President’s Comments – March 2018

President’s Comments
March Board Meeting
March 1, 2018
By: Tom Sopko

Board Actions in the Past Month:

1. The Board voted to do a Ballot type Survey. Including the following issues:

1. 1. Whether food and beverages should be allowed inside the pool areas.
   2. What is the interest in other amenities. And how to pay for them.
   3. The Board asks that Members make suggestions.
      The Survey is expected to follow the Director Ballot and not overlap or be at the same time
2. The Board voted to provide WiFi at the Clubhouse area. It is now in service and will be in service year-round.
3. The Board voted to study monthly dues payments in an effort to implement monthly payments. Many Members have commented that they can afford $75/month and cannot afford $750 all at once. It was a suggestion brought to us by Ed Baitt based on Member feedback. The Board is targeting to begin this in June of 2018, for the 2019 season.

Board Actions Tonight:

1. John Martin has resigned from the Board. His resignation needs to be accepted. John’s remaining term is 1 year and two months.
2. A new Board Member will be seated. The Board will be at full strength which is seven.
3. Candidates for the upcoming Board election have to attend three regular Board meetings in the past year. The policy for monitoring Board Meeting attendance has been by signing in, however, it is not in the bylaws. Two Nominations are in question. The Board will decide if and how these Nominations are accepted.

Commentary:

What is Indemnification and Why Do We Have It? Indemnification which includes Directors and Officer Insurance protects volunteer Board Members from the costs of lawsuits and other legal claims whether criminal or civil. Indemnification should encourage Members to be on the Board because their personal assets are protected. Indemnification is now in question and under attack. Personally, I would not risk my retirement which took 40 years to build, to be on this Board if it were not for Indemnification. Put yourself in this position, would you risk your home or all your assets to manage this Association? Understanding Indemnification was my primary focus before deciding to join the Board. I used a third party law firm to help in that evaluation. No volunteer Director should be personally sued, imprisoned, accused of a felony, or have his/her life destroyed especially by another Member. These lawsuits and legal claims are the true money wasters of the Association and Community. Association Members need to step-up and question the accusers, as Members now question the defense decisions of the Association. Remember the Association Board of Directors represents you the Member. These actions could be handled internally by the Community if we were truly “working together”. These accusations are designed to intimidate the Board and to make the Board look bad, nothing else.

Director Election: For the upcoming Director election, it is my recommendation that you ask questions to understand the intentions of candidates. Vote for candidates who are truly interested in the long term direction of the Community, representing the entire Active Membership.