Term Limits are right!

I see that the Boss' coterie is out in force to scream against Term Limits. They want to protect the longevity of David Israel's term as UCO President. To insure that he has a job for life

Their arguments are frivolous. We don't need a Term Limit By-Law all we have to do is not vote for the person and he won't be elected. That is not right. That is forgetting the fact that the incumbent has all the advantages for re-election. He has name recognition. He has advertising on Israel's private blog, which has a large readership. He has the apathy of the DA.

Allowing a President or any UCO Administrator a chance for a life-long job is wrong. What we need is new ideas new thoughts, and new vigor. This only can be attained with new people.

Vote in the Term Limits.

The Boss says OK!

Could there be anymore proof of the need for Term Limits than what happened at to-days Operations Committee meeting?

This was a regular Operations Committee meeting attended by all the Committee Members, including Eva, the Manager of the Clubhouse.

A delegation of CV Owners also attended with the purpose of removing the rule to exclude religious material from the Clubhouse library.

There was a discussion on this subject that went on for about 45 minutes, with Eva consistently saying no, David Israel stayed silient for the whole discussion. Finally he said he was convinced and he agreed with the petitioners, after a while Eva also agreed.

And here is the point. The petitioners repeatedly called for a vote on this and Israel said it was not necessary.

So what happened is that when the Boss said OK, then the Clubhouse manager said OK and so the Petitioners got what they asked for.

But , you see what happened here? The President's opinion is the only thing that mattered here. It is exactly what I have been saying, the need for Term Limits becomes a necessity. We don't need a king. Too long in the job breeds arrogance and disdain. Disdain for the needs and wants of the CV residents.

We need Term Limits.

Sprinkler retrofitting

To all Century Village and Associations important issues to consider.

Stewart Richland

Two important issues were discussed at the UCO Executive Board meeting held yesterday that must be addressed by  every Condominium Association here in Century Village.

The first issue deals with the retro fitting of fire sprinkler systems in all condo units. The second issue deals with  infrastructure elements that focuses on the deteriorating condition of concrete walk ways, hand rails and rusted rebar supports.

CHAPTER 718 FLORIDA STATUTES THE CONDOMINIUM ACT

Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, And Mobile Homes Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1030

The information below is found on page 22 of the Florida Business/Professional regulations for Condominiums.

I have taken the liberty to highlight the passages that explain what an Association can do to “op-out” of this very costly retro fitting requirement.  The important issue here is that all Associations must act on this issue prior to the December 31, 2016 deadline date.  Based on the cost to retrofit, it is reasonable to assume that all our Century Village Associations will opt out of this requirement. 

However, what is vital is that each Association follow the opt out instructions outlined below in order to protect their Association from any action that could be taken by the state of Florida.

(l) Certificate of compliance.—A provision that a certificate of compliance from a licensed electrical contractor or electrician may be accepted by the association’s board as evidence of compliance of the condominium units with the applicable fire and life safety code must be included. Notwithstanding chapter 633 or of any other code, statute, ordinance, administrative rule, or regulation, or any interpretation of the foregoing, an association, residential condominium, or unit owner is not obligated to retrofit the common elements, association property, or units of a residential condominium with a fire sprinkler system in a building that has been certified for occupancy by the applicable governmental entity if the unit owners have voted to forego such retrofitting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all voting interests in the affected condominium. The local authority having jurisdiction may not require completion of retrofitting with a fire sprinkler system before January 1, 2020. By December 31, 2016, a residential condominium association that is not in compliance with the requirements for a fire sprinkler system and has not voted to forego retrofitting of such a system must initiate an application for a building permit for the required installation with the local government having jurisdiction demonstrating that the association will become compliant by December 31, 2019. 1. A vote to forego retrofitting may be obtained by limited proxy or by a ballot personally cast at a duly called membership meeting, or by execution of a written consent by the member, and is effective upon recording a certificate attesting to such vote in the public records of the county where the condominium is located. The association shall mail or hand deliver to each unit owner written notice at least 14 days before the membership meeting in which the vote to forego retrofitting of the required fire sprinkler system is to take place. Within 30 days after the association’s opt-out vote, notice of the results of the opt-out vote must be mailed or hand delivered to all unit owners. Evidence of compliance with this notice requirement must be made by affidavit executed by the person providing the notice and filed among the official records of the association. After notice is provided to each owner, a copy must be provided by the current owner to a new owner before closing and by a unit owner to a renter before signing a lease

2. If there has been a previous vote to forego retrofitting, a vote to require retrofitting may be obtained at a special meeting of the unit owners called by a petition of at least 10 percent of the voting interests. Such a vote may only be called once every 3 years. Notice shall be provided as required for any regularly called meeting of the unit owners, and must state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used to provide notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.

