My vision for
Diamondhead………..
The
following is as short as I could make it, and it is still a lengthy
document. This is just the tip of the
iceberg. There is much more that could
and should be voiced. I hope others will
share their vision of Diamondhead on the Blog or I-neighbors.
It has been
determined that if you criticize you are a complainer, a concerned citizen
offers remedies and suggestions So,
in the interest of good citizenship, this is what my vision of Diamondhead in
the future would look like.
- A board made up of qualified individuals that represent the best interests of the stockholders who place the concerns of the many over the concerns of the few.
- A board that understands and lives up to its fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders/property owners.
- A board that is open and honest on everything that affects this corporation; revealing even bad news, as well as good news.
- A board that is more concerned about the future and strategic planning than in supervising the day to day activities.
- A board that insures the budget is met, that has a pulse on the entire community, that hires the best professional and trained GM possible, that lets this professional do his job, and that holds the GM responsible for every aspect of the operation of Diamondhead.
- A board that sets policy on the basis of need and in the best interest of Diamondhead and that recognizes that only the board can set policy. And, it makes sure that these policies are followed and enforced fairly and without prejudice of any kind.
- A board that realizes that it works for Diamondhead and not the other way around.
- A board that welcomes discussion in the interest of coming up with the best solution to any situation, problem or opportunity.
- A board that insures that checks and balances are in place for every aspect of Diamondhead’s operations.
- A board that realizes that amenities should be run as individual profit centers. That no amenity should jeopardize the financial health of the community.
- A board that will give Diamondhead’s GM the full authority to manage this community.
- A board that will not accept the position or thought “This is the way it’s always been.” That understands that they are not experts and will seek advice in the interest of achieving the desired results.
Now on to
the GM………
- The GM will be an experienced, professional, trained with a resume that supports his ability.
- A GM that works with the board and that he/she is a good communicator with his/her customers (that would be the stockholder in the case of Diamondhead).
- A GM that is hired by a board vote and can only is terminated by a board vote.
- A GM that leads by example.
- A GM that has a plan for each department. And, also, has contingency plans in case of disasters, downturns in business, employee situations, or for any other unplanned issues. Each department head knows the plan and is striving under the GM’s leadership to meet this plan.
- A GM that accepts total responsibility for the operation of Diamondhead.
- A GM that takes ownership of the budget. That works closely with the Finance Committee and the Board Treasurer. The GM should insure that the Board and the community has a current cash flow analysis, that can insure that inventories are timely and correct, that is constantly striving to control cost of sales, that creates checks and balances that creates confidence of the stockholders that the community’s finances are being monitored and protected. The GM should have, at his finger-tips, rounds of golf played, cart rental revenue, pool rentals, 19th Hole revenues and expenses, and the number of unpaid lot and homes.
- A GM that is given the full freedom to manage and lead Diamondhead back to respectability.
- A GM that is an ambassador for Diamondhead, that is active in the business and civic community and will promote Diamondhead at every opportunity.
- A GM that has no other business interests except Diamondhead’s.
- A GM that counts successes not hours on the job.
The key to Diamondhead’s very survival is
a professional General Manager directed by a board as to goals, policies long
range and strategic plans. A
professional GM should be the constant leading force in Diamondhead. With the board losing a third or more of its
membership each year, the board, as now set-up, is dysfunctional at best. Consistent, competent leadership from the GM
position will be our only deterrent to financial failure of this community.
Without that professional General Manager, Diamondhead will see continued
decline in property values, a declining dues paying membership, the loss of
amenities, and eventually the cessation of Diamondhead POA as a viable means of
governing this community. A good board’s
job is to find and keep this type of Manager, give him the tools and the goals
for the community, and to let him do his job without interference or
micro-managing his/her every action. The
board’s second, equally important task is to hold this GM accountable for
his/her every action. A systematic
system of review should be established that would generate the necessary
feed-back to the GM and give the board the opportunity to voice its approvals
and disappointments. Without this, this
community is doomed.
Sam
Porterfield
