The News of October 2009 - ISSUE #15
...an official publication of the Community Association
October Dates to Put on Your Calendar
CA Board Meeting
14th
9 a.m. Rollins Theater Board of Director Applications Due
21st
Member Meeting
28th
Community Hall 7 to 9 p.m.
Columbus Day
12th
Check out the CA web site: suncitycenter.org
Two Golf Course Panels Announced At the September 9th Town Hall Meeting, CA President Ed Barnes announced that two Blue Ribbon panels have been formed. The golf panel, headed by Chuck Collett, will examine ways to enhance play on the courses. They collected data via a recent survey to all golfers regarding their interest in SCC golf. A second community-wide survey is now being done to include all residents, not just golfers. The other panel, headed by CA Director Howie Griffin, is to start looking at alternatives for North Lakes and their impacts. The resident survey is available at the CA office, Library and Kiosk. It is also available on the CA web site suncitycenter.org. You can actually fill it in online and print it out. Surveys are to be returned by October 10th. At the meeting, Barnes asked those in attendance who are golfers and who are non-golfers. In the crowd pictures shown here are the responses by show of hands. There were about as many members at this meeting as were at the August meeting (400-500). Since the August meeting, Barnes reported that WCI would provide a more complete description of the property during due diligence. He was invited to meet with two WCI representatives where he was told that WCI’s debt
Non-Golfers are indicated by raise of hands.
reduction plan is to emerge from bankruptcy by selling assets, particularly those that are not making money. WCI accounting showed that Sandpiper is making money but not enough, and North Lakes as a stand-alone course is losing much more per year. Barnes was told that if they can’t sell all of the courses, it is possible that they may close North Lakes. In that meeting, WCI agreed that if they received a valid offer, they are obligated to notify the CA of the offer, and the CA would have 120 days to respond – our Right of First Refusal. So, Barnes pointed out that some of the pressure is off to make an immediate buy/no buy decision by CA members. He believes that it will take a minimum of 60 to 90 days for WCI to get an offer. Once an interested party is found, they will need to conduct due diligence, line up financing, and negotiate the deal. It could be October or November at the earliest before WCI receives an offer from an outside firm. Then, the CA would have 120 days from that point to make the buy/no buy decision
Sun City, Arizona “An Extraordinary Past–A Brilliant Future”
Happy Hallowe’en 31st On the Inside CA President’s Report.. 2 CA Schedule................. 2 Entertainment Corner... 2 Club Happenings....... 6-7 CARE........................... 9 Atrium Update............ 10 Golf............................. 16 Consumer Affairs........ 18 Fitness Corner............ 18 Movies........................ 19 Newcomers................ 19
1960 – 2010 Our “big sister city” in Arizona is busily planning 50th anniversary activities that begin in January.
Sun City Center, Florida “.........” What’s our slogan going to be? Festivities here in Sun City Center will start on May 10, 2011, to celebrate 50 years of fun in Florida. That’s the date Del Webb broke ground for our little bit of paradise here. Ann Marie Leblanc, who is heading up the SCC 50th anniversary celebration, is asking you to put on your creativity hat to suggest a slogan to be used for the celebration. Planning is already underway so she needs your input quickly. Email her at aleblanc11@aol.com or call 642-2006 to talk about your idea.
Golfers then gave their show of hands.
(January or February at the earliest, probably later). Barnes pointed out that to date, there have been no deals, no pacts, no agreements, and no hidden agenda. His position is to wait and see, continue to assess membership interest in the courses, and to explore
anything is done by the CA. The general consensus appeared to agree with a wait-and-see approach with WCI, but there was mixed reaction to having the CA own the courses. The completed surveys will further assist the panels with their assignments.
Ed Barnes, CA President, gave a PowerPoint presentation to update CA members since the August Town Hall Meeting. ways of keeping the golf courses viable entities. In the end, he stated, we will need a referendum on what to do with the golf courses. At the end of his PowerPoint presentation, Barnes encouraged the audience to speak their feelings about the CA making on offer on the courses, encouraging third parties to buy the courses, and/or holding a referendum before
If you missed the September 9 Town Hall Meeting at which Ed Barnes presented the latest golf course information, you can view his presentation o n t h e i n t e r n e t . Ty p e into your browser: www. hodgesvideos.com and click on SCC CA Board Activities. Select the 9/09/09 meeting and click on the arrow in the center of the picture to begin the program.
The Golf Panel study group appointed by CA President Ed Barnes has produced an important survey for all residents of Sun City Center. That’s everyone, not just golfers. This survey will help the Panel make recommendations to Barnes and the CA Board of Directors as to what actions the CA should take regarding the golf courses and open space in SCC. Surveys can be picked up at the CA office, the Library and the Kiosk in the Atrium. Return by October 10th.