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FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK By George Moyer, SLCC HOA President It seems like yesterday that I was encouraging you to run for the Board and District Delegate positions. Yet here we are again. The election schedule is set and the time to consider running is at hand. Over and over again I have preached that volunteerism is the life blood of our community. It is the people willing to devote their time and energy to insure that Sun Lakes remains well maintained, financially sound, and relevant to the needs of its' residents. It is the caring people who volunteer that make this the best place on earth to enjoy our active senior lifestyles. This year we will be electing three board members, 23 District Delegates, and 23 Alternate District Delegates. These positions do not require any special education or previous experience. They only require a desire to do what is best for the whole community, and a willingness to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. Being on the Board is a large responsibility, but is also very satisfying. Board Members establish policy and procedures for management to follow. They do not run the day to day business of Sun Lakes. They work closely with the General Manager and his staff to insure that the needs of the community are being met. Yes, there are meetings to attend. If you are a Master Board Member you can expect to put in 20 to 30 hours during some weeks, but not every week. You should be self-motivated in the areas of doing your own research and investigation relating to current topics of concern and agenda items. You should be willing to listen to other's opinions and not get angry when they conflict with yours. You should remember that we have a very diverse community in the areas of health, wealth, and economics, and understand that every decision made affects all of us. However, you should also be willing to make those hard, and unpopular, choices. Choices that you know will have an adverse effect on some of our residents, but will benefit the community as a whole. Being a District Delegate or Alternate is a very important job in Sun Lakes. It is the Delegates that bring the thoughts, concerns, and ideas from the residents to the Board. It is the Assembly that makes recommendations to the Board relating to things relevant to the quality of life in our community. They take on special projects at Board request, such as helping to get the Welcome Home project started. They are active in the election process by running the Election Forum, and in counting the votes. Most importantly, they are the primary means of communication between the Board and their district's residents. They are an important and respected part of our governing system. The Election Schedule for this year is as follows: Feb. 7 – Candidacy Forms are available at the Administration Office Feb. 26 – Candidacy Forms must be completed and returned to the Administration Office Feb. 28 – Board candidacy Orientation meeting March 10 & 11 – Meet the Candidate Forums (Board candidates only)- campaigning may start now April 9 - Annual Meeting and Election Please consider running for a Board or Delegate position in this year's election. You will not find it tedious. Instead I am sure you will find it stimulating and very rewarding. If you are still undecided take the time to talk to a Board member or District Delegate. Get their opinion on what is involved and how they like it. Happy Valentine's Day! Community news | sun lakes lifestyles | FEBRUARY 2014 | 3

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