Lots of good/interesting threads and remarks on the site of late. Reading them always helps me as i/we struggle through finding solutions to the myriad of problems we face. John Fast's recent comment that most other age restricted communities are facing similar challenges is spot on, we/they are for sure. The cost of doing business in communities that own recreational facilities and other amenities is exploding. No question, insurance is one of the main drivers, as is inflation. The other ugly struggle is the never ending quest to hire and retain employees; non-profits always have and always will be noncompetitive with for profit companies. Compound it all with the fact we were the first, only means we have the most aged buildings and grounds to maintain. Let me shout this to try and make the point and purpose of this thread: WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY. Sorry for being so blunt, but we are where we are based on our own self-inflicted actions. We (the collective community of Sun City) let the amazing creation built by tens of thousands who came before us slip through our fingers and drift to try and compete to become similar to our 3000 competitors. I have no interest in recanting the 2006 experiment. Suffice to say, we tried, we failed. The problem is the results have left us trapped in the effort to evolve and escaping it appears to be nearly impossible. The vestiges of control from the top is proving to be nearly impossible to let go of. It's what happens when an organization's culture calcifies and we become fixated on preserving it, even when we know it's not working like it should. I've been writing for years about change and returning to our roots. For all intensive purposes, its fallen on deaf ears. I get it, i'm no savant, no genius leading the way. As i write often, i'm just a guy with an opinion. That said, those opinions have been forged from the flames of our past. A history that has proven to be so successful that we overcame every obstacle in our path and we were the benchmark for others who tried to copy us. Society has changed, the generations of folks who initially moved to Sun City in the early years, are different from those moving here today. We know that, but we make the mistake of assuming they want something wholly different. There's little question we need pay attention to those changes and perspectives, but the one thing we can't ignore is this ever so simple concept and construct: We, Sun City, are who and what we are. We were the first, the most unique community of its kind. We offered great value and values to the myriad of seniors looking for the "new active way of life." Trying to become something different was folly and a fools game. If we can begin to understand that, everything else becomes far easier to grasp and understand. I'll break it off here and return with the blueprint for restoring us to be all that we can be...it's really not all that hard.
When i say i've written a million words on Sun City, i may be off; a bit higher, a bit lower, but i would guess half of whatever the total is falls into the category labeled history. Those past 65 plus years have been a fascinating study of starting from an ugly piece of hardscrabble desert and creating an industry that is now catering to millions of buyers yearly. Hanging in the front room of the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum is a reminder stating this: " Sun City, The Community That Changed A Nation." At least one former Museum board member accused me of hyperbole when i proposed the header. Other board members rallied and agreed, the slogan perfectly fit the purpose of the little pink house and the impact Sun City had on the country. In studying those early years, there was one dynamic that stood head and shoulders above every other: The goal was to forge a sense of community with every step the Del E Webb Development Corporation (DEVCO) took. They went to great lengths to convince every visitor, every potential buyer, everyone who did buy that their new home would become the best decision of their life. Once the new buyers finally arrived, the real work kicked in. John Meeker understood the importance of creating a mindset they were the owners; they were responsible; they were accountable; and ultimately it was up to them to forge that sense of community that made Sun City work. It wasn't an accident we were successful, it was purposeful. So much so we (the membership) wrote governing documents sharing the control/power of the decision making between the board and the membership. The GM ran the day to day operations. For anyone who has followed my rantings/writings, you know how much i despised the choices made to strip those safeguards from our documents. That too, was done on purpose, more by the general manager and supported by boards who believed she knew what she was doing. The problem was simple; the parties taking action failed to understand the essence/purpose of the community; of how and why it worked. We could never become what any of the other communities were; it was foolish to even try. In doing so, we left behind the tenets, the value and the values we were built on and around. We tried to become something we could never be; the upside was we were cheaper. Which is exactly how we got where we are today. We've lost much of that relationship, created some mistrust and worst of all made many/most of the membership believing they play no role in what happens within the community. Think not? How many people vote for board members? How many people attend meetings? How often does RCSC stuff go on that many in the community have no idea of? How hard is it to attract board candidates or committee members? That's all bigger picture stuff, if we get down in the weeds on the hows and whys of Sun City; the unanswered questions are endless. It doesn't have to be this way; and let me be clear, it is by choice. We know from our history that DEVCO treated every new arrival as one of the most important pieces in the puzzle. You know why? Because they were. Here's the real shocker, they still are. I'll return in a bit and we can do a deeper dive. Feel free to join in, that's how community's work best.
