So delicate will never be a term I am synonymous with; but when posting on message boards like this, I try and be civil and straight forward. It's why I most often use my real name. My wife will tell you I am the proverbial bull in a china shop, but that may be a bit harsh (then again maybe not). I did go to the member/exchange meeting today, even behaving myself. I wanted to hear what they had to say without prejudging them. I had read the 2 motions that gave me cause to pause, but it seemed more fair to hear them out. Unfortunately, they neither read nor discuss them in detail. The one question raised by a speaker was quite pointed. He noted the near on 20 million dollar increase to the PIF budget and asked where those kinds of decisions were made? Simple answer; in work sessions that are closed to the community. It's why I am moving to the dark side and becoming indelicate. I find that answer dismissive to a fault (albeit true). I've said before one of the first things I learned about good communications skills is about 85% listening. I still pride myself as a good listener (though my wife would argue that) and so I am posting 3 comments for my sense of frustration over the PIF increase and the failure to reinstate the long range planning committee. * In 2013 when the board started discussion about changing committee makeup and status, the general manager had a fair amount of sway. Her feeling was the LRPC should be abolished and become an ad hoc rather than a standing committee. I hated the idea, but she was adamant we could bring it back when needed. * At the new member orientation meeting this year, myself and another former board member approached the board president and asked about the long range planning committee status. He didn't flinch when he said; "they already have one, it's called the board of directors." Said in jest? You tell me. * Finally, at one of the recent meetings I questioned board member Jim Brasher about reinstating the long range planning committee? He stated; "there was no need because there was already a long range plan in place." Really? Should it come as any surprise that long range plan that is in place has had 20 million dollars and 2 more years added to it in the past 3 months? Excuse me for my skepticism. when you take all of these comments in total, what is the game? The good news is board member Ida Eisert made her position clear at today's meeting; "reinstate the long range planning committee." Hopefully other board members feel the same way. There are massively important decisions to be made, and using the community as a sounding board just makes good sense. Let me leave you with this further irony: Prior to the passage of the PIF, the community had no monies but they did have a long range planning committee. Now we have more money than we know what to do with and we have no long range planning committee. Go figure.
Looking back at my varied experiences, when I was a manufacturing engineer we had a short term plan to keep production running, this plan was developed in part from the long range plan which was built in part from the corporate strategy. So IMHO you have to first start with a mission statement and strategy. Basically what do you want Sun City to look like in the future? AKA: What do the current residents of Sun City want to leave for the future residents of Sun City? For Sun City a mission statement in part can be something as simple as "keep Sun City relevant to future residents". You have to face the facts, if Sun City is not relevant to future retirees it will go by the way of the Dodo. So after you have a strategy in place you then build a long term plan, can you imagine how far out a company like Pacific Gas & Electric looks out. Sure they have a short term 3-5 year plan, but then a long range plan that has to adjust with the changing times. Being on a HOA board is not an easy task, it takes a great deal of effort and time, I commend those that are willing. However without a LRPC the board is in jeopardy of being short sighted in the goals and failing to keep up with what Sun City needs 10-20 years from now. I'm starting to ramble, but simply put: First a strategy (this is a living thing) Second a long range plan (5-20 years outlook to support the living strategy) Third a short term 3-5 year plan (aka: how do we implement the long range plan)
The RCSC is not a HOA. However you are spot on about a mission statement being importent if they are going to reconstuct one. Clearly defined roles and goals are where it all starts.
I am the guy who asked the question referenced above. I am absolutely astonished that such large sums of money are discussed outside of earshot of the community. In any other setting where discussions are held concerning large outlays of dollars, the meetings would be open to the public. In this case, the Sun City community should be included, even invited and welcomed to witness these discussions. The very fact that there is absolutely no transparency leads one to wonder why the secrecy? Any time something is done in secret, it begins to smell funny. These working sessions need to be opened up for the community to attend. As anyone who was at the meeting today can attest, I was, and am absolutely, dead-set against what just happened regarding the PIF. The discussions regarding how this vote came to be need to be opened for public scrutiny.
Hey LB, welcome to Talk of Sun City. If you read through some of the various threads you'll see lots of discussion about how boomers will come here with a different mindset. They want to know what's going on, not just let others decide for them. Transparency is a word that is over used and seldom does it meet expectations from those wanting it. The problem these days is wholly different than from the past. We have so much money it's more a question on how to spend it, than whether we can afford to do something. And of course, boomers want it all now. That's where the idea of a community crafted long range plan becomes so much more appealing than staff and board just deciding what to spend it on. If nothing changes, then the only alternative is to run for the board and try and make a difference. The biggest challenge there is one person can't do that. And as long as the community is left out of the discussions, it all falls back on the 9 board members and management.
