THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE CLEAR AND MAKE SENSE

GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE - $856,935

Oh my!  That’s almost $1 million.   Yes folks, $1 million and no details to be had.
What a nice “slush fund” and place to spend money without anyone knowing.

So, Mr. O’Brien, I’m certainly not implying that anything is being hidden.  However I do believe that it would be only correct and proper for you to provide 
a full itemization – including the dollars appropriated for each of the line items you have included.    

In the past, this might have included landscaping, taxes, legal, insurance, office supplies, salaries, taxes and many more.  I would suggest that you give the delegates the respect they deserve before having to vote on an issue as important as this one.  It’s not only the TOTAL dollars that count.  I remember often telling everyone – “watch the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves.”

And then, of course, there’s Mr. Lincoln – “BUT, YOU CAN’T FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.”

Dorothy Tetro

CAN IT BE? WHO KNOWS? JUST BE WATCHFUL

     Today I read an interesting article in the NY Times regarding security and a frightening possibility. It begins on the first page of the business section and continues inside.  It states that when an email is sent to you, particularly one with an image or attachment or even a notice that to "unsubscribe click here" that if and when you open and click - BOOM! you now have given away all your private info. It seems that clicking on this tells the person who sent the email not only that you have opened it, but when, where, for how long and then that person has an inroad into your computer. I do not bother to unsubscribe or open  - I just click off to delete and then trash it.
     Now think of how many times you have clicked unsubscribe or whatever image you have clicked on or downloaded. Pretty scary, isn't it. Now I wonder. There is someone in this Village who claims he sees all, knows all, and can ruin you if you disobey - can it be that this person has been using this technique? Can IFI be contaminated in this manner? Just asking? I am making no accusations, just raising possibilities. Can it be there are others doing this and for sure there are others in the big scary world out there who are doing this. The article stated that even those Nigerian emails have this connection.
     The article does state that opening mail on OUTLOOK is safer or one can shut off the wireless, though read the article for that advice. I do suggest that all who own a computer check their level of security and get the best anti intrusion programs you can find, even if they cost. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish. All is not glitter and gold out there on the Internet and one must be careful. Do not even open an email if you do not know the person or place. Do not overclick. Do be choosy as to which emails you open and which attachments and images you allow.
    Do read this article. Do act on it. You see, Internet is a blessing and a curse. Rather than jumping into every new proposed project and program, perhaps it would behoove the so called computer mavens, techies, to put themselves forward, out there, to help the newbies on the Internet. Teach them the ways of safety. Teach them the do's and don't. Teach them to be defensive even as they enjoy the wider world it allows. Think about that, all of you on the Wi Fi committee or whatever the new name is going to be. Whatever it is, remember the Emperor's new clothes and the truth in all this. Saying it ain't so, does not make it so!

WI FI MONEY - WHERE AND WHY?

THIS IS A GREAT PIECE FILLED WITH HARD TRUTHS. REMEMBER MAN SPEAKS WITH FORKED TONGUE - WELL, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

 GUEST POSTING BY DOROTHY TETRO.

Wi-Fi MONEY – WHERE AND WHY?

I call your attention to the most recent edition of the UCO Reporter.
Let us begin on Page A2 – Meeting Minutes.  In the third column you can read as follows beginning on the sixth line:
“. . . Jean Dowling made a motion to put Wi-Fi money back into the General Reserve Account.  Motion seconded by Honey Sager.  Vote was taken, 116 in favor, motion passed.”
Now, I direct your attention to Page A7, Mr. O’Brien’s column specifically.  The last paragraph in the first column from the centerfold at the bottom of the page.  
“. . . The delegates also voted to keep the Wi-Fi funds intact rather than transfer them to the Infrastructure Reserve.  These funds will be held in its current bank account until such time when the Delegate Assembly approves Century Village Wi-Fi or votes to cease the efforts to install Century Village Wi-Fi.” 
Are not these two statements in disagreement with one another?  To further confuse matters toward the end of his column, Mr. O’Brien says
“. . . The budget was prepared with an expectation of transferring approximately $377,000 of collected Wi-Fi funds to the Infra-structure Reserve.  This will not be accomplished.  The shortfall of the Reserve will only INCREASE by this amount.”
Please note that the emphasis on increase is mine.  
So – where is the Wi-Fi money – General Reserve Account per minutes of the meeting or Wi-Fi specific accounts?  Remember folks, Abe Lincoln said “. . . but, you can’t fool ALL of the people ALL of the time.”
Dorothy Tetro

A QUESTION FOR MR. O'BRIEN - READ IT CAREFULLY

A QUESTION FOR MR. O’BRIEN

Sir – I have read your proposed budget as printed in the latest edition of the Reporter.  I note that figures differ from the Budget Summary that I have which is dated December 15, 2014.