3. As part of the information collected annually from condominiums, the division shall require condominium associations to report the membership vote and recording of a certificate under this subsection and, if retrofitting has been undertaken, the per-unit cost of such work. The division shall annually report to the Division of State Fire Marshal of the Department of Financial Services the number of condominiums that have elected to forego retrofitting

4. Notwithstanding s. 553.509, a residential association may not be obligated to, and may forego the retrofitting of, any improvements required by s.553.509(2) upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting interests in the affected condominium. (m) Common elements; limited power to convey.—

Please note that there is some confusion over retrofitting buildings that are considered high rise structures.  Use Google to connect with the current fire department regulations for multi-storied buildings.

Every Condo owner must become aware of their environment.  Every unit owner should show due diligence when inspecting their apartments and their outside environment.  When you see something that does not seem right, notify a member of the board so they can act upon it.  The problem arises when an owner sees changes in their surroundings, and ignores it. This is dangerous to the safety to all the residents. Many of the problems are hidden.  Such as cracked and stained concrete could be a result of corroding re-bar and deteriorating concrete. The best advice that can be given to any association is to call in an expert to determine if there is a problem, and if there is one act quickly.

In evaluating concrete problems, one of the important decisions home inspectors must make is determining whether a problem is the result of conditions that have stabilized with a low chance of continuing future problems, or whether the conditions that caused the problem are such that there is a high probability that problems will continue or worsen. The goal of inspection or quality control programs is to ensure that contract documents and building codes are followed.

Some causes of concrete and re-bar issues are:

Steel Corrosion

Corrosion of embedded steel is the most common cause of concrete problems. As steel corrodes, the corrosion product expands, and this expansion can crack concrete and cause sections to break loose in flakes. Steel is typically protected by a thin film that develops as part of a chemical reaction with cement. This coating, called passivity, lowers the rate of corrosion to a point at which it becomes insignificant.  Several conditions can damage the passive coating and dramatically increase the rate at which reinforcement steel corrodes.

Leaching by water.

Since most concrete is porous, CO₂ will be slowly absorbed by the surface and find its way deeper into the concrete.  Also, water will slowly diffuse through it. If steel has inadequate concrete cover, usually 1-1/2 inches minimum, the pH of the concrete encasing the steel may be lowered to the point at which the passive layer is damaged or destroyed and the rate oTo all Century Village and Associations important issues to consider.

Stewart Richland

Two important issues were discussed at the UCO Executive Board meeting held yesterday that must be addressed by  every Condominium Association here in Century Village.

The first issue deals with the retro fitting of fire sprinkler systems in all condo units. The second issue deals with  infrastructure elements that focuses on the deteriorating condition of concrete walk ways, hand rails and rusted rebar supports.

CHAPTER 718 FLORIDA STATUTES THE CONDOMINIUM ACT

Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, And Mobile Homes Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1030

The information below is found on page 22 of the Florida Business/Professional regulations for Condominiums.

I have taken the liberty to highlight the passages that explain what an Association can do to “op-out” of this very costly retro fitting requirement.  The important issue here is that all Associations must act on this issue prior to the December 31, 2016 deadline date.  Based on the cost to retrofit, it is reasonable to assume that all our Century Village Associations will opt out of this requirement. 

However, what is vital is that each Association follow the opt out instructions outlined below in order to protect their Association from any action that could be taken by the state of Florida.

(l) Certificate of compliance.—A provision that a certificate of compliance from a licensed electrical contractor or electrician may be accepted by the association’s board as evidence of compliance of the condominium units with the applicable fire and life safety code must be included. Notwithstanding chapter 633 or of any other code, statute, ordinance, administrative rule, or regulation, or any interpretation of the foregoing, an association, residential condominium, or unit owner is not obligated to retrofit the common elements, association property, or units of a residential condominium with a fire sprinkler system in a building that has been certified for occupancy by the applicable governmental entity if the unit owners have voted to forego such retrofitting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all voting interests in the affected condominium. The local authority having jurisdiction may not require completion of retrofitting with a fire sprinkler system before January 1, 2020. By December 31, 2016, a residential condominium association that is not in compliance with the requirements for a fire sprinkler system and has not voted to forego retrofitting of such a system must initiate an application for a building permit for the required installation with the local government having jurisdiction demonstrating that the association will become compliant by December 31, 2019. 1. A vote to forego retrofitting may be obtained by limited proxy or by a ballot personally cast at a duly called membership meeting, or by execution of a written consent by the member, and is effective upon recording a certificate attesting to such vote in the public records of the county where the condominium is located. The association shall mail or hand deliver to each unit owner written notice at least 14 days before the membership meeting in which the vote to forego retrofitting of the required fire sprinkler system is to take place. Within 30 days after the association’s opt-out vote, notice of the results of the opt-out vote must be mailed or hand delivered to all unit owners. Evidence of compliance with this notice requirement must be made by affidavit executed by the person providing the notice and filed among the official records of the association. After notice is provided to each owner, a copy must be provided by the current owner to a new owner before closing and by a unit owner to a renter before signing a lease

2. If there has been a previous vote to forego retrofitting, a vote to require retrofitting may be obtained at a special meeting of the unit owners called by a petition of at least 10 percent of the voting interests. Such a vote may only be called once every 3 years. Notice shall be provided as required for any regularly called meeting of the unit owners, and must state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used to provide notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.

