Teachable Moments...

Let's start here: Kudos to the 1100 plus members in attendance and the approximate 700 plus proxies. At a maximum of 25 per person (proxy limit), we know there were a lot of members who raced around collecting them. The gathering totals were far and away the biggest turnout for an RCSC business meeting in the 22 years i've been attending. Truly impressive and inspiring.

Let me start with this lame analogy: Imagine you were throwing a block party with the 50 or so homes on your block invited. Then imagine you set your house with just the living room and dining area to host the potential 75 guests. Add to this effort to bring the folks on your block together that you made no real effort to welcome those attending or making them understand why they were there. Might you call that short-sighted?

Last night when i walked in about 5:35 the center hall was jammed, all the seats were filled and both wings closed. I immediately started questioning what they were thinking? By then there were another 100 people standing in the doorways and open areas (a fire code violation for what it's worth) and 25 more minutes of members checking in.

To their credit (hopefully more than from my whining), the staff raced to open one wing and then the other. Both filled. Let's be clear, with proxies turned in, they knew the meeting was on. I guess they assumed those actually attended would fill the 600 (best guess) seats set up.

The good news for us/bad news for them (?), they grossly misjudged. But honestly that's not my main concern. It's not even how the comments and applause for or against were taken, or how the attorney's long winded written explanation was received. Or, (tacky really) was the threat the RCSC would recoup their legal costs against the member who tried to challenge their interpretation of the bylaws for our meeting.

Nope, none of the above. My thoughts walking out the door were far more simplistic: Did this largest ever business meeting result in the community being brought closer together or was it a wedge to drive us further apart?

I get it, from all appearances the sense i got was, the board was just trying to get through this without it turning into a shit-show. That fact it didn't, was a good thing (it's also a very low bar). Unfortunately the RCSC missed a golden opportunity to celebrate this large turnout, welcome members to a comfortable setting with enough chairs, agenda (apparently they ran our early on) and take the liberty to explain the process and the significance of why they were there. In the good old days we provided cookies, but i digress.

Three weeks back, we did a presentation at the Life Long Learning club on the selling/marketing of Sun City. At that class i explained everything the DEVCO/Meeker driven operation they did was about making those who bought into this community feel good about their choice. While their ultimate motive was to sell homes, their underlying goal was to build a sense of community. EVERYTHING!

For years, well after DEVCO left, building, fostering and nurturing that sense of community was prevalent. Those elected by the membership believed in the idea the members were the owners and treated them as such. The decision to move away from the concept of management through partnership became one of a more hierarchical structure. One where the GM and the board knew what was best for us.

I guess we can debate which structure worked best. But frankly we don't even talk about it. Those running for the board almost always campaign on better communication, more transparency and listening to the membership. Once they get there, we see some slippage. We see the management team making decisions and the board trying to walk the tightrope of following his lead while not trying to undermine them...and still placate the membership.

Last night, when i spoke, my first comment was directed solely to the board president. I watched his face and it appeared he thought i was speaking in tongues. I said i was going to mention the names of the three attorneys Meeker listed in his journal along with the one lawyer listed on the original Articles of Incorporation. The fact was, they played an integral role in the development of an organization built around that sense of community.

When i closed with the idea i was thankful the current corporate attorney wasn't around back then or Sun City wouldn't have made it, he got that deer in the headlights look. It was pretty simple: back in the day those 4 attorneys were working for the best interests of the community while the current attorney was working in the best interest of the corporation (that's who pays him, so that's his job).

It was at that exact moment i came to understand how little so many know about Sun City (including board some board members). Clearly the comments reflected that amongst the speakers as well. But, let me be very clear: Why the hell should anyone understand how Sun City works unless they spend a lot of time and energy getting up to speed. Lord knows the RCSC does little to help members understand how it all works.

Next week, i will be joining a Sun Cities Museum board member at a Life Long Learning presentation. The class will be on Sun City West's Torch program and will be conducted by the museum's vice president who went through the program and has served on the RCSCW board.

That program has run for a number of years and funnels nearly 100 community members through per year. The 7 week course is extensive and has created an environment where those who attend help those who haven't understand how and why their community works. It is brilliant.

We hope people move here and pick it up through osmosis. My bad, but after last night one quickly comes to grasp the fact we need to do better than we have: We need to fix the bylaws; we need to trust committees to have more responsibility; we need to quit twisting facts to make everything sound better than it is (sorry, in years past we didn't include PIF interest earnings to justify yearly expenses and in this case, overages).

That's just for starters and that's actually the easy part. Unless or until we come to grips with the understanding that Sun City was built around a sense of community and every event is yet another opportunity to embrace and embellish that...we'll just keep seeing events like last night.

Leaving where we wonder was it for the better or for the worse?

 

The number I heard was that they had set-up 800 chairs in the main auditorium!