The first is Reporter income.  The original $135,575 as indicated for 2014 has been decreased to $110,000.

On the other hand, General and Administrative expenses have been increased to $856,935.  The original was $610,560.  The net result of $271,950 has somehow or another appeared as “corrected total” on your spreadsheet.  A detailed explanation is requested.

Let’s continue further.  The grand total of unit owner contributions to UCO this year – 2014 – was $6,699,011 calculated to $71.08 per unit.  The Reporter was self-sufficient and no money was collected from unit owners to support this endeavor.  Channel 63 was listed as a Cable expense.

Your present proposed budget is for a total of $7,145,000 or $75.81 per unit.  The monthly increase per unit now calculates to $4.63 – a far cry from the 20 cents you have published.

I think an explanation is in order.  Abraham Lincoln once said “You can fool some of the people all of the time; all of the people some of the time, BUT, YOU CANNOT FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.”

Dorothy Tetro

THE TRUTH? BOTH SIDES? COULD HAVE FOOLED ME!!!

     The Reporter, which WE support whenever they run out of funds, especially when they buy some expensive equipment, has totally violated its mandate, its stated mandate, to report BOTH sides of the story or issue. Instead, what we find in the January issue of the paper is page after page after page, full pages, on why the delegates went astray, whose fault it was, why we will suffer eternal punishment for not approving the Poohbah's wishes and now, he has come up with a new way to spend our money.
     We still have five years left on our Comcast Cable contract but there he is, all gungho  to enter the fray again with a proposed broadband program. Surprise, surprise - it is already here in the XFinity modem (yes, that word that he so carefully explained to all us dummies!). In any case, wiring is still necessary and we have five years to go. I can think of more important items we need to address such as gearing up for the post Millenium agreement, you know, where we were screwed royal by the Levy family and company. And please, forget Broomhilda for this!~ This is a complicated and long process and will take as many years as we have to figure it out and get it right in order to present it to the powers that be.
     I am not going into the details of the articles of the paper. Suffice it to say that while the writers might have been sincere, there are many facts that are left out, misconstrued and plain old wrong. That nonsense about security is just that - nonsense. Hey. Go ask SONY about that!
     This is more of the same garbage we keep getting - about the budget and why things can or cannot be done, a bunch of gobbledegook for budget explanations, refusals to audit, reversal of a statement to agree to FREE auditing by knowledgeable people, and more and more of the same.
     The Poohbah is an inveterate liar, saying things to get his way and then renege when the time is right. He refuses to accept the fact that he is not the be all and end all of CV and neither are his followers, especially that evil Peter Cruz and the ninny, Grace, who has kindly invited me to move out of the Village. You first, honey. You first.
     Petey Boy thinks he knows all and obviously is aiming for office here as he KNOWS the true answers to everything and the way to handle the golf courses most recent decision. The PRPC committee really should hire him and then do the opposite of his advice. Whatever way the final decision goes, it will not be for some time as there will be appeals and appeals of the appeals, so I guess you will be able to mouth off with more of your nastiness.
     Truth? That is a non existent term in the Sore Losers Club. Lies - oh yes. Misinformation - oh yes. Contempt for others - oh yes. Is this what we want to continue here? NO NO NO. Vote down the budget. Vote down these ridiculous projects - and lookee here - five years in advance and he already has a company that HE picked for this broadband program. He already has plans for a committee and believe me - he won't let me on it! The man plans away, this man behind the curtain.  Five years? Wonder where you will be then? Probably still mired in paranoid fantasies.

