A Place to Feel Welcome

I can see you are right with SCHOA not doing anything. We have several large dead pine trees in the area. They are now unattractive and totally dead. No one is doing anything. Year after year these dead trees stay. It must cost quite a bit to take down a very large pine tree, but still, the tree should come down. Homeowner responsibility possibly, but homeowners aren't doing anything. This has become frustrating if you live near these fossils.

 

You're so right Bill. I've been here almost 15 years, and no one ever say, hello, nice to meet you, and welcome to Sun City. I agree it would show some class to have at least a welcome lunch.

 

When you say fossils, are you talking about the trees or the people? Lol.

 

I went searching for some tag lines to undo the “Fun City” one.

here are two suggestions, not my favorite at first but could be repurposed into something bett:

• Glad to know you are here….

• The right place to start a new life.

The acknowledgement that you are here and we are glad you are takes a different approach to saying a standard welcome.
The second honors the choice to buy in Sun City and could be flexible to include additional explanations
Just some suggestions for thought

 

I've often wondered how much different Sun City would have evolved had we stayed the course and not tried to become like every other age restricted community across the country? It never made any sense to me, knowing our unique place in the history books as the first, it always seemed to make more sense to capitalize on it, not run from it.

For the small cadre of us who have invested so much time and energy in understanding our past, we tend to view the community through the lens of what was. I know that troubles some, which is why i so often take additional time to relate the stories; the hows and whys we got here. The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum is stunning on so many fronts.

One of the most spectacular items in their vast collection are those early newspaper ads. Created by a 50 person in-house advertising agency, the ads were crafted to stir both the emotions and the imaginations of anyone seeing them. They were that damned good, they still are. Having sifted through them dozens of times, i can tell you there are countless images and slogans worth considering to rebrand Sun City.

And just for shirts and giggles, take a look at the 1961 video, The Beginning. While a bit dated and a bit sexist, it's still fun to watch. We show it at the Museum in our mini-Sun Dome theater; you can also view Part 1 online here. It's been broken into two parts with the second half here.

Imagine recreating this video to reflect and retrofit it to today's retirement/still working needs.

 

Just because I could I called the rec center and asked if there was a generic stretching class/floor exercise class. My answer was (just minutes ago) was "sorry, no. all classes are run by clubs and all charge by class". No putting on hold to double check, nothing. I will be attending this class that does not exist Monday and pay my $5 annual fee. I wonder how many others were forced to find a Silver Sneakers near here. Wonder how many of those people joined other activities at the facilities that host Silver Sneakers.

Love Sun City for all the things it has to offer, but when trying to find out something or get help it's a different story. When someone dies, getting help with the website, I could go on but I have said it all before. Grab the $6k then everyone is pretty much on their own. Hiring a recommended contractor is something that will forever stick because nothing was done. I had a guy who drugged and raped a woman in another state, skipped out on the trial, was on the CA FBI wanted list, sitting at my kitchen table and causing havoc for about 10 months. I sent the FBI wanted sheet to the HOA via email and they would not remove him. People liked him was my response. Yes I still have all communication.

Even watching the board meeting held yesterday was so odd. Especially the coyote part. Not one person had a clue about them. Mom and pups may be coming and going but no one was sure. Were folks safe in that area after it was re-opened?

Love Sun City for what it was but it can't be denied it's not the same.

 

Hi Bill, I remember that video. It is charming.
I think after reflecting on what I remember from my early days of living here until now. I feel the reason why SC was such an inclusive community is because there was nothing else around SC itself. It sat out here like an island unto itself. I feel people where more dependent on reaching out and having community with others out of necessity. I also think the culture was just different. Probably everyone that actually moved here were truly retired and could simply live a retired persons life. Today, you may have retired folks, but many folks are still trying to earn more money with a part time job. Many folks have extended family living in the Phoenix area. Some folks are taking care of elderly parents or helping with grandchildren and so forth. It seemed from my memory people lived much more simpler than we do today. People would spend a Friday night square dancing or playing cards. I remember my parents going out to nearby farms around here and picking grapes. My mother made homemade raisins. Is anyone out there doing that today? I do think SC had a stronger sense of community though. That without question seems true. People weren't edgy, angry, political from my memory. More kind, considerate, proper and helpful. We could use more of this.

