OPINIONS: Lehrer: Change coming, misinformation muddles process in Sun City

In case you aren't a paid subscriber to The Sun City Independent (you should be) or you don't get a free, "thrown" copy in your driveway, this is the article that Bill P. is referring to in his blog posted in this edition - Misinformation? Disinformation? - Hmm, calling it so doesn't mean it's so.

 Posted Tuesday, May 24, 2022 2:00 pm 

By Dale Lehrer

After several months and just a bit of a rocky start, I think we can all agree that there have been a number of improvements as we reach the half-year point.

Dialogue between Recreation Centers of Sun City members and the board of directors continues to improve. The member/board exchange is still a work in process, but I am confident that your input matters and every item and suggestion will be acted upon as appropriate. 

Misinformation? Disinformation? - Hmm, calling it so doesn't mean it's so.

One woman's opinion doesn't necessarily make facts...

I read with interest President Dale Lehrer's "opinion piece" in the Independent this week. The header read, "Change coming, misinformation muddle the process." I know sometimes the headline above the story is often written by the editor, it's happened to me several times. Nothing wrong with that by the way, the goal is to get folks to read the column.

Throw Your Hat in The Ring?

ELECTION

RCSC candidate packets can be picked up next month; 

To be available June 6

By Joelyn Higgins

SPECIAL TO INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA


Recreation Centers of Sun City candidate packets and information meetings are available on June 6.

RCSC members interested in running for the board of directors will be able to obtain candidate packets next month.

Items on Agenda that we Members can Speak on

• Committee Reports

Lawn Bowl Committee – Director Nowakowski

On behalf of the Lawn Bowl Committee, I move that the RCSC Board of Directors authorize the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to review the impact on all members outside activities at the Mt. View Center. The committee’s task is to acquire affected member input and explore alternatives during the period of disrupted facilities, also the effect of denying members activities at Mt. View for an extended period of time, which has not been historically done before.

Our take:
Director Nowakowski is giving members of all clubs impacted by the construction at Mountain View a chance to (a) listen to those who are affected by this (b) find out if RCSC has a plan in place for them and (c) what effect denying members their activities at Mt. View will have on them.

• Motions - Second Reading

Second Reading Bowling Committee - Director Wilson

On behalf of the Bowling Committee, I recommend that the remodeling of the restrooms behind Lanes 3 and 4 at the Lakeview Bowling Center be considered in the 2023 budgeting process.

Second Reading Club Organization Committee (COC) - Director Wilson

On behalf of the COC Committee, I move to amend Board Policy #12 titled Chartered Clubs, Section 8 titled Club Records & Reports as follows:

8. CLUB RECORDS & REPORTS

All Chartered Clubs must record and maintain minutes of all club meetings and must retain copies of all correspondence. Minutes must be readily available to all club members.

Second Reading Insurance Committee - Director Wilson

I move, based on the Insurance Committee’s and RCSC’s recommendations to approve the 2022/2023 insurance renewal proposal for the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. The renewal proposal includes the same insurance coverages, carriers, and terms/conditions per RCSC’s expiring coverage with an increase of 14.5%.

Second Reading Insurance Committee – Director Wilson

I move based on the Insurance Committee’s and RCSC’s Insurance Broker’s recommendation, that RCSC decline Terrorism Risk Insurance. The terrorism-related coverage is optional for commercial property and casualty coverages except for Worker's Compensation. Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was initially created by the federal government after the 9/11/2001 attack on American soil. The act allows the federal government to share monetary losses with insurers on commercial property and casualty losses due to a terrorist attack sponsored by foreign interests. For TRIA coverage to apply, a terrorist event would have to be declared by the Secretary of State which has not happened in the United States since this Act was passed by Congress in 2002. RCSC has rejected TRIA on applicable coverages during the past several years.

Second Reading Member Exchange -Vice President Ege

I move to amend Bylaws Article V titled Board of Directors; Section 5 titled Meetings of the Board: Change Board Member Exchanges to Member Board Exchanges

• Consent Calendar

Request to approve the de-charter of the Cornhole Club based upon noncompliance with Board Policy 12 in completing the establishment of the club.

• New Business

Director Collins - I move to amend Board Policy #12 titled Chartered Clubs, Section 8 titled Club Records & Reports as follows:

8. CLUB RECORDS & REPORTS

All Chartered Clubs must record and maintain minutes of all club meetings and must retain copies of all correspondence. Minutes must be readily available to all club members. All Chartered Clubs are responsible for the timely filing of all reports and tax forms required by federal, state, and local laws for 501(c)(4) organizations see FORM BP:12-19(a) for more information.

Memorial Day

HONORING ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND DIED

"Who is Memorial Day for? It's for all of us. It's for all Americans to remember we enjoy our many freedoms because of a brave few who dedicated their lives to this country and who died much too soon from wounds seen and unseen." ~ Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder

The Question?

 

Following the second member/board exchange meeting the other day (May 9), those walking out of the room should be scratching their heads and asking this one question. I know I was, did and still am. "Who should decide what Sun City is?" 

Let's recap; at the first member/board exchange, a suggestion was made to change the electronic marquee signs in front of rec centers to read: Sun City, The City Of Volunteers." They currently state, "Sun City The Original Fun City." That change came about in 2012 when the general manager felt it was important to rebrand the community. We heard the reason was buyers wouldn't want to come here if they had to volunteer.

 As you are reading this, my best guess is many of you are saying, "who really cares," or "does it really make a difference?" And from a practical standpoint, it's not life and death. However, it is a question that goes to the very heart of Sun City. More importantly, who owns it? Who runs it?