3. As part of the information collected annually from condominiums, the division shall require condominium associations to report the membership vote and recording of a certificate under this subsection and, if retrofitting has been undertaken, the per-unit cost of such work. The division shall annually report to the Division of State Fire Marshal of the Department of Financial Services the number of condominiums that have elected to forego retrofitting

4. Notwithstanding s. 553.509, a residential association may not be obligated to, and may forego the retrofitting of, any improvements required by s.553.509(2) upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting interests in the affected condominium. (m) Common elements; limited power to convey.—

Please note that there is some confusion over retrofitting buildings that are considered high rise structures.  Use Google to connect with the current fire department regulations for multi-storied buildings.

Every Condo owner must become aware of their environment.  Every unit owner should show due diligence when inspecting their apartments and their outside environment.  When you see something that does not seem right, notify a member of the board so they can act upon it.  The problem arises when an owner sees changes in their surroundings, and ignores it. This is dangerous to the safety to all the residents. Many of the problems are hidden.  Such as cracked and stained concrete could be a result of corroding re-bar and deteriorating concrete. The best advice that can be given to any association is to call in an expert to determine if there is a problem, and if there is one act quickly.

In evaluating concrete problems, one of the important decisions home inspectors must make is determining whether a problem is the result of conditions that have stabilized with a low chance of continuing future problems, or whether the conditions that caused the problem are such that there is a high probability that problems will continue or worsen. The goal of inspection or quality control programs is to ensure that contract documents and building codes are followed.

Some causes of concrete and re-bar issues are:

Steel Corrosion

Corrosion of embedded steel is the most common cause of concrete problems. As steel corrodes, the corrosion product expands, and this expansion can crack concrete and cause sections to break loose in flakes. Steel is typically protected by a thin film that develops as part of a chemical reaction with cement. This coating, called passivity, lowers the rate of corrosion to a point at which it becomes insignificant.  Several conditions can damage the passive coating and dramatically increase the rate at which reinforcement steel corrodes.

Leaching by water.

Since most concrete is porous, CO₂ will be slowly absorbed by the surface and find its way deeper into the concrete.  Also, water will slowly diffuse through it. If steel has inadequate concrete cover, usually 1-1/2 inches minimum, the pH of the concrete encasing the steel may be lowered to the point at which the passive layer is damaged or destroyed and the rate of the steel’s corrosion may increase dramatically.

Pictured below are just some conditions that develop over time and must be addressed.

The issues addressed in this article are important.  Please take them seriously.  Become proactive. 

Direct comments to – phyllisrichland.blogspot.comf the steel’s corrosion may increase dramatically.

Pictured below are just some conditions that develop over time and must be addressed.

The issues addressed in this article are important.  Please take them seriously.  Become proactive. 

Direct comments to – phyllisrichland.blogspot.com

Religous speech - free

The decision to allow all religious material space on the library shelf has opened another question. Does this mean ALL religions ?

When Florida State made the decision to allow religious materials in the schools it had an unexpected effect that had parents howling and officials scurrying. The decree was designed to curry favor with a bible belt electorate. They were still smarting from the loss of prayers in school.

It seems that the kids started getting satanic pamphlets from an atheist group who set up a display around the school and handed out their stuff to all the kids. They said they were atheists and didn't want any religion around their kids. They didn't believe in Satan either , they just wanted to make a point. Needless to say the parents were mortified and outraged.

The uproar from the parents went nuclear. The scurrying officials tried to hide out while they removed the egg from their faces. The kids started wearing satanic T shirts and had pictures of ol' Nick himself adorning their rooms, while the press had a field day.

The people were upset and the governor was embarrassed, bureaucrats lost their jobs or got demoted, while others worked in fear of getting the axe. The Guv' finally had to tell the people there was nothing he could do, "The law's the law" he said.

The atheists continued for a while and the whole incident became a memory of a struggle for a cause they had won. They had made their point .

I don't know if the atheists are still hanging around the school in Talahassee where this all took place. I haven't seen anything in the news about it . Even if they're not , there are still kids wearing satanic T shirts, and Ol' Nick still stares down from the walls of the bedrooms of Talahassee.

Few, if any residents of Century Village could be converted to satanism or any other religion. But you never know. It shouldn't really matter to anyone else if they do.





