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12 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MARCH 2023 | Casting your ballot in any election is a right as well as an obligation. It is a right because you are a citizen or belong to an organization where you have earned the privilege. It is an obligation because you have, of your own free will, signed up for the position or assumed the obligation. When moving to a senior complex where you become an owner in all of the assets of the Homeowners Association you assume the obligation of a participant. It would seem an odd situation where you would walk away and let someone manage your financial position without any input from you. In the past, homeowners at Sun Lakes seemed to have more of an interest in our complex. They knew the CC&Rs, knew the rules and we had a very high percentage of ballots cast in our elections. The percentage was always in the 80s and 90s. We can't say that today. Not long ago at a potluck dinner, the homeowners were asked to tell everyone what prompted them to move to Sun Lakes. The variety of reasons were amazing. But not many realized what it meant to move into a senior community nor knew the obligations they assumed by residing in the community. The state of California has a whole set of laws, rules and regulations that govern complexes similar to ours. Moving into a senior complex is not the same as moving into a neighborhood in any given city. First of all, your neighbors are pretty much your age and there are no kids running around in the area. The complex is the same as a small town where everyone knows everyone else or at least a lot of other people. There are many activities and clubs and things to do within the confines of your "little town." It is difficult to understand how some people can join a community such as Sun Lakes and not participate in any activities nor use any of the facilities. There are residents who have never been in a clubhouse, let alone, used a pool or visited the restaurants. We have two important situations occurring in 2023. A ballot will be mailed to you at the beginning of March for the election of three members of our Board of Directors. For your convenience and assistance, there will be one Candidates' Forum whereby the candidates will talk and be asked questions. You will not vote for your District Delegate and Alternate Delegate, that election is next year in 2024. Please cast your ballot with knowledge of whom you are voting for. Finally, by October first of last year we had to file with the state of California, a report of signatures verifying at least 80 percent of our residents were seniors. We struggled getting enough forms to make our quota. Many of our residents do not seem to understand living in Sun Lakes brings with it a number of obligations. ~ Joe Formino, Chairman, District Delegate Assembly DISTRICT DELEGATE ASSEMBLY REPORT YOUR SUN LAKES VOTE MATTERS

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