Come to the next “Gathering!” Help take ownership of ideas that are in progress to spark our unique historic Sun City “sense of community,” again and into the future. Thursday, August 21st, 2025, 3 pm - 5pm, Sonora room at the Grand Center, 10415 W Grand Ave (623) 561-4600 The Gathering group is currently concentrating on community social area and welcoming efforts. Your participation is welcome, valued and needed. Please make a list of your ideas to share at the August 21st third Gathering. Also, meet and get to know members of your community. They love living here, too, Hear how they think Sun City might be even better. A recent participant shared they were born in a US Japanese Internment Camp. Another had just moved here three months ago. Every person’s story is unique. And they all choose to be involved in our community, “The City of Volunteers,” and “The Community That Changed A Nation.” HOPE TO SEE YOU. YOU BELONG HERE!
Our first two gatherings have been fun and enlightening. Sharing our stories with one another helps us understand the assorted ways we found our place in the sun. It also is revealing of the many talented and varied backgrounds of the 20 plus folks who attended. We know that has always been the case. We also know from a historical perspective, the more we tapped into the membership, the stronger the bonds, the deeper the roots grew, the more that sense of community followed. This next gathering will have a purpose with defined topics. While some feel some sense of urgency, i've always erred on building solid foundations. I get it, i truly do; when we hear the board is listening to us, it feels good to be heard. Let me use this analogy; in a world where polling is often attacked, the reality is sample size is one of the first things considered. Let's be honest here, 20 members is far from the kind of numbers we need before rushing off with great ideas and proposals. That's not being critical, just realistic. So you know, the discussion to grow the circle is being had, but we cannot rebuild a sense of community without community buy-in. I'll give you the perfect example: The past twenty years or so, we splintered from the concept of big picture Sun City. There's still a boatload of small picture communities around Sun City. Almost every club, most organizations and many churches have fixated on their own survival/success. That's not wrong, the problem is everyone just looks after their own particular interest. Dare i say, self-serving? We could and many have argued, it is a societal thing. Me, me, me. The shortcoming from that perspective most often results in tribal thinking, with the survival of their interests being placed above anyone/everyone else's. It is exactly why the past 10 years has been so challenging. There has been little collective spirit, you know, the greater good of the community and the organizations around us. Restoring that will not be easy, cheap or fast. It's a process, and a long term one at that. There's the other rub, Sun City all too often looks at long term planning in very short spans of time. I can see we are trying to change, but when board members are in a constant state of flux, worrying or caring about 10, 15 or even 20 years down the road hasn't been our strong suit. In my opinion, our gatherings are a start, a good start...but indeed only a start. We need the process to expand in numbers, increase in scope and develop a long-term strategy that becomes a fabric within the community and within the structure. As always, this is just one man's opinion.
Sharing a comment promoting the August 21st, 2025 Gathering, by Carole Martinez on the Commendation for the Board Members thread today: “I expected blow back when I offered kudos to the board members for their time given. I could have never imagined the twists and turns that have followed. It has been great to see the discussion continue and, I, for one, am very grateful to be able to post and share information about this community we all live in. Thank you all for your continued contributions to making Sun City a better place to live. Even better, in my opinion, would be to have everyone come and be a part of a grassroots movement to make Sun City work for everyone’s benefit. The reminiscences of what we were is only a hint of what we can become with the support of the community members. The needs have been clearly defined earlier. The gathering is beyond those needs for the RCSC to achieve. The gathering is what the community needs to move forward and grow. The gathering is about the community of Sun City, for the members of Sun City, and for those who would purchase in Sun City. We are Sun City and we would love to have you join our group to help build what Sun City can achieve with your help. The next group gathering is August 21 at the Grand Center at 3 pm. Would be most exciting to have your voice included in shaping our conversation about and for Sun City.” # Original comment posted HERE.
I have ruminated over this post, as I have been trying to figure out how to best way to reply to it without sounding glib or rude. The statement about expanding the “process”, increase in scope, and develop a long term strategy sounds like a goal of a structured process attached to a group with a specific purpose in mind. Whenever I think of strategies, I associate them with specific objectives looking for a particular goal to achieve. When I think of adding scope to a group, I think of how the group could use set benchmarks or timelines for measuring their success and progress. The current approach to the meetings is one of no specific objectives and open to all participants and ideas. Love the concept of those motivations. I am having trouble with both concepts being mutually inclusive. Most people feel better when a group has some sort of connection to their own personal values and interests. Does not stating what we are trying to achieve as a group, or even creating an identity that says who and what we are serve our group values? What are our group goals, values and beliefs? I know we are new, and are making every effort to be better able to tap into the community spirit that is so powerful and meaningful for all of us. The reason for not defining the group is as complex as the reasons there is such a need for a community outreach group. Leaving the group definition open is one way to try to invite participants. Not having a definition of what, where and how to get there can also create a vacuum that others may feel is not a cohesive process for the group. Please understand I am not advocating in any particular direction. I am merely asking if there should be additional parameters offered as to what the objectives are for the group, are there any particular goals that those of us participating and those considering attending would like to see described? Should there be discussions around any long term/short term plans the group can implement or plan to achieve, with the help from the board? Is it feasible to believe the group can achieve great success without the need for board involvement? I have great faith and respect that the group can and will continue to work together for the benefit of all of Sun City. I also am very aware of how new this group is, and the importance of collaboration and continued support from the members is to the success of the group and its participants. Just wanted to express my gratitude and appreciation for those involved and welcome any and all to please come and participate in the discussion.
Maybe post a synopsis of the meeting. How many attended, items discussed, ideas presented from residents. Giving a "flavor" of each meeting might entice more to want to attend. Josie P, Jul 25, 2025 Making people feel included along with saying they are valued can go a long way.
