How Hard Could It Be?

The older i get, the more pragmatic i've become. While i still go to RCSC meetings from time to time, i find myself wanting to withdraw and watching everything unfold from a distance, far more attractive. It's especially rewarding and encouraging to see newer, younger members stepping up. That old thing about bringing back retreads was a long time staple of Sun City organizations.

One of the tasks for organizations should be to cultivate new members and future leaders. Prior to 2006, when committees mattered, those opportunities to work in and on ideas that helped shape the community often resulted in them becoming board members.

Many of us have argued for better training for new board members. Several of us have longed for a Sun City West approach where we had something similar to their TORCH program. After 15 years or more, they have provided trained members to fill roles on committees and serving as members of organizations including the Rec Centers of Sun City West (RCSCW). It's been effective for sure.

Being honest, it would take an enormous amount of work to replicate what they have done. It's been built and refined and the RCSCW played an important role in ensuring it succeed. Clearly, the RCSC has shown virtually no interest in replicating that, not even a little.

With that out of the way, i see our next best option and one that is easily attainable has been captured in our history labeled, "stuff that worked." But there's a twist to it, because for it to truly become a mechanism of change in our community, technology has to play a role.

I will focus on our new home owners, but i would add we could encourage interested members to participate. We know that DEVCO sponsored new comers coffees every month. They were wildly successful and they worked brilliantly making people feel welcome and a part of something very special.

I don't know about every month? Maybe every other? Maybe one month daytime and one month evenings? Maybe quarterly? Maybe we moved it around from center to center and targeted new comers living in and around an area? While the devil is often in the details, i would be more focused on building a long term structure with a fixed process to last for years.

The second piece of the puzzle is even easier. How hard could it could it be to write a full color magazine welcoming new buyers to the community? The opening page is simple: Congratulations and welcome to the most unique age restricted community in the nation. You've made a brilliant choice in selecting Sun City as your place in the sun.

The rest of the magazine would be dedicated to explaining why we are unique which is exactly why we want them to know how Sun City works, and why it has worked for 65 years. Adding a brief summary of the various rec centers, the golf courses and the clubs would then be complimented by the various organizations that help create big picture Sun City.

This isn't new, we used to do this. We decided at some point, we didn't need to. Was it the cost? Or, did we decide their involvement and understanding was unimportant?

But wait, there's more, way more. Because we know based on our history, DEVCO created a volunteer hostess program that members loved to be part of. From potential new buyers to ultimately mentors to those who did buy, their interactions became keys to Sun City's successes. They helped weave the fabric of a tightly knit community.

Adding to the excitement would be including clubs as potential sources of information distribution. I've written before, when i was president of an organization, we created what in the old days was called a phone tree, but we incorporated the technology of the day a committee of email recipients who were responsible for letting members know what was happening. It worked well beyond expectations, as those doing it were empowered and those receiving it were aware of what was going on. It's called ownership.

Hang on, it gets better yet. Because as we develop better use of our technology, we create a Sun City app that we create for every RCSC member and privilege card holder. This isn't an email blast that gets lost in the shuffle of a hundred other emails, it is a link to a site dedicated to those who want to be aware of anything going on across the community with text messages if wanted.

When working in conjunction with our soon to be released website (hopefully), we would begin to build an internal infrastructure of those who want to be a part of a whole new process of communication and community building. While many of our older folks, don't use technology, virtually all new buyers are expecting that level of service.

It gets better yet, because as we build our in-house technologically driven groups of members, we add to their duties defined positions and duties of outreach on social media platforms they belong to. For clubs, they would showcase what they do. For organizations, they would enhance their community position by the values they add and the events they run.

And while i am far from an expert, i understand enough to know the importance of algorithms and how they drive search engines. It used to be key words and i suspect much of the traffic still attracts those interested in topics highlighted and repeated often. Imagine if we had an army of members sharing the stuff they enjoy on an occasional basis? Key word; "retirement."

I know, another long rambling article. It is indeed, and it's one i know could make a difference. It takes the efforts of what DEVCO did and folding it into how society works these days. Or, i guess we can just take that nearly $7000 (my bad it is only $6450) at point of sale and hope new buyers grasp Sun City through osmosis.

Dang, there's that new pragmatic side of me shining through.

 

As i was writing my thoughts yesterday, i couldn't help but think back of recent and further removed committee meetings where well intended committee members grew frustrated and quit. It's happened time and time again. I've labeled it simply "driving members away" and it has been packaged in many forms. At one point the GM wrote bylaws stating couples could not serve on the same committee. The logic was too much influence over their personal agenda. All i could do was smile as i watched her personal agenda unfold day after day.

