POA ANNUAL MEETING –WHY YOU NEED TO BE THERE
The Annual Meeting and election for PGA POA will be held Thursday, January 21st. Every year the POA Board begs residents to attend. This year is no different! Please mark your calendar and plan to stop by the PGA Resort for the 6:00 p.m. meeting. Aside from the fact that you should vote for board members to protect your biggest investment (your home), there are also various City and County Officials who give their annual report and share information regarding your community outside of PGA National.
There may come a time when you need the various officials to support or deny something that may have a direct impact on the residents of PGA National. If you can’t take an hour out of your schedule to listen to what they have to say, it might be perceived as an “I don’t’ care” attitude when we know that isn’t the case so please, please, please join us at the POA Annual meeting. The official meeting notice with all details will be mailed in mid-December.
If the above plea doesn’t help, here’s a secret: Two passes to the Honda Classic will be given away at the POA Annual Meeting. These passes are for one day at the Champions Club overlooking the 18th Fairway with unlimited food and beverage service. Other ground passes will also be given away.
DON’T RUN THEM OVER!
Who? Anyone! I reminded everyone that school started a few months ago and now that Thanksgiving and other holidays are arriving there are even more people walking, skating and bicycling in PGA National. We have a lot of environmentally conscientious residents who ride scooters or bicycles on the road and (especially in the early morning or late afternoon) when the sun is in our eyes, it is sometimes hard to see them. They don’t bounce well so please give them room when sharing the road. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the walking/bicycle paths so they must use the street.
The same courtesy is needed for those using the paths/sidewalks: When riding or skating up behind someone, a simple shout out of, “on your left”, or “coming up on your right” will allow that person to step out of the way and hopefully in the proper direction! Simple courtesy, please!
DOGS
OK, this is really for dog OWNERS since if your dog could read you would be so rich you wouldn’t be reading this! If you like to bring your pet to the parks in PGA National, especially the two that have playground equipment: KEEP THE DOG(S) ON A LEASH AND CLEAN UP AFTER THEM!!!! Aside from the fact that the rules of PGA require this, please consider that the two parks with swings and playground equipment are primarily used by people with children. This means lots of little, miniature people easily knocked over by a dog who “just wants to play”. Also, keep in mind that really little ones like to put things in their mouth – I’m not even going to explain that any further but be a responsible pet owner!!!!
A REQUEST FROM THE “YOU PEOPLE”
I’ve been threatening to address this for almost 12 years and after having to call security twice this month when residents threatened staff or became abusive, I felt it was time.
Part of our job in the property management business is accepting that many people will call (or stop by) to “vent” their frustrations. We understand this and we are happy to listen and help in any way that we can. It is expected and isn’t a problem until the caller (or visitor) becomes abusive. There is absolutely no situation that warrants anyone being verbally abusive to any employee of the POA and it is not acceptable.
Please keep in mind that the staff at the POA does not have any power to approve or disapprove anything; we take our direction from the Board and we are here to uphold the provisions of the governing documents and directives from the Board. Since the Board and Committee members are all unpaid volunteers and your neighbors, a separate staff handles the day-to-day affairs within the office.
Yes, we are paid and our favorite expression is “I pay your salary” (its right up there with being called a “you people” since an average salary of $30,000 per year divided by 5,000 homes only works out to about $6.00 per home per YEAR). I received a call this week from someone who insisted that JoAnn O’Mara personally approved a paint color that they objected to. They tried to tell me I was not telling them the truth because they “saw evidence” of her approval which was actually her name on the letter. She did sign the letter but it was “on behalf of the PGA POA Architectural Review Committee” and the matter was brought before the ARC meeting and voted on by the ARC (note: no member of the POA staff votes on any committee or board matter). The date of all meetings of the POA is published on Channel 63 and the door of the POA office and all owners are permitted to attend any meeting. As the Property Manager, I sign letters “on behalf of the PGA POA Board of Governors” but that doesn’t mean that I personally have any opinion on the open garage door, trash violations, overgrown plants, improperly maintained home or anything else…I am simply upholding the governing documents on behalf of the Board AND the residents and sign the letter “on behalf of” whatever committee the matter relates to (or on behalf of the Board).
Here are some matters that come up frequently:
The documents require the board to charge interest on assessments that are not paid on time (July 1st each year). It is not optional, the documents state interest WILL be charged (not may be charged). In order to be fair to everyone the board cannot “waive” interest. It is like your mortgage: due at the same time whether or not you received a statement or invoice. It is the owner’s responsibility to find out why they didn’t get a bill if not received before July 1st.
The same documents require owners to get ARC approval for all changes to the exterior of their home. The By-Laws even go into some detail about the type of changes “including but not limited to” decorative plaques or accessories, statues, lighting, asphalt, driveway treatment, basketball hoops, etc. There is no provision for skipping this application process because your “neighbor has the same basket ball hoop so you thought it was OK”; or “no one can see in my back yard”. All changes require written approval from the POA ARC (even if the HOA/condo ARC has given their approval)
The bottom line is that everyone who purchased a home in PGA National agreed to abide by all governing documents. We all know that rules are great as long as they don’t interfere with what you want to do. No one likes to receive a letter of violation or be told that what they want to do isn’t permitted. Because the POA Board continues to require owners to abide by these documents the homes in PGA National (some that are 30 years old) can still compete with newer homes…..well, once the market picks up! You are fortunate to have a board that will truly listen to your suggestions and comments. The staff will be happy to listen to you too and pass along your comments…but not if you are verbally abusive so please take a breath before calling us. If you are so angry that you must shout at someone, please do NOT yell at my staff – ask for Dawn.
Finally, if you have a question (like the one taped to the POA door about a house color in Glengary) please PUT CONTACT INFO ON IT unless you don’t really want an answer and just want to “vent”. If you don’t want anyone to know who is complaining, you should still give me your name with a request that I not disclose the info …if the Air Force gave me a Top Secret clearance, I assure you I DO know how to keep things to myself. Please also note it is policy that we NEVER tell anyone we contact about a matter that it is because so-and-so complained.
Thanks for listening to me vent. I hope you will read this in the spirit it was written: That the PGA POA staff is here to help you and we will do whatever we can for you….just please ask nicely because we really are on your side!