Neil J. Moore

EVA Caves In

A large protest group at the operations' meeting overturned the edict of Eva Rachesky to ban religious material from the clubhouse library. The group dedicated to the rights of religious freedom was vociferous in attempting to sway Eva to change her mind about banning faith based pamphlets and books.  The protesters made valid points on the subject of freedom of religion and the American constitution.  After about 40 minutes of discussion, David Israel who was quiet on the subject finally spoke. He related the story of his trip to the public library when he was 12 years old to borrow the book Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler. Although his mother had a near fit when he brought it home, he read it and said, it did not turn him into a Nazi. Minutes later he turned to Eva and said, in an apologetic tone, I’m sorry, I have to disagree with you on this one;   a short time later Eva relented and decided to change her mind about the ban.

 A compromise, between the protesting parties was reached that if the library were to become cluttered with too many copies one or two would remain, and the rest discarded.

In the past, Eva has always stated she does not take her orders from David Israel, yet it was obvious to the people in the room that Eva relented under his influence.

Term Limits

It is past Time, again, for Term Limits

So, the great one, David Israel is now fighting to keep his quest for a lifetime Presidency alive. He has accused the people that are in favor of term limits as being Malcontents, Disruptors and Lawsuit Launchers. In other words, it is all his opposition that he is tagging with these names. Although the history of Term Limits is long, it goes back to Roman times, it has been part and partial of the UCO by-Laws since the very beginning.

What happened was that the sly one, David Israel, decided that he wanted to be President for life and so he campaigned for the removal of the existing Term Limits. The Delegates, unaware of his ultimate goal, allowed it to pass. Once that was done the path to a life-long Presidency was in site and could be attained.

So now we have to deal with this again. There is no need for life-long administrative jobs in our Village.

What we need, now, is fresh faces, fresh ideas, and fresh vigor. Not having Term Limits just opens the doors to corruption. Corruption that exhibits as self as to keep the Committees populated by their friends. Exhibits itself as not allowing anybody to speak freely either at the Committee meeting or at the Delegate Assembly. Fresh ideas are stifled with insulting remarks.

It exhibits itself by the pushing for his, David Israel's, plan for a Village-wide WiFi, over the will of the DA. They turned it down in an over-whelming vote.

All of this is the product of a sense of empowerment that the major administrators have since they have no fear of curtailment. In essence, they are being elected for life.

Because we have given them the job for life

I ask again what is wrong with Fresh ideas, new ideas from new and vigorous people?

You must support Term Limits.

Pollution

Cootes Area

Carp in the Dump

I recently had an opportunity to visit a marsh just outside Hamilton called Cootes Paradise. It is a very pretty recreational area that became badly polluted during the industrial era when tons of sewage and waste water were dumped with no regard for the consequences for many years. This led to the marsh and the adjacent harbor becoming one of the worst polluted spots in North America. The marsh itself became stagnant with algae blooming in abundance, much like our own lake in Century Village.

In the sixties, it suddenly became a priority to clean it up as the people of the area became aware of the environmental implications of severe pollution.

The city fathers and the provincial government first tried aerating the water with a system of pipes pumping air into the water. A huge project was completed where the waste water was collected then treated before being dumped into the harbor. A multi-million dollar upgrading of the treatment plant was completed and hopes were high that the water would recover.

At first it seemed that there was a bit of improvement. but the marsh was devastated and most of the native plants and animals were gone. replaced by a species of carp that destroyed the vegetation and polluted the water even more with massive amounts of fecal matter they deposited.

A decision was made to somehow rid the marsh of carp by installing a trap at the entrance that would catch anything that tried to enter through the canal that joined the harbor and the marsh. The carp migrated out of the shallow water in the fall before freeze up and would return in the spring. It was imperative to get rid of the carp as they quickly ate the plants that were reintroduced in an attempt to restore the natural fauna that had disappeared.

The first year of operation the trap caught thousands of carp which were dispatched to a local dump in truckloads. Subsequent years saw many more thousands of carp caught and dispatched. Plants that had been carefully cultivated and placed in the marsh now had a chance to survive without the activities of the carp to disrupt their progress. Native fish species like pike, trout , and bass regained a foothold , in the past they had been demolished by the carp which greedily ate their eggs and spread disease through their droppings. Not only that, the carp constantly rooted up the bottom of the marsh causing the water to become turbid and cloudy preventing sunlight from reaching the bottom and killing any plants or animals that tried to grow there. A researcher commented that the floor of the marsh looked like the surface of the moon. barren and cratered due to carp rooting for food. The carp did eat some of the algae but preferred succulent green plants and tiny organisms they found by rooting up the bottom much like a pig would do.

The remediation program has showed some success, though the water has not fully recovered it is becoming more clear and hopes are that in time it will eventually revert to a pristine condition. Some experts predict it could take up to a hundred years to accomplish.

Having been witness to all this and involved in the effort to a small degree. I have to wonder why WPRF would consider stocking CV Lake with carp.

To be sure something has to be done, but stocking the lake with carp who are supposedly going to eat the green slimy algae while continuing to pour semi-treated waste water into the lake is not the answer. Nor is the addition of a few bubblers going to resolve the problem.

