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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Retiring Board Director Tells Residents to "get involved"... You Reap What You Sow

Sun City Anthem
Is Transition to "Self-Management in Trouble?
Part Three of Three

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by
Jim Mayfield
Director
Sun City Anthem

Part 3

The Roles and Responsibilities of Homeowners

It Is Your HOA—How Do You Want It Governed?

Over the last six years, I have observed two contradictory views expressed regarding the governance on SCA.

On the one hand, homeowners express a desire to have an active voice in governance decisions made for SCA.

On the other hand, only a small group of homeowners attend Board and committee meetings to demand greater voice that their wishes are heard regarding Board decisions.

In addition, only half or fewer of the homeowners vote in the annual Board election.

This Third Part of the series speaks to my views about the essential role that homeowners must play in the governance of SCA. 

Remember that public apathy is the mother’s milk of bad government.

Six Suggestions on How To Be Involved

1. Run for the Board or Serve on a Sun City Anthem Committee.

The best trait of Sun City Anthem  is the people who live here.

I am constantly impressed with the impressive backgrounds of the people in our community. Yet, our “best & brightest” are not consistently seeking to serve on the Board or committees.

While I am grateful to those who have offered their services, my candid assessment is that the number of suitable candidates who want to serve in governing Sun City Anthem for the right reasons has declined the last few years.

I full well understand that most of us are retired and have an expectation of living a rich retirement life, but public service can be a fulfilling part of retirement.

Even if you don’t believe that serving on the Board or a committee is your cup of tea, encourage your friends who you think would be good Board or committee members, to do so.

2. Communicate.

I have frequently heard that the HOA needs to communicate better with homeowners. Certainly, SCA’s communication with homeowners can be improved. But, it is adequate.

Communication is a two-way street.

Sun City Anthem offers many ways to make your views known and to influence Board and management decisions.

Examples of avenues available to you include:

Emailing your Board members; their email addresses are in the Spirit.

Using the blue/green/tan card system to report problems you observe.

Reading the monthly Board agendas and Board Book and attend a Board meeting if a topic in which you are interested is on the agenda.

Attending committee meetings and public workshops.

3. Petition the Board.

Nothing motivates politicians who want to believe they are serving their constituents or bureaucrats who want to keep their jobs like a petition with several hundred names on it.

Circulating a petition takes effort, but if an issue is really important to you and many of your friends, a petition is a powerful way to influence Sun City Anthem governance and management decisions.

4. Know Your Rights.

Nevada law and the governing documents provide homeowners with influential ways to report and seek redress of violations of your rights.

One of the best actions you can take is to file an Intervention Affidavit (“IA”) with the Office of the Ombudsman in the Nevada Real Estate Division.

Each Intervention Affidavit that is filed is reported to Sun City Anthem and investigated by the Ombudsman.

Another way is to quote a reference to State law or the SCA governing documents in your complaint notices to the SCA Board and management.

You, the homeowners, also have the right to remove a director who you do not believe is serving you well.

5. Cast an Informed Vote.

The number of homeowners who vote in the Sun City Anthem election is usually 50% or fewer.

Equally disturbing is the number of people who tell me they rely on the recommendation of others, including the blogs, for determining whom to vote.

Don’t rely of self-serving information sources, such a the blogs or candidate flyers, to determine who will serve you well on the Board; attend one of the candidate interview functions and make them answer your questions.

Then, send in your ballot.

The election ballot is mailed to your home, and it doesn't take but a few minutes to complete it, and mail or leave it in a collection box at one of the centers.

In several SCA elections (including last year), the results of the election have been determined by fewer than twenty votes.

Yes, every vote counts, and elections have consequences.

6. Keep Your Contact Information Current.

The simplest way to be involved in the governance of Sun City Anthem is to make sure your mailing address, email address, and telephone number in the SCA records are up to date.

If you live away from SCA for a few months of the year, change your mailing address before you leave town and change it back to your local address when you return.

By taking this simple step, you will insure that you receive all official notices and communication materials, such as the Spirit, in order to stay informed.

Another important step you can take is to sign up of E-Blasts.

E-Blasts are used to inform you of immediate issues and information.

Final Thoughts and A Thank You

I firmly believe thatwe the people get the government we deserve.

Be active homeowners, get involved, and make your voices heard.
You are the foundation of all governance.

Public service at all levels of government is an honor, and I thank you for having allowed me to serve the homeowners of this community.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Anthem Opinions has supported the honesty, integrity, and dedication Jim Mayfield has given the Sun City Anthem community for years.

His deep desire "to do the right thing" has at times, sadly made him the brunt of ridicule for standing up to believing "the people" are first and foremost; that those who govern have a duty to listen and serve them in a manner in which they themselves would like to be treated.

In our opinion, Sun City Anthem has never had a better qualified individual to guide its future, and those who follow should use him as an example in their governing responsibilities.

A final thought to Jim...

From all of us..to you..

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Got a comment?

Send it to us at:
scaopinions@gmail.com
  1. From Robert Nusser...to...Anthem Opinions

    I agree with Mr. Mayfield that there is an embarrassing lack of community involvement; he blames it on apathy.

    But the BIG question is WHY did the apathy develop in the first place?

    In My Humble Opinion - the apathy is the result of residents' DISGUST with past and present HOA Boards and their governance.

