Other like communities are discussing term limits for standing committee members. I was surprised to learn that our bylaws appear to say the following: Standing committee members shall serve a term of not more than three (3) years. Upon expiration of each term, the Board of Directors shall post notice to the Membership at large all vacancies and accept applications/requests for service. The Board of Directors shall review each application/request and select by majority vote of the Board of Directors the RCSC Member(s) to serve on each committee. I can't recall seeing this provision before. Does anyone know when it was approved? Opinion- I think it is a good provision to have.
Can you please specify where you read this requirement? I cannot find that statement in BP-27 Standing Committees. Seems that provision went away back in 2017? https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-23-2017-Motion-1-Bylaws-Article-VI-Committees.pdf
I don't see this as being a term limit clause. It just says that a term is not more than 3 years, but does not say that a member can't serve more than one term. Or . . ..what am I missing?
Doesn't not more than three years mean there is a 3 year term limit? Or am I reading this wrong? I found this on our RCSC website Bylaws Article VI. There are members on LRP that have been on the committee for more than a decade.
I took this to mean that any one term could not be more than 3 years, but nothing about how many terms one can have. That's my reading ie, "an opinion."
There was discussion about this regarding the Golf Advisory Committee. Brian, our head golf administrator, admitted that there were people who had served more than six years. However, I think some of them are still on the committee, but not sure.
A classic example of why things never change. Keep the good old boys on board and their tee times will always be there for them and they never will have to worry about their buddies from Peoria or Glendale not getting preferential treatment.
Robert's Rules of Order will tell you: 50:7 Standing committees are constituted to perform a continuing function, and remain in existence permanently or for the life of the assembly that establishes them. In an ordinary society, the members of such a committee serve for a term corresponding to that of the officers, or until their successors have been chosen, unless the bylaws or other rules otherwise expressly provide. Thus, a new body of committee members is normally appointed at the beginning of each administration. Typically I've found that committee chairs often change after each new election?
I can see both good points and bad. I can't help but to think about a committee like the Long Range Planning Committee. Seems to me that if you had new and different members every year, any information or things they have been working on will start all over again? I'm sure each new group has different thoughts about the Long Range outlook? On the other hand, new people bring new ideas. Perhaps the best compromise would be that only a certain percentage of committee members would change every year?
Insurance committee is small in number but members have decades of experience. Replacing those members would be almost impossible. You want to keep them, keep reappointing before their term ends until new blood steps up. A member who worked in an agency that wrote auto policies for bad drivers is not what we are looking for. Ask Janet Curry the kind of expertise we are looking for as she attended the initial meeting last March. B&F requires a level of sophistication in planning, budgeting, projections and financial statements. Members are always welcome to either or both meetings and we are happy to explain anything that needs clarification. Yesterday I flashed a note to Dr. Chat on need for comparative f/s. I showed my note to FYI and he needed an explanation what it was. I told him what it was, he understood and why this was important. This in less than five minutes. I presume he was impressed with Kevin’s presentation on the five year plan. Simple, to the point and explained that everyone understood.
I agree that there are some committees, such as the insurance committee, that need people with expertise. Probably the same with many others; thinking of the Sun City Focus committee that probably needs someone with expertise in radio/tv/video making. On the other hand, there are some committees that may need new blood. There are many golfers who have past experience with all kinds of golf related committees. When you have the problems we have seen with golf related issues, new perspectives may be needed. Happy to say there are some new people on the GAC. One of the Sun City Foundation Directors stated that she has been on that committee for about 20 years. I am sure she, and the other long term members, have helped many people over the years. However, it is also essential to have an open mind to other opportunities from which ALL RCSC members can benefit. Just saying, one size doesn't fit all.
How is that any different than what is and has been happening with the Board of Directors? How many times has that wheel been reinvented?
I gave my views on the golf committee before. It should be all casual golfers. No league officers, league members or pass holders who would always be concerned with protecting their turf. People willing to make decisions in the best interest of Sun City.
Unfortunately, it is just the opposite. I think most, if not all, of the golf committee members are from the leagues. I agree that there are people who want to protect their turf, pun intended. They don't want to have to pay their fair share, want to have five carts on every hole, and get cheaper rates and book their tee times earlier. It's partly because it has been that way since most of them bought into Sun City.
On balance I think term limits are a good idea when combined with robust training for new members. On one of the committees, I am familiar with there is a member who has been on the committee for 19 years lobbying for a theater to be built. Another, long timer is very protective of lawn bowling. It is hard for a committee to function properly when hard liners have "permanent" seats at the table.