 

Most of what you've written is true Eileen. However the age to buy was 50 (it wasn't a legal requirement until the 80's when it became law and added to our deed restrictions) and oddly enough DEVCO featured an entire series of ads showing those continuing to work and enjoying all Sun City offered. My vision has always been to recreate them.

The one tag line, " a small town in miniature" was the classic example of staying within the community. Unless they traveled to Phoenix or drove to the East Valley, there wasn't much around us locally. I would make the argument now with everything just outside our walls, living within them is even better. Personally i don't leave unless i have to.

My mantra has never wavered, i doubt it ever will. As a collectivist, i have always understood the importance of community. The decision to disassociate and disconnect from it never made a lick of sense. Restoring it is challenging but certainly not impossible.

Think in terms of every club as a micro-community; every organization a micro community; every church, every neighborhood. Pulling them together and pooling the impact of being committed to one another's success almost sounds too easy. We know on a national level we have never been more divided; there's no upside to being that way within these white walls.

Society has changed, people have changed, does that mean the vast majority of those buying into Sun City wouldn't love to feel the joy that comes with being part of something special and so unique? Hell, most of those moving here are unaware of why a piece of this small desert setting where cotton was picked could become a welcoming destination for more than 100,000 seniors over the years.

Dreamer? Maybe, but i'll take that over being a fatalist every time. This community, in spite of our flaws, is within reach of most seniors of moderate means and a desire to enjoy their remaining years whether they are working full time, part time or fully retired. DEVCO showed us the way, we simply need embrace and showcase it.

 

Division as a country is not an excuse for incompetent employees. Allowing a rapist wanted by the FBI on the recommended contractor list is due to division? And then not to remove them from the list when presented with proof? How is that encouraging member confidence. There is no way you can explain that away Bill. How many other contractors on the "preferred list" are scammers or criminals?

When people pass away there is no one to help their loved ones at all. No one knows you can get a partial refund on the assessment fee for the unused portion. "It's up to the family to understand rules". Grieving family members are not thinking about that.

There is no member liaison. There are numbers to call, but as the saying goes no one is home. These are just a couple of reasons why there were only 25 people at the meeting.

 

I love those commercials and I miss those people.

 

The early ads, the video, the focus on new home buyers always played an integral role in marketing and selling Sun City. DEVCO and especially John Meeker understood the importance of acceptance in this "new active way of life." Everything they did was to inspire those buying here to love it and to help others feel the same way.

As i sit here typing this, i find myself asking the question: Who does that these days? During those early years, the challenge was to get seniors to uproot and leave their families. There wasn't the staggering competition we have today. Back then it was all about rewriting the norms and how those retiring viewed life once leaving the workplace and then moving away from family and friends.

Today, it's all about which one of the 3000 age restricted communities is right for me? The impression of Sun City is that as the first, everything must be old and tattered. Much of what has been discussed has been about that effort to overcome first impressions. If we don't set it as a goal, how do we ever begin to change it?

Sun City has so much to offer, from quiet clean streets and neighborhoods, to unlimited social engagements via the clubs to an even broader array of volunteer opportunities, Sun City has always been one of the most affordable options in the senior marketplace. Hoping people find us and buy here is a fools game. We have unlimited potential only to be held back by our failure to understand the history of a community rich with tradition that was about creating that sense of community.

It doesn't happen by accident, little in life does. While the naysayer's will find cause to whine, no matter where anyone finally elects to live, it will come with their own set of problems and less than perfect people. Pretending otherwise is nonsense. Working together to make things better has been Sun City's calling card from the very beginning...it still is to this day.

