throwing out the ideas in order to see if this idea can gel and germinate into an active, actual group.

 

Well, nothing I have read so far indicates to me that the RCSC is willing to accommodate the Member's desire for a community space?

Will we have to wait until they renovate Lake View, which is probably 10 years away if its timeline is anything like that of Mountain View?

 

Director Rick Gray briefly attended “Meet with Mike,” said he is enthusiastic about member community building.

Perhaps we should meet with him to share our ideas to create a designated RCSC Community Gathering place? He could help us fine tune our goals, purposes and identify logistics that hopefully become a motion he’d champion to the board on the membership’s behalf. Or at least create an Ad Hoc committee to explore further.

Who’s interested in forming a small meeting of three or four, including me to formulate a presentation strategy before asking Gray to meet soon before the summer hiatus?

 

I would love to get together to discuss the possibilities. I will not be an asset in meeting with anyone from the board in light of my recent posts. Willing to help create a strategy

 

Always happy to get together and chat; since Ben died my coffee/conversations have been pretty much between me and me. Like i said in an email to a friend today, Ben and i had these kinds of conversations countless numbers of times. Planning is easy, implementation is hard.

We know the board and some staff read these pages, at least some of what's written. Rather than relying or asking Rick Gray to carry the water, there should be others on the board interested in fixing what's wrong?

Anyway, let me know when and where and i'll try and clear my schedule (said with a smirk).

 

Bill,
Do you prefer plain black coffee or flavored? I can bring hot coffee of your choice. If an insulated cup is okay?