SAME OLD SAME OLD

    It seems that for some people and for some nations there is a great difficulty in accepting the truth. They lie as easily as taking a normal breath and put forth misinformation in a cool and collected manner. Even if they are caught with their pants down, they come out attacking and feel that they will triumph. Well, they are wrong.
     Russia denies again and again that its troops are in the Ukraine. Yes, they are wearing their uniforms, albeit without insignia; yes, they are in Russian army trucks with Russian weaponry; yes, the soldiers captured and the soldiers dead in combat are Russians and in the army, but never mind all this. So says Russia.
     SONY gives in to cyberterrorism and while they say it is because the movie chains caved in, it does not matter. The end is the same and soon enough we will be all caving in. Bullies need to be stood up to, need to get a taste of their own medicine and a podunk state such as North Korea should not be able to threaten the USA and one of its fundamental rights. That is just wrong.
     In our own personal lives we have all come across petty dictators, kings in their little ponds, nasty  people who need to impress everyone with their power and might. The fact is that if one looks back at them, one will wonder why the hell they did not stand up for themselves and will also note that there came a time when these tinpot despots got their due.
     I am not going to go into a long diatribe about our  own personal tinpot dictator, but suffice it to say that his day has come too. He has gone on screaming for too long about the "drumbeat of the malcontents". He has gone on too long living in a world of his own creation, on his "campus". This is a Village, a living, breathing population of creative, bright,  or not so bright, mostly good people who live in a village, not a business campus or a governmental campus. It is backward thinking like that , that leads to grievous errors in planning and actualization of necessities for the village.
     We all know what this man has done to us over the past almost five years and it is awful, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We need to continue to stand up and refuse his ridiculous plans, his perseveration in trying to get his way all the time, government by tantrum and we must watch that the old does not come back, for as he often states, there is always another day - for the same old, same old.
     Let us enter the new year with the new, not the old, with a clean broom. Excusing his failures - or our successes- as unfair attacks on  him is ridiculous and the statements that if only the Bid and Operations committees would do what he wants, then all would be well. Wrong, Petey Boy, as usual. That is called democracy. Need a lesson in civics, in American history? Again, free of charge. And now let us unite together again and VOTE DOWN THIS HARMUL AND FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE BUDGET. OUR FUTURES ARE AT STAKE. DO NOT PAY FOR THIS MAN'S PARANOID FANTASIES AND WASTEFUL LACK OF MANAGEMENT SKILLS. DOWN WITH THE BUDGET. UP WITH NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMEBERS IN MARCH.
      A legend in his own mind does not make him a legend in ours. Time for him to go.

THANKS, HE SAYS

     So our Grand Poohbah makes a big thank you volunteers post on his blog. Yes, we need to say thank you to the volunteers, but what makes it all a bit hypocritical is that these thank yous cannot be made to the other volunteers, the would be volunteers, the wanna be volunteers - all those who are rejected by the Grand Poohbah OPENLY because he does not like them and their village viewpoints. What happens instead is that we recycle people, putting them on different committees and then saying, "Oh, no, sorry, no room at the inn. We are all filled up.
     How much better our Village would be, how much smoother our operations would flow, how much more sense we would have, how much more financially sound we would be - if only, ALL the talent of the villagers were taken into account. Even when one of his "supporters" such as Barbara Cornish asks a legitimate question, the man ignores it and then suddenly he will come out with a blast, be it private or public, and that person will be mud again. Just waiting on this latest round, Barbara.
     There is a rather new commentator on the other blogs who seems to have a modicum of common sense and even if we do not always agree, he/she makes much sense in many postings. Questions are asked about the bonuses. Questions are asked about the one owner one vote and where did that go - down the toilet, jangor8902, for if that were the case, the Poohbah knows he would lose. Comments are made as to how not every issue needs to revolve around their self made war(my words) with the "malcontents" - and again, proud to bear that name, Poohbah - and more questions are raised.
     How much more garbage are we going to take with the mismanagement of WPRF here in the Village. Since no one is ever spoken to except for the Poohbah, we know nothing and no reasons for mess-ups are given. Instead of ridiculous attention being given to those pickleball courts - and I never see anyone there - why are two important recreation areas still under construction. Will we ever see a completed Hastings and a resident pool at the clubhouse back in commission? Will the pier on Duck Island ever be completed, over a year in the stage of "promise" and no, Petey Boy, you nasty critter, not for you to drown the people you do not like - but for the fishermen and women of the Village, of which there are many.
     So.....no thanks to you, Poohbah, for the troubles we have are to find their cause right in your court, right in your hands. Take a long deep look at the man in the mirror and ask the right questions and answer honestly and perhaps we will then be saying, "Oh, thank you, but your service is no longer required or needed" - sound familiar? Right now - thanks for nothing to you. Oops, wrong - thank you oh so much for the crappy roads and the wasted money.

WHAT A HOOT!

   There he went again. Perhaps, my dear Poombah and your lemming Peter Cruz, who still wishes us all to drown and why don't you, Petey Boy, lead the way, head your precious conga line, ought to take into account old sayings that have more truth in them than the two of you. There you went haring off after a group called the Uniters Club, raising money in a dance, calling them names and spouting hate and hate mongering thoughts, calling them pawns of the "malcontents" and other clubs you mentioned. First of all, jerk, you check your info. Second of all, what would have been bad if it were the opposition who wanted to unite the Village - and actually we are doing just that - united against you and your lemmings, the Sore Losers Club which cannot handle defeat of a project like grownups.
 So here is my advice to you - in two ways. Remember the saying - "open mouth, insert foot" and remember this one as well. A closed mouth gathers no feet.
    Shame on you. Shame on you. Grow up. Fight on the issues. Open up a debate. Open up the ballot counting. Open up the books. Answer the questions about the bonuses - we are entitled. WE ARE UCO - not you. Just what the hell are you so afraid will come out - the fact that you have been lying, hiding, mismanaging for all these years? Guess again. It is not a secret any longer.