We simply have elected to move in the wrong direction. The ultimate question is easy: Does the RCSC believe members can help us achieve our goals? If the answer is yes, the ideas i have presented above are a blue print forward. If the answer is no, then stay the path and believe the GM and a couple of board members (officers) know what is best for us.

Time will tell eh?

 

Quoting you above, "well intended committee members grew frustrated and quit. It's happened time and time again. I've labeled it simply "driving members away" and it has been packaged in many forms. At one point the GM wrote bylaws stating couples could not serve on the same committee. The logic was too much influence over their personal agenda. All i could do was smile as i watched her personal agenda unfold day after day." Replace "her" with "him" and you have the exact same scenario unfolding again. Good, valuable, smart Members are quitting Committees because they are not being listened to. Committees are suddenly gone; not even mentioned by the BOARD whose responsibility it is to do so. (Sun City in Focus) And yet you write in the Thread "Petition" that you can't understand why I am pursuing a petition.

I love the ideas that you have mentioned above; I loved them in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. But talking about them and not acting on them isn't getting us anywhere.

The petition that I (and others who are like minded) are circulating is simply ASKING THE BOARD TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE - as they are charged to in BP#32 - and terminate the GM.
Jean Totten

 

Jean, I hate to say but your last sentence reminds of a line from the old Lone Ranger series, “You’ll get a fair trial before we hang you Butch Cavendish.”

 

You, a member of the past Ad Hoc Bylaw Committee - think that simply asking our elected by us BOD to pay attention to BP#32, is not fair?

 

Jean, it wasn’t a question of paying attention to BP32, it was a question of the way you worded your statement. The Boards does due diligence according to BP 32 and then fires the GM. You seem to utilize a process to terminate an employee no matter what the investigation produces.
BTW, the By Laws we spent six months working on was subsequently rejected by the Board. The committee should have found a way to terminate the Board members who voted against the By Laws as a breach of their fiduciary capacity.

 

Interesting remarks from a person who was on the board, had a vote to dismiss said GM but quit instead (do you understand the irony in that?). What does that say about your "due diligence Jean?" I find it all a bit disingenuous to be working your butt off on a petition to force the board members who replaced you to do the job you had the power to do yourself.

But alas, all i've ever done is write about stuff, so what the hell do i know eh?

Again, the ideas posted above were intended to stimulate a discussion about how we move forward in a positive and easily functional way. The costs would be minimal while the opportunity for members to engage on a social level without huge time commitments would all stimulate and help forge a sense of community.

Of course, rather than addressing positive and encouraging ideas, far better to jump into the thread and use it to rationalize and promote your goal to fire the GM so we can start all over again. But again, after all, what the heck do i know about anything, all i have ever done is write about stuff?

PS. I know some board members actually read this stuff...and i know your petition is a bridge too far regarding what the members can do at a membership meeting even with a quorum. Their rights regarding a vote are limited to bylaws. But thanks again for stepping all over the thread.

 

Collecting proxies to guarantee the 500 member quorum is essential to conduct the Annual Membership Meeting to ensure voting by the membership on bylaws presented.

Presenting a petition to have the GM terminated is moot. Won’t be placed on the meeting agenda. If time allows, members may be allowed to speak on RCSC matters after all agenda business concludes.

Thanks to all who are promoting and collecting proxies and to members unable to attend the March 11th membership meeting who are registering to be represented by proxy.

QUORUM 500, LET’S DO IT!

 

Bill - I never had a chance when I sat on the Board to vote to dismiss this GM. I was clearly in the minority; never the majority. I did participate in the dismissal of Bill Cook, and I voted YES. The Board I sat on hired the present GM.

The only thing that I'm working my butt off for is to simply present a petition from the Members of this community to ask the Board to listen to them and consider terminating the GM. I am explaining that only the Board has the authority to do that. I am not telling falsehoods about what will take place a the Annual Membership Meeting. I am communicating to them what will take place. If a quorum is reached (500), the MEMBERS will be allowed to vote on amendments brought forth from other Members to change the Bylaws. I am not promising them that they can remove the GM.

Getting out in the public eye has also afforded me (and others) to remind any Member that we encounter how important it is to attend the Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday, March 11th at the Sundial. Be there at 5 pm to register. If you are not in line by 6 pm you may be allowed inside but will not be allowed to vote. The communication regarding this - OUR MEMBERS' Meeting - has been dismal. It is our ONE chance to vote on amendments made to the Bylaws. Today at the Board meeting attended by 36 Members, Tom Foster, the president, finally mentioned the meeting at the conclusion of the meeting. No details about how to submit an amendment; no details about how it is the one time of the year that Members can vote; no details about how they can get a proxy if they can't attend.

