Sun City
Anthem
Is Transition to
"Self-Management in Trouble?
Part Three of
Three
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.
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.
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 that “we 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..
Got a
comment?
Send it to us
at:
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.
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.
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.