Exclusive: Mountain View debate continues in Sun City

FROM SUBSCRIBER EDITION of the Sun City Independent

Posted Thursday, May 12, 2022 7:00 am By Rusty Bradshaw Mail | Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor Subscriber Exclusive https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/mountain-view-debate-continues-in-sun-city,302321?cb=1652371642

Mountain View debate continues in Sun City; Residents continue to request changes Despite the lifting of a moratorium on signing any contracts for the Mountain View Center, residents continue to ask that it be extended. The center is targeted for a total rebuild that would include a performing arts center, a gymnasium, and a resort-style pool. General plans for an initial phase of construction were RCSC board approved in June last year. However, the board approved in January a 90-day moratorium on signing any contracts for the project. The delay, according to board member Allan Lenefsky who proposed it, was intended to give new board members a chance to learn the details of the project.

Part 2: Member Board Exchange, May 9th, 2022

 

As I write this, there are almost 700 views of this meeting. Fantastic!!

Jean, here, stepping in to finish up the Member Board Exchange meeting on May 9^th.  Bill is off pounding the keys at Talk of Sun City and in his new role as an administrator for the Facebook group, Sun City Chat, so I’ll try to fill in the blanks.

To follow our last email “teaser” to you --- Did they listen to us? --- with this edition entitled, “are YOU listening to them?” has me pointing out a few comments that I heard, some by members, some by the Board.  This is not picking on anyone; this is not finding fault; this is not hatred; this is me making observations.  About what was said.  (And what wasn’t said.) Out loud.  Stated by me.  Not hiding behind an Anonymous or Unknown title. 

Building A Sense of Community

  

May 5th,  Part 1

I've been harping for years about the importance of building a sense of community. Much to the dismay of at least one poster who has suggested it has become annoying that i continue to beat that "dead horse." I get it, for some the idea or suggestion we return or cling to our roots is unappealing. 

In the past couple of days i've been asked to help be an administrator on Facebook Sun City Chat Arizona. I was invited to do so more than a year ago and elected to decline the offer. I was convinced it would entail more time than i wanted to spend. Plus, as i was posting historical photos daily, i kept coming across comments i struggled with. Not that people aren't entitled to their opinions, my immediate reaction was to simply reply back as harshly, or perhaps even more caustic.

The solution was one the administrator suggested. Blocking people who were spoiling for a fight made more sense than engaging with them. I have nothing but respect for Garland Shreves as he has done an amazing job growing the site and keeping the craziness levels to a minimum. To be blunt, i was in awe of how hard he worked to make the site as popular as it was/is.

 

10 Key Moments Feature

One of our panel members discovered this feature and we decided to share it with you.

Want to quickly view video highlights of RCSC board meetings?

• Google RCSC VIDEOS; do not use any email Blasts from RCSC.

• Available recordings appear with an option to view: "In this Video - 10 Key Moments."

• Scroll down to decide which meeting you want.

• ONLY TAP the IN THIS VIDEO bar part, not the screen shot of the meeting.

• Tap it and choose the listed topic you are interested in; the length of clip is also given.

• You’ll be taken directly to the clip you selected!

WHAT A GREAT FEATURE!!

What do you think?

RCSC Bylaws Revision and Review Committee

Exclusive

Sun City Independent, posted online Wednesday, May 11, 2022 7:00 am

By Rusty Bradshaw  Mail | Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

Sun City Rec Centers Bylaw Revisions Progressing; Meetings closed to members

May 9th Member Board Exchange Notes - Part 1

Let me start with this; I hate taking minutes, so I don't. I write myself brief summaries of the topics raised and then move on. Following yesterday's meeting, I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. Nope, nothing wrong with the session, the exercise is still a plus for the community and the membership but the real question still lingers: Are they serious about what is said or are we just there flapping our gums?

A better seat at the table

Not a misprint - It says Sun City West but take a minute to read it

Why should you read this??

Understanding CC&Rs in the community

Legally binding document

By Jennifer Jimenez
Mail | Twitter: @SCW_Independent

More residents are calling Sun City West home year-round.

Recreation Centers of Sun City West General Manager Bill Schwind said numbers are in good shape from bowling and golf, as well as participation levels remaining strong at clubs. He said the shift in trend from winter visitors to year-round residents is visible in Sun City West.

What's Right With Sun City Parts 11 - 15 (end)

By Bill Pearson

Originally posted on Talk of Sun City (Posted as written)

 4.27 Part 11

Let me shock everyone with this next piece on what i love about Sun City. Golf. Yup, i said it and i stand by it. I used to play, i don't anymore, but there's no question, Sun City was built as a golfing community and it will always be a golfing community. For anyone interested in our history and Del Webb, you know the man loved the game. What is so odd is, he took it up late in life. He was in his mid 30's. Most know he was a great athlete, aspiring to become a professional baseball player.

 

What's Right with Sun City, Parts 6 - 10

 By Bill Pearson

Originally posted on Talk of Sun City (Posted as written)

 4.21 Part 6

Over the years i have taken hundreds of visitors through the Museum. Whenever i start to tell the John Meeker salvation story, the question invariably becomes, "what did he do?" The challenge is, there isn't one thing. It was a paradigm shift in thinking that started with that policy of non-involvement. We read above how the members took ownership of the governance aspect, the reality was, much of the rest of it, needed a financial boost to get things moving.

What's Right With Sun City?

If you know Bill Pearson, you know he loves to write.  For 15 years or more, Bill has been pecking out prolific missives about his favorite topic - Sun City.  It seems like you either love him or dislike him; but whichever, you've got to admit he knows his history.  I find it fascinating to read his "stories" about the past, and I long to see Sun City go "a little bit backwards" to capture that commitment, resolve, and sense of community. If you share my feelings, you will enjoy this. 

We will be sharing a 15 part series that Bill recently posted on Talk of Sun City. 

Here are the first 5. (Copied exactly as written.)

Jean Totten, Advisory Panel