2014 Blood Drive

Board Candidate ~ Mary Gage

Diane

I want to thank you for reporting the meetings and events of DH. It is your tireless time that you give to all of the residents that ensures we stay in the loop of events. I know that you tape record everyone of them. I also know that you are extremely fair and publish the facts (backed up by a taping) and have proven we can trust information that we read from you. Unfortunately, the Board has given every reason for us to distrust what they do and what they say, (be thankful you record it) so continue with your reports and your opinions of what you see and hear.  We trust what you report to us. Thank you for all the time you give to keep us all up to date. Talk about a thankless job!

In regards to the potential dues increase or assessment, I would like to start with a definition:

ame·ni·ty

 noun \ə-ˈme-nə-tē, -ˈmē-\

: something that makes life easier or more pleasant

You will not find the word "FREE"  related to the word amenity.  I for one will not pay for a restaurant to lose 50 cents, much less $30,000 plus or for people to play golf with an average of $17.00 a round. Security is NOT an amenity.  It is a part of the "gated community" the developer set up along with the gates and fences.

Gated communities preclude public access to roads, sidewalks, parks, open space, and playgrounds. While DH has a golf course, swimming pool, & playground, we could also have a movie theater, spa, and many other amenities.  But, once again - those amenities are not free. Now most folks in DH have worked/retired from large companies so have traveled and understand the definition of amenities. I knew when I went to California twice for Farmers, the amenity called Ruth Christ's Steak House didn't mean I ate for free or even at a reduced rate.  It simply meant it was within a reasonable distance. 

A dues increase to property owners to pay for things that do not benefit the entire community can and will result in serious problems.

When you purchase property anywhere, there are disclosures that must be made to the buyer.  When the property is in a gated community, there are things called a Bill of Assurance and Bylaws. Changing either one of these documents "improperly" can result in serious problems. For example: in the Bill of Assurance, the developer laid out in the beginning, # 11 COVENANTS RUNNING WITH THE LAND, DURATION OF RESTRICTIONS - clearly states: Such changes can only be accomplished by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the lot owners in the Diamondhead subdivision. That makes sense to me, because if the developer could change things AFTER we purchase, then you have to ask, what's the point? Also bear in mind it does not say ‘in good standing’, it states "owners".  Personally, I would like to see the For Sale signs removed per the Bill of Assurance I was given when I bought my property. I do not like the signs, it de-values our property.

I heard at last night’s Town Meeting, the Board President stated loudly and clearly, "We must follow the Bill of Assurance" correct?  

Thank you for all you do!!

Mary Gage

Board Meeting – Thursday, October 23, 2014

Board Members Present:

President Mary Pracht               Gordon Moore

Vice President Ken Benck         Suzie Combs

Treasurer John Porter                 Diane Jones

Secretary JoAnn Rhodes            Joe Claflin

                                                    Larry Hibbs

The Board meeting began at 7:35pm with the announcement that the new Board Secretary is Diane Jones. 

September Board minutes approved unanimously.

The Revised Financial Budget with 2014 was accepted unanimously.

Straw vote to approve the 72 glasses donated by the Fore Seasons was approved unanimously.

The donation of $1,500 by the Wild Life Committee – to be used for the purchase of the Police Radios – was approved unanimously.

President Mary Pracht & Vice President Ken Bench will be attending the Water Board monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 27^th at 10:am to discuss the community’s water pressure.

• John Porter suggested an industrial strength generator

The Lions Club would like to donate $500.00 toward the purchase of a new computer to be used for the Marquee.  Director Gordon Moore advised more research into the total expense of this project before accepting this donation.  Issue tabled.

Meeting adjourned.  (about 10 minutes long?)

Notes Provided by,

Diane Porterfield

adianerdh@att.net

Town Meeting – Thursday, October 23, 2014

Sorry...I neglected to change to mail-out subject line.  The discussion regarding a dues increase took place last week.  click here to view that discussion


Board Members Present:

President Mary Pracht               Gordon Moore

Vice President Ken Benck         Suzie Combs

Treasurer John Porter                 Diane Jones

Secretary JoAnn Rhodes            Joe Claflin

                                                    Larry Hibbs

6:06 pm

The meeting began with Committee Reports:

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2012 Survey Results

While reviewing this week's survey stats, I came across the 2012 survey results.  I think you will find an interesting trend between the two surveys. 

Click on "READ MORE" to view the comments

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Survey Response by Board Candidate Alan Thornton

The Survey Results will be posted on this venue tonight.




Diane,

I want to thank you so much for all of the hard work you do for this community regardless of the disdain shown by some members of the DPOA Board. The idea that anyone serving on the "board" has the ability to give you permission to report what they say is enormously laughable.  The only thing anyone serving on the "board" can do at a public meeting if they do not wish their conversation to be recorded, reported or repeated is to shutup and not say a word or voice an opinion. This is nothing more than complete and total arrogance and ignorance.  I guess that we should sit in the corner like good little boys and girls and not question what mommy and daddy tell us to do.  The only problem this board has never quite grasped is that the little boys and girls are the ones paying all the bills and we as a community have been sick and tired of that "smarter than you" attitude for a long time.

Let's talk about a dues increase.  Explain to me in a way that I might be able to believe or agree to a dues increase within the next millennium.  Is it because the "board" has shown us how not to lose money on the golf course?  Is it because the "board" is turning a true profit at the 19th hole?  Is it because our roads, ALL OF THEM, are maintained so well?  Maybe it is because all of our resident boaters and fishermen have a new ramp to launch their boats.  Should I pay more because we obviously don't have the money to clean the gutters at the POA office?  Maybe we should raise dues so our children can have diving boards at the pool instead of caution cones and yellow danger tape.  Please tell me so that I and all of the residents can understand why we we should agree to pay one more penny when we are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars on a golf course that only a handful of people are members and the rest of us cough up the money for their game.  I guess that we should roll over and open our wallets because our "board" doesn't want to tell their friends that they will have1to pay more or not play.

Since this is an opinion page, let's ask ourselves a few questions.  What are we as a community going to do when the residents finally revolt and say "no more"?  If the residents collectively refuse to pay dues we are broke. It is my opinion that the "board" is helpless and can do nothing.  Can they really put a lien on your home when they haven't on others.  They have openly admitted to turning vacant lots back to the State of Arkansas because the POA decided we don't want the property.  In my opinion you have helped drive my property values down.  The people of this community may collectively decide to make you care about something more than the precious golf course.  You can't use the excuse that if we don't have a golf course our property and home values will plummet. THEY ALREADY HAVE! Please don't try to use the old excuse "you knew there was a golf course here when you moved here".  I also knew there was a Country Club overlooking a beatifull lake that is now gone.  We were given the excuse then that we could no longer afford it and we had to accept it.  How many could accept that we could no longer afford a golf course but we will make you a nice Putt Putt course?

The real bottom line is this. At the rate that we are losing money on a golf course that is killing us, we can't raise dues high enough.  We won't let our General Manager alone long enough to let him do his job. I actually watched a "board member" bark orders to an employee at the 19th hole as if they were his boss. NO YOU ARE NOT!!!!!!!  The General Manager is the boss of our employees.  Our "board" is elected to a position that pays nothing! The "boards" job is to make sure we get what we do pay for and that is a General Manager.  Get out of his way. And let him do his job!

Here is another bottom line question.  Do I agree to a dues increase or extra addendum?  You must be out of your ever loving mind.  I learned not to pour water into a leaky vessel a long time ago.

Alan Thornton

Two Surveys ???

Yes, I sent out a second survey due to messages received from various DH property owners attempting to take the first survey.

Both Surveys contain exactly the same questions and each survey will stand alone. Each survey will verify the number of participates with corresponding results.  

All results will be displayed on this venue following the Town & Board meetings next week (10-23-14)

The Survey entitled "DPOA Dues Increase" does require an email verification.  Please know that there is no indication in the Results as to who participated in the survey.  Your name / email address DOES NOT appear.  

If any other questions arise, I will post the answers here.
Thank you for concern for our community,
Diane
------------------
Hi Diane,Thank you for contacting iContact Technical Support.

Would it be possible to to have a screenshot of where your contacts are asked to pay money? The default thank you page does have iContact's logo and a small advertisement to try the free trial. It is possible that there are pop-ups on their end that prompts them to pay for the survey. This might be a third party site trying popping up on their end.

Regarding the your contacts still unable to participate in your survey, have you advised them to try to access the survey using a different browser?

Again, thank you for contacting us.
Sincerely,
JM
Technical Support Representative
iContact Corp.

Dues Increase Survey

During the Thursday, October 16th, Agenda meeting, a suggestion was made to ‘poll’ the residents of Diamondhead with regard to the issue of a POA annual dues increase.  GM James Turner was asked to place a poll on the Diamondhead web-site.  GM Turner stated: since the DH website is intended for marketing purposes, it is not advisable to post such a survey of the membership. Hence, the following survey was conceived by me, Diane Porterfield:

Noted Board Member remarks (Oct. 16, 2014) regarding a Dues Increase:

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Agenda Meeting – Thursday, October 16th, 2014

Board Members Present:

President Mary Pracht               Gordon Moore

Vice President Ken Benck         Suzie Combs

Treasurer John Porter                 Diane Jones

Secretary JoAnn Rhodes            Joe Claflin

                                                    Larry Hibbs

GM James Turner

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Aerobics schedule change ~

Good news, we've had three more people join the evening aerobics class.

However, Wednesday evenings became a problem so we have now switched to Thursday evenings to accommodate.

We now meet:

Low Impact Aerobics / Strength Training

Mondays  6 - 7pm

Thursdays 6 - 7pm

If an evening meeting is scheduled in the banquet room on a Monday or Thursday, we usually walk for an hour, instead.

Carol Wiese

Flue Shots

FLU SHOTS

WILL BE AVAILABLE

IN THE DIAMONDHEAD CLUBHOUSE

SMALL CARD ROOM

ON TUESDAY

NOVEMBER 4TH

FROM

8:00 A.M. TO

11:00 A.M.