An Editorial

I was embarrassed at Thursday's Board of Directors meeting. 

The activities that caused my embarrassment was the clown-like antics of Board Member Lyndall Ruiz as she orchestrated a crowd of rabble rousers seated in the audience through comedic facial expressions and hand gestures during the deliberations.

This farce lasted approximately 27 minutes. Lyndall, continuing to play to the audience, asked why this issue was brought up in the first place. (cheers from some members of the audience) Other Board members have later indicated that it was Lyndall Ruiz herself that had pushed for a study of possible gallery re-configuration, and at her behest the Board directed the Lifestyle Committee to study the possibility back in November.

While the cause that she espoused may or may not have been commendable, the means was totally out of place during a meeting that had been called to "order." President David Weil did little to restore order. His reading of 17 identical comment cards only exacerbated the comedic atmosphere of the meeting. He could have read one, and then looked through the pile for one that was different.  President Weil says:  "Chuck, You are right I failed in my duty."

The residents in attendance all learned a valuable lesson in our community's governance. That lesson, simply stated, was this:

• Pack the audience
• Have a Board Member who is willing and able to take control of the meeting away from the President
• Shout and applaud
• Get your way

Members of the audience have also asked how the Committee could act "...WITHOUT the knowledge of the MAJORITY of residents knowing that changes were proposed...." That communication was available, it just wasn't read.

• Board of Directors Meeting Agenda 3/23/2006; "Approve Gallery Reconfiguration Report" (Posted on Bulletin Board, distributed as an eMail Bulletin from http://www.sca-hoa.org and via this Compendium)
• Lifestyle Committee Meeting Agenda 3/14/2006; "Gallery Reconfiguration Report" (Posted on Bulletin Board, distributed as an eMail Bulletin from http://www.sca-hoa.org and via this Compendium)
• Spirit Magazine, March 2006, pg. 9
• Lifestyle Committee Workshop Agenda 2/10/2006; "Gallery Configuration" (Posted on Bulletin Board, distributed as an eMail Bulletin from http://www.sca-hoa.org and via this Compendium)
• Lifestyle Committee Meeting Agenda 2/14/2006; "Gallery recommendation" (Posted on Bulletin Board, distributed as an eMail Bulletin from http://www.sca-hoa.org and via this Compendium)
• Lifestyle Committee Workshop Agenda 1/3/2006; "Gallery configuration" (Posted on Bulletin Board, distributed as an eMail Bulletin from http://www.sca-hoa.org and via this Compendium)
• Spirit Magazine, December 2005, pg 7

So. Who wasn't notified?

One audience member shouted: "Isn't this supposed to be a democracy?" I agree with his question. Our form of democracy is government by the people, exercised through elected representatives, not by survey after survey.

In the closing scene of this farce, the Board finally voted to conduct a survey of resident's opinions regarding possible Gallery reconfiguration. Thereupon, the vocal group of residents left the meeting, having no concern regarding the remaining issues to be addressed, only their own selfish interests. The survey results will be compiled for the Board's guidance in their deliberations. Remember, a survey is not a vote!

I have a few questions.

1.     Having lost control at this meeting, will President Weil be able to regain control of future board meetings?

2.     Do we need to hire a strict Parliamentarian to enforce Robert's Rules of Order?

3.     In view of the unconscionable treatment of the Lifestyle Committee's Chair and its members, should we be concerned about the difficulty of recruiting qualified individuals to serve on our committees?

4.     Do we really want to re-elect Lyndall Ruiz?

5.     Were the members of the new RMI Management team impressed?

Chuck Davis
Publisher and Editor, Anthem Compendium