I think the one comment that scares me the most was when Director Collins announced that the RCSC does not put a lien on your home if you fail to pay your annual assessment! Hmmm? I wonder how many people will now stop paying their annual assessment? The bad news is, I'm sure at some point those people, or the estate, will have to pay the piper.

I don't necessarily like the idea of the Ad Hoc committee interpreting the motions and amendments that Members submitted. As Bill has said in the past, those motions and amendments should not be viewed in the aggregate. They need to be individually reviewed with great consideration given to the original intent of the author, but how do you do that when the original author is not involved? As many have said, there were much better ways to handle the whole situation.

I am glad that, on the whole, the crowd remained civil.

 

Bill,
I am truly sorry for not attending the meeting. I was not able to move very well last night, and since I already know I am a fall risk, it makes sense to me to not tempt fate.

As I sit here, I was reminded of what is clearly missing and sorely needed: Leadership.
Leadership is its own skill set, usually learned through experience. Apparently, the board president has never been exposed to what talent a good leader has. I also believe we have not seen any evidence of good leadership in quite a while.
Here are 12 essential leadership traits.

1. Self-Awareness
2. Respect
3. Compassion
4. Vision
5. Communication
6. Learning Agility
7. Collaboration
8. Influence
9. Integrity
10. Courage
11. Gratitude
12. Resilience

I feel some of the listed qualities are not present in the boards overall demeanor and someone should advise them to seek ways to improve and learn what it takes to be a successful leader. I feel confident that the board members are, individually, capable of being successful leaders and have the skills to make the community better. It seems the board president is the one most needing to improve his leadership and personal interaction tool box.
How do we find a way to instill leadership qualities at a time when they are sorely needed? How can a single individual, placed in what is considered a leadership position, be transformed into a leader? It would take the individual to become aware of the shortcomings and make a decision to learn what it takes to be an effective leader.
It takes the effort to understand and adapt to what is needed and pursue the best path to success. We need leadership in the board and it’s needed now.

*edited to reflect that I don’t believe it’s the entire board needing leadership training.

 

Do you think he mis-spoke?

FA-Blank-12-19-23.pdf

 

It would be helpful to include your source about leadership traits. Many of these are character traits and not purely leadership. I use words like collaboration, using data, able to see the bigger picture, courage to make hard decisions,

I find it interesting that marketing Sun City is a priority, but the continued in fighting leaves one wondering. Yes, it is out on the streets of the discord..Maybe a few of these realtors could set up a committee to have a marketing plan!! Let’s pull together, and make Sun City great again. Offer solutions, not negativity as this thread used to be a pleasure to read.
I find it interesting that former board members have generated such discord and could have worked collaboratively instead of pointing fingers

 

Bill,

If I understand your thesis correctly, the Board thought there would not be the huge turnout there was and thereby missed a golden opportunity to put their best foot forward for the sake of the community. I think you also raised the question whether any member who sat through the meeting would come back to another meeting? I also wonder if anyone watching the video would think positively or negatively of our community? Good points and ones that I did not focus on for obvious reasons.

Carole,
I understand your points to say RCSC does not provide proper and appropriate training and unless the board members got that training before running for the Board, they are being thrown into a situation for which they are unprepared. Good points as well.

Tom,
I also think I get where you are coming from in those unscripted comments and knee jerk reactions often produce unintended consequences.

I think we are all grateful for the show of civility by the members in attendance. I am glad Marcia put out the cookies I bought and apologize if members don't like Oreos or if you did not get one.

John

 

Skipper 53,

I should have reworded some of the previous post, as it sounds accusatory. I apologize for the tone. This was not my intent.
But, having apologized for the mistake in exactly how I worded a comment, doesn’t negate the point. A genuine leader places how the message is delivered to be more important than the message itself. A leader also knows when and what to say. And that also means knowing if anything needs to be said in a public forum. Being a good orator and understanding the value of how the message is communicated is key to effectual leadership. Again I apologize for the lack of clarity in what I wrote.
I regret the tone of the post, and even if I do an edit at this point, the damage is done. I will be more careful in the future.

The source for the list provided comes from Creative Leadership on their website.

Solutions have been offered regularly and repeatedly. My quandary is how to get the message effectively delivered to the people who need to pay attention in the allotted time frame. I feel several options need to be explored and possibly implemented, but to offer the best solution to the board is going to be a problem. A 5 minute window doesn’t make it possible to offer even a complete picture of one of the solutions. It would be better if a presentation could be made that is complete, offers the benefit of supporting the project and its value to the board and the community.
As to the comment about the discord, the discussion on TOSC reflects opinions from those who post here. The forum gives the “former board members” a chance to express their opinions and views about how the community is currently being impacted by those issues and opportunities arising currently. In my case, I feel the complete absence of effective communication is hurting this community and is alienating the people the board should be embracing. This is critical skill, one that is essential to success.

