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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2018 | 3 By Sandra Moyer FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK The holidays are over, lights are down, parties have slowed down and now it is time to get back to a normal schedule. Hopefully you read in your January Lifestyles that this year on the election ballot there are three open positions on the Board of Directors. Any homeowner interested in running for a position should fill out a Candidacy Form which can be obtained in the administration office beginning Feb.5. People often ask what does it take to be a Board Member? How much time do I have to put in? Or they feel they are not qualified. Well, I am going to try and answer your questions by giving you a brief synopsis of the "role of a Board of Director," and some of the "duties of a Director, and end with the importance of "voting" for your Board of Directors. The Role of a Director: 1. Primary role is to support and ensure fidelity to the association and to carry out duties of the board as stated in the association's bylaws. 2. You are responsible for representing the needs of the entire community and must always approach each decision with the best interest of the community, as a whole, in mind. 3. Enforce the provisions of the legal documents. 4. Establish sound fiscal policy and develop a workable budget with the operating and reserve needs of the community in mind. 5. Take action on budget items and determine assessment rates. 6. Select the professionals your association needs to function smoothly including an auditor, attorney, insurance agent, etc. 7. Set and attend regular board meetings. 8. Provide appropriate communication to the association membership on important board decisions. There are more, but these are a few of the key roles. Duties of the Board of Directors: 1. Officers and directors are volunteers with a big job. The "primary" duty of each board member is that of a "fiduciary or a trust". That means that board members owe their association a duty of loyalty and trust in all their actions. 2. Legal responsibilities include ensuring that the association is fulfilling its purpose as defined in the Articles of Incorporation. 3. Enforce the association's legal documents and board-adopted policies and rules in a fair, reasonable and consistent manner. 4. Satisfy civil code requirements and any other applicable law. 5. Review association financial statements. Again, these are just a few of the duties. Now to answer how much time is involved? That depends on each individual board member and their dedication and commitment to their position. The Importance of Voting: I feel voting is my responsibility. I've often times heard the saying, "If you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain." While that sounds witty and at times I wished it were true, the fact is that we all have the right to complain whether we vote or not. Voting is not a requirement, but it is a responsibility. It's an obligation. It's part of a bigger picture. Voting in any election is not just about supporting the candidates and their forums, it's about supporting the idea as a whole. It's about believing that the will of the people is a driving and important factor in the success of Sun Lakes. GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED, and VOTE! Food for thought: I have two quotes for you: "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote." ~ George Jean Nathan "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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