The Recreation Centers of Sun City failed to secure a quorum to open its annual meeting March 12 at the Sundial Recreation Center.

The failure to secure an attendance of 500 or more members meant the board could take no action on any proposals requiring a vote of its members, such as amending the bylaws. Although the board could not vote on issues, it did listen to members who came to speak.

Many residents expressed their frustration at the organization’s history of not being able to obtain a quorum. Last year, the RCSC secured a quorum and reduced the required number to 500, but only 197 members attended March 12.

Prior to 2010, a quorum of 100 could open a meeting, but that was less than one-half of a percent (0.3%) of the total membership and left RCSC and its members at risk of being controlled by a small minority. Someone with 100 proxies could have made changes with numerous unintended consequences.

Following the advice of RCSC’s legal counsel, the RCSC board eliminated this provision, thereby causing RCSC to be subject to the default provisions of state law, which set a nonprofit corporation’s quorum at “one-tenth of the votes entitled to be cast.” The board created a committee with the membership at large to propose a more reasonable number.

This committee met on several occasions and in the end made a recommendation to the board, which adopted a 1,250 membership quorum on May 27, 2010, including proxies.

The board took advantage of the quorum and voted to reduce the number required at the annual meeting Sept. 28, 2023, to 500 members, a number believed to be obtainable that would still reduce the risk of a minority making changes through proxies.

Carol Harrington, a Sun City resident, suggested the board do more to communicate with members about the meetings.

Jean Totten, chairman of the communications committee, said they are doing everything they can. She pointed out the meeting was advertised in the monthly and weekly newsletters, the Sun City Update, online on the website and in the Sun City Independent, as well as signs posted at centers and other means.

“The information is out there. As they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” she said.

Resident Walter Rapp suggested the board add the topics that would be voted on to notices to generate interest. He said people will come if it affects them, such as finances or construction plans.

Many residents also took the opportunity to thank the board for their hard work and to recognize that they believed the board was acting in their best interests even when they didn’t necessarily agree with them.

The next general meeting of the board is March 28 and the next exchange meeting is April 8. Both meetings are 9 a.m. in the Sundial Recreation Center auditorium.