Sometimes I get caught up in the issues and forget the challenges of what those who serve on the RCSC board face. It's easy to sit on the outside and throw stones and not fully understand the problems they are trying to cope with. And as Emily pointed out, the way Sun City is run is arms and legs ahead of most other communities. We tend to take things for granted, which is almost always a mistake. How we got here, 55 years later, is nothing more than a credit to the men and women who have given their time, energy and expertise. I know, you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, but alas, this is to be a primer for those who haven't served on the board. Clearly it's my take on why it's a challenge, but I would be amazed if others haven't experienced some of the same difficulties. Getting elected takes a bit more, at least of late with more candidates than openings. One has to be able to articulate why them over another. Most of us have said we want to improve communications with members, and then find out when you get there you have policy limitations on what you can say. Go figure. For those that win, the first year is a crash course in catch-up. You may know some things, but virtually no one is elected understanding it all. You rely on other board members, but in all likelihood, the executive staff is your crutch to get you through. You find from year to year the carryover has you dealing with issues and problems that weren't and aren't of your making. In some cases it's from years back and nary a board member is around when the whole thing started. You can't just ignore it, and in some ways you just want it to go away so you do whatever. Year two holds both excitement and opportunity. You are no longer a rookie and some of the things you felt important for the community are within your sights to try and change. You bring them to the table amidst all of the other stuff consuming the board and you see others who may not understand the problem like you do. They give you a chance to vent and air your ideas, but it never gains any traction. By year three, you've come to understand the frustration of the collective process and nine board members and the revolving door of three new ones every year. You've watched staff guide you down a path you may or may not agree with. You've seen officers who find their role more important that yours as just a board member. Frustration becomes a way of life. By summer break of the third year, you are just wanting the year to end. Your life has been put on hold as you tried to make a difference and came to realize it was nowhere near what you expected or hoped for. Outcomes have been shaped in many cases by decisions made years before. You find yourself becoming the scapegoat for problems not even of your making. You leave at years end, just happy you survived. You feel empty because as you look back you scratch your head and say; "how the heck did that happen?" You start ruminating and as you do, you decide to start writing more and the next thing you know, you do a thread on Talk Of Sun City called "to Ruminate." Oh God, I crack myself up sometimes. Then you start to wonder..."have I gone mad? " By the way, packets to run for the board will be available in a matter of months.
It's also not easy being on committees. Members are told by the Board of Directors that their input and time is invaluable but they have virtually no effect on decisions. Thank goodness there are those that keep banging their heads against the walls to keep Sun City a great community.
I think I'm getting confused. Who actually makes the final decisions? A majority vote from each member of the Board or does some have more weight than others?
So here's how it works: The board has closed door work sessions where topics are discussed and a consensus is taken. For agenda items where a vote is required at the monthly board meeting, a hand vote is taken at the board meeting. In every case, each board member has one vote. Over the years some boards view the officers in a hierarchy, but in truth their duties are clearly defined and that should be the only difference. The bigger challenge is the board elects the officers. For years the officers tended to be the senior guys who hung together and supported staff decisions. The last couple of years there have been officers elected that weren't part of the structure and the culture started to change. In my opinion, that's a good thing.
