THE RESIDENT SHOUT-OUT
Editor's note: This letter has been put on doors throughout the neighborhood. It makes some valid points. However, in the future, Glenbrookenews.com will only publish pieces that identify the authors.THE RESIDENT SHOUT-OUT
What is Direct Discrimination? It is pretty straightforward. A particular group of people with the same rights of the populace are treated differently….Such as the working adult living in the “Active Adult Community”.
Indirect Discrimination is often less obvious. Sometimes a policy, rule or practice seems fair because it applies to everyone equally, but a closer look shows people are being treated unfairly.
This is because some people or groups of people, are unable or less able to comply with the rule or are disadvantaged because of it. If this policy or practice is “not reasonable”, it may be INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION.
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS generally have meetings for the ENTIRE board and membership. Not here at this “Active Adult Community”.
In what stretch of the imagination can GLENBROOKE be called an “Active Adult Community”? If you are a part of the growing population of Glenbrooke residents that are excluded and discounted.
How can they call the governing and electoral process democratic when the working populace cannot participate? We can’t be a part of the Design Review Community because it meets at 10 a.m. on a weekday. Can’t be a part of the Glenbrooke Nominating Committee for new resident Board of Directors because most of their committee work happens during the daytime. And don’t even think of running for the Board…because if you work, you can’t attend the 2 p.m. weekday meetings.
------------------------------------ THAT’S DISCRIMINATION !!!!!
That’s discrimination and DOES NOT represents all of the rights of the ENTIRE COMMUNITY. And if this farce of an electoral and governing process…continues….HOMEOWNERS can file complaints against their ASSOCIATION with STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, or with a trade association like the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.
RIGHTS:
And how can our LODGE ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES be serving the working adults of OUR Community when ALL THREE work only a Monday – Friday – DAYTIME SHIFT? How can you call our RESIDENT COORDINATOR a RESIDENT Coordinator…when she is only serving the RETIREES of the Community. We don’t see her, or the other two for that matter. When we get off work at 5 p.m. they are long gone.
And how come their HOURS are not posted by the office window…so we would know at least when they are here so we might call with our questions? Are they here? Are they ACCOUNTABLE to any one?
Why are THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, the bulk of our EMPLOYEE COSTS, all working the same shift?
And WHY was there not ACTIVE RECRUITMENT within our COMMUNITY to fill the OPENING MONITOR POSITION? Our Lodge Manager said in the JANUARY 2010 GLENBROOKE GAZETTE that there was an opening MONITOR POSITION..” WITH DETAILS TO FOLLOW”. Has our COMMUNITY gotten any more DETAILS? Would you apply for a position not knowing the HOURS, SALARY, JOB DUTIES?
She provided those for OUTSIDE PUBLICATIONS…YEA….Let’s hire yet another OURSIDER who has no stake or ties to this community. That makes a lot of SENSE.
Who are these ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE but PULTE/DEL WEBB ex-sales employees. Were they QUALIFIED for these Administrative positions? AND how did PULTE/DEL WEBB PLACE THESE THREE in these positions without following STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATED EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES. WHERE was the POSTING FOR THESE POSITIONS, the APPLICATION, SCREENING AND SELECTION PROCESS? Was that another “DETAILS WILL FOLLOW” TYPE OF SITUATION?
These THREE ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES HAND THE BUCKS WE PAY THIS PLACE. ARE THEY QUALIFIED TO?
How is staffing three full-time employees in the same day time shift an efficient usage of the BULK of our EMPLOYEMENT COSTS? If we SPREAD out these THREE ADMINISTRATORS and they ‘WORKED” a rotating NIGHT SHIFT AND SATURDAY SHIFT…would they not be able to BETTER SERVE ALL THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE “ACTIVE” WORKING ADULT?
AND if we SPREAD OUT THESE THREE FUILL-TIME SHIFTS…. The MONITOR SHIFTS could be better utilized to STAFF LONGER HOURS OF OPERATION OF OUR LODGE… WITHOUT ADDING ANY ADDITIONAL STAFFING COSTS TO EXTEND THE OPERATIONAL HOURS.