    In my "informal survey" of neighbors asking if they voted, the overall attitude is "Why bother - things never change around here"

    Unfortunately they do change - usually for the worse.
    1. From Don Schramski...former member of the Sun City Anthem Board of Directors...to...Anthem Opinions

      I'm sorry, but I can't agree with Mr. Nusser, or to those who believe as he does about WHY the apathy exists here at SCA.

      I believe the apathy began early in life for very many of our homeowners, and is simply manifested here because it's easier to use an excuse to cop out than to be involved.

      Past and present Boards made mistakes, sure, but, in my experience, they were always attempting to govern our association as best they could; most of the time, in spite of the constant criticism from those members who thought they knew better, but were just not motivated to either discover the real truth, or get involved.

      There are too many talented homeowners who rely on the blogs for local information, and use the excuse “things never change” rather than exert any effort to lead rather than follow.

      And, I certainly disagree the governance and livability of SCA is getting worse.

      We enjoy a lifestyle and environment that is the envy of many homeowners in other HOA's, so why is it necessary to dis management and the Board at every juncture?

      Negativism breeds negativism.

      If each member would thank our Committee members, Board members and management for their service regularly, our community would be an even better place to live. 
    2. Don,

      Many of the mistakes made by past boards were made out of sheer ignorance and lack of common sense, by individuals who had literally no relevant experience in a number of areas.

      A perfect case in point is a Board granting a $40,000 loan to a restaurant occupant who was first unable to obtain funds from any financial institution, yet the Board on which you were a part of, granted, BELOW PRIME INTEREST RATES, following his defaulting in rent and utility payments again and again.

      Of course, we never saw of dime of that money, did we?

      Then...because you believed an attorney that the guy would sue SCA, you let him "off the hook" with a simple eviction without pursuing the funds.

      Common sense from any experienced person in the business world or for that matter, a 2nd grade education, would have said to themselves, "If a guy can't pay his rent, how is he going to come up with money to pay a lawyer $300-$500 per hour to sue us?"

      That...was a no brainer, something that cost residents BIG BUCKS as a result of LACK OF COMMON SENSE and/or RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

      How many times did you, as a board member, pick up the phone and ask a competent and experienced INDEPENDENT resident of the community who was not a member of any formal committee this simple question:

      "If you were me, what would you do?" 

      OR

      "Is there something we missed in our thought process?"

      ...when it came to controversial matters?

      Mistakes are mistakes, but when you don't seek advice from those who "have been there" and instead rely on a select group with limited experience, let's just say....you shouldn't be surprised when things go south.

      ...and...as we all know...

      THEY DID.

3 comments:

  1. From Robert Nusser...to...Anthem Opinions

    I agree with Mr. Mayfield that there is an embarrassing lack of community involvement; he blames it on apathy.

    But the BIG question is WHY did the apathy develop in the first place?

    In My Humble Opinion - the apathy is the result of residents' DISGUST with past and present HOA Boards and their governance.

    In my "informal survey" of neighbors asking if they voted, the overall attitude is "Why bother - things never change around here"

    Unfortunately they do change - usually for the worse.

    ReplyDelete
  2. From Don Schramski...former member of the Sun City Anthem Board of Directors...to...Anthem Opinions

    I'm sorry, but I can't agree with Mr. Nusser, or to those who believe as he does about WHY the apathy exists here at SCA.

    I believe the apathy began early in life for very many of our homeowners, and is simply manifested here because it's easier to use an excuse to cop out than to be involved.

    Past and present Boards made mistakes, sure, but, in my experience, they were always attempting to govern our association as best they could; most of the time, in spite of the constant criticism from those members who thought they knew better, but were just not motivated to either discover the real truth, or get involved.

    There are too many talented homeowners who rely on the blogs for local information, and use the excuse “things never change” rather than exert any effort to lead rather than follow.

    And, I certainly disagree the governance and livability of SCA is getting worse.

    We enjoy a lifestyle and environment that is the envy of many homeowners in other HOA's, so why is it necessary to dis management and the Board at every juncture?

    Negativism breeds negativism.

    If each member would thank our Committee members, Board members and management for their service regularly, our community would be an even better place to live.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Don,

    Many of the mistakes made by past boards were made out of sheer ignorance and lack of common sense, by individuals who had literally no relevant experience in a number of areas.

    A perfect case in point is a Board granting a $40,000 loan to a restaurant occupant who was first unable to obtain funds from any financial institution, yet the Board on which you were a part of, granted, BELOW PRIME INTEREST RATES, following his defaulting in rent and utility payments again and again.

    Of course, we never saw of dime of that money, did we?

    Then...because you believed an attorney that the guy would sue SCA, you let him "off the hook" with a simple eviction without pursuing the funds.

    Common sense from any experience person in the business or for that matter, a 2nd grade education, would have said to themselves, "If a guy can't pay his rent, how is he going to come up with money to pay a lawyer $300-$500 per hour to sue us?"

    That...was a no brainer, something that cost residents BIG BUCKS as a result of LACK OF COMMON SENSE and/or RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

    How many times did you, as a board member, pick up the phone and ask a competent and experienced INDEPENDENT resident of the community who was not a member of any formal committee this simple question:

    "If you were me, what would you do?"

    OR

    "Is there something we missed in our thought process?"

    ...when it came to controversial matters?

    Mistakes are mistakes, but when you don't seek advice from those who "have been there" and instead rely on a select group with limited experience, let's just say....you shouldn't be surprised when things go south.

    ...and...as we all know...

    THEY DID.


    ReplyDelete