In reviewing reports from the remediation committee in Hamilton it is apparent that the water did not really improve with those types of measures. It wasn't until the waste water treatment plants were upgraded to purify the water before dumping it, the carp were removed and native plants were given a chance to flourish that any improvements were seen.

CV Lake is not the only place in Florida where this problem has been encountered, there are many other treatment plants across the state dumping water into the environment that is full of detrimental chemicals.

The problem of polluted catchment basins like the CV Lake must be tackled in a State wide effort. Century Village needs a leader who will voice the concerns on a State and Federal level and put pressure on the owners . Obviously our current administration lacks the will to do either. They seem content to spend residents money on band-aid efforts that so far have not shown much progress in cleaning up the algae laden waters of CV Lake.

The issue of chemical-laden waters ruining the lake was brought to the attention of the administration, but it was pooh-poohed by David Israel who is of the opinion that the chemicals in the water are naturally occurring substances and as such pose no threat. Mercury, lead and zinc are also naturally occurring substances, we know we don't want them in our water. High levels of chemical fertilizers are feeding the algae that is infesting the lake. Until something is done to remove them, which is possible with modern equipment, the algae will continue to thrive.

We really need a leader who has a good grasp of the issue and has the know how to tackle it in an effective way .

Let's get past the idea that stocking the lake with carp is a remedy. The real fix is to clean up the millions of gallons of water that is dumped into the lake .

Neil J. Moore

Funeral Info

Hi All,  Here is the info regarding funeral details for Phil Shapkin

This Tuesday at 12:00 noon at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens 5601 Greenwood Ave.  just off 45th street near St Mary's Hosp. 561-848-8659

It is planned to be graveside service,

Please pass this info along to anyone you think should be notified.

  

Honey

Latest Messenger Newspaper

Click here to read the news

WARNING

According to Eva Rachesky, David Israel and the Officers Committee of UCO, our clubhouse Library may contain some religious material, which is detrimental to your mind.  

Please enter said premises at the risk of being introduced to articles, which may influence you into becoming a member of a cult such as, Jehovah Witness, Catholicism, Judiaism, Islam, Buddism, Hinduism, or  atheism.  

If you fail to adhere to the risks and find yourself praying to an unfamiliar god, who does not answer your prayers, please feel free to join the new religion called Terrorism. This is the one where if your god does not deliver the goods you want,  you can beat the shit out of him.

My Opinion

Our new/old President likes to use the word Agitprop. I think he  uses it in error. Here is the meaning: Agitprop=agitation and propaganda, especially for the cause of communism. He uses it to insult his opponents, which are certainly not Communist. This is a word from the 60's, probably a word he used in his previous life.

I see at the last UCO officers meeting the Great one has noticed the discussion about the Clubhouse Library and the removal of Religous books and has remarked that although he knows not the facts he is of the opinion that this all a bunch of agitprop.

I have watched the UCO officers meeting via video, (which volume is too low), but I see that the President has proposed increasing the size of the Executive Committee from the voted size of 18 to an additional 8. for a total of 24. I wonder why? Is it that he does not have enough favorable votes and needs more?

I have listened to CNN with the news of the Brussels Terrorist activity and I came away with this. It seems as they will not share info, they do not want any help from their surrounding Countries, or us. They feel as if they are safe enough. This is wrong. They are not safe, Here in the USA, the sharing of Police data between the states is a given, In Belgium it is not. This is another example of the dislike, hate and jealousy that many people have for the USA

These people, the terrorists, were on the US watchlist, and Brussels was advised of this, but they did nothing about it, Had they surveilled them, as would be expected, maybe the bombing could have been avoided.

Coffee Shop in the Clubhouse

Wouldn't it be great to have our own coffee shop right here in Century Village? Why not ?  A coffee shop was  advertised as an added attraction in the original promotional literature for Century Village. and there was a coffee shop in the clubhouse at one time. It closed up for some reason or other and that was the end of it. There are some stories about the closure, Some say it closed because the customers were swiping the little packets of condiments and sugar, others say it was because of bad management.

               A coffee shop would be a great addition to the amenities. Take a look at the coffee and bagel shops adjacent to the village, There's a lot of CVers in them every day. That's because it's great to have a nice fresh toasted bagel and a hot cuppa joe for breakfast. It's even better if you can enjoy it with a few friends and good conversation.

               There's no good reason we shouldn't have a coffee shop right here . it There's a lot of good reasons why we should . A fresh hot toasted bagel is just one of them.

  

Neil J. Moore

What I think.

I'll tell you what I think.

About the thing with Eva R. and her personal feelings about the removal of certain books in the Clubhouse library. I think she is wrong. I think I am old enough to decide what I will read in the library and what I will not. I want the choice. What I don't want is somebody else telling me what I can read and what I cannot.

