This is probably an exercise in futility given the state of the board, but i was so taken aback by the comments made by a Sun City West board member i felt a compelling need to speak out. An article in the weekend addition of the Daily News Sun was the source of my disbelief, and here's a summary of why i was stunned. There's been an ongoing controversy between the pickleball and tennis clubs. Court space is an issue that is a battle often repeated across the country as tennis at best is holding its own while pickleball has been growing by leaps and bounds. Sun City West is no exception as this has been ongoing for a year or more. The good news is it appears they've reached resolution with a compromise that adds courts for both clubs. The bad news is Sun City West board wants the clubs to pay for the improvements. Obviously that's a position they can take and who am i to argue it's merits? My concerns are regarding a board members comments in the paper when she said this: "the clubs are paying their own way. This is a big changing moment. It's no longer an entitlement that we owe all of you everything." I'll simply say this; thank god the Webb corporation people didn't take this approach when they built these two remarkable communities?
Once again I did not get my weekend edition, so I didn't see the article, and I'm not real familiar with the happenings of SCW...BUT, isn't that why people pay their yearly fee and the one time PIF? This sounds like a dangerous direction. I too am not happy with this board. *Admin, can we talk about the future of this board?
Is it different from the SC car club having to pay for their facility? Maybe I'm missing something. I hope I am.
Where has everyone been? On vacation? These are the first posts in days/weeks. Things are still happening around Sun City. The SC Visitor Center is under new management and changes, all good, are being made. Stop in and say hello. Take the bus tour. Summer will not be too busy, but seats fill up fast.
Hey g47, not really different except board members aren't bragging clubs have to do it themselves. In the end, my guess is the Vintage Restoration Club will only be asked to help with the costs of building it. And for those who don't know, clubs have often helped buy things for the club. The problem with this attitude from the SCW board member is the comment "we" owe you everything. Since when are the elected representatives of the community the "we"? And more importantly, as J_V pointed out, the only thing that makes the entire concept work is residents dues and the PIF fees paid. In my humble opinion, the Sun City car club, if it is a club that is needed and adds value should be provided from for from the RCSC funds available. More later on J_V's comments regarding this site.
I'm confused (still) by this. *Do the tennis players have to pay for the courts? *Swimmers for the pools? *Golfers for the courses? *Every other club for their space and or fancy equipment? * I thought we, as a community, paid for this "stuff" so that it was an enhancement to the community. *I don't play tennis, but I want SC to have nice courtsite, I don't have a classic car, but I like the idea of folks who do having a place to gather. *Etc. *These are amenities that keep. SC relevant. *Nickle and diming the residents for their club space is crazy and not appealing.
Sorry Bill. It really IS different. The Vintage Vehicles Club approached the BOD with the idea of paying for the building, not the other way around. It is entirely different from what went on in Sun City West!
When i left the board Rich we were toying with the idea of using the maintenance garage behind the bowling alley at Lakeview. Since that time, you guys went with the idea of a place at the South course...that went over like a lead balloon eh? But back to the Vintage club, the reality is putting up this building will cost what...a million dollars? More? I know the members are working hard raising money, including the raffle of a donated Mercedes. The reality is even with their best efforts, how close will they come to raising that kind of money? Are you telling me the board won't help them? Of course most of this comes back to the idea of a community involved long range planning committee. You know how i feel about this: When i was on the board other board members voted to take the LRPC from a standing committee to an ad hoc committee. Since that time, the board has ignored any and all efforts to reinstate the the long range planning committee and just made all the decisions regarding the communities direction. That is just so wrong it hurts. Ill touch on a couple of J_V's comments in a bit.
Little history here would be good: Clubs have for a very long time contributed to the costs associated with running the club. That primarily applies to the equipment inside their club space. Of course a lot depends on the kind of revenue they raise and have available. In the end, the RCSC owns everything, no matter who buys it. And therein is the reason, IMHO, the actual club space should be bought and paid for by the RCSC. Beyond that, club members often contribute to the success of the clubs. The best example is the lawn bowling clubs. If you stop by the Bell greens and look at benches, you'll see names of members who bought the benches. And of course, there's no secret about the member who has supported the clubs with more than a half a million dollars in donations the past ten years. I just hope we never get to the point where we see the kind of attitude witnessed by the board member in Sun City West...that "turning point" where what happens in our communities is an "entitlement."
If the past is any example, don't look for answers from the admins on this kiddo. All of the issues and problems of late have virtually been ignored. I get it, there's little or no money in message boards and forums. Let's step away from what's going on here and talk about the future, and the past. In my previous life we were looking at building a website to help try and rebuild organized labor. We brought in some of the best and brightest in the Twin Cities and held a "focus group" to brainstorm ideas. For three hours we toyed with the what and how's. When it was all said and done, the one thing that acme from it was to build something that was smaller picture rather than bigger. The point to this story is simple, I see TOSC as being too big, too many communities and the crossover between them just doesn't work. I think a site dedicated to just the original Sun City as being far more manageable and and more appealing on so many levels. While this may be unattractive to the board owners, what we doing here feels almost like a waste of time. More to think about eh?
Did you notice that the BOD has a motion on the table for the May 9 evening exchange to approve the purchase of the old China Buffet at 105th & Grand for $750,000. Perhaps the new home for the car club??
Interesting catch aggie. I hadn't seen that motion. Huge piece of prime real estate, so it just depends on what they want to do with it. How cool would a long range planning committee be to help shape that direction?
There is no Long Range Plan as it seems everything is done at a whim and behind closed doors. The motion could have stated the possible uses for this purchase i.e. the long requested "gathering place", a new administration complex to free up more space in Lakeview, space for in house construction projects etc. We'll have to see if any questions are answered at the Exchange Meeting as that is the suggested venue to get direct answers from the RCSC Board.
I think Monday night may be interesting. I am sure many questions will be asked. I can't wait to hear their answers.
