President’s Message

By Matt Metz SRCA Board President

In this day and age, when negative news seems to drown out the positive voices, I wanted to take a few moments to remind Scottsdale Ranch members of the benefits of living here and the rights we all share.

The benefits are almost too many to enumerate, but clearly our beautiful signature Lake Serena – with its opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, and even just enjoying the views across this scenic body of water – ranks near the top. We also have a wonderful Community Center, and Scottsdale city park where we host our many social events, thanks to the efforts of our able staff and generous volunteers.

But as a member of Scottsdale Ranch, you have rights, and they are important.

Perhaps the most important right you have is to expect our rules and regulations to be fairly and consistently enforced. It’s through consistent enforcement of our standards that we are able to protect the quality of life in Scottsdale Ranch and the property values of our homes. We do this by ensuring properties are maintained, modified, and improved consistent with our high standards.

You also have the right to expect that our common areas – Lake Serena, Community Center, mini-parks, and rights of way – are maintained. The upkeep and improvement of these common area elements is yet another way your Association protects your property values and lifestyle.

You can also expect that Scottsdale Ranch will get involved in zoning and neighborhood issues in the areas surrounding Scottsdale Ranch. By engaging with the City of Scottsdale, developers, and neighboring homeowner associations, we can have a big impact on population density, views, and traffic which – if not managed – potentially can adversely affect us. Over the past several years, Scottsdale Ranch has had a significant influence on proposed developments and zoning changes that could have affected our quality of life.

You can expect your Board of Directors to be future-focused. In addition to ensuring the current operational needs of the Association are addressed, the Board spends much time in future-visioning. We keep our ears to the ground to discover trends that are affecting other homeowners’ associations across the country – both positive trends and negative trends. The popular proverb “forewarned is forearmed” is an admonition to us that if we can see what’s coming, we can best be prepared to fend off the negatives and embrace and magnify the positives.

Perhaps most of all, you have the right to be heard. You have many opportunities to express your views. When you cast your vote for Board candidates, you have a say. When you attend Board meetings or committee meetings, you have a say. And when you put your own skin in the game by volunteering for the board or for one or more of our many committees, you have a say. And when you show up for one of our many social events, and engage with your neighbors, and with staff, and with Board members, you have a say.

So, I encourage you to exercise your rights, constructively, by attending events, by joining a committee, by running for the Board. After all, YOU are the “homeowners” in your homeowner’s association!