While I am on this subject, I think that the lack of permission to put the Messenger newspaper in the Clubhouse is another one of those things where Eva is deciding what I can read and what I can't. I don't like it. Put the paper in the ticket office where the other papers are and let me decide to read it or not.

As for David Israel's insistence that his WiFi system be considered and selected for our Village,it is another one of those things that is out of reach, that is this has been discussed and considered and the DA voted on it and said NO. So why is he continuing?  

Better we discuss and vote on the need for Term Limits. That we need!

I am an atheist

A LETTER TO EVA RACHESKY

I am an atheist and I am interested in information of ALL religions, whether they are pamphlets or books.  Banning pamphlets or books in our clubhouse library is contrary to the principle law of our constitution. Making the decision to remove pamphlets that you personally may feel is anathema to some religions is not what the framers of our constitution had in mind; religious freedom is a choice, not an edict.

I respectfully ask you to rescind your personal decision to ban some religious material from our library and allow individuals to have access to all information in this regard.  

Olga Wolkenstein

We have the Cart before the Horse

It just seems to me that the present relationship between UCO and the Associations is backwards. The original setup was for UCO to be the buying arm of a United Associations and to put all our buying needs into one package. This would, in effect gives us a strength when buying, issuing contracts, etc.

But that was the original setup, to-day we don't have that. What we have is the reverse. UCO is the Head of the Associations, makes all the decisions and we obey.

That is backwards, that is the cart before the horse, the tail is wagging the dog, that is stupid and wrong.

We must do something to change this back.

What we need is Owners Bill of Rights. What we need is a set of rules that is acceptable to all of us and puts UCO in the right position for what was intended, for what we wanted it to be.

The President of UCO should not be dictating to the Associations, and by inference have WPRF also dictating how we are to act in our Clubhouse. That's right I said OUR clubhouse. We are the sole tenant, we pay all the bills, but we have no say in how the Clubhouse is run.

That is wrong.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

            Yesterday the residents of one  Century Village Condo Association  gathered together to vote their president out of office – A president who is a staunch supporter of David Israel -  A  president who has ruled with the an  iron fist for more than 20 years.  -  A president who has been  steadfast  in refusing  to allow owners to see financial records - A president who sits at the reception desk in the UCO office and is known to have the reputation of being rude to visitors.

 This election was the beginning of a new day. Residents are waking up to the realities of having the power to alter the results of the next UCO election.  By slowly eliminating David Israel’s allies, they can return the village to a place of peace, prosperity and sunshine rather than the chaos David and his cronies have instilled.

 The results of the last UCO election left many people scratching their head. Everyone I spoke to who voted for Phyllis, said, how could David have won? Well, he did, whether or not the election was rigged, we will never know since we do not have a paper trail to prove otherwise. Some suspicions remain strong due to people having noticed Ed Black, who was himself a candidate, running frantically back and forth between the election room and the auditorium while delegates waited patiently for results.  The final election tallies were written on a piece of paper – who verified them, was it, Ed Black?   David may have the upper hand now that he is in office, but this latest vote by one association could be the beginning of a new day in Century Village. In the future, we may be saying sayonara to David and his bunch.  

Term Limits again

It’s time for term limits in government. It’s time to get rid of the career politicians. It’s time to let someone else play the game.

If the highest elected office in our nation has term limits, then so should every other elected position in the nation. From village boards, to county boards, to state reps, to school boards, to clerks and judges and treasurers and mayors  and UCO officials, and everyone in between.

It’s time to take back our country from the incumbents and insist on term limits. It doesn’t matter what party you stand for, which side you stand on, this is an effort we should all help to attain.

HONEST BALLOT?

We know from experience any company, which calls itself “HONEST” as in THE HONEST BALLOT COMPANY which David Israel hired for our recent UCO election is not a guarantee  the company is, in fact, honest.   The name is frequently used to fool people into thinking they are dealing with a company that has a reputation for being above reproach, but in reality, is not.  It is also commonly known that some of the biggest crooks call themselves HONEST - Remember Richard Nixon.  

David posted the results of the election on HIS blog, but the problem is: “WHO” was the person or persons that took the results from the machines and put them on a piece of paper? Was it Ed Black, who was seen running back and forth between Room C and the Theatre? Was it anyone of David’s cronies who are on the election committee?  Remember, no one from the opposition was on the election committee.  If you are wondering why no one from the opposing side was present to verify the tally, you must ask David Israel.  We believe he has a responsibility to answer this question, and if he does not, we must question the results of the election.

We must not be fooled into thinking the election was honest simply because machines were used.    

UCO Duck

This UCO Duck put all its eggs in one basket and is doomed to die.

This Century Village Muscovy duck decided to plant its eggs in the gutter of this roof.  Unfortunately, and according to the experts in  the nature preserve,  there is nothing we can do to save  the life of this poor unfortunate mother or its ducklings. The experts say the chances of Mama  duck surviving  the heat of the roof long enough for her babies to hatch, is slim.