Let me throw you all a bone to gnaw on and quickly toss away: As a country, we are more divided than at any time in my 76 years on this earth. My best guess is the vast majority of you reading this (irrespective of which side of the political divide you are on) are not comfortable with the upheaval. No idea where any of this is headed, but i do know this; the vast majority of seniors are looking for security, some semblance of serenity and a lifestyle they can afford. I have long argued, the missing link (since 2006) has been our inability to create a sense of community. As we moved away from a shared responsibility in our governance, pushing the members away was an outcome of creating a top-down governance structure. It wasn't done as a goal, it was a derivative of making every decision away from the maddening crowd. It was simply an easier way to function. Returning to shared governance is terrifying; apparently. When we talk about it with board members, the quickest and easiest deflection is "it's their fiduciary responsibility." I cringe whenever i hear it as an excuse, because the broader more complex issue with fiduciary responsibility is their obligation to consider all viable options. They see it as every decision must be made by them. Too often, members views be damned. Unless of course the outcry becomes too loud to ignore. Overcoming that should become both a short term and long term goal. As John Fast pointed out, the Mission, Vision and Values Statement provides the impetus needed to change and evolve to a more cohesively driven structure where the membership plays a key role. Butts in chairs isn't enough. Trusting the members to want to help solve the myriad of issues we are facing should be a given. The RCSC did that the first 45 years, returning to it could be our salvation. Like DEVCO found, everything starts at the point of sale. It is our first opportunity to engage and make buyers feel like they made the best decision of their life. How much value does the RCSC place on that first interaction? I would argue, it is the most important, would the current board? You know what is said about first impressions? We have virtually no budget for new member engagement, no budgeted monies for marketing and when we look at communication, we've changed so many times i cannot keep up with whose on first? Sorry, but consistency in messaging has always been critical. Who even knows what ours is? The point here is by years end, i would love to see a committee of members created for new residents orientation, engagement and promotion. Nope, not talking 20-40 hours a month, but identifying a dedicated group of residents who want to encourage new buyers to feel welcome. From there, we grow the circle. We build bridges across the divide that was created to keep members at bay. The program grows as new people arrive and others move on to bigger and better things. We know this: Nothing breeds success like success. We watched those early years as new buyers became the energy behind the wheel that drove Sun City. The best of the best is as buyers moving to Sun City, the focus becomes the community, not the outside noise we all hear and see. My initial salvation, when buying in Sun City, was to escape the craziness of the real world and once we arrived, the quiet contentment of living within these white walls was something i will never forget or regret. One of our goals should be to share that with every new buyer.
Bill, We can all hear your voice and feel the need for these changes. Who is going to implement them? Who’s going to take the bull by the horns and direct this much needed work and follow up? You state there’s no money budgeted for such activities, yet this project is bigger than a breadbox. The time it will take to transform the status quo to a new way of doing business takes money in order to sustain new business models. Yes, the members can step up, but the transition is not going to happen overnight. No, not saying just trying to put practical change into place that is sustainable needs time and money.
If you are waiting for a Messiah CM, don't. The reality is we don't need one. We need the current board to come to grips with the fact they cannot do it by themselves. I know the eight board members are smart, the question is are they smart enough to change and reset their priorities? Are they willing to redesign and reformat the organization to become more member/user friendly? To Jan Eck's credit, she did a great job in the beginning of resetting the table. Colorful new shirts and programs fixated on positive customer service. It became a priority, which is almost always the lynch pin for change. She was insistent on making new home owners feel welcome and to take part in the amazing array of amenities. Where she fell down was on the governance side; she wanted them to move here and have fun. Hence the slogan change: " Sun City: The Original Fun City." Would it surprise you if i told you there was a 5 person team assigned to reviewing incident reports? Under Matthew, that became a priority. I don't know if it's needed or not, what i know is new owners aren't a high priority other than insuring we get that $6000 plus dollars out of them at the point of sale. I have no interest in the day to day operations, but the board's due diligence has to include how and where we spend our money. Would it surprise you to know the Visitor Center (or whatever it's called these days), is operating at about half the hours it was when it was free standing? Is it just not that important, or, is it not a priority? I know you get the picture; the RCSC has a huge operating budget, the question becomes can the money be better spent if our priorities change? Here's where it gets real (and real exciting): Sun City, even with the market turn-down still sells 100 plus homes each and every month. 10 years ago, it was closer to 175 homes a month, but either number offers massive opportunities for outreach. And, those new home buyers when greeted and treated like valued additions to an amazing community become instantly a part of the equation. It's not magic, its motivation via invitation. It was how Sun City was built and why it was so successful. While some bemoan the fact society has changed, or that Sun City isn't what younger buyers want, i disagree. More than a fair share of the coming buying pool want exactly what Sun City has to offer. Those that don't will go elsewhere. We don't have to become what every other age restricted community is, we have to be exactly what got us to the dance: An affordable community with solid amenities and a warm and inviting setting that is clean, quiet and comfortable. All of that easily doable. It doesn't take a savior to get us there, it means the board comes to grips with the fact running Sun City isn't all on them. They need to embrace the partnership concept with the membership and prioritize and facilitate that happening. I know there's a lot more to it, but this single item can be the easiest change they make and frankly, one of the least expensive. Of course, this is just one man's opinion.