WHO KNOWS? ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS

     For those of you who missed it, yesterday, David Israel, AKA the Grand Poohbah, lost it, just lost it, on his blog. He went into a paranoid rage against an organization which is planning a dance, tonite, in the Clubhouse and charging $5 for entry. Who is this organization? Why are they charging? Who knows? Only The Shadow knows, for last nite, in a crowded lobby of the Clubhouse, all were laughing at the paranoid posting for NOBODY had ever heard of it, the dance or anything else that the Poohbah spoke, or rather, ranted about.
     Late last nite, evidently somebody clued this paranoid man in and he deleted his posting and then wrote that he apologized with deep regret for his grievous error. Well, fine, but that does not take away the problems this posting highlighted.
     First of all - CHECK YOUR INFORMATION before posting. That lack of checking is characteristic of his lack of foresight and process in initiating ANYTHING here in the Village. And if anyone has the chutzpah to defy him - well, lordy, lordy - the wrath of the Poohbah falls upon him/her along with all paranoid side dishes. No charge.
     Second of all, let us say that this organization was a group of people who wished to raise money to oppose him - SO WHAT!!! That is called freedom of assembly, freedom to pursue one's wishes and ideas without harassment. But paranoia does get in the way of accepting that one is not the boss of it all and the rant goes on and on without checking one's facts.
     Now again, therein lies the problem. One cannot proceed without facts and when one does - we get a $5 million dollar rip off and now a proposed 15 million dollar job to fix the situation.
     So, third of all, where is this $15,000,000 to come from? Where, you ask? Simple - from your pocket! In order to gather and amass such a huge fund over what they are planning - a 15 year leeway, FEES WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED ABOUT $10 A MONTH AND THAT IS WITHOUT ALL THE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. What do we add for rising contract costs? What do we add to replace and/or repair the perimeter fencing and that is some job! What do we add for maintenance and upkeep, for modernization as our facilities age?
     And while on the topic of money - just exactly what is going on with the budget. We are like the Keystone Cops of budgets. How many have been parceled out already? Why are they being changed, revised, again and again? Simple, because they were put out on assumptions. It was assumed that the delegates would simply accept all the pap that Poohbah and O'Brien were feeding us. It was assumed that we would not question figures, the ruinous combining of funds into one huge slush fund ( the better to mess around, my dear), and the imposition of fees that were never approved by the delegates! Oops! Check your facts. Take the temperature of the people before you do something so wrong. ALLOW THE AUDITING OF THE FINANCES OF THE VILLAGE. JUST WHAT ARE YOU HIDING, POOHBAH? DISTINGUISHED FINANCIAL EXPERTS VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME. WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?
     How do we handle all this and more? What more? Well, let's see? Anyone gone to Hastings lately? Anyone tried to swim laps in the resident's pool by the Clubhouse? Oops, cannot do that. Under construction since forever and at the worst time of the year for it.
     So, people, to whom do we turn to get answers to our questions that plague us? Where do we turn to get answers how to get rid of the issues that persist? Well,we can go to Petey Boy who jumped on the bandwagon of the Grand Poohbah yesterday and commented that he wished for all the opposition, a huge segment of our Village, to drown in our lake as they walked off the pier on Duck Island, never mind that it is impossible at the moment. Should we wish them the same lovely holiday wishes?
    What we do now is continue the good fight. Continue to oppose foolish and dangerous proposals. Vote down the budget, emphatically so. Show up to the assembly on Jan. 2 and vote no. Take an hour or so out of your day to do so. Do not let this man and his crew take us down the road to financial perdition.
     Who know the answers to the questions? The Shadow knows and G-d help us, we had better find them out.