MANY OF US WORKING RESIDENTS WORK AS MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCE PERSONNEL AND STAFFING CONSULTANTS…and it is just HORRIBLE MANGERIAL SKILLS that clumps all the full-time employees together. WE FIRMLY FEEL that if THESE FULL TIME SHIFTS WERE BETTER UTILIZED, THAT THE LODGE STAFF MINUS THE ONE LEAVING MONITOR WOULD BE ENOUGH TO EXTEND HOURS OF OPERATION AT THE LODGE AND THE MONEY SAVED NOT HAVING TO REPLACE THE EXITING MONITOR COULD BE USED TO DEFRAY ANY ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL COSTS OF THE BUILDING BEING OPEN LONGER…..
ALL GLENBROOKE RESIDENTS JOIN US IN SHOUTING OUT ABOUT THESE DISCRIMINATORY AND POOR MANAGERIAL PRACTICES….THEY THINK WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING…..WELL WE CAN…AND WE CAN MAKE A LOT OF NOISE DOING IT…..
WE THE WORKING ADULT CANNOT ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS AND GET THAT PRECIOUS 3 MINUTE INTERVAL TO SPEAK OUT. WE ASK THAT YOU SPEAK OUT FOR US…AND WE WILL SPEAK OUT IN OTHER WAYS….AND TO OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO US. WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US…
IF YOU AGREE WITH WHAT WE HAVE SAID IN THE “RESIDENT SHOUT-OUT” WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE A COPY TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND HELP US GAIN A VOICE FOR THE WORKING RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SILENCED BY THE WAY THIS COMMUNITY IS RUN. WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING AS MANY COPIES AS WE CAN AND COPIES ARE BEING SENT TO “OUR” BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CAROLE MCCARTHY, DIRECTOR OF HOA OPERATIONS, AND MINA LACUESTA, MANAGER OF “OUR” LODGE.
LET THE WHOLE GLENBROOKE COMMUNITY GATHER TOGETHER AND SHOW THEM WHAT OUR “SHOUT-OUTS” CAN DO…….
WE HAVE MORE TO SAY….DETAILS WILL FOLLOW…..AND DETAILS WILL FOLLOW !!!!!!
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Totally agree with whomever wrote this letter. In the meantime, Glen and I normally attend Board meetings and would be happy to bring any issues up that working folks would like to see submitted to the Board. It really is too bad the Board wants to accommodate individuals who are paid to attend meetings and are appointed by Pulte versus being available for all residents. As for the employees at the lodge - totally agree too many employees during the daytime and would like to see job descriptions with percentage of time dedicated to each duty. If we understood what the heck they are doing during the day, maybe we would understand the need for three full time employees as well as part time during the same time period during the week. I doubt they could justify their hours but it would be quite intereting. Given we are hiring a new internet company to take care of the website, a trainer is available for the fitness center and there are only a couple of functions each month in which staff is responsible - why do we need three employees during the day? Hopefully with daylight saving time approaching they will arrange for longer hours and be more accommodating to the residents.
Missed my house with the flyer, but noticed what was probably the flyer in other driveways. Very well said and now I fully understand how the working residents feel totally left out of the process, not that I didn't before, just that no one except maybe a couple, spoke up until now. One item mentioned was about "Outside Publications" to fill the monitor position. EXACTLY WHAT PUBLICATIONS? Also why are we advertising outside the community...?? No interest from residents? It is my understanding this is "another" position, not a replacement.
JMO: What does bother me is that this could very easily be directed outside the community...to other local HOA's for instance and take on a life of it's own! It would be my hope that "the powers that be" would nip this in the bud and fix it before it gets totally out of control.
Just now found the ad in the paper...will follow this post.
PART TIME POSITION AVAILABLE
at the Glenbrooke Community Arbour Lodge Recreation Center. Experience in Hospitality and/or Customer Service preferred, friendly, outgoing & enthusiastic personality is a must. Computer skills, assistance in special events, or accounting experience is a plus! To apply: email resumes to mina.lacuesta@outglenbrooke.net Fax to: 916 714-1374, or mail to 7700 Del Webb Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95757 Size 3 3/4" x 1 1/4" Was in Jan. 27th and 29th paper...not sure about before.
