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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2021 3 The past couple of years here at SDV have been "eventful." Some synonyms for this word are: memorable, important, busy, crucial, fateful, etc. You get the idea. I've had the pleasure of living here for exactly nine years as of Aug. 11, 2021, and this community has been exceptional because of the people who live here. There was always a feeling of welcome, inclusion, support, and genuine caring for each other. The worst things we had to worry about during my first years here were a few plagues of flies, a bit of excessive heat and drought, Phase 3 construction dust and, of course, the ever present Fairy Shrimp! It never occurred to me during those "easy" years here that there were volunteer residents working behind the scenes to keep our community safe and fun and fiscally sound. I quietly enjoyed the benefits of the work of the Board of Directors, and many others working on committees dedicated to keeping our community a great place to live. Fast-forward to present day, after the "eventful" years mentioned above and instead of passively enjoying the benefit of other's efforts, I am now a Board member myself, filling a role that I did not fully appreciate before. One of the key things that I have learned as a new board member is how difficult it is for Board members to collaborate together. The California laws that pertain to how HOA Boards operate specify that no more than two board members can be together while discussing HOA business. We cannot email each other, have a Zoom meeting, a phone call, or meet together with more than two directors. In order for three or more directors to talk together about HOA business, there must be a formal meeting called, with advance notice given to all the residents, and an agenda that states what will be discussed at that meeting. Then, board members cannot talk about anything that is not listed on the Agenda. Executive Session board meetings operate the same way except that the details discussed there cannot be observed by the public in order to protect confidentiality. These legal restrictions for board members communicating with each other can make it seem like things are moving more slowly than necessary. The directors not being able to talk to each other as a group in between board meetings is an extra hurdle to work around when we would all rather just "get 'er done." However, these laws were made in order to guarantee transparency to the residents, so you can always see what is being discussed by your board and how the board's decisions are made. Residents observing Board Meetings and giving input through Yellow Cards is just as important as what the Board is doing at the front of the room. This open process protects us all, even though it may not always provide the instant results we want. I hope to see you at our next Board meeting! Message from the Board By Dana Kilpatrick, SDV Board Member

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