As far as stepping all over your thread, I do not know why my post is on here twice; I only posted it once. I removed one of the posts.

I remember you always saying that "Members Matter." Hope to see you at the Annual Membership Meeting!

 

Preparing and presenting a petition to ask the Board of Directors to do their job is not moot to me. And based by the number of people who have signed the petition - after I clearly stated ALL the facts, they don't think it's Moot also.

Yes, let's get a Quorum of 500 at the Annual Membership Meeting so that the Members can VOTE on any amendments brought forth to change the Bylaws! I'll be there!

 

Okay,
So I went and read and reread BP32 several times to get a better understanding of the situation before the members.
I read one side going for the dismissal of the GM. Then I read the GM did as directed, but lacks soft skills needed or people skills to make him more likable.
In reading BP32, it would appear that, unless one can document a divergent accounting principle, the shortfall was covered by another account. Section B of BP32 clearly states which accounts the GM shall be responsible for, yet I see no provision against utilizing another account for recovering costs from a deficiency. Although the moving of money from one account to cover another is not a standard practice done by the RCSC, the action is not illegal. Had the GM placed the RCSC in a position of illegal activity with the intent to deceive, then it would be appropriate to seek termination.
As I read the accounts the GM is to manage within the scope of BP32, I see nothing written or stated that standard procedure in accordance with acceptable accounting rules is disallowed. Was the GM advised that transferring funds from one account to cover costs was not allowed? Was the GM made aware that deficits were not to be covered by transfers from one account to another? Was the board informed of the potential deficit, as described in BP32, and did not inform the GM of the direction to pursue?

As I continued to review all of the provisions on this policy, it appears to this reader the GM has not done anything to be removed from the job. He followed acceptable accounting procedures. He adhered to the conditions set forward within the scope of his duties as described.
He performed his duties with the intent of ensuring costs were covered and not creating a shortage of overall revenue for the RCSC.
I have never met or spoken with the current GM, so I have no personal opinion on his situation in regards to social interaction with the members. I will say if this action to remove him from his position as GM is because he has little or no soft skills, then this is a travesty of large proportion.

How will the members know what was communicated to the GM by the BOD? Was there a line by line budget review explaining the shortage in the account presented to the board? What was their response?

So I am clear, I am not saying there should not be an investigation into this matter, but there are far more questions to be asked before terminating this person. I take responsibility in acknowledging I have no answer for any of the questions I presented. I also am sure that if budget expectations were not communicated by the Board in a fashion that was clearly stated and understood by the GM, the members may be opening themselves up to litigation by the GM should he be terminated. Arizona is an employment at will state, but there still exists a need to provide just cause for termination of an employee. Firing someone “just because” is not a defendable position.

So, what is the reason for seeking the termination of the GM? What egregious violation has he committed within the scope of the outlined duties did he violate? I truly hope this situation can be calmed down and resolved by virtue of communication with the GM and agreement reached with the board. In my opinion, the GM is being held accountable for actions perpetrated by the board within the scope directing the work of the GM and providing oversight as needed.

Can he do this job? Could he be taught soft skills? Will he be allowed to continue to do this job and develop his personal style of leadership to be more approachable? Only the board can decide these questions.

 

I am once again going to ask a question about where we are today. When I read the statement “after I clearly stated ALL the facts, they don't think it's Moot also.” I have a concern when I hear a person say they have conveyed all of the facts, was it to the same audience? Were clarifying questions asked? Not in anyway trying to be obtuse, but when presenting information to a person or group of people, unless the same questions arise every time, the information is not being shared in a concise way. By not presenting the same information to the same people in the exact manner every time, there leaves the impression there could be confusion or misunderstanding in the context of the information. I am in no way suggesting I am against the petition process, I am just wondering how much is the information being disseminated have a personal impact on the audience. Is anything being said about signing the petition that could be deemed a personal benefit to the circulator? I don’t begin to accuse anyone of being anything but above board in their efforts. I just know from personal experience that in small group conversations, tone of voice and inflection can lead to a perception about the information being presented.