OUR CHANGING WORLD - CV AND THE WORLD AT LARGE

        As we head into the midst of the holiday season, as the Village fills with family and friends, it behooves us to take a look around and see what is going on.
     In the Village it is easy to take stock of current events. For the first time in a long time there is a gelling and growing voice of protest here. We have denied the dangerous wishes of the reigning UCO administration and we need to continue on this path if we are  to insure that we bring our home back to financial common sense and stability, to a businesslike approach to its budgeting and contract process, to a more complete response to the needs of our residents.
     Just as the voices are heard elsewhere in the world, voices that were quiet before, we, too, must make sure our voices are heard as well and no matter the names or jingoistic terminology that is used against us, we must move forward. No Wi Fi project for the Village - leave it to the associations. No budget approval on Jan. 2, 2015 until a new and proper budget is presented with complete details, with transparency and with common sense. Yes to term limits. Yes to new blood, fresh ideas in the halls of UCO and on the committees. Enough with the recirculation of the same names, the same people. Enough with the rule of cronies.
     There is much to be done to fight against the Sore Losers (like that name?) It is time to take pride in being called "malcontents" for yes, that is what we are while the present situation remains status quo. We are proud to be part of a valued and honored American tradition set in place by our Founding Fathers and continued to the present day and, G-d willing, well into the future.
     The world is changing. Riots and revolutions, crazy people who have returned to the Dark Ages, who slaughter in the name of religion, who persecute other religions, including Jews and Christians and of other sects of their own religion. We must turn things around, face up to problems with courage and not cave in as Sony did with the movie "The Interview". Where will it stop? Will we be ruled by bullies and violence? I say NO!
     We must be bold and take new looks at the world and take new steps. Never thought I would ever give Obama another word of praise, but he did the right thing in opening up a new future with Cuba. It is not perfect, and while Raul Castro is different than his brother Fidel, there is hope for change, hope for the people of Cuba and their families here, separated by 90 miles of ocean. I have friends who will now be able to see their parents and other family much easier, more often. What can be bad about that? New business will be engendered and the economy of Cuba and Florida will be energized. It is a win - win situation. 
     Russia is once again facing economic problems and maybe that will keep their noses out of where they do not belong. They will get out of the Ukraine and other trouble areas. And who knows, maybe we will have a bit more peace on this earth. Now if we could only get the Chinese to agree to allow a free and traditional choosing of the next Dalai Lama and allow this one to be greeted honorably by all governments. I had the honor of meeting the Dalai Lama many years ago and he should be honored appropriately as the leader and hero and spokesman for his people that he is.
     So let us pray for progress and peace, for hope and not despair, for honesty and altruism rather than lies and more lies and selfish motivation.
     Happy Holidays to all as we enjoy this time in our wonderful Village and share it all with family and friends, new and old.

THE MONEY TREE OF CENTURY VILLAGE

     I know that my grandchildren believe that we have a money tree in the back of the building (though I have never found it!), but what is really the big news is that evidently we, at CVWPB, also have a money tree, evidently quite a large one. Not sure where it is but just look at the latest budget sheets that Howie O'Brien is distributing and you, too, will go a-huntin' with me.
     I, too, am looking for answers and explanations for a budget that resembles no other budget that I have ever come across, either in my personal or business or social life. Here are some questions looking for answers:
     What are the funds opening amounts?
     How many accounts are there in reality?
     How much money is in each account?
     What bank holds them?
     What is the interest rate?
     What are the names of the accounts?
     Are there any CD's?
     What is the configuration and separation figures for the operating funds versus the reserve and dedicated funds?
     Where in the name of all that's holy did you EVER come up with some of these figures?

     Let's take one category for an example: ROADWAY.
     At the last DA the figures on the handout stated, to the best of memory, that we needed $5,640,000 to redo the job, properly or not, it did not go into detail. We supposedly had on hand somewhat over $600,000. and the roads would be good for approximately 20 years (not really!).
     Now we have a new budget which does not bother to give us the starting figures and suddenly we have two categories - one is for roadway sealing and the other for paving. The figures then state that we will be putting away almost $300,000
all told in these categories in the 2015 budget.
     But wait - there's more. There is another budget paper that states that we will now need $15,000,000 within 15 years for a proper job on the roadway, including milling and doing the job in phases, and we are going to be putting away $1,000,000 a year for this.    
     Read that paragraph again and then hope you stop coughing pretty soon. So, suddenly we get this jump in figures from a total of close to  $6,000,000 for the roads (and I am adding on for increases over the years) and suddenly it more than doubles and just look at that amount that we are supposed to be putting away. During the good years before we did that lousy job, we were saving about a half million a year and had almost reached the figure we needed, when along came the Poohbah and the Snake and off went all our money, right down a financial sinkhole.
     So, what is the truth. I think only G-d above can figure this one out! And one more question - When suddenly the magical mystical money tree blooms and gives us first one batch of money and then another, all in the neighborhood of over $600,000, ah, just exactly where is this coming from. The roots of that tree are just about blown out. Methinks that these funds are coming from shoving all into one huge general fund, cancelling out other funds, reserve and dedicated and thus here we are, about to undergo another financial crisis and wow! all under the same aegis as before , along with the added persona of a new Treasurer.
     Calling all accountants. Calling all bookkeepers. Calling on all people with some modicum of common sense. VOTE NO NO NO ON THE BUDGET THIS COMING ASSEMBLY. IT NEEDS RE EXAMINATION. IT NEEDS EXPLANATION. IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE $2 WI FI FEE TAKEN OUT. IT NEEDS PROPER VALIDATION AND APPROVAL BY INFORMED DELEGATES. IT NEEDS WORK - SO VOTE IT DOWN. VOTE IT DOWN.

AND STILL THINGS HANG AROUND

     Here is a line from the CAM's list of things to do.

9. WiFi- WIP: UPDATE: on hold. (underlining is mine)

    Please note that after I made a fuss that Wi Fi was still listed as WIP or work in progress AFTER we had thunderously turned it down, the CAM has decided to change it but notice the change - ON HOLD.
     Exactly what does that mean? It means that the Grand Poobah will not give up on it- exactly as we have been saying all along. He is like a toddler who wants what he wants and will keep throwing tantrums till he gets his way. We must be very alert to Poohbah's sneaky efforts to return this item of Wi Fi to the agenda again and again. More associations have OPTED OUT so where exactly does he think he is going with this. And remember - if you have not opted out, the cost of this project would then devolve upon your association and that of the other ones who have not opted out. Pretty expensive at a cost of multi millions.
     I believe that the CAM needs to remember that he is not an employee of the Grand Poohbah, but rather an employee of UCO and WE ARE UCO. He must hear OUR voice.
     Yesterday's mail  brought an interesting letter from Andy  Rosen addressed to Board Members. It stated within, that there will be a collection only what was asked in the budget of 2014 with no increase.
     Thus the blended budget is over and must stay over by having the budget voted down. No No and No again on the budget in January's DA.
   By the way, that budget is also incorrect as the money for the Wi Fi fee should also not be included in the payments as we voted Wi Fi down and that money was to be transferred to the general reserves. SO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU DRAW UP YOUR NEW BUDGET, TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
     Another big project that awaits us is the watching of the funds in the general reserve as they have made a mishmash (good technical term, huh) of all funds and everything is now comingled, thus making for a huge slush fund, just like the millions of dollars they threw into the road contract and look what we got for that. And speaking of that, I noticed that there are now black patches on some areas of the perimeter walkway. Wonder how long those will last and a question - are these patches after the roots issues have been dealt with or are we doing our usual sloppy halfways job?
     I have been receiving emails from the LOSERS to shut up, yes, shut up, they say. Well, I will not and perhaps maybe they think that their threat of PBSO will scare me. Truly? You got the wrong one, you dolts. We are still in the United States of America so maybe I will use an old slogan from the past that seems apropro here - love it or leave it. The Villagers will wave to you on your way out.  Have a good day.

AND THE FASCIST IS AT IT AGAIN

    " DO NOT let the Malcontents hijack another Delegate Meeting as they did in December.  Keep these "amok" people quiet .... by having PBSO present and visible.  " SO STATES PETEY BOY.




    Peter Cruz, aka Petey Boy, is at it again. The fascist strain is so strong in him, and by association, with the rest of his crew, that he cannot resist stating over and over again that we need to bring in PBSO into the delegate assembly. The Grand Poombah has so stated this same opinion many times and aside from the ugly image of husky armed and uniformed men trying to frighten and intimidate senior citizens to the extent that they give up their rights as Americans - and yes, that is Fascism, you moron, just exactly what do you think they can do? If we get up there at the mic and voice our opposition, will they hustle us away from that? Will they twist our arms behind our back and say that The Grand Poombah has forbidden you to talk, to disagree, to call out Appeal or Division as is appropriate under Robert's Rules? Just exactly what is it that you think they can and will do?
     I will tell you upfront - no PBSO officer is going to stop me from stating my piece should I feel like it. No Grand Poombah sitting up there with his friggin gavel is going to sic armed goons at me. I do not believe that the PBSO will even go along with manhandling and aside from standing there arms akimbo with thumbs in belt and looking intimidating. tTey can do nothing.  I REPEAT - THEY CAN DO NOTHING and should they try , oh, boy, what lovely lawsuits against the Grand Poombah, the PBSO itself, and other governmental entities and you too, you moron, for inciting the practice of this, for engaging in a conspiracy to violate civil rights and on and on. Such a lovely picture this makes. Oh, for sure, you moron, you Fascist, this will definitely raise the values of the units!
     Do you even hear yourself, fool? Do you even understand what you are saying? Or are you simply a puppet of the Poombah and the Snake as you type out your lines? As was so aptly put , "Lord, what fools these mortals be!".Why not go beat your head like a rug until it can function, even if barely, and try to understand what you are saying and encouraging. And remember - this is the same generation that manned the barricades in their youth and shouted. "Power to the People!" Well, WE ARE THE PEOPLE HERE!

THE LIFE WE LEAD

     Plainly and simply put, life here in Florida has been just grand lately. The nights are cool and wonderful for sleep and the days beautiful and sunny after the morning chill. Friends have returned, birthdays celebrated, routines established and all is good.
    What is really great to say is that the resistance to the current administration is picking up. People have reached their breaking point and saying, "enough is enough". The Sunday meeting of the Messengers Club is a prime example of this forward movement. Contrary to the last DA, people here were quiet, listening attentively, clapped where they felt particularly moved to do so, and asked intelligent questions. There was no restlessness and none of that senior citizen strong sense of impatience and running out of attention time. Everyone sat there literally for hours, listening, asking questions, and left with high spirits.
     Lest you think that we are the only community with an administration like this, dictatorial and wasteful, be assured that we are not alone. In discussion with several friends from other south Florida communities, they too have dictators but they are in a quandary as to what to do. I told them to take a look at us and follow our lead. The situation can be changed through determination and knowledge that this is a long term battle rather than a quick foray.
     I do not know what it is that makes these people feel they can dictate. Perhaps it is because they had common positions in their working lives with lots of bosses over them and here they feel they can be "The Boss". Perhaps it is a quirk in their personalities, but whatever it is, we will not stand for it any longer.
     Kudos to all those who have battled long and hard for this, who have taken abuse thrown at them, been ridiculed, and yet who have soldiered on. Kudos to those who have come of late to the battle and supported the fight against dictatorship and ruinous policies for our Village. Let us keep it up, attend the assembly, go to the committee meetings if possible, and let our voices be heard.
Listen, watch and vote appropriately. Remember, the Grand Poohbah is just that - and can do NOTHING to you, not personally with his mouth or with his computer, and can not harm your association.
     Fix your annual budget.
     Vote down the proposed budget at the Jan. 2, 2015 DA.
     Be watchful and wary of another attempt to slide the Wi Fi in there again.
     Bring up term limits again and vote them in and get this dude and buddies out of there.
     There is much to do - but it can be done. We have seen that.

OUT OF ORDER

     Anyone living in Century Village WPB knows the sounds of those words. All one has to do is attend a meeting "chaired" by David Israel, and those words will be voiced often and inappropriately.
     You see, the problem is simple. The Grand Poohbah cannot control an ever increasing opposition towards himself and his cronies and against the shenanigans he pulls all the while claiming to do so for the benefit of the residents. Read my previous blog CUI BONO for further elaboration of that theme. In any case, the opposition has become increasingly vocal and increasingly energetic and the Poohbah is becoming increasingly frantic to protect his self proclaimed fiefdom.
    When a supposed leader of an entity, whatever the size or purpose of said entity, loses contact with the rank and file of that entity, when he/she loses the sense of kinship, of knowing the temperature of the members, does not understand their needs and desires nor cares to - then it is time to go.
     If the increasingly hostile and useless leader refuses to do the right thing and resign, then it is incumbent upon the members of said entity to rise up against this person and virtually disempower him. How? By simply voting NO NO NO on any proposals that are put forth that do not have a solid and sensible reasoning behind them, that have not been open to the members for examination and questioning for a reasonable amount of time - not 15 minutes. It is by denying success to proposals that are twisted and turned until they say what was never said. For example, if changing the date of inception of the budgetary year was approved, it does not mean ipso facto that the amount paid was to change and be automatically approved, especially so when the fiscal explanations and budgets were ridiculously unclear, fudged up and contained mysterious amounts of "floating" money.
     It means that the electorate MUST be sure to show up at the delegate assembly in order to stave off attempts to reinstate what was so thoroughly turned down, voted against in a landslide vote. It means that people must step up to the plate and stand up to the implied threats and intimidation and realize that the Grand Poohbah CAN DO NOTHING TO YOU OR TO YOUR ASSOCIATION. I REPEAT - NOTHING. It means that people must put forth their names and the names of people with the will, the drive, the knowledge,  and urge them to run for office so that this rotten situation will crumble from within.
     It means that the next time this man calls out "Out of Order" and bangs that damned gavel of his, we must stand up and say APPEAL and for votes we must call for DIVISION. We must stymie his every effort to stymie and thwart us and turn him down when he applies for Wi Fi again and again, when he tries to pull a budgetary coup on us ( and by that I mean stick with your budgetary figures from last year minus the Wi Fi fee, etc.) Remember, Andy Rosen works for Seacrest, which in turn means he works for you and takes orders from your association and not from UCO as it concerns your association.
     OUT OF ORDER? HE MOST CERTAINLY IS.

QUESTION FROM PHYLLIS

I just finished reading the other blog and saw Ruth Dreiss is going to head the nomination committee. Reading the qualifications for a candidate I was wondering why she is requesting UCO experience. Would that not deter a person that has not served in UCO before to send in a bio? How are we to get new people to volunteer for our village.? There are so many good folks out there that can lend so much to our village with their life experience so why must UCO experience be a qualifier? Just a thought!!!

                                                                                      thanks, Phyllis

 

I will respond t this comment by saying that this is their aim and goal. Deny experience to all but their own flunkies to the greatest extent that they can, and then shout about "no UCO experience". It is called having your cake and eating it too. Sad, but true.

CUI BONO ?

    It is a well known principle in crime detection to ask, "Cui Bono - who benefits." Who gains when something is proposed or done and there are questions about it, be it at the time or afterwards. This is a question we need to ask here in the Village as we ponder about elections and contracts and budgets.
     If we take a look at the past few years, it is indeed very important that we ask and answer that question - who benefits - who gains. Once we do that, the truth will be clear.
     So what are the "crimes" in the Village? Simple. Just look at the ideas put forth, at the contracts signed or not, at the financial manipulations, at the sneaky behind closed doors rewriting of the constitution of the Village, of the attempts to "snow" the residents and push things on them they do not want or need. Look at them carefully.
     Who benefits from confusion about the budget?
     Who benefits from moving all funds into one giant fund so diversion of said funds is not so obvious?
     Who benefitted from the manipulation of funds for the road job?
     Who benefitted from signing a "contract" for said job without proper safeguards?
     Who benefits from trying to push thru this Wi Fi business, especially with a company that bollixed up a similar job, that we turned away last time, and, I am hearing, may have a connection with personnel and former personnel of WPRF?
      Who benefits from secrecy and lack of transparency?
     Who benefits from all the lies that have been told over the past few years?
     Who benefits from changing, from overturning, term limits ?
     Who benefits by lack of chairmanship and neutrality from the chair of assemblies?
     Who benefits from a lack of full disclosure?
     Who benefits from incompetence and lack of managerial experience?
     Who benefits from lack of knowledge over process and procedure, over how to vet a contract?
     Who benefits from doing things without a proper attorney and proper safeguards, for example, a performance bond on a five million dollar paving job?
     Who benefits when the "favorites of the court" are appointed to little fiefdoms while talented people who have much to give are passed over?
     Who benefits from all this? Ask that question again and again and the answer will be clear. Is it not time to change, "to rearrange" as it was sung years ago?
     Who will benefit from a change in UCO? Cui Bono - WE WILL.

There is a meeting today at 3:30 in Room C at the Clubhouse. I will be attending as I wish to find out more of the truth about the budget and everything else going on. Cui Bone - we will. You will.

PS - For those who do not understand the meaning of  " "  around a word and how it amends or changes its meaning, please come to a tutorial class along with Gracie. No charge.

MAN HAS FORKED TONGUE

     This is the second posting today. I am that upset with what is going on and with what is being expressed on other blogs.
     Think back to the movies of our youth, one where the wise Indian chief would stand with his arms crossed, look sadly at the bad guy, and solemnly intone, "Man has forked tongue." Well, we need that Native American chief here in CV as the Grand Poohbah is a man with forked tongue.
     He ran on a term limits platform his first time around - then it was no term limits and now at a meeting he says there should be term limits - really - say it at an assembly, I dare you.
     He stated openly at a large open special meeting that we had more than a million dollar shortfall - and suddenly we did not.
     He stated at that same meeting that Wi Fi funds needed to be transferred to general reserve due to the above - and suddenly it did not for suddenly we were having Wi Fi!
     He stated that we had a budget for the coming year - and then suddenly we had another one - and another one - and another one.....
     He stated that Ed Grossman could do a forensic audit if it would be done for free - and said so at the DA - and suddenly it was off. WHY???? WHAT IS HE HIDING? WHAT IS HE AFRAID OF BEING UNCOVERED?
     He twists the letter that was sent to Mark Friedman and the ensuing result. If the risk of conflict of interest were not there, was not a very strong possibility, then Mr. Friedman would not have recused himself from UCO. One person cannot speak on two sides of the issue in a legal disagreement - not unless he is a man with a forked tongue and Mr. Friedman is NOT such a man. Hence, he did the right thing.
     He states that we have another lawyer. WHO? G-d forbid it is Tennyson again!!! Who is it, David Israel, who is it/ Say the name and let us hear what OUR funds are paying for even as you try to ride roughshod over us with these new proposed by laws and Articles. WHO IS IT?
  Not calling the man a liar, but "Man speaks with forked tongue." Time to go, the sooner the better. By the by, there is an excellent op-ed in today's NY Times how there is no truth in Russia and how this leads all to becoming a cynical farce. There is great danger in ruling by lies and I have so stated many a time. Honesty and transparency are sorely lacking here in UCO.
     People, start thinking of opposition candidates, particularly for the election a year from now and in the meanwhile, watch "man with forked tongue" carefully.
     Attend the DA.
     Vote carefully and insist that your delegate poll the building and vote accordingly.
     Let us have done with fascists, liars and hanger-ons.
     Let us bring back true democracy to the Village. (And better roads, too! Sorry, could not resist that. )
     Let us have a better future.