If per chance she does survive, in all probabilities, the babies will fall to the ground and die.

If anyone out there has a solution, please call 561-281-2790, and we will do all we can to assist you in helping a mother duck and her babies live to a ripe old age.

Bits and pieces.

I see that there is a unit up for sale in Kent C. This is a building that purports to be non-smoking, but the people that live there smoke and resist the no smoking rules.

As a matter of fact, one of the unit owners has put her unit up for sale because of the fear or threat that she will be sued because of her resistance to the no smoking rule.

*****
I see that there is renewed vigor for the planning of a Village-wide Wi-Fi. This goes on under the auspices of Dave Israel although a majority of the Delegates voted it down. Israel's approach is way to expensive. There are cheaper ways to do this. One being  each association wifi's its own building. Cost about $5-6 per unit. The article purporting that Obama wants wifi is misleading. He does not want it free. Somebody is going to pay for this. Supposing that it was decided to take it out of everybodys Social Security check?

The talk about how wonderful Village wide wifi will be is a pipe dream. We already had an Israel Expert address us and he said that Israel's plan will NOT work, So why does he keep pushing against the will of the Delegates? I know that Isreal says the Association WiFi is not strong enough. I don't believe him. The source is the same source that everybody has available to each and every subscriber. Pay the price and you get wifi. The speed will vary based on what you order and pay for.

So what is the problem? Is this another one of Israel's boondoggles? Is this supposed to be good for the Village or is it just good for Israels legacy? At our expense?

*****

I see that the haters are out in force again. So we have it clear, this is my take on the Haters. Elaine Brown, Peter Cruise, Barbara Cornish. And of course, there is Mollie. These people, in the main, are the voice of D.Israel. They spew hate and propaganda frequently. Generally, they know not of what they speak.

*****

It seems as if they don't even think. Take for instance the asking of a question by a Delegate at the Delegates Assembly, how is that disruptive? Well, maybe it is. If the question asked is against what Israels wants or wants to believe or doesn't want mentioned, then maybe to his thinking it is disrupting him.

*****

And a special shout out to Mollie. Apparently you have forgotten we are a retirement community. Over 55, please. There are no children here. There are no children here that could be advantaged by Wi-Fi. There is no homework. As a matter of fact, we have a large segment of our population that is opposed to Wi-Fi in any circumstance.

LANNY, --- I HEAR YOU

I happen to glance at the blog of which I am prohibited from making as a posting.

Lanny Howe wrote a mini-narrative of my posting which appeared on Gary's Blog, in reference to the spitballs lobbed back and forth regarding Eduardo & Rivera attacks and counterattacks that got very personal. My considered opinion in that regard is that you can criticize up and down and all around, and even swear a bit if you're really angry.

After all, of 7,854 unit owners in CV, there may be 4,000 different opinions. But, and the "but" is BIG, --- the bitter argument or huge difference of opinion should never, yes, NEVER, get PERSONAL. Because instead of spitballs you'd be talking about baseball bats.

Lanny, if you happen to read this, --- you may have too much to say (opinion), but you're one of the good guys because you come from the only state in the country that has sensible people --- the great state of Massachusetts. Uh--oh, those New York/New Jersey people with the funny accents are going to come after me.

I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad time eating steamed clams, and it sidelined you for 5 days, but surely you can't say that you "....haven't dared try them again -- at any restaurant." It's like saying the Red Sox got beaten today by the St. Louis Browns 29 to 2 and I'm never going to see them play ever again!.

I took one of my daughters to McMenamy's Seafood in Brockton and after she went through the steamers using about 50 napkins and staining her blouse, she was ready to also eat the shells.

The restaurant has gone down a little bit, but it's still 100 times better than anything we have in

southern Florida. Oh, I'm dying here just thinking about that place. Oooops, I just dribbled on my American Legion shirt thinking about steamed clams, B I G ones.

Sorry to drift away, age you know. Maybe all of the Israel fans and all of the so-called Malcontents should get together for a hold-hands hula dance, have steamed clams in great abundance (and if you don't like them, bring your own stuff), ---- at least one thing I think would happen, --- you'll find
people wearing smiles and there would be an air of happiness floating around from just about everyone. Great food and dance and a supply of beer and wine will melt the anger of even the meanest of sorts. Wishful thinking.

When I read your posting, Lanny, I immediately thought of an olive branch. Thank you for sharing thoughts, and likewise re-handshakes

EDUARDO

OOPS, I FORGOT

Mollie Marshall whose husband Bob sent the residents down the river to the tune of eleven Million dollars is blaming the “MALCONTENTS “for not having Wi-Fi in the village.  It appears that her memory is failing her. She does not recall that it was the DELEGATES who turned down Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, we “Malcontents” are enjoying Wi-Fi for $6.50 per month while David Israel and his clowns sit on their butt waiting for the delegates to approve it.