I am sure there’s a lot of information out there I don’t know and clearly acknowledge that fact. I also know that putting together another search for a new GM is costly and time consuming. We need the continuity of a competent manager with the soft skills needed to interact with the members. I, for one, don’t want to spend more money on this task. We are holding his feet to the fire for $600k. How much more do we want to spend on finding a replacement and getting the new GM up to speed? Another learning curve and lost productivity. Just asking for my own understanding

 

Screw pragmatism for now Jean. You simply cannot help yourself to jump into any and every thread to promote your petition to fire the GM. That was my point. Clearly you missed it as this thread was about what the RCSC could do to change the community dynamic with a fairly easy and targeted fix. Arguing with Dave over who is right and who is wrong quickly subverts and changes the direction, as witnessed above.

I would argue it's one of the reasons we can't have nice things eh?

Forget my suggestions and lets have another round of why Jean is right. In this case, as in most where everything is subjective, starting a petition and collecting signatures is your right as a member. I don't care one way or the other. All i said in the thread on the petition thread was i wasn't going to sign it. That's my right as an RCSC member.

I didn't and wouldn't speak out against it. Just like i didn't sign the recall petition's for the board members, i didn't understand the value of gathering signatures that would accomplish nothing more than raising awareness and creating even more division within the community. The minute i read what you were doing, the irony struck me as odd...you were elected to a position where you could have done exactly what you want others to do.

I didn't point that out until you reminded me all of my writings have been meaningless. See, that's fine; you, me and everyone is entitled to their point of view. But alas, with this response we get even further away from my ultimate question: "How Hard Can It Be?"

 

HaHaHaHa! Only checking in once a day now and don't even log in.......except for now. So Jean has become the prey and the Hyena's are going in for the kill. Circling around, growing in numbers, until she escapes, or she is defeated.

IMO it's just another round of why Bill and his Minions think Bill is right. Bill is always right. We go back to around 2010 or so. I have witnessed this many times and it all started with Independent opinion pieces written by Bill, and FB Chat rooms.

Good luck Jean, people are not always what they seem. Watch the board meeting when you are at the mic and check out the folks in the background.

 

Please accept my apologies for jumping in with my latest post. Not exactly on topic and I now realize that. Will make an effort to be diligent about where I post as well as what I post. Thanks for understanding.

 

No worries SCG, the thread and the thought was ruined long before. Seems to be the norm these days.

 

Hey guys I am one of the members leading the charge and encourage anyone who is planning on attending the annual meeting to go out and encourage their friends to attend or give them a proxy to be represented at the meeting. I will be sponsoring some kind of bylaw changes to require the adoption of a member approved master plan. By attending the meeting, you will have the opportunity to vote for or against the requirement to have a master plan if there is a quorum. LET'S DO THIS!

 

People who can't handle subject changes are often described as having difficulty with "transitions," and this can be a symptom of conditions like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or even high anxiety, where they might struggle to shift focus between topics easily and may become frustrated or overwhelmed when the conversation changes unexpectedly.
Key characteristics of people who struggle with subject changes:

• Perseveration:
  Getting stuck on a single topic, repeating the same points even when the conversation has moved on.
• Difficulty with cognitive flexibility:
  Inability to easily shift mental gears and adapt to new topics.
• Overly focused on details:
  May get caught up in minor aspects of a topic, making it hard to transition to a new subject.
• Anxiety about the unknown:
  Fear of what might come next in the conversation, causing resistance to topic changes.
• Need for predictability:
  May prefer conversations to follow a structured path and become uncomfortable when the topic shifts unexpectedly.

What to do if you're interacting with someone who struggles with subject changes:

• Be patient and understanding:
  Recognize that their difficulty is not intentional and try to communicate clearly when changing topics.

 

Great to hear there will be something for the members to vote on John if we achieve the quorum. It also will give members an opportunity to voice their thoughts on ideas that may help bring the community together. Either way that happens, but having a quorum is far better to show the board and management the community does care.

As we get closer we can promote this on social media sites and start sharing suggestions we may want to throw out to try and encourage the board to address our concerns.

After all...How Hard Can It Be?

 

Just got finished reading a message from the General Manager posted under Sun City. First of all, I thank him for the message. Second, he addresses the direction he was working with based upon what the board asked for. He says the mandate to him was to shake things up and not be a part of the status quo. He further addresses tackling deferred maintenance issues and the replacing worn out equipment. The biggest item I saw was the budget statements in regards to which accounts were to be used for the business needs. I am not going into detail on the specifics of the accounts, but rather the fact the GM was given a specific direction by the board and he followed it. So, if there is a need to point fingers, is there a disconnect from the board or the GM? As I read the comments by the GM, I would trust he was acting under the direction given to him by the board.
After reading the GM’s message, I am not inclined to ask the board for his removal.
I do hope collecting of signatures stays robust so other measures can be introduced to and be voted on the the membership. There exists the need for everyone to be involved in their governance