This past week found an unusual gathering of several hundred residents responding to a call from Board members Dave Weil and David Berman to join with them for what they said would be an informal chat. That the call to the community was done without the Board's approval or at their direction was of little concern. Even as Board members at the time of the call, they had no such authority to act as they did as they could have readily ascertained but failed to do so. But life on the Hill has been different of late since the election of Favil West to the presidency. So, what started out as two Board members trumpeting their meeting soon became one member and one former member as David Berman became stricken by a bout of irrational exuberance, leading to his resignation from the Board.

David, in his announcement of his resignation, asks that we not feel ill toward him for his decision. Sorry, David, but if my expression of disappointment in your decision is feeling ill, then it’s ill I’m feeling. The qualities which David so ably demonstrated while on the Board are now lost to those who counted on his being there. As I view the matter, that David thought more about his own needs rather than the needs of the community was a grave disappointment to us all, although David likely views this matter differently. His learned and articulate voice of reason and needed counterbalance will be gone at this critical juncture from where (for the residents) it counted the most—on the Board. David’s duty was to continue his service on the Board, not to jump ship and look for a lifeboat when he was faced with certain very well known obstacles.

David Berman has what some may regard as a dark side, a side he is less comfortable displaying to others. That dark side I have labeled as a case of occasional irrational exuberance. Unfortunately, this irrational exuberance temporarily overcame David when he and other board members were discussing the agenda for the upcoming BOD meeting. While one is ordinarily able to take back or reconsider misjudgments of one type or another, understandably resignations are not included among those types.  

Now, of course, David has to content himself with becoming “the” chronicler of news and current events for Sun City, a job not worthy of his range of talents but one he nevertheless excels at. Now that David is off of the Board, his voice will likely be viewed differently as one who will now only be attempting to see back into that  mystery box we call the Board from which he recently emerged. Some will conclude that David will become nothing more than one of those irritating flies flapping about that Favil delights in telling others to stamp out and ignore.

As the overflow crowd of just over 300 residents settled down to business for what had been described as an informal, unsanctioned chat session with two "residents" who happened to be board members a week earlier, I and others were no doubt wondering what this meeting was all about. As one participant remarked, “Why did you call us here?” as if he thought he was responding to clarion call for resistance fighters. He and others would be severely disappointed for the only thing on the agenda was for the moderators to act as listeners to resident concerns, or so they proclaimed was their purpose, as Dick Sovde and Favil West had done in years past. Ironically, although not without reason, absent from the meeting were the very Board members who had the power to do anything about the issues and problems of most concern to the residents.  

As the meeting progressed, however, it became apparent, at least to this observer, that the meeting was also about David Berman, although I can almost recall hearing David proclaim, “This is not about me.” Yes, David, I happen to think the meeting was more about you than you are ready to admit. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one’s outlook, the meeting was as much about David as anything else, which I sensed became an irritant, if not an embarrassment, to some, even, I suspect, to Dave Weil as he was attempting on one occasion, to little avail, to turn David off.

While residents were genuinely pleased to ask and receive answers to their pressing concerns, it was less productive, or down right annoying, to be reminded, seemingly over and over again, about how great and important David’s blog is, how well it’s doing, and the importance of ACE (Anthem Citizens for Excellence) to the welfare of the community. That this meeting, originally intended to meet a different need altogether, actually turned into a quasi rally promoting ACE was distracting and disappointing.

That ACE had gained some visibility and recognition from powers on high was evident by the President’s Report presented by Bob Berman this past week on Channel 99. He voiced concern that a group of residents had formed a “Political Action Committee.” According to Mr. Berman, this committee was formed with the intent to promote the election of a slate of approved candidates to the Board, candidates who would follow a particular agenda, leading, Bob claims, to the creation of an unwelcome rift in the community.

From one of ACE’s founders, former Board member Bob Sansing, in responding to Bob Berman’s Channel 99 comments, the following question was asked in David’s internet blog, “What is the SCA Board of Directors afraid of?”

This week, on Channel 99, the President's Report was given by Bob Berman. He made a point in warning residents about an ex-board member (yours truly) and other board member want to be's who are passing out information regarding a political action committee intend on taking away the residents right to vote!!!
I find his comments somewhat amusing since he didn't have the courtesy to ask me about the group (ACE) or its intentions. If he had, he would have learned that ACE is a community action group designed to fight resident apathy, as indicated by a voter turnout of only 39% in the last BoD election, and to increase volunteerism by organizing our villages to take part in our community. One of the side goals is by our actions, identifying good qualified candidates for our Board of Directors and our Committees. Many of our current volunteers have been working in their roles for more than 3 years and are starting to suffer from burn out. We must, as a community, find new people to take over these important positions. We think ACE may be the beginning of achieving that goal.
So I repeat, what is the board afraid of when it comes to ACE?