I did not get a flyer either, so thank you for posting the letter here. I do agree tho, it should be signed. We should not fear retaliation for having our own opinion of something.
I agree with what the person is saying also. I do not see the need for 3 full time monitors at the clubhouse at one time. Heck, I don't think we need 3 full time monitors at all. One would be fine and the rest could be part time. What do they do anyway? I think, since we pay their salary, we should have a right to know. Unless there is a big party of some kind happening I don't see whey we need more than one monitor at the clubhouse at a time. And the "presidents" of the various clubs could act as monitors for when they meet. Apartment complexes have key cards to the rooms and pools and such but we somehow need constant monitoring.
And as for our HOA board members and their need to talk down to us and not care what we want or think, I think we should contact Del Webb/Pulte and demand they be replaced with people who will listen to us and care about us. We should get to put what ever we want on the agenda as long as the topic is civil. We should get to vote on how things are run around here. We should not have to go along with whatever they want with no recourse.
And the same goes for the Design Review Committee...we should be able to vote on what we can and cannot have. It should not be left up to the personal taste, or lack of it of the committee. Well, the president of the committee, the others just sit and nod their heads in agreement with her. Who says what is pretty and what is not? Who decides what goes with the decor and what does not? What is offensive and what is not? We were supposed to be able to decorate our front porches if we wanted to but several people have been told they can't have what they want on their front porch.
We are the homeowners here, we should decide.
Another question I have about an "outside" of Glenbrooke employee being hired. Exactly what information will this part time "outside" employee have access to? Mentions accounting experience...does that mean our personal information, phone numbers, addressses, emergency names & phone numbers, financial stmts., checks, cash and much more will be made available to this person? Will they be a bonded employee and have a background check?
Since they are wanting accounting experience we should get rid of the Management Company since all they do is collect our dues and mail nasty letters. At the Board meetings they are so interested in getting something to say that our minutes actually don't even reflect what really gets voted on. Think some accountability is being called for.
OK, I agree that it should be signed. Lord knows, I've put myself our there many times to get hit between the eyes and some may have tried, just didn't have good aim! I think most of us agree with what you're saying and if not, well, that's ok too. I have known for some time the working people in the community were unhappy being excluded from almost all activities and meetings in the community, but until now, no one had actually spoken out LOUD and CLEAR. I bet you feel better now....sometimes we just have to let off a little steam. Any other working people have anything to add tonight or just going to let this person take the hit. Seems most times that's the way it goes on these web sites, rather do the spin on the street or behind closed doors.
Have I made you MAD enough yet?? Then do a "SHOUT- OUT"! If nothing else, just post "Ditto" and your name, they may need your support as it probably wasn't easy for them.
We did not receive a flyer either, thank you for posting.
The letter had some valid points but it is hard to take something seriously when it is anonymous. Also, it was written more as a rant than a communication. Perhaps the writer would like to come out from hiding and have a real discussion. There is no reason to be anonymous unless the local mafioso is after you.
Some points were totally erroneous and the writer needs to do a bit more research before ranting. And why was it delivered to some people and not others? My copy got wet from the rain and I had to read it here.
Heard there was another "Shout-Out" letter. Seems it was left at the mail boxes, maybe yesterday. Anyone get it? Would love to read it too.
We got it and there were excellent points in the three-page edition. It mostly talked about the communication issue and the HOA survey.
I would love to reprint it but we made a decision last time to no longer print anonymous postings.
Lord knows I know it is uncomfortable to put yourself ‘out there’ but I believe we are all intelligent people that shouldn’t be afraid to express our opinion at this stage in our lives. I keep thinking of quote by Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew……
This is our community and our HOA and I hope this website brings neighbors together to not only enjoy it but also to protect it.
I would love to work with the individual(s) that writes “Shout Out” even if we don’t always agree (and no one does) I believe their voice should be heard. So I hope they call me at 647-6594 or email me at nnewsofglenbrooke.com to submit signed articles for Glenbrookenews.
Or, if you're going to Cassidy's at 4 p.m. bring it or drop it by the house, 7544 Abbey Circle and leave on table in front if I'm gone and I will post on the Yahoo Group account if it's ok with Rick H. Hate to type up three pages, but will if necessary...won't be responsible for typos though.