 

You seem to forget you started the hate with your first comment to me the day I joined here Bill.

I'd welcome you to the site Josie, but that would be disingenuous on my part. For a happy hippie, you really need to work on your whole smiley face thing. By the way, i never gave you authorization to post my materials from this site on a Facebook page. You might want to check with those attorneys you've hired to sue the RCSC on whether you can legally do that without permission.

Oh wait, you're moving out of SC because you hate it here. Oh wait some more; how can you be the happy hippie when you are so busy hating on stuff?

Life's mysteries.

BPearson, Dec 6, 2023

 

One of the qualities of living a quality way of life in Sun City can be found in how some address the problems they encounter. My take has always been straight forward, put your hand up volunteer and get involved. Others find whining about it on Social Media is a solution. It's not, it just makes them part of the problem.

Hopefully the admin/moderator will come to value those who contribute while some whine, cut and paste and insult.

Than goodness there's way more of us who love it here and want it to succeed. There always has been , there always will be.

Which is exactly how and why this community has survived all these years and is still a top consideration for those looking for a well priced age restricted community with wonderful amenities.

 

I agree that personal attacks and resentments have no place on this site.

 

Pot......Kettle

Capital Allocation Process(?) | Page 4 | Talk of Sun City

 

Always fun to live life through the lens of the queen of cut and paste. John and i disagree from time to time, that's to be expected of reasonably smart people who engage in the back and forth of what's in Sun City's best interest. Anyone who knows the community's history, knows that was the norm that embodied the building of such a unique setting.

It still works that way, even with our drift since 2006. For those of us who believe the RCSC members are the owners, we also believe our voices should be heard. The folly the general manager or 9 board members could or should have all the answers is exactly how we got in the trouble we found ourselves in coming out of the pandemic.

We're moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. That said, let me refresh this thread that has been hijacked to bolster one poster's ego, and to be clear, John and i are 100% in sync on this one:
When the LRP was drafting the Mission Vision and Value Statement they included the following:
*We value our friendly and welcoming community and want to pass that along to future generations.

 

The hypocrisy from Bill is stunning. I have a rapist in my home and it's just okey dokey that the HOA does nothing. Bill gets bilked out of a few dollars and it's a major event causing him to post so many comments. Poor Bill. Look at all this whining!

Contractor needed | Talk of Sun City

Contractors | Talk of Sun City

Fixing what's broken at SCHOA | Talk of Sun City

More teachable moments... | Page 2 | Talk of Sun City

The Day the Music Died | Talk of Sun City

You be the board member... | Talk of Sun City

 

Oh Lordy Josie, i did in fact post all of those and through it all, i'm still a member of SCHOA, still was involved in the attempted clarifications of the CC&R's and still actively promote home owners join them. Sorry kiddo, but your cut and paste skills are wasted on me. By the way, shortly after the problems we faced the general manager was let go. Her vision of them being the Chamber of Commerce wasn't at all part of their mission.

Like i've always said, if you aren't happy with something, stick your hand up and try and fix it. That's been my stock in trade. Still is, hopefully always will be.

 

A little clarity on these remarks given this thread is entitled: "A Place To Feel Welcomed."
* Neither of our two libraries have closed.
* To date, no $14m PAC has been built.
* The RCSC has done an amazing job closing the gap regarding the 20 million in deferred maintenance.
* SCHOA does have a business partnership program with limited vetting (in my opinion, they can do better).
* The Sun City Foundation has more than doubled the numbers of members it has helped in the past year for those willing to fill out the proper forms and meet their criteria for assistance.

Sun City is indeed a "little piece of Heaven" right here on earth...for those who want it.

Thanks; Bill.

 

YES , Bill, we NEED to do better!
ENOUGH with the personal attacks!
Let’s each do our part to help
our open community forum be a
place for people to engage in civil
discussion about Sun City public issues.