By Kat Fimmel, Recreation Centers of Sun City board president
While we have only been on this brief journey together for the past four months, it has proven to be an interesting and challenging time.
Thus far, three Recreation Centers of Sun City board members have resigned (we were fortunate to find three exceptional replacements), the president and vice-president of the board stepped aside (a new president and vice-president were selected by the board) and presently the board is in the process of recruiting for a new general manager. On the other hand, during this same journey we saw a resurgence in self-governance, we established a critical member-based committee and experienced a changed perspective in providing member services, and an increased optimism that together we can build a better tomorrow and a brighter future for all of us.
One of the items we needed to move on quickly was the creation of a member-based committee to review and recommend the best, and most cost effective, alternatives to renovate the last two facilities that require updating, Mountain View and Lakeview. The result was the creation of the Strategic Alternative Committee. The SAC is composed of members representing all aspects of these projects. The SAC meets weekly to analyze the data that will drive their decision-making process.
By its nature, the work of this committee will be slow, sometimes tedious, and very time consuming. However, in the final analysis the community will be left with only the best recommendation(s) — ones that will stand the test of time because all the members were fairly represented during the process. We cannot thank the committee members enough for their willingness to participate in this voluntary effort and for the time and effort that is being expended in this process. They know, and you should know, the work they are doing is not for today, or even tomorrow, but for today, tomorrow and well into the future.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, we found ourselves faced with one of the most important actions a board will take on during its tenure — looking for a new general manager. This action represents a pivotal point in our history and allows us to chart a new course for our community. It is such an important decision that rather than using traditional methods to find a new general manager, the board chose to hire an outside executive recruitment firm to assist us in identifying the most qualified candidates available.
With more than 400 employees, eight recreation centers, eight golf courses and all of our other venues, we know the significant role the general manager plays in running the day-to-day operation of the corporation, which is why we need to find someone who can lead and manage from the moment of their arrival, someone who understands the RCSC is a member services organization.
As our local historians have often reminded us, Sun City was built on a platform of self-governance, and that self-governance is the key to our current and future success as a community. It is also important that we as members (owners), also share responsibility and accountability to our community. It is not too pretentious to suggest that member involvement in our community is also a key to its success, no matter how large or small a role you play. Your part could be as simple as joining a club, becoming a club officer, attending a committee meeting or even becoming a committee member. You could speak with your fellow members one-on-one, or you could speak in front of the exchange and board meetings.
If you are willing to play an even larger role, now is the time when the election cycle begins. Candidate packets are available, and there are four open board positions. The one part every member can play — the most important part — is you can vote!
If our most recent experiences teach us anything, it is that self-governance is a fragile thing that requires constant vigilance, good decision making and active participation by community members. Our community works best when we all work together to meet our current and future expectations. Together we can chart a new course that will prepare us for the future.