Who do you have in mind to lead this change? Is there a team of people or candidates ready to step up and be the voice for a new era? Are you suggesting the current board will lead the charge? Many times, people have written about the RCSC and how things could be different. Especially for the membership. But all of this writing has changed nothing. It raises our own expectations and gives us hope for a better outcome, but it never comes because of the entrenched stinkin thinking in place. As long as the board believes it’s the only answer to what the RCSC and the members needs, nothing moves forward. This is not an affront to the current directors, but everyone has taken a lockstep approach once elected. It’s going to take a purposeful action to make the changes needed.
The community is just being managed by BOD and paid employees. I think when DEVCO left running the dream is when the marketing, welcome guilds and many other nice things left the area. I too am sad that the SC of early days is kind of gone now. You could say Sun City had professional public relations people who shaped the image. Many folks now just moved in for low priced housing. That does leave you cold when you remember like I do the HUGE charm factor this place once had. How do we get it back? We live in a more insulated technology age. Folks spend probably too much time in their houses and not enough time mixing it up with neighbors and community. The world has changed and what Bill is invoking for the better to be sure. I like the idea of community ambassadors. I think that sounds like a worth while venture. I appreciate all thoughts on the subject. Thanks Bill and Carole. I think what SCHOA has been doing is quite good. Mixing it up with actual residents in here. Listening to what members would like to see in the way of improvement to make the community and area more attractive and modern. We can do this, but we need to work with the organizations that are set in place here, along with the county too. We should not forget we come under county jurisdication, so if you see something wrong, we have a responsibility to report it to proper agencies. I've done some things in here to make improvements and that is why I am telling you to please write to your county leadership. As far as BOD goes, the doors should be opened up wider with them, and they need to learn to listen, and be willing to respect the residents here enough to change. I am thinking of our Pope Leo XIV. What Pope Leo has going for him ( from heaven), is he has the gift of respecting and listening. He listens, ( he thinks,) and then he responds. That is what we need from everyone in a position of being in charge. These are gifts we can all learn to incorporate in ourselves and how we deal with others. God Bless
What impetus exists at which the board comes to grips with how things need to change? What apocalyptic event is going to occur in which the current board stands up and says that the status quo is ineffectual and there are new changes and here they are? You, yourself, have said the board needs to change: It’s thinking It’s direction It’s current course of action Its disregard of the members Has there been a significant announcement about how the board intends to function and starting when? How many times has a statement started with the wording “this board needs” followed by suggestions? My favorite, of course, Skipper telling me that I don’t offer suggestions for improvement, but just complain. I have replied to Skipper on previous posts asking how many more suggestions must I make? Bill, I absolutely love your writing and your ability to speak out for the community. My question is this: What should the community expect in the form of actionable items and a map for change? How much more writing will it take for someone on the board to take note? Or is all of this writing for naught? Perhaps there’s a need to form a group of four people who are willing to run for the board under a New Deal platform, with a clear set of principles and goals for the board. Have a written manifesto for the future of the board and how it should work for the RCSC and the members. That type of governance goal should mobilize the members to pay attention and hopefully make for a greater interest and turnout. The long term effect of getting the members attention could lead to better involvement. I don’t have any answers either, just the idea of what could be. I just don’t see the current board having an epiphany of change, heck, they didn’t even make an offer to explain about not appointing someone to fill the open board vacancy. Just silence. To omnipotent to speak to the membership?
