Hawaiian Shores -- Community Relations Recap

WATCHDOG © 2011

It's on! It's off! It's discussion; it's a meeting. It's call the Chair to the table to conduct meeting and watch the Chair take notes while the president [who arrived at 0914] conduct the pre-meeting and then continued on to conduct the actual meeting.

So, what, you may ask, was accomplished during the twenty minute committee meeting? [Quorum was reached at 0933]

First, at 0914 when the 'discussion' phase of the meeting began when the president informed the Chair that an email reminder to the various members of the committee might be productive in reminding them of the meeting. -- Of course, maturity and a true sense of commitment would find each committee member using their personal calendar to note the monthly meetings. The meeting was scheduled for the same day each month and the same time of day each month since it's first meeting in May. -- Sadly, besides the co chair and the president [who arrives late to nearly every committee meeting] there are only two 'non committee members' who consistently show up for the purpose of the meeting at the early hour despite the lackadaisical attitude non committee members have grown accustomed to of the committee members.

With a couple of phone calls to try and get at least one more person to attend to round out quorum [one member was out walking her dog; the other at home making leis] by 0933 quorum was finally established and a 'formal' meeting could be called to order. It was done so, but not by the Chair. The following business was discussed:

1. Ocean Park blessing: Though the Board has STILL NOT formally adopted the name of the park [Papio Ocean Park] and the fact that it is still being referred to as the 'Ocean Park' the blessing of the Park takes place sort of but not absolutely sure on Saturday August 20th. When? Your guess is as good as anyone's at the meeting. Specific time will be forthcoming. There will be pastries, juice, perhaps some shelter from the rain.
2. Dog Park: More definitive discussion was done. Now we are looking at 'waivers' to be signed, quarterly fees to be paid, [one fee for members; another fee for non members] shot record from Veterinarian and perhaps a certificate that your dog has attended some obedience course. The fee would get you a pass into the park via a possible gate/combination lock security mechanism. The fee would need to be renewed quarterly when the office could verify the updated records reflecting shots, obedience training, change combo on the gate, etc. 
3. Swap Meet report: The event was held with 8 vendors who collectively felt inclined to 'donate' around $35 dollars for their good fortune. [The suggested donation price was $10] The 'feedback'? Interest was shown in having another meet within 2 weeks to 2 months hence. The president suggested twice a year. The Co-Chair acquiesced from her excited suggestion of 2 months to the president's suggestion of  a biannual event. No vote was taken, no consensus attempted, just acquiescence.
4. Pool Membership: This is on the survey
5. Jazz Concert: The Chair has offered to provide entertainment to raise funds. Tentatively scheduled for November. [During the Board meeting the president suggested those funds could be used for the purchase of 8 lounge chairs for the pool.]

It appears the days of everyone having their binders, their marching orders, their motions all written out for them and designated as to who will move what are all gone. We have several committees each with their own chair and the ONLY committee that does not succumb to the president's usurpation of the chair is the Architect Committee. The chair of the Finance has the next larger control of his meetings but even then he winds up losing it if he is not diligent in staying the course. Sadly, part of leading is delegation and encouraging the committee members to take their responsibility seriously. It is tough for Directors who must serve on a committee because they have multiple volunteer responsibilities but the state requires no less than 2 per committee. HSCA's "Code of Conduct" does address the issue of directors being tardy to meetings and not fulfilling their various responsibilities and while it may be harsh to discuss this - it may serve as a reminder to the directors to lead by example to show up and fulfill their respective functions. When non directors see the leadership of directors it may impress them sufficiently to pony up. Just a thought. With two meetings this month unable to happen due to lack of quorum without extraordinary effort made to scare up some participants it speaks poorly to leadership. But then, it comes back to the Chair of the various committees not being able to conduct their respective committee meetings doesn't it?

The meeting was adjourned at 0953. The next meeting of the Community Relations Committee is Saturday, September 10th at 9A.