Leonard Horst

It’s springtime and (finally) some warm weather is upon us here in the Valley of the Sun! We trust this finds you well and enjoying the season. Many of our part-time residents are already heading back to their homes in preparation for summer. We wish them safe travels and look forward to their return in the fall. For those of us who live here year-round, we are taking a quick breath before heading into summer.

During the course of the recent board elections, I was asked several questions about the compensation for our board of directors. I want to clarify this subject for everyone. Board members do not receive compensation for their service. They do not get free meals at our restaurants, they do not get free drinks in the bars, they do not get free tickets to our paid concerts, and they do not get free access to our paid amenities such as golf. They are true volunteers who serve out of a love for our community. The same is true for all our committee chairs and members. They are all volunteers! And we appreciate every one of them!

I also want to clarify that the only person the board hires and supervises directly is the general manager. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the entire community, and the management staff reports to him. The board members, who also serve as board liaisons to the nine standing committees, have regular contact with the department managers in that role and on special projects as they come up. It is a well-balanced program that allows for strong communication at all levels on a consistent basis.

Please be safe as you enjoy our amenities and the amazing weather Arizona is famous for this time of the year!