Saturday, January 24, 2015

GUEST EDITORIAL

I was asked by some folks in favor of an assessment increase, but opposed to the establishment of a
two-tier membership system, to forward this email to people who I knew would be interested in the vote.
I am in favor an assessment increase but opposed to two tiers and the completely unfair and unethical
way this proposal was initiated, presented, and carried out by GM, and Board. They have indicated our
financial problem, but should remain neutral while we owners proceed with a vote. If you have formed a
definite opinion in favor of the "Proposal" , which is your right and entitlement, you need go no further.
Delete it. If you are unsure of your position or are supporting an opposing position please continue to
read this following message:

POA Email Distribution List:

Early in December, a V4RC supporter came to me and suggested that we, opponents to the 2-Tier plan, make a formal request of the POA, to have access and use of the complete email distribution list that the POA uses to communicate with all property owners.  Great idea, I thought, and, I did so, in writing, made a request to David Twiggs.  After all, in the spirit of “fair play”, I felt that we, V4RC should have access to the same electronic distribution list that the POA uses on almost a daily basis to promote their support of the 2-Tier plan.  Words that tout their opinions of 2-Tier have been embedded in every communication since this contest started. I thought, that since we, the property owners, are paying for this tool, the electronic distribution list, it should be only fair, that we, V4RC, have equal access to spread our word about 2-Tier to the same audience.

Yesterday I finally received a response to my request from David Twiggs.

 I was denied access.

While I am disappointed that V4RC will not have equal access to this powerful and impactful communication tool, I understand and respect David’s decision to deny our access to this tool.  The POA should not, and apparently is not, sharing our personal data, our email addresses, with anyone.  This is a good thing.

However, what I continue to have issue with is the POA’s blatant misuse of our personal information to promote their one-side views and opinions, at our expense.  Ask yourself; who’s paying for the electronic distribution list?  You and I both know the answer to this question: “The Property Owners.”

This one-sided, unfair practice is evident with the full color brochures that were mailed out with the first election proxies.  It was evident again, with the wasteful mailing of a postcard, (costing $14,000), and soon will come another. And now, with the second election, we see the insertion of a one-side letter from the President of the Board promoting 2-Tier.  The one-sided use of OUR distribution list is evident in every electronic communique’ that the POA distributes.

Our election process in Hot Springs Village is about as far from fair and democratic as anything can get.  It’s very discouraging to see how the one-sided actions of our leaders have driven such a sharp wedge through the heart and spirit of our Community.

Hopefully, we will be able to make some positive changes with the election of Marcy G. Mermel and Clark G. Vernon in the upcoming Directors’ election.  We surely need their help and guidance.  Further, we are hoping against hope, that one of the other four Directors will stand up, stand tall, and break the chains that bind them to special interest groups so that we can gain a majority vote, representing the voices of property owners at large.

This writing, had I been able to reach out to all Property Owners, would surely have gained us more NO VOTES.  Posting my thoughts here and on our Group FB Page has its benefits but reaching out to 25,000~ Property Owners in one fell swoop as they say, would have had a MASSIVE IMPACT.

Given our constraints, we once again are depending on everyone that shares our mission to defeat 2-Tier, to forward this message on to all your friends, family, neighbors and anyone that you feel needs to know.

JUST VOTE NO!

           Robert Busse

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