“There is some confusion regarding the handling of the SLOA ballots.  To avoid the possibility of ballots not being counted, we wanted to clarify for you our view of the correct procedure to follow if you are returning your ballot before the Annual Meeting on September 7th and not attending the meeting.

If you attending the meeting, please bring your entire ballot with you to the meeting.  It is important that you not return your ballot before the meeting if your are attending because you will not be allowed to vote if you have previously submitted an “absentee ballot.”

If you are not attending the meeting, or are not certain about whether you will attend, complete the ballot as required, filling in the various blank spaces and checking the appropriate boxes (we are endorsing for Directors – DAVID OWEN, GIL SIMON & KEN THOMASSON) and return the entire ballot intact and uncut to the SLOA office before September 1^st.

It is very important to vote whether you attend the meeting or not.

We feel that if the ballot is “cut on this line,” there is no way to verify who has voted and there is a chance the ballot may not be counted.

The printed instructions are potentially confusing to some people, and although they do say “Fold the ballot and include it with the instructions,” we are interpreting this to mean the entire ballot should be returned without being “cut on this line.”

Your Friends & Neighbors at SunLand-Facts

Brief Bio:

Sunland homeowner since October 2002, married with two adult children, age 63, B.A. in English, retired after 34 years with federal government……started right out of high school and financed college fighting wild land fire with US Forest Service as engine crewman, helicopter crewman and smokejumper and after college worked for Social Security Administration and in the areas of health and fire safety enforcement for the Medicare program.

My commitment:

I’m running as an independent candidate for the SLOA Board, with an endorsement from   Sunland-Facts and am committed to the Platform put forth by Sunland-Facts: Transparency, Accessibility, Responsiveness and Accountability. If elected to the Board, I will approach my duties with an open mind and initially will focus on listening, learning and coming to understand issues that concern us as Sunland homeowners. I’m fully retired, so I have time available to serve on the Board and welcome the challenges that serving on the Board will present.

As with most of you, I am aware of the recent history involving the Sunland Golf & Country Club’s petition to seek financial assistance via an assessment (as opposed to voluntary donations) of all Sunland homeowners. I’ve heard a few opinions that this issue has divided Sunland……if so, we need to move beyond this as soon as possible…..Sunland is a great place to live and we need an environment that allows us to focus on that and to enjoy our homes and lives here and not on divisive issues. This issue was settled by the legal opinion of SLOA’s attorney (homeowners’ will not be required to financially support the Golf Club) and it is now time to move on, build on the past successes of SLOA representation of homeowners and make this community work for all of us.

Within Sunland there are three separate entities…..Sunland Owners Association, Sunland Water District and the Sunland Golf and Country Club. While these are all legally separate entities, they all exist in close proximity to each other. I think it is in all of our best interests that all three of these entities succeed within Sunland. If elected to the Board, I will act in a manner that is legal, appropriate and responsive to the best interests of Sunland homeowners and will conduct myself in a manner that is supportive of the Water District and the Golf Club, guided by what is both logical and legal. To become better versed on Sunland issues, I attended the Water District meeting on June 23^rd and have attended SLOA Board meetings. I also attended a Meet & Greet session on June 26^th and plan to attend others to meet more Sunland homeowners, in order to more fully understand their concerns.

KENNETH R. THOMASSON

Ken is retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked various assignments in Custody, Patrol, and Detective Divisions.  Ken retired in 1984 and opened his Private Investigation and Traffic Accident Reconstruction Business.  He maintained this business until he, his wife Margo, and son Tim moved to Bellevue, WA.  Ken and Margo moved to Sunland in 2008 and currently living on Fairway Drive.  His son Tim lives in Seattle with his family.

Ken holds an Associate of Arts Degree-Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts Degree-Business Management.  Ken is certified by the State of California to teach High School and Community College.

Ken is active in local politics, on the state and federal   level.  He is in contact with our local politicians providing his opinion on various matters that concern him.

Ken has been active in Sun Land Facts and thinks that all home owners should be fairly represented and should have access to their Board of Directors.  He also feels that a timely response is required when a home owner has asked a question or requested a decision in regards to SLOA.

Ken would appreciate your vote so he can work to properly protect the interests of all SLOA Homeowners.