My bad, i've always been a glass half full kind of guy. I am also realistic enough to see changes and acknowledge them for what they are. We witnessed the impact in 2024 as several board members, as they were going out the door, tried to shove the PAC down our throat on the Lakeview lawn bowling greens. Oddly, several of the board members that led that charge were part and parcel of the creation of the Sun City Advocates. Over the course of 3 years of our existence, the 9 candidates we endorsed all were elected. Yet, there we stood in November of 2024 having triArc trying to convince us what was in our best interest. The push back was a rude awakening for the board and more-so for triArc. I bring it up only because what we saw from them (triArc) just a few months back was wholly different. They've bent over backwards to get it right. They left me impressed which takes a lot. The question you have to ask is this: Was the shift board driven or of their own internal read on the membership and their expectations? I believe it was both, as most companies don't show the initiative triArc did. Let's keep ticking the changes off, i know they are easy to miss. I wasn't a fan of the petition to remove the general manager, but Jean worked her ass off to get signatures and within months he was gone. The RCSC, SCHOA and COA partnership presentation was wildly successful. The board rewriting the general manager job description is critical as the previous GM's had created fiefdoms within the corporate tower. There's more, most on a smaller scale, but small steps are always the path forward. The bigger moves alluded to in the paragraph above tell me they are trying. It sounds like the LRPC is making headway on the master plan. It looks like the MV project is moving and Chris N reminds us where they are every opportunity she has. To be clear, the bottom line cost is always going to be the factor. When someone says buy new shirts, no one goes, i wonder what that will cost? Sitting in the audience or watching on my computer, my immediate thought is 450 employees, times X number of shirts is a lot of money. Especially when you consider the last GM re-clothed every employee a year and a half ago. Which was why i proposed focusing on entry level member engagement. If we made it a priority, are there other areas less critical to our success? Is marketing important enough to dedicate and budget money for targeting social media scheduling that enhances our online presence? If we create an environment where newcomers feel welcomed and appreciated, will they help sell the community to friends relatives and co-workers? Because, that is exactly what happened for most of our existence. We have to stop thinking of the board as the end-all-be-all. The board has to stop thinking about themselves as the end-all-be-all. You know this better than most Carole, the GM's biggest mistake was thinking she knew better than the community, the committees and she relied on the board officers to carry her load, endorse her agenda. No one is that good. Big picture Sun City has too many moving parts. When we fail to acknowledge the point and purpose of the community, we fail to understand why Sun City worked for all those years. Eileen is right, DEVCO had a huge crew dedicated to selling, marketing and shaping the opinions of owners and visitors alike. We don't have the luxury, what we do have is the collected efforts of all those years and the amazing amenity package they gave us. What we do have is the knowledge that what they did, worked. The very idea we ran from it should make readers nauseous. It was a mistake and for anyone reading this, it should be a lesson plan on getting back on track. I like to believe the current board is coming to grips with the daunting task in front of them. Letting go for most is terrifying. I see glimmers of hope and so my goal is to just keep pushing. If others want to carry the mantel of leadership and allow the members voices to be heard, they have my support. Be it four committed agents of change or a single candidate who sees the path forward including the membership, they have my vote. Until then, i'll occasionally pound on the keyboard contented to try and make a small difference.
Bill, What if the drum beat started now? Don’t wait to see if what I suspect comes true. What if the message is we need a board that will listen to and be present for the whole membership? What if the agenda was to be inclusive of all members, including those who still work full time? On a weekend afternoon, have a wine with the director meeting. 2 glass maximum and a cost of $2 a glass. Face to face availability to talk about what concerns you most. I am still wanting a print publication for all of the members. We live in a senior community. Is it ludicrous to think everyone has access to cell service? Or getting information faxed to them? Yet, this is the basis of our communication with the members. Why is there a mentality that we have to come to the RCSC for information? Aren’t we the paying members, so why don’t we try to make outreach to the members where they live? My fear is the theater group is getting a contingent together to try to put through the PAC. With the current state of affairs, it could happen. I gave it a fleeting thought of running for the open 1 year position, but with out no change to the board structure, it’s just not worth it. There is such an entrenched culture of being imperialist and aloof, don’t care to play that game. Once again, some forgot that the board is answerable to the members, as we are the corporation.
Wow. So much food for thought spoken from the heart. Some of my takeaways are If members are involved in the decision-making process, they will be committed to making the resulting decision a success. Marketing member engagement is a healthy thing. The board cannot successfully do it all. The members are saying "Lean on me" For me an organization is only as sick as its secrets. You be the judge of the health of RCSC.
