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Sun Lakes Camaraderie On The Rise By Joe Formino, Chairman, District Delegate Assembly We received a lot of favorable comments on last month's article. It is important only because it indicates we are on our way to rebuilding the camaraderie our community once enjoyed. Moving into Sun Lakes is not like moving into a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Riverside, or Walnut Creek. When we purchased a home here we were advised this gated community had a Homeowners Association with a structured way of life governed by Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions and By-Laws approved by the state of California. We are sure many of us said, "Yeah yeah, we got it, we know!" In reality, we knew nothing of what they were trying to tell us; all we knew, we were buying a home and looking forward to dancing, or playing golf or finding a safe place to live out our years. Most HOAs are smaller than we are, closer knit and much friendlier. The average HOA in California has 100 to 250 homes, condos or town Houses. It is fairly easy to meet everyone in communities of this size. The reason Sun Lakes is so unique is that we have 3,327 homes and condos and we seem to be close to many more than our neighbors. The secret is the multitude of activities. When the new arrivals joined the card clubs, the sewing clubs, the performing groups, the golf clubs, tennis, bocce ball and on and on, they made hundreds of new friends. You couldn't go anywhere in the complex without someone shouting your name and waving at you. In fact, when you went shopping in the area, the same thing happened, someone yelled your name and a familiar face was standing in front of you. It seemed the motto of Sun Lakers was "we volunteer to help." Practically every school, charity, hospital, children's home had Sun Lakers volunteering their time and expertise to helping others. Their friends and neighbors would follow them and they met more Sun Lakers. This is how we grew into an "extended family," helping others and our own. Our clubs and governing positions never lacked for volunteers or candidates. Ten or fifteen years later, when the Sun Lakers began to die off, or grew weary from volunteering, the replacements were not there. Of the election this year, we had no candidates for three Districts for Delegate or eleven Districts for Alternate Delegates. Many clubs and groups have dwindling membership, eventually folding. With a HOA membership of almost 6,000 residents we cannot find enough volunteers. But, we believe we are on our way back. Let us pick ourselves up and rebuild our spirits and regain the camaraderie we once enjoyed. Here at Sun Lakes, "It's the People!" We are still the most active adult complex in the country. And, in my humble opinion, the best! DISTRICT DELEGATE ASSEMBLY REPORT 8 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2020 | Last month the Sun Lakes Charitable Trust Board published an article about this year's activities. We were forced to cancel the very popular Charity Week, the primary source of income each year. This will result in two dozen local charities receiving very little support from us this year. Similar to a slow train going down a mountain the train picks up speed. The article caused a trickle of funds that increased day by day. With your help that trickle will result in a stream, growing to a river. Think of all the money all of us have saved because we were under "house arrest" with nowhere to go. Further, imagine the money you would have spent during Charity Week on the raffles, breakfast, golfing events and Helicopter Golf Ball drop. We need your help to cause the train to pick up speed, to run fast, to get to the destination, and make delivery of money for the charities in our area that really need our help this year. They all have a growing need this year due to the pandemic. The coronavirus caused them to cancel their fund raising events. The people they care for have a greater need because of closed businesses, jobs lost, sources of income gone or deferred. Most of us are very fortunate that our income is somewhat steady and continuous. Sun Lakers have a lot of fun each June during Charity Week and open their wallets that goes to those in need. Charity Board member David Kealy told me when he told a former neighbor who had lived here for 27 years that the Charity Week was postponed for a year she said, "that's terrible, I will send you a check." She sent a check for $100. Our target is to raise, with your help, at least half of the money we usually give out each year. We are trying to reach $50,000 this year through your donations so the San Gorgonio pass area charities are able to continue their good works. In the first few days after that last article in the Lifestyles Magazine almost $6,000 came in. That's a great beginning to attain our goal. Will you help? Please review your situation and see if you can assist us in helping our community. Send us a check, if you are able. Make your check payable to Sun Lakes Charitable Trust. Our address is 850 Country Club Drive, Banning, CA 92220. ~ Joe Formino, Founding Board Member of the Sun Lakes Country Club Charitable Trust. Charitable Trust Asks You To Please Help Achieve Goal

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