A large number of our neighbors were present for the annual meeting and election of board members for 2010. Those present know that Mr. David Hamner was running for Position2 against Kenneth Murphy. You also know that Mr. Hamner was defeated, and Mr. Murphy won the position.
What you may not know is that the “old guard”, through board secretary Mildred Mills, is now maintaining that Mr. Hamner is now the board representative for the at-large position 7. In fact, Ms. Mills has instructed Ricky Hux to post the board makeup to the Meadowcreek website with Mr. Hamner as the position 7 representative.
Ms. Mills has also communicated with our new at-large position 8 board member Milbry Smith regarding the above. She states as follows:
“The list on the website is correct. Please, call me, there is a logical explanation. The returning board members have not acted dishonestly. Please know, we, welcome all of our new board members and want to do what’s best for this community. We can’t harbor hate or indifference in our hearts. We must leave it out and come together with an open mind to help the community.”
I think that everyone involved would like to know how a deposed board member could make a run for office (Position 2), be defeated, and suddenly show up as the board member for position 7. In addition, who would ever accuse anyone in our community of hate or indifference?
The “old board” is insisting on an orientation meeting for the new board members with Ms. Mills advising Ms. Smith as follows:
“I’m impressed with your passion and enthusiasm to get started as a newly elected board member. However, there is still an orientation process that must occur before we began jumping into matters of the community.”
Ms. Mills and the “old guard” apparently feel that the new board members are poorly informed, and must receive some indoctrination before they are capable of assuming their duties. It takes a massive ego for a group of board members to assume that other adults are incapable of taking on the duties for which they were elected without “orientation”. In fact, I doubt seriously that President Obama was forced to attend a so-called orientation delivered by the opposing party prior to assuming his office.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
What you may not know is that the “old guard”, through board secretary Mildred Mills, is now maintaining that Mr. Hamner is now the board representative for the at-large position 7. In fact, Ms. Mills has instructed Ricky Hux to post the board makeup to the Meadowcreek website with Mr. Hamner as the position 7 representative.
Ms. Mills has also communicated with our new at-large position 8 board member Milbry Smith regarding the above. She states as follows:
“The list on the website is correct. Please, call me, there is a logical explanation. The returning board members have not acted dishonestly. Please know, we, welcome all of our new board members and want to do what’s best for this community. We can’t harbor hate or indifference in our hearts. We must leave it out and come together with an open mind to help the community.”
I think that everyone involved would like to know how a deposed board member could make a run for office (Position 2), be defeated, and suddenly show up as the board member for position 7. In addition, who would ever accuse anyone in our community of hate or indifference?
The “old board” is insisting on an orientation meeting for the new board members with Ms. Mills advising Ms. Smith as follows:
“I’m impressed with your passion and enthusiasm to get started as a newly elected board member. However, there is still an orientation process that must occur before we began jumping into matters of the community.”
Ms. Mills and the “old guard” apparently feel that the new board members are poorly informed, and must receive some indoctrination before they are capable of assuming their duties. It takes a massive ego for a group of board members to assume that other adults are incapable of taking on the duties for which they were elected without “orientation”. In fact, I doubt seriously that President Obama was forced to attend a so-called orientation delivered by the opposing party prior to assuming his office.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
The Games Continue Indeed
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the letter posted by Tommy(1:11 PM Jan. 14) I am in total agreement that this mess has got to stop.
First off, how, and or whyin the world, did David Hamner magically appear on the board? He was VOTED off.
Secondly, if the association is broke or even in financial straights I do not think the "new" members should be "oriented" or schooled by any of the "old" members as to how to govern our "hearts against hate or indifference."
The problems of the Association, board, and or community have to do with monies spent that cannot or will not be explained or shown to the concerned parties.
The theory, as put to us at the January meeting before the election was "Give us more money and everything will be hunky-dory". Throwing good money after bad is not good business or politics, and only results in going further into debt.
The time has come to forget about the idea that "if it ain't broke don't fix it" 'cause it IS broke and DOES need fixin'!
P.S. Per the posted budget-If my water bill is higher than my electric and gas combined I think I'd find the leaky faucet!
The last person I would want involved in any orientation would be Ms. Mills. I seem to remember that she called for the police present at the last meeting to come forward and EJECT any member that was not doing exactly as she desired. Not what I would call democracy in action.
ReplyDeleteAnd I personally would like to hear her "logical" explanation regarding Mr. Hamner. I'm sure she reads this blog - get a user name Ms. Mills and let everyone know about your explanation. It's not too complicated a process.
Oh my. Give the new folks a chance. I don't know about all of the election items. Give folks a bit of time to get their bearings. I mean, it has been, a week? All boards have a time where new board members "learn the ropes" on exactly how an organization is currently funcitoning. Just so they can make wise decisions to improve it.
ReplyDeleteHowever,if new board members ask for a job description for the clubhouse facility manager to evaluate the need, they might find it more cost effective to have that position over the other alternatives (current cost $187 wkly before payroll taxes). (Like a weekly housekeeper, part-time person to keep clubhouse hours, organize events, hire & schedule lifeguards, or basic repiar functions) Let's say, they look at the 10 bids for lawncare, mgmt teams, or other requirement and discover, "hey, we've got a good deal!"
Who knows maybe after all the new board members go through items, they may also come to the conclusion that there needs to be an increase in funds. I wonder what some residents will do then? Will they consider them brainwashed? Or will they consider the new representatives are being sensible?
Overall, I think that the MOST unreasonable option is ending up with a "run-down" neighborhood: closed clubhouse, closed pool, or tennis courts. Everyone's property values go down then because of the eyesore effect. That's my two cents. And no, I don't know any of the old or new guard. I've only met all of them.
In my mind, losing ALL of the instututional "memory" opens any organization to the possibility of losing past lessons learned. Turnover is really healthy for organizations, however, 100% turnover is never easy on a buisness or non-profit.
However, I usually take my mom's advice, and hers would include "don't burn your bridges". I would hope that the new and returning board members would work together to figure out a way to keep the pool open this summer.
As I can plainly see that there is mistrust among the old guard and the new guard. Mr. Hamner was out and he should not be any part of the board what so ever! As for the changing of the old guard to the new guard they shouldnt have to go threw an orientation that is a bunch of bull I've ever heard of. I've served on HOA's in the past and we never had to teach anyone what to say or how to act. I smell a brain washing in the works. I hope at the next board meeting there will be the same turn out as we had for the annual meeting. If we as a community don't stand together we might as well just give into the misrepresentation that we've had for so long. We need some explantions as to how these voted out board members stay on the board. Funny isnt well I'm not laughing are you?
ReplyDeleteWe have contacted a group with an attorney that deals in this type of illegal harassment. If needed we will supply the media with the story and the name of the vendor law-firm allowing this illegal activity to continue!
ReplyDelete