STEWARDS AND STEWARDSHIP

     A steward is defined as one who looks after others or one who has such a position and responsibility. Stewardship is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "the activity or job of protecting and being responsible for something." It is further defined elsewhere as  "an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources." Finally, here is how good CEO's define the role of stewardship - "as a steward, you try to leave the company in better shape for your successor than it was handed over to you by your predecessor." Well, that leaves us out!
     I have used these definitions to indicate that these are the opinions and definitions of many and I am simply accepting of them as are all thinking people. So here is our problem. Our steward, the President of UCO, has failed us, totally reneged on his responsibility and is now deserving of immediate removal from office and a replacement be provided via a fair and honest campaign and election.
     We have already seen that campaign tactics apropros of a running scared incumbent were in place. We have seen the rules changed mid-stream and all sorts of excuses given, mostly of the "oh, dearie us, we must protect the poor seniors from any serious doings for their brains are so tired and worn out and must be occupied only in the playing of games, you know, like camp! We have seen the nasty and shameful tactics of informing, using governmental entities, vandalism, encouraging this vandalism by involving and encouraging others to do the same and by the constant whine of the minions, an annoying buzz signifying nothing but hot air. This morning we are entertained by the whines of Lanny Howe who is disturbed that there evidently appear to be more opponents of his master, David Israel, and how unfair it is that so many stand and speak up and out. Could that be because the others are either apathetic, dead from the neck up, totally confused by what is going on, bought by positions, thoroughly intimidated at the thought of loss of position and being called names and shamed in public  or just simply nasty enough to follow such a steward as David Israel and his chief minions Ed Black and Joy Vestal. Methinks it is more of this than anything else.
     Lanny, no one will stop you from getting up there and speaking. Perhaps you are simply a coward? Or simply really do realize that what you have to say is nonsense and will be recognized as such and you will be recognized and identified as a purveyor of nonsense?
     In any case, this present steward, David Israel, is bad for us.  One is supposed to look toward the future, to plan for the future, to evaluate carefully and sensibly, but all we get is "Oh, David brought in email". Puhleese! Gimme a break! It was an idea whose time had come and the next president was bound to do that so let's move on. What else has he done? Let me count the ways.
     Wasted millions of dollars.
     Given us broken down roads and walkways and piecemeal corrections.
     Installed a policy of exclusion rather than inclusion.
     Drawn a heavy curtain over UCO dealings, trashing the policy of transparency.
     Conducted secret meetings and contract talks, even going so far as to be ready to sign multi million dollar contracts without the knowledge or approval of the DA who indeed turned it down when uncovered.
     Violated Robert's Rules, a mandate of our by laws.
     Used his position as chair as a bully pulpit.
     Overturned term limits, a fixture of the Village since UCO began.
     Has implemented policies which will cause us to be financially ruined in the very near future and has indeed already once before brought us to the brink of bankruptcy by his chicanery and financial manipulations and misuse of funds.
     Has introduced the use of public shaming as a tool of the administration.
     Speaks only of Wi Fi or Broadband or any other synonym like name for the same thing and is stuck like a broken record on it, to the detriment of the Village.
     Has not kept a rein on the spending of WPRF and thus forced increases we would not nor should have had and the deterioration of the infrastructure of the Village for lack of funds,
     Presided over the putrification of our waterways.
     Presided over the decay of our physical plant.
     Provided no leadership or guidance at all in the issue of the golf course.
     Provided no leadership or guidance or even cared about the developing crisis of associations without boards, without money, who succumbed to those such as Donald Kelly and thus has allowed our Village to become a haven for transients and undesirables.
     Has raised the level of spending without disclosure to $5,000, way too high for our Village and financial state.
     Has neglected his fiduciary responsibilities.
     Has neglected to encourage and use future planning and ignored the need to plan for post Millennium.
      Has continued to use an attorney whose day has come and long gone and specifically because he gives David Israel exactly the answer- any answer- that he wants.
     Has refused to turn over papers requested by others, in violation of freedom of information mandates.
     Has allowed, no, has encouraged, the deterioration of The Reporter into the Rag, a pennysaver imitation with no news fit to print other than the advertisements and the blatant pushing of David Israel over all. Shame on you, Joy!
     And we can go on and on but the message is clear and might I remind you that there are strong and powerful pieces on Gary's blog, written by Ed Ross, that further detail the failures and lackings of our ostensible leader. Lanny whines that why should the opposition be allowed to hold meetings or distribute campaign material because after all, David has not done that. Well, shame on him and his arrogance and his laziness and his corruptive and corrosive soul. This is America. There is democracy. There are the rights of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. There is the law which is not to be twisted and torn. We do not back fascism here and shame on all of you who follow these precepts in your robotic dealings with David Israel. Yes. NO. Whatever you say, master. Oh, and by the way, Lanny, my blog is just that - MY blog and it belongs to no one else. I write what I want, what I feel and no one tells me what to do or write so no, contrary to your paranoid thinking, there is no union of three blogs, only the disgust of so many at the present state of affairs. And the initiative to start a blog - with out posting garbage like out of date notices. January has come and gone so what is with the late posting of the medical notices? Typical inefficiency and stupidity.
     For every thing on this earth there is a time and place. So says the Psalms and so sang The Turtles! David's time, if it ever was here, is now for sure gone and if we are to survive as a viable entity and not devolve into a disaster that cannot be redeemed and needs to be razed and started all over, who knows, as another ticky tacky development with homes and apartments in the hundreds of thousands, then the time has come - vote him gone. Wake up, delegates. Clear your heads and grab your independence by both hands. If not, we will be stuck with the same garbage and worse for the next two years or at least until we can recall him and/or institute a system of one resident owner per unit to vote or until nature takes its course. The massive majority of the electorate here despise David, are angry with him and that can be seen in any of the meetings that have been going on, but our system is flawed and allows for dead wood and appointed delegates from no board associations, all to support David Israel in his insane and obsessive quest to remain in power.
     I feel sorry for you, alone and devalued, but you have put yourself in that place. Now it is time to reap what you have sown - or not sown. Time to go. Time to bring on a new steward and a positive stewardship - kind of like what we need to do in our national elections for the present steward certainly fell down on the job. Very disappointing.