I suspect many of you don't pay much attention; unfortunately, i'm one of those odd ducks that does. I posted this thread roughly 24 hours and ago and the last total of reads was 423. That's a lot in a short time frame. There's a simple explanation: I posted the link on a Facebook group i belong to: Sun City Chat Arizona. It's just one of many that exist. Imagine of we had a network of members sharing these ideas across multiple platforms? Many of those who follow it can't log-in on TOSC. Some post comments on the Facebook thread and they always leave me reason for hope. I won't post the names, i will share some of the comments left: * We should begin a Hospitality Dept. and the various clubs should be encouraged to rotate off an on the hospitality group. Hospitality could be done in a joint meeting or home visits…I’m sure local businesses could provide something for a goody bag…. Discount coupons or items such as given out at the Sundial by cos. My response: we should and we could; it would open doors to introduce new buyers to the community and open even more doors to the value of volunteerism. On top of that, understanding how and why Sun City is so unique and so special would be invaluable. * Still willing to help with new member welcoming committee! I know what it felt like a year ago when I moved in. Most of my neighbors were gone and I still haven’t met them. A response to it: * We found it difficult, too. Been here 2 years and my one neighbor has said he sleeps all day and works from home overnight & doesn't really want to chat with the neighbors... okay, got it, the other side is super sweet & we chat occasionally, but she's gone most of the year (one of 2 that are winter residents only). There's one other couple on the street that we wave to in passing, but that's it. Our first Christmas, I took cards to all 8 houses... only the sweet lady next door acknowledged it. I've had neighbors stop to - no joke - tell me how stupid I was for painting my house a certain color. I smiled, said 'you can drop off a check for your share of my mortgage payment' & walked away. Another stopped to ask my fence guy what he was doing and complain that she didn't like my new fence. My fence guy laughed in her face & kept installing the NON rusted out fence. So, yeah, I've decided our street just isn't the fun street, but that's fine. It's quiet, so I appreciate that. * We are new to the area. We have been fortunate to meet a few of our neighbors. Unfortunately, I have been recovering from some health issues that have kept us temporarily sidelined but everyone we have met have been very friendly and welcoming. We're still learning about the community and are waiting to get our RCSC membership cards. Once I'm on my feet again we plan to go to some of the rec centers and learn about the various clubs and activities. * I have lived here 3 years and only met one neighbor. She was here taking care of her dads house. She lives in Vegas. We are still friends. Introduced myself to the new neighbors but they seem to prefer to stay to themselves. I've been posting these links for the past two years and i can tell you i read comments from RCSC members who would love to see some type of a more welcoming atmosphere. The problem has always been we (the RCSC) treats this as a throwaway, not a critical first step in making new owners part of the process of self-governance. I have always written the challenges of non-profit organizations changing direction as being slow and cumbersome. They become locked into one way of thinking and acting. The massive sea change starting in 2006 wasn't accomplished overnight, but it was done intentionally, with purpose and over some 15 plus years. Breaking out of and away from it is damned near impossible. The changes are almost always incremental. Like i posted above, they made some inroads, the question is will the continue to push the envelop and embrace members becoming part of the solution? I could devise a dozen easy and inexpensive ideas to begin a more robust and friendly environment, so imagine the potential when we unleash some 32,000 members to help reshape our construct for a better tomorrow in Sun City. Freaking unlimited.
Boomers are so different then The Greatest Generation. When I was a kid we were always going to neighbors, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. It was nuclear. Then boomers got married and parents disbursed around the country, usually to warmer climates to retire. All three of us kids moved to different states with our spouses. My parents drove around the country in a small, converted van for 6 years. I moved into Westbrook Village in 2001. Someone was always hosting a party, we took turns. Moved here in 2004. I think our generation is more likely to have a few good friends and not the larger gatherings like my parents did. I believe it has been pointed out that is about when things started to change, when boomers took over running RCSC. There are 3 folks on my block that get together regularly. Most of the time it's like no one lives here. What I have noticed is the decline in attendees at RCSC meetings unless there is something that angers the community. The other thing I notice is the BOD videos on You Tube generally have about 250 to 500 views. That's a little deceptive as if you log in 4 or 5 times to see the whole meeting, picking up where you left off each time that registers as 4 or 5 views. Considering there are approx. 37000 residents that's not a very good percentage. No clue how this site registers views, however it does say 39 hit the recommend button, but I have no clue what that means. Nothing ever gets solved on Social Media. More so on this site because anyone can get on the site no matter where they live in the world.
