Hello Readers and Posters, While there are multiple posts as to what eyesopen, FYI, BPearson and myself think and feel about Sun City, a unique opportunity to speak with and be heard by the four of us is coming up. The Sun City Foundation has graciously made space and time available to meet and discuss your thoughts and ideas about Sun City with the four of us. The time is Thursday, June 26, starting at 2pm until 4pm at the Grand Center, in the Sonoran Room. There has been musings as to what Sun City could be with the involvement of the members. Here is your opportunity to share your thoughts and views with us so we can begin to connect and create our community involvement with each other again. I feel this is a wonderful way for all of us to connect and share ideas about our community and how we live in this marvelous community. The Sun City Foundation will be providing water. The four of us, FYI, eyesopen, BPearson and myself look forward to seeing you soon and sharing your thoughts about Sun City.
So let's talk about this "gathering" next Thursday: Will you go? Should you go? Why in the world would you waste your time going? All of the questions have some reasonable/debatable value. Clearly the four of us involved, along with the Sun City Foundation who are hosting/allowing us to use the room they have reserved, have zero ability to force any changes in how and what the RCSC board and staff does...or for that matter, what we think they should do, and don't. With that recognition out of the way, what's the point of stepping out into plus 100 degree weather at 2 pm that Thursday afternoon in June? For some, they'll have no motivation. They'll simply see it as another handful of angry members trying to make the board do and be something they don't want to be. Nothing could be further from the truth. NOTHING! In fact, i've listened to that argument for most of the 22 years i've lived in Sun City. It always starts with the idea everything is perfect in the community and travels to that furthest point from it, why even bother to try, they don't listen. For any of us who have traveled the road to maturity; we most often know the story really exists somewhere between those two points. Let me explain it this way (you take the test): a). Sun City is the perfect place to live (either retired or working). b). Sun City is broken and can't be fixed. I know, crappy test, but way better than the ASU survey done a couple of years back with some hundreds of similar questions. My answer to my test is simple: "Neither." We're not perfect, we never have been, we never will be. We're not broken by any means and what is flawed can be made better (fixed would imply our work would be done). Which is exactly why anyone who loves Sun City and wants it to continue for it to be "their place in the sun," should walk into the Sonora room on that Thursday, chill and then share their opinions. We know historically Sun City was built by those who put up their hands, put their butts in chairs and made a difference. Either you are one of them or not. It's always up to you and we respect that. We know full well the majority of those living in Sun City won't get involved. There's lots of good reasons for it; from being too old, too infirm, too busy or just not caring enough to do anything about what is going on. We also know with a little encouragement, some of you will join in. We have no sense this is a one-and-done or if we will become a thing you elect to do on a regular basis. In fact, that is exactly why we have no agenda, no long winded speeches and no one leading the parade. I'll be a facilitator, others will join in, but truly, this gathering is more about you than it is about the 4 of us. Lots more to say on the matter, but for now some on other social media sites have told us, they can't attend as they are working. My response was, as it should be, if there is interest, we'll do it again and find times so those working can attend. One of the lessons i've/we've learned over the years is Sun City is at its best when it is inclusive, rather than exclusive. Love to hear your thoughts...
Bill, Thank you for your time and support, as you have been saying for years how this community was built by the members, for the members. Nothing fancy about that statement, just the truth of what we are talking about for the community meeting on Thursday, June 26th from 2-4pm. The desire to hear from you, the homeowners, what you feel about our home town area. How are we doing? What do you feel is important for you to feel a part of the community. What is working and what isn’t? Those of you who read and participate on this site know that there is a lot of one way discussion, suggestions, ideas and advice thrown out there for all to read. What would you like to say in return? What would you like to suggest? What ideas do you have for Sun City? As Bill said, we are not perfect, but it’s been members that have been the leaders of new ideas and ways to improve. We truly believe you folks have some of the answers and we all would love to hear them. Please come to the Sonora Room at the Grand Center this coming Thursday afternoon at 2-4pm and share your thoughts with us and the community. We would love to see and hear you here.
If nothing else comes out of this gathering, I would love to learn from our fellow Members their ideas on how do we, or what would it take to get the community involved once again? Do they even care? It's a mystery to me but I'm hoping that some sort of consensus starts to appear from this meeting. I long for the old days when Sun City had a Welcome Wagon and you were welcomed into the community. I miss the neighborhood Block Watch's monthly breakfast meetings. Heck,...most people now don't even know their neighbors name!!!! Let's keep our fingers crossed that when they talk about Sun City being an active senior community, they mean the Members are active in how that community is actually run!
Reacting to the “gathering” invite, on another social media site, a member commented, “Great idea.” Then shared an excerpt from an article they recently read. Connect through community As human beings, we thrive through social connections. Get involved by participating in community events. Join a litter-picking group, offer to volunteer at the local school, get involved in charity fundraisers or even set up a casual coffee morning. These activities will help you feel more connected while reinforcing the idea that we all belong to something bigger and can make a difference together. Every positive action and enriching conversation counts. By doing these small things, you will be playing your part in reigniting hope in our shared humanity. It starts with each of us choosing to be compassionate, listening radically and seeing the good in others.“ # Timing is everything. NOW is the right time to connect with our Sun City community! Full referenced article HERE.
