MAKE SURE THE BOARD KNOWS THAT YOU WANT TO BE COUNTED, AND HEARD
Too often, when questioned on an issue, this board makes claims that they are doing just fine, and back that statement up with the fact that there are very few members at monthly meetings, and there really aren't that many people writing to them with their issues. I call lack of attending meetings, or writing and bringing issues to the board, apathy. Most on this board, have sat at the board table for 6 or more years - long enough to have brought us to the point of actual physical (appearance) decay of Wedgefield, and yes, the decay and erosion of our governance. There are two important meetings this week. Stop the decay - all aspects of decay, and show that you care, that you are listening and watching, and you are ready to be counted as interested, and participating.
MEETING # 1: November 17, 7:00PM, @ WPA Office
Your board posted this meeting outside the office on the 14th. It is an OPEN meeting, something the board usually avoids. The purpose of the meeting? We don't know, because they haven't followed the governing documents, and told us who called it, or the subject of the meeting. The board could appear to believe that you won't notice that they aren't properly noticing the meeting, because you don't care. There are a lot of possibilities for the meeting to be called because they haven't conducted business during the monthly board meetings, and openly and honestly told us about the current dredging proposal, the formation of a board committee for the golf course, etc. It is time to get to these meetings each and every time, and ask questions during resident comments, particularly if they have failed to report, or given little credible information when they did report.
MEETING # 2: ANNUAL MEETING -November 19, 10:00 AM, Georgetown Presbyterian Church - Black River Rd. Note: If you haven't voted yet - registration begins at 9:00AM, and you must be in line before 10:00AM, or you won't be registered to vote.
The annual meeting is an important meeting for every member to attend, even if you have used your proxy to vote. Why? Your proxy assigns someone - (don't recommend giving your proxy assignment to the secretary of the board - in this case acting secretary Garrison) to exercise your vote should new items come to the floor. Assigning your proxy is a great first step if you absolutely cannot attend the meeting. That is why it is so important that you assign someone who you will truly trust to vote, as you would if you were there.
If you don't attend, you are missing out on a right that is available to members once a year. The right to be recognized by the board, nominate members for a vote - not on the ballot/proxy - for a board seat, ask questions of the board during the meeting, or make a motion, and ask for a vote. Don't give up this opportunity that only comes once a year to members. Be respectful, pleasant, and positive, but let the board know that you have questions, ideas, and would like to be heard. Don't want to speak? Attend, and be prepared to vote in the event that someone else brings something to the floor that you feel would help Wedgefield move forward.
As a member in good standing, I have some questions, and I'd like some answers from this board. Here are a few:
1) Why didn't the board report during the May 2016 Board Meeting, that the president, and vice president had met with the canal committee, and conditionally committed up to $135,000 to the proposed canal dredging? The canal committee, has relied on the promise of the president and vice president, and has begun to collect voluntary funds from canal lot owners to meet the conditions required. Therefore the $135,000 is committed for an undetermined time frame, without a motion, discussion, and a vote, at an open meeting. Please explain how this is legal?
2) What process did the board use to select the new interim grounds contractor? When did the board discuss, vote, and approve the contract for the interim grounds contractor at an open meeting of the board? What exactly is the total amount of the interim contract?
3) When did the board motion, discuss, and approve the selection of the interim grounds contractor, for Hurricane Matthew clean up, at an open meeting of the board? What are the terms, and the total of the Hurricane Matthew clean up contract?
4) When did the board motion, discuss, and approve the use of the utility company property, as a dump site for the debris from the clean up from Hurricane Matthew? Has the utility company been notified that a site that members were told would be used to store compost, and pine straw, is now being used as dump site for Hurricane Matthew debris?
5) When did the board motion, discuss, and approve a golf course committee in an open board meeting? Same question, as to when the board approved the actual committee members. Two board members recently told a group of residents that the board committee existed.
6) When, and why has the board discontinued posting the official tapes of board meetings on the WPA website?
7) During the last several months, the board has held closed meetings, noticed by a sign outside the office - information printed on the sign limited to "closed meeting, and date". Why hasn't there been a posting on the WPA website announcing the date the meeting was called, who called it, and the purpose of the meeting? At a recent WPA monthly board meeting, the board moved to approve the minutes of a closed meeting, and a resident asked the board the read the minutes for the residents. The board refused to read them, approved the minutes, and stated the minutes would be posted on the WPA website. They haven't been posted, why?
8) Before the board certifies the mailing for the annual meeting, I have questions regarding the legitimacy of the mailing certification. In recent days, I have become aware of at least two incidents regarding the mailing that cause concern. One resident received a annual meeting mailing shortly after the dead line date, filled out their proxy, and returned it to the office. A week or two later, they received a second annual meeting packet including a proxy. Another resident did not receive a packet, and around the 10th realizing that other members had theirs, went to the office to secure a packet. How did these irregularities occur? How many have come to the attention of the secretary of the board? How can members trust that every member had proper notice according to the governing documents, and that the vote will be legitimate?
I have no intention of asking all of these questions, but you might have some of your own. Wedgefield is at a critical juncture in so many areas, and the heart of the problem is the board's poor adherence to our governing documents and often times secrecy, and total disregard for member rights, and access to information. Please attend the meeting, ask questions, and help bring Wedgefield back to the place we all bought into, and decided to call home.