The “MALCONTENTS”   are the people who “GET THINGS DONE”. We don’t sit on our asses in front of a computer waiting for the delegates to rise and shine. WE DO IT, WE DID IT and WE ARE ENJOYING IT.

UP YOURS MOLLIE!

Eduardo's pen name.

OKAY, YOU COOL IT, & I’LL COOL IT

On March 3rd, I had a posting on the free and open blog relating to Mr. Israel’s running-for-office brochure.  I had some firm opinions of what was in print and I expressed them.  They were my considered opinions.

On March 8th, Mr. Bob Rivera posted a comment in reference to my posting and it was not only insulting, but very personal, and I, indeed, took offense.  All of a sudden, out of the blue, he is attacking me.  Why?

So, naturally, I retaliated and placed a posting on this free-and-open blog, and I admit that I was pissed because I was attacked personally.

Eventually, Mr. Olman was contacted and was respectfully requested that my posting be removed from this blog.  It was.  And, Mr. Rivera’s personal detrimental remarks were also removed from this blog.

The entire matter becomes moot.  I regret being as harsh as I was toward Mr. Rivera’s unprovoked attack and I would hope that he would refrain from any repeat performance.  However, let me be clear that should I be attacked again, I will be ready to defend my reputation and the reputation of those who are close to me.

EDUARDO

P.S.  So that there is no more – maybe, could be, might be – regarding my pen name, -- when I was in school, I played a lot of ice hockey.  We had in our small sports town the League of Nations, and a number of these kids were Hispanic.  I was a defenseman and these certain Spanish-speaking players got very friendly especially when I was doing a good job.  I was then called EDUARD and then EDUARDO.  I fit in, -- it stuck, and I only use it now when writing about all of the nonsense happenings in the Village.

EDWARD J. ROSS

Volunteers needed?

Laugh of the day

UCO is seeking volunteers to sign up for their committees.

WHY?

So David Israel can fire them.

Reason above all

To all Century Villagers, who 'support reason above all’
By Stew Richland


Is UCO so incredibly complicated an organization to run that it takes more than the two terms to fully digest and understand the intricacies of what needs to be done to keep UCO running efficiently.

All efficient leadership rely on their staff to help them cope with the volume of issues they must process.  Many people will say that we live in a free country and by supporting term limits you are taking our rights away.  Perhaps in an ideal world, this premise would be true.  Unfortunately, this is not the reality that we face here in Century Village.  I contend that term limits protect us from a so-called career politician, that is ego driven and will do anything it takes to get re-elected.

The argument that it takes more than two terms to get things done is ridiculous.  Most of our Presidents have moved up from the volunteer ranks.  First as a committee member, then  Vice-President and finally tossing their hat into the ring for the top job.
 
It has been a tradition in Century Village to term limit the president of UCO.  For the many years that this Village operated, no elected president challenged this by-law, until Dave Israel became president.  He broke the tradition two years ago and now he has a fourth term.

Richard Sherman, a Revolutionary  War leader and a member of Congress,  shared his insight on this issue when he said that all elected officials should  “return home and mix with the people”  to get the sense of how the Village environment is changing.   On the national scene, a large number of Americans believe that career legislators or presidents of smaller entities have created a gaping chasm between themselves and the overall population.  This is what is happening here in Century Village. For a democracy to work there must be a government by and for all the people. This means that all sides must be heard.

The dominance of incumbency prevents the rise of new voices here in Century Village.  Comfortable careerists as we have here in Century Village often end up corrupted by power, blinded by their own ego’s, surround themselves with impish supporters who fear being “fired” from the administration that they support any and all schemes that the leader supports.

On 7/11/2008 Dave Israel Posted the following:
2) I was/am opposed to removing term limits; Autocrats abhor Term Limits because they preclude their becoming permanently ensconced in their Autocratic positions
This is exactly the reason why we need term limits here in the Village.  It is obvious that our current UCO President has ignored his own advice and has morphed into the autocrat that he so vehemently opposed.
 
Like Lincoln Steffens a  leading Muckraker, a form of  investigative journalism, who wrote a series of articles entitled the “Shame of the Cities,”  we “gadfly's” of Century Village will follow in this tradition and to inform, enlighten, and educate our residents on all the issues that impact our way of life here in Century Village.

To comment on this posting respond at: phyllisrichland.blogspot.com

Our Volunteer choices.

DEAR BARBARA,

Thank you so much for your kind invitation to allow us to become part of a UCO team.  

Below is a list of exceptionally qualified individuals.

I am certain, if asked, they will be more than happy to volunteer for the following:

Edward Grossman: Co-Chair of Finance committee

Phyllis Richland: Chair of committee formed to oversee all contracts before submission to an attorney.

Myron Solomon: Committee to keep WPRF and UCO costs aligned with budget.

Esther Sutofsky and Stewart Richland: Committee to oversee the integrity of the UCO Reporter.

Olga Wolkenstein: