Annual Meeting ~ August 16, 2014

President Mary Pracht welcomed a ‘full house’ to the Annual meeting.  Pastor Mike Fikes gave the opening prayer.

            “May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight Oh Lord our redeemer and our savior. Amen”

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Debbie Clement.

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DPOA Board of Directors Ballot Count ~ August 8th, 2014

The count began at 10:am with Bob Jones explaining the process.

357 envelopes were delivered by the CPA firm.

Those who assisted in the process:

John & Suzie Combs         Barbara Schenke

Joe Claflin                         John Coleman

Diane Jones            

Don Osseroff                     Faye Taylor

Jeannie Zdziarski

Bob Jones

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Agenda Meeting ~ July 17, 2014

Members Present:

President Mary Pracht           Suzie Combs

Treasurer John Porter            Larry Hibbs

Secretary Faye Taylor           John Cummings

Diane Jones                           Ken Benck

GM James Turner

Member Absent:

Vice President Joe Claflin

The meeting opened with Roads Committee member Bob Jones explaining the need for a 36 inch culvert on Independence Drive.  Bob was instructed to proceed with acquiring the necessary bids.

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Candidate Alan Thornton

Hello Diamondhead,
 Sorry for not joining in on the discussion earlier but we have been very busy.  I would like to go back and answer Sean and Kim's questions for the candidates.
    First of all, I want to run for the board because I feel there is a majority of residents who feel they aren't heard and I hope I can be their voice. Many feel that because they don't participate in activities or have the time to volunteer that they have no voice. They do and will if I am elected. My priority, Sean, is to make sure we ALL are represented. We have Diamondhead residents and property owners who can't attend meetings or participate but still have the right to representation. It is our duty to not forget them.
    We must make sure that everyone's POA Dues are properly spent. We should be good stewards of the money and account for every penny. 

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Board Meeting ~ 6-26-14

Board Members Present:

President Mary Pracht Diane Jones

Vice President Joe Claflin John Cummings

Secretary Faye Taylor Suzie Combs

Treasurer John Porter

Board Members Absent:

Ken Benck

Larry Hibbs

GM James Tuner

President Mary Pracht welcomed DH members to the Board meeting.

May Minutes were approved unanimously.

Mary Pracht:

“A great Candidates Night” “I'm not going to say too much about it because we would be here all night if I got started. So, I'm just going to ignore it.”

Financial High-Lights – John Porter: Click on the picture to enlarge.

John noted areas of concern / Variance:

• Administration.........(4,729) “Extra time in administrative office - Sticker”
• Pool …...................(4,219) “Pool start up chemicals”
• Security …..............(4,162) “Every time somebody runs in to the gate with a car, we have to get it fixed. When they knock down a camera pole, we have to get that fixed.”

• Delinquent Homes – 52
• 39 are 'non-functioning' = no payments
• 13 are on a payment plan
• Total amount delinquent = $105,000.00
• Lots are at 55% delinquent

Mary Pracht ~ Pro- Shop:

• Guest rounds for May 2013 → 383
• Guest rounds for May 2014 → 589
• Guest rounds YTD 2013 → 913
• Guest rounds YTD 2014 → 1741

John Porter suggested the Financial Highlights be posted on the Official Website.

GM James Turner:

• 19^th Hole update: Green Herb has been released from their contract.
• “Debbie” has taken over management of the 19^th Hole.
• June 21-22 Golf Tournament → $2,000 rental income, $1,500 outside play, $600 merchandise sales..... These are the numbers “we actually made above and beyond” costs. Mary Pracht added → The course was open before and after the tournament. “The course was not closed down.”
• Website: Virtual Tour
• “I'm a non-Board member, A-political...but...the statements made at Candidates Night were not completely accurate.” “We are on top of finances. We are on top of communication. We're turning a cruse ship, not a speed boat. So, it is taking time to work through a lot of kinks. We do have a lot of employees. So, there is a substantial amount of money that goes out in wages.” “1. Our staff is underpaid. 2. Everyone carries more than their weight. Nobody is dead weight right now. There was some. They are no longer with us.” “I want to go on record with the Board: We do not have an employee that we can do without right now.”
• 3 Tournaments weekend of June 27-29.

Mary Pracht stated, “there were comments made about finances at Candidates Night that were basically based on 2 year old information. ...at least 18 months old. ...corrections have been made. The Board is paying attention.

Old Business:

Porterfield vs. DPOA lawsuit: Hearing was held June 18^th, lasted 3 hours, Judge signed his verdict on the 19^th, Mary received the order on the 20^th. Full order will be read at the Town Meeting in July.

• This court finds that the POA has provided all its records to Mr. Porterfield that was requested between the dates of Nov. 18-22. Motion for contempt is denied.
• Motion to Quash (to not allow) was made by DPOA. Motion granted by Judge Williams
• Cost of lawsuit to DPOA membership $5,800.00

Straw Vote - 2^nd Culvert: Maximum amount $8,634. Vote was ratified unanimously.

Roads Committee ~ Bob Jones: presented the roads resurfacing plan to the Board. Board unanimously approved a budget of $66,000. with Spa Construction. The work should be completed in July.

Straw Vote - “For Quorum Purposes Only”: Vote was ratified with John Cummings voting 'No'.

Delinquent Dues List – John Porter suggested the list of delinquent home-owners be published on the Diamondhead website. GM Turner was instructed to make this happen.

July Agenda Meeting …..July 17

July Town Meeting ….....July 24^th @ 6:pm

July Board Meeting …....July 24^th @ 7:pm

Candidate Sharon Carr

Sharon's answers to Kim:

1.  How would you allocate the funds collected and WHY?(What percentage for roads, pool maintenance, salaries, security, golf course, etc).

Since I am not on the board yet, I nave no way to answer this question. However, I know more of the pie needs to be allocated to our roads. I hope to be able to help rectify this soon.

2. What is your budgetary,fiduciary and management experience and how will it benefit Diamondhead? 3. What do you bring to the table? What are your strengths? What is your business experience?

The everyday jobs in loan operations:

• Producing all loan documents for new loans
  
• Filed all deeds of trust through title companies
  
• Filed liens on vehicles of all kinds
  
• Released same when loans were paid
  
• Dealt with customers
  
• Balancing the three loan systems:
  
• Installment, Commercial and Real Estate
  

For the next 20 years my husband and I owned and managed an aircraft business and museum. We bought & sold and repaired airplanes. Also collected cars, motorcycles, army vehicles to display. We had many cook outs where others brought their collectibles to view by all.
I would like to add my previous experience in bookkeeping. It is important to understand the material presented to the Board members. I have a great deal of experience and will be an asset to Diamondhead.

4.  Specifically - How do you intend to make this community competitive with other neighborhoods and therefore an appealing place to live? 

Specifically I want to bring honesty, transparency, equality, and most importantly → ACCOUNTABILITY to Diamondhead.
I am not a golfer. But the golf course is where we need to concentrate our efforts to improve property values and allow Diamondhead to run more efficiently. With other golf courses closing, it gives us an opportunity to attract golfers to move to Diamondhead. We have a beautiful golf course thanks to Eddie and his crew. Instead of giving our 'returned lots' back to the developer, a winner of a golf tournament could be given a lot to build a home. Thereby collecting additional POA dues. Possibly giving lots to builders to build spec homes. Selling existing homes does not produce additional income. We need new houses and new POA fees to raise our base income.
None of this can happen unless the infighting stops. We all need to work at getting along and obeying the By laws.
A Welcome Wagon would be nice for new residents to be introduced at Town meetings or have a 'meet & greet'. This was done when Scott and I moved to DH. It was very nice. The WW basket could include a free lunch at the 19th hole, pool passes, and even a free golf game to introduce them to our amenities.

I appreciate this opportunity to answer questions regarding our community and ask that you allow me to serve as a Board Director of the POA.

Sharon Carr – 282-1016

skflyers@yahoo.com

Candidate Mary Gage - Response to Kim

In response to Kim~

First, I want you to know what I posted last night was for all to see. That my intention was to answer you but Internet problems prevented that. I also want you to know (and anyone else) it is not because of your posting yesterday that I am responding. It is because you are a property owner that has asked a question and deserves an answer.

#1- How would you allocate the funds collected and WHY? (What percentage for roads, pool maintenance, salaries, security, golf course, etc)

         Resources must be balanced in DH. Absolutely no question about that. We are a small community that tends to live beyond our means. To give you percentages without analyzing all sources of income and expenses, barters and more would require guess work and I am not going to do that. Does a million dollar community need more than 60% of their income going to wages? NO. Does the property owner deserve to know "how their dues are spent proportionately"? By all means.

#2 What is your budgetary, fiduciary and management experience ? --

         I have a BS in Business Management, personally budgeted $5 million dollars a year, own my insurance company - Coast to Coast Trucking company - and have been in business since I was about 20 years old. I would say 40 years of management along with many accountants and lawyers has been a good educational background.

#3 What do you bring to the table? What are your strengths? What is your business experience?

        See above #2 but lets add honesty, integrity and transparency.

#4 Specifically - How do you intend to make this community competitive with other neighborhoods and therefore an appealing place to live?

        Community involvement !!! This community has lost faith in the "leaders". No one wants to come to Town Meetings or anything else because they say "it wouldn't do any good" and that is sad because it is their money, their investment, their community. You have more than 1500 sales people to spread the word, "what a wonderful place this is". But the attitude of the community is, "let's sell, let's get out of this mess." Before I am crucified, look at all the "FOR SALE" signs. We have a golf course that is a great asset. We also have a lake and we hear nothing about that. We opened the 19th hole again just this past Monday and, if we lose $70,000 a year again, everyone will see a dues increase. This last town meeting, it was posted we average $20.00 per round for golf but it cost us $24.00. Unless something changes DH will struggle like HSV and even Belvedere unless we manage these resources.

DH changed from the 60's, 70's and 80's as a retirement community to a community that is filled with working families. We have to change. I hope I answered your questions and these are my honest answers.

Thank you,

Mary L Gage - Board Candidate

Candidate Joann Rhodes

I would like everyone to understand what I was stating candidates night. I do believe in the by-laws Article X. It states books, records, and papers be subject to inspection by any member of the association for personal, non-commercial purposes. It does not state records can be generated for that purpose. Therefore, I stated that as a board member I would not be in the office asking or trying to get those records. The details are not my concern. It's the bottom line that as a board member I would be worried about. I would not worry about the number of carts on the golf course. That is worrying about the ants being on a picnic while the bears are going to eat you up. The response that was posted was what Diane Porterfield wanted you to hear. Generating reports to a member should not be something that should be asked unless "I" was auditing the books as an expert. I am not an expert on this association but I have audited companies while in the work force. I am retired.

I stated also that we have excellent managers and employees that I have TRUST in. That was not in your interpretation of candidates night.

The Code of Ethics for DPOA board member was not brought up or asked about. I would like to answer that question whether I would sign it if I was elected. I WOULD be glad to sign it. Number 1: I would hold the betterment of the membership of DPOA as my priority, including during all participation and voting matters. I have no hidden agenda. I recognize that I am obligated to act in a manner which will bear the closest public scrutiny. That means I swear to not turn the board into a circus act. Or other functions that occur in Diamondhead. I would not abuse my power as a board member over any employee that I am entitled to or expect any special treatment. We have a General Manager that controls employees. I would not interfere with that. In no way would I want to see or inspect personnel records. I will declare any conflict of interest that I might have be it real or potential.

My personal views of INeighbors are from my own experience with it. Questions were asked and I would answer but it seems as if the members would not like or take my answer. They want to sit behind their computers and respond. I said "look up" from those computers and get out and enjoy the view. It looks pretty good from where I sit in Diamondhead. Come to the meetings and get involved.

I would like to represent you on the board of Diamondhead. If I am not elected to the board doesn't mean I will go away. I am here to stay.

JoAnn Rhodes

Candidates Night Report ~ 6-19-14

Great Evening!  

The candidates presented a clear distinction between themselves. 

 I have a good tape recording of the entire 1.5 hour event for anyone interested in obtaining a copy.  Ballots will go out to the Property Owners on July 1st.  Ballots should be post-marked no later than July 31st.  Click on the candidate's name under their picture for email contact.  Click on the Report page to view.  Candidate Resumes may be obtained by accessing the official Web-site

Diane Porterfield

adianerdh@att.net 

#1 Charles Landrum    /    #2 Joann Rhodes

.

#3 Ken Benck

#4 Alan Thornton

Sorry.... I neglected to take a picture of candidate Gordon Moore.  I have requested a picture for the #5 position.  #5 Gordon Moore

#6 Mary Gage

#7 Sharon Carr

#8 Larry Hibbs