The question on my mind and i suspect most others who plan on attending: Will the board care what members think and say? We've watched now for close to 20 years, the RCSC in the form of first the general manager and then when her end was near, the board suddenly deciding they must have every answer. Do they? Are they that good? History has taught us/proved to anyone paying attention, that hasn't been the case. General manager's, no matter how good they are, don't have all the answers. Board's of Directors, no matter how good they are, don't have all the answers. I'm tired of posting all the poor choices made since 2006; you know, when the decision was made to turn the organization inward. I suspect many/most of you are just as tired of reading it. Has it made any difference? We'll see eh?
As always, COMMUNICATION is key. Please take a moment to give a few more details regarding this meeting. Is the RCSC Board of Directors invited? Do you feel that members will speak freely if they are there? Will members of the Foundation be there? Will Management of RCSC be there? What is the format of the meeting? Who will be "running" the meeting? What is the purpose of the meeting? What do you hope to get out of this meeting? Thank you. Jean M. Totten
Well said Tom and one other thing; my expectation/hope is it doesn't become a bitch and moan session. We all know what's wrong, let's focus on making it better by getting to know each other. I would add, it's my humble opinion, the board and management has failed to grasp the importance of hearing/listening the members for far too many years.
Jean, Now that FYI has answered your questions, hope to see you Thursday at the community “gathering!”
Let’s see what our Sun City could look like when we reconnect with each other! • Come hang out to bounce around thoughts, ideas and positive suggestions to make Sun City better. • No agenda, no sign-in, no long winded speeches. No one officially leading the gathering. There will be a facilitator. • Water & light munchies ? WHEN - We gather together, this coming Thursday, June 26, starting at 2 pm until 4 pm. ? WHERE - The Sonora room at the Grand Center, 10415 W Grand Ave. (Thanks to the Sun City Foundation for reserving.) Hope to see YOU! YES, I’ll be there! NO, not this time MAYBE Your comments are welcome and valued. Thank you,
Good afternoon readers and posters, Just two more days until the community event featuring, you, the members to share your ideas about Sun City. Looking forward to seeing everyone come out to share their ideas and comments about our wonderful community and what you feel it can be, now and for the future. Only a facilitator, no agenda, no speeches, just the desire to create a sense of community once more, one that includes conversations with each other. Two way communication where people can speak and be listened to. No electronics, no taping of the meeting for replay, just honest real time conversation among people like yourselves. I truly hope you can came and participate as we all want to heat YOUR ideas for Sun City.
I urge those of you who are in Sun City and interested in making it better to come to this meeting and share your ideas for how we can regain that "pride of ownership".
An encouraging comment on Nextdoor supporting the community gathering tomorrow: “ Thanks. A time for investment in people and important thought.” ? WHEN - Tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, starting at 2 pm until 4 pm. Come & Go as you are able. ? WHERE - The Sonora room at the Grand Center, 10415 W Grand Ave. On your right when you come in the front entrance. ! SIP, SNACK & CHAT - Enjoy bottled water & coffee, compliments of the Foundation. Grab some snacks, on us! ! Come join us, meet with others to share YOUR ideas for Sun City. You belong here!
As we "race" (is there such thing in Sun City?) towards tomorrow's "gathering," i find myself in a pretty cool place. Huh? No angst? No worries? No concerns over attendance? No fretting about what might be said, or not said? Nope, sorry, but after a lifetime of trials, errors and efforts, i've come to understand what will be will be. I've always maintained that i am a glass half full kind of guy. Still am, hopefully always will be. In spite of how ugly life has gotten outside our white walls, how disjointed and angry social media often is, i believe those of living within these white walls still believe in the inherent good in the people around us. Folly? Fools game? Again, not really in my wheel house to look for or see the worst in people. I know its there, but for those considering joining us Thursday, June 26 from 2-4 pm, i suspect their hope is the same as mine: Asking, questioning and believing that by restoring that sense of community and the belief as the "owners of this amazing place we all call home," we can begin to fix was has slipped through our fingers. The beauty of it is we have no interest in gathering to whine. That happens across the spectrum of meetings and club rooms where people are unhappy. It happens on social media platforms where dumping on others is the norm. Tomorrow will be different. Engaging one another on a level of decency and respect for each other begins by getting to know and understand the similarities that most of us have. Over the years, i've watched fences torn down, frustrations relieved and relationships forged based on the simplest of self-motivations. I've watched the most helpless and hopeless come together and find common ground. We can call it a miracle; i like to see it as our humanity. Our problems are nowhere near that of druggies and alcoholics and we don't have that same desperation they do. For 65 years, Sun City and those moving here arrived with a hope their final years (whether Sun City was their final destination or not) would find a better way of life than what they had outside the walls. It was DEVCO's premise and promise; "a new active way of life." It was genius and it worked far better than anyone expected. Somewhere along the route we lost sight of the connectivity that brought us here, brought us together. We can blame society, technology, political divide, the list is nearly endless. Let's be honest and just admit, they were excuses. I have argued the pandemic made it worse, but again, just another excuse. It's time to put the whining behind and build a bridge, a path forward. We do that by connecting with one another. As a group, the four of us have questioned whether anyone would show up? As an individual, i'm far more interested in the quality of our interactions than i am in the quantity of bodies in the building. Maybe i'm wrong; i doubt it. Put your butt in a chair tomorrow and see if we/WE can begin to make a difference. There's little we can do outside our white walls; inside them, we control our own destiny. From those first "pioneers" who moved in the last week in April of 1960, they quickly came to understand making Sun City unique was ultimately up to them. Are WE up for the task?