Gilbert S. Simon

Born Chicago, Illinois

Graduate: University of Illinois with a JD in Law and BA in political science/economics

Graduate: Dayton University with an MBA

Employed for nearly 40 years as corporate legal counsel and management executive by major US foodservice and entertainment corporations.  Experienced in international business development, contracts, litigation management and employment law.  Substantial domestic and international travel experience. Currently co-owner of Sequim Village Glass in Carlsborg, WA. Resident of SunLand since 2001.

DrChuck

Charles P. Howerton PhD, AKA DrChuck in SunLand in recent months.  I had originally offered to run for a position on the board but found recently that I cannot.  On Tuesday June 15, 2010, I sent the following letter to the SLOA Board:

Ms. Sabra de Rocha, President,
SunLand Owners Association
135 Fairway Drive
Sequim, WA 98382

Dear Ms. de Rocha,

It is with deep regret that I must announce my withdrawal from the upcoming election for the SLOA Board.  I have had to take this action due to family medical problems that could require my wife and I to be away from the area for extended periods of time.  Should I be elected, this would limit my ability to perform my duties in a manner appropriate to the importance of the office.

I will offer my assistance to the incoming Board members in any capacity suitable to their needs and my abilities.

Sincerely,

Charles P. Howerton (drchuck)

I herewith offer my assistance and support for the candidacy of  Mr. David Owen and all other SunLand Facts endorsed candidates,.

Transparency

To do the business of the community openly and in a manner that is available to the SunLand Homeowners.  Avoid secret meetings and “executive sessions” and claims of privilege and confidentiality other than those explicitly defined in the CC&Rs where the privacy of an employee or homeowner must be protected.

Accessibility

We encourage SunLand Homeowners to attend and participate actively in meetings of the Board and committees to provide input and feedback.  Actively look to the community for guidance and solutions.

Responsiveness

To reply promptly to SunLand Homeowner concerns, especially presentations made to the SLOA Board, letters and e-mails directed to SLOA Board actions and policies.  End the practice of “receive and append to the minutes.”

Accountability

Make the SLOA Board solely accountable to the SunLand Homeowners and safeguard their interests.  Eliminate any possibility of divided loyalty.  Focus upon the “general good and welfare” of the entire community and make decisions based upon what is fair for all concerned.

This post is reserved for serious questions related to the issues.  Not every question will be posted as we will attempt top consolidate wherever possible.

The Current List of Questions

The following is the list of questions that the Sunland Facts team is endeavoring to answer.  The list is dynamic and anyone is welcome to submit other questions for consideration.  The questions that are presented in BOLD ITALICS have been answered and the answers will be posted as soon as they have been prepared in proper form..

1) SLOA and the SLGCC are each separate non-profit corporations,isn't
each responsible for its own finances?
 
2) Does the Golf Course add value to the homes in SLOA?  How much?  Equally?
 
3) As of 11/01/09 how much does the Golf Course owe on the irrigation system
notes? To whom?  Who owes it?  How, why and when was the decision made?
 
4)Aside from inquiries to SLOA what has the Golf Course done to address the
financial problem it now faces?
 
5) Has the Golf Course issue  affected home values in Sunland?

#6) What is the present zoning/classification of the Golf Course and what would
it take to change it? Is its present use dictated by a condition
within the deed when SLOA sold the land to the GC?

 
#7)  How many homes have sold in Sunland since September 2009?  How
does that compare to the same period in 2008?
 
#8)  Other golf clubs are under pressure financially, what are they
doing to address the problem?
 
#9)  If SLOA is connected financially to the Golf Course, what does SLOA get
for its investment?
 
#10)  What are the numbers:
                # of SLOA properties
                # of people represented in SLOA
                # of SLGCC members
                # of SLGCC members not in SLOA
                # of SLOA members who are also SLGCC members/as a percent_____
                # of SLOA Board members who are SLGCC members/ as a percent_____
 
#11)  At the November 17th SLOA Board meeting, Board President, Sabra
DeRocha said, "It's all about property values".  What is the CC&R by
which private property values are maintained by supporting the Golf Course.
 
#12)  What are the consequences to homeowners when they are unable to
pay the $300 assessment for the Golf Course?
 
#13)  Has SLOA conducted a problems/needs assessment to determine a
priority list for when and why they would collect additional fees or
assessments?  Where does the Golf Course fall, as a priority, on that list?
 
#14)  Since 7 of 10 SLOA Board members are SLGCC members, any business
dealing with the Golf Course has the appearance of a conflict of interest. Who
might homeowners seek out to oversee any potential vote regarding the
Golf Course, to ensure the appearance of an unbiased process?