 

My suggestion would be for the members of the Long Range Planning Committee to perhaps set-up a sub-committee to research Board Training.

The LRPC seemed to be successful and managed to institute the need for a Master Plan. They could also do their research and make a Report back to the Board during a Board meeting.

Let's face it, our long range outlook isn't looking very bright if the Board and the Membership are going to continue to keep us at arms length!

Just a thought!

 

Carole, I am a graduate of the center for creative leadership and all I can tell you it is the most intense training I have ever been through. I like to say it is designed to break you so you can really see who you are and what you lack.

 

Skipper 53, I am sorry you feel that former board members are sowing the seeds of discord. IMHO this is a misrepresentation of what any one of us is saying. Each of us uses our experience to generate ideas and suggestions that may not be well received but are based in real life experience. Please feel free to join in.

 

Wow John, I chose the website as it had the shortest list of skills necessary for good leadership. I had no idea the program is this intense. Am I guessing you would not recommend them as a potential vendor for any training? I honestly didn’t look in depth at the site, I just found that list.
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I appreciate you.

 

Hello,
I watched entire meeting at home this evening.
I heard this quote along the way in my business life which came to my mind after viewing entire meeting, which says,
"Be efficient with things, but not with people"
My impression on the mood of board last night is they where trying to be efficient with the members, but not sure if that came across as
we care, understand, and will change. I just sensed they gave impression that we want to get through and be done with this meeting.
I feel an odd vibe after watching tonight.
I am proud of most of the contributors.

 

Hey skipper53, long time no see or hear, hope all is well. I actually started this thread with the intent of talking about where we go from here (last night). In fact it was really intended to be the setup using last night as the classic teachable moment. Sadly, i spent the day in our garage with the bride getting ready for a three day block garage sale.

Before i go there though, the whole leadership thing is curious and has been perplexing to me for years. Most of us have come out of structures where there is a lone person acting or designated as the leader. Our structure is uniquely different with the GM running the day to day operations with the board president serving in a different capacity as more often than not the buffer between the other board members and the community. There is no clear line and as we have watched the last year and half, those lines often bleed together.

Back on topic and the "teachable moment;" last night was the golden opportunity to make lemon-aid out of lemons. The whole point of citing the Meeker and DEVCO approach to everything being a marketing opportunity was the point. But, then they went further; they had it down to a science and their goal was to make everyone who purchased a home feel like it was the greatest decision they ever made. That positive reinforcement was a given and they were insistent across anyone working for the company to do their part.

It was exactly why Meeker claimed those living here made up the largest sales force ever assembled. He knew the community/members were hyping every visitor who came. They loved the community and Meeker made sure it stayed that way...and that was true in spite of the internal strife. It's a lesson that should be included in every aspect of our decision making as we move forward.

The problem is almost no one understands/appreciates the critical role the members should play. When we moved away from the members and adopted the top down GM lead with the board blessing the mess, it was all lost. I know that's sounds overly critical, but i have long resented that choice made on our behalf.

Enough for now, but in the coming days we'll look at how to make this work...for all of us.

 

Carole, My experience is they cater to large organizations that want to develop the highest potential executive level candidates. Back in the day the two-week course I attended was Uber expensive. So much so that only two from an organization of over 100,000 employees went. We were the beta test for our company. IMHO this program is too intense for what we need.

 

Thank you John for the feedback. I will reiterate that I had not researched this company as a resource for a training program. Rather they had the short list of qualifiers showing what makes good leadership. So, out of convenience, I copied the list, but had no intention of using them as a service provider.
And after your feedback about the training program they offer and the intensity of it, I would be even less inclined to do any further research on their offerings. There are excellent resources for this type of training program available. It would just need to be modified to meet the needs of the community. Structuring training materials for this particular audience will be a good challenge for the future. It has to done for the adult learning need, but also be engaging, enjoyable, informative and professional. As a former course developer, putting this program together will be an interesting challenge for the company selected to step up to.
I appreciate all of the feedback, I hope to learn more from everyone.

 

Carole, The ASU Lodestar Center offers customized Board Governance Training to nonprofit organizations and their boards of directors. Worth a peek don' you think? John

 

Sounds like a great resource John, and is definitely worth a look. Do you already have some information or experience working with this organization? If you already have experience working with these folks, perhaps you already have contacts that could be helpful? Doesn’t make sense to reinvent the wheel if some of the pieces are already in place. Thank you John

 

I found this offering on the ASU Lodestar site. I am curious if this could be customized for the RCSC and made for stand and deliver training rather than electronic format? Great start for a resource.

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Session details
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Program description

 

I do not have prior experience with this organization but they should be able to provide recommendations.