Thanks David for the opportunity to respond to a most unfair representation of our group.

Regards, Bob Sansing, charter member of ACE

Some residents believe that our Channel 99 is operated as a community access channel like any number of community operated stations that as a rule are intended and designed to provide a fair and open forum. Typically, such forums promote, encourage and reflect the views and diversity of the residents living in the community.

While our cable TV channel could be operated as a “community access” channel that would assure fair and equitable access to our residents, making our Channel 99 a truly community-based asset, that prospect is not currently in the cards. So in the unlikely event you feel your efforts have been misrepresented, you have been unfairly criticized in some manner, or you have an alternative point of view you would like to share with the community, you’re out of luck insofar as Channel 99 is concerned.

Unlike a community access cable channel system, where the rule of access is guided by what’s fair, there is no fairness or equitable use standard incorporated into the Agreement under which Channel 99 is being operated, that is, according to information provided to The SCA View by Steve Schorr, a vice president of Cox Communications. As a result, the Board president can pretty much say whatever he pleases on Channel 99.

So, when Bob Sansing asked for equal time on Channel 99 to respond to Bob Berman to explain what ACE was really all about, he was very politely told to take a hike. Of course, ACE is no doubt glowing in the widespread publicity given their cause by Berman's comments.   

The speeded up Board agenda got bogged down in responding to numerous Blue Comment Cards, adjourning after 2½ hours. Since there is no longer any opportunity for a residents to communicate directly with the Board by way of an open mic on matters of concern, residents flooded the Board with Blue Cards, an effort encouraged at the earlier morning chat session as the only method to get one’s thoughts or concerns before the Board.

Our hearty congratulations to Roger Cooper for accepting his appointment to the Board to replace David Berman. Good luck Roger.

Building 3

While the Board voted to support the two-pool concept indoors, one being a warm water pool, left unclear at this stage of the design phase is whether that highly sought after warm water pool will be anything more than an enlarged warm-water tub. Having said that, we must assume that the Board will be engaged in more detailed negotiations with the Developer over the dimensions of this desired and greatly beneficial amenity.

While the Board was more than willing to bite the bullet on the two pool issue, the community was left in the cold when it came to providing residents with an alternative court amenity in the form of that desirable senior citizen favorite, Pickleball. That the Board decided to turn their back on residents who could readily benefit from this alternative court experience on dedicated Pickleball courts in favor of providing 6 additional and arguably unneeded tennis courts at that is not merely disappointing but assumes the height of collective irresponsibility to the community these board members are supposed to serve. One can only wonder why their decision on this matter smells so foul? Their deeds and decisions against the amenity interests of the residents will be remembered well as those tennis courts go on line in late 2007 or early 2008.

Here is a rather routine looking agenda item from the Lifestyle Committee. The Committee recommend approval and the Board was primed to act. Then that carefully built house of cards the Lifestyle Committee had constructed came tumbling down, or as some might tell it, all h--- broke out as the users of the Fitness Room at Independence Center declared war on the so called usurpers who were seeking to decarpet the Fitness Room.

“The Lifestyle Committee accepted petitions and recommends that the Board accelerate the plans to replace the carpet in the Fitness Room with the wood floor.”

         Having just met and acted on this item earlier in the month, the Lifestyle Committee was seeming comfortable with their recommendation. That the Committee had not heard from any of the groups or residents that actually utilize the Fitness Room for a range of activities was of no apparent interest or concern to the Committee. That the Committee relied on the petitions submitted by those table tennis folks who were seeking this room with a wood floor for their own use was understandable.

         But when the Committee relied on the table tennis folks to fairly report and represent the needs and desires of the Fitness Room users, you had to know that something was not quite right. So what happened to those petitions allegedly submitted by the Fitness Room users on their absolute need for a carpeted floor? We were told by the Lifestyle Chair those petitions never arrived to the Lifestyle Committee. And yet, we understand that both petitions were equally completed and were located at the sign-in desk in front of the Fitness Room. So, again, what happened? While that’s not really clear, there were plenty of allegations flying on the floor of Freedom Hall to wet one’s appetite for the start of a mystery thriller. There were allegations of spying, theft of petitions, and even telephone calls (telephone numbers garnered from those "stolen" petitions) by those table tennis folks to some Fitness Room users allegedly to dissuade them of their interest in retaining a carpeted floor.

So, who is currently in possession of those missing petitions? Perhaps Rich Giroux can shed some light on this petition matter.