GM: Governing Board deserves your support
By Mike Whiting
General Manager, RCSCW
I have been the General Manager here in Sun City West for nearly eight years, so I have worked with eight different Governing Boards. In a 40 year career, I have seen City Councils come and go – some good, some not so good.
There is a small “grass roots” movement to recall the current Governing Board led by a few seemingly unhappy residents. I know these folks and must express my disappointment in their motivation. Nevertheless, it is their right under our governing documents to pursue their beliefs. That much I support.
This group wants to paint the Board as misguided, secretive spend thrifts. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I would remind our residents that your dues increases have been conservative and have in the past been raised to increase our reserves. Your dues remain at the 25th percentile for communities like ours. You need only to cross the street to find dues much higher supporting fewer amenities. I would also remind you that our employees got no raises this year (and modest raises for several years prior to that). Managers’ wages were flat for two of the last 3 years, and I have taken no raise for four years in a row (I also gave back $10,000 two years ago).
When the gymnasium was proposed, the Board said “no” not once, but twice. The response was slow and gave the impression that they were considering the project. They were not.
The Board is wisely spending your dues to maintain the Del Webb concept and using long lasting materials and equipment to keep the Community attractive and updated.
No Governing Board has been more open. I have a motto: “We have no secrets here.” Our Board lives by this pledge as well. They hold six open meetings each month. The only closed meetings are executive sessions (allowed under state law and our Bylaws) to consider advice from our attorney, or private member or employee information.
In addition we have email, Comment Forms, E-News blasts, Rec Center News, the Blog, Facebook and articles like this one all designed to keep lines of communication open. Most of these tools are above and beyond what is required in our Bylaws.
Please be wary of negative comments, claims of misuse, misspending; they are almost always exaggerated or completely false. And don’t believe rumors about how much dues are being increased; nothing has even been proposed yet.
Your Governing Board works hard. They deserve your support.
Ms. Alexander, the vast majority of our employees are very grateful to have jobs. The majority also happen to be residents. And the majority also happen to be underpaid based on comparative operations. We’re not complaining mind you. We’re just acknowledging times are tough and we’re all in this together. Most of us work here because we like the area, we like the Association, and we like our boss and the working environment. Its not the pay that keeps us here. When people suggest our jobs, salaries and benefits should be cut even while services are at their peak, we have more clubs, events and amenities than ever – well, that hurts. Especially because our jobs are focused on creating the best possible retirement lifestyle for those same individuals who are suggesting the cuts. Remember the old adage – you get what you pay for.
I would like to remind Mike Whiting that almost nobody has had a raise in four years. People who need a job and have one are very fortunate in this economy. The fact that Mr. Whiting can give back 10 grand would indicate to me that he is overpaid. Maybe while looking for ways to roll back fees, the Rec Board should be looking to roll back salaries as well.
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling” Chicken Little proclaimed throughout the land, upsetting a lot of people It all started when Chicken Little had an acorn drop on his head, but ignoring or not fully aware of the facts, he went out and upset the people. The fable is interpreted as a warning not to believe everything you are told.
The “Chicken Little’s of Sun City West have no problem half listening or enjoying and repeating the rumor of the day to anyone who will listen to the “truth” as they see it and heard it from “…well I forgot where I did hear it or who told me”.
Few attend the Board Meetings to listen to reality or read the Recreation Center News to get some facts. Facts can be so boring and they do not excite people like a rumor I guess.
We do have people who have taken it upon themselves to initiate a “scam” with a lot of rumors and heresay.
Well folks, the sky is not falling and the Recreation Board is not guilty of malfeasance. Someone just had an acorn drop on their head.
Mike,
Thanks for adding the bit about the dues increase. I got home the other evening and my mom said, “Do you know the dues are going up to xxx per year?” I said, “Really… Where ever you ‘heard’ that it just isn’t true because that has not been decided.” I really wish everyone would take the time to learn the facts but I know that won’t happen. I, too, have been a victim of people not taking the time to know the facts and getting all the information so I know what the Rec Center staff and the Board goes through.
Again, I bet this same “recall the board” group doesn’t attend the budget meetings, board meetings, probably never reads the financial statement in the Rec Center News, and doesn’t read your GM Weekly Report to know what is going on (maintenance, over-seeding, boilers being replace…. list goes on). I think the residents are well informed if they choose to be.
Although I have expressed some disagreements with actions of the Governing Board, I in no way support the effort to recall any one of the members of the Board.
While I feel that some limits should be placed on spending for new construction and major capital projects, attempting to recall the Board is not the way to do this!
Hopefully this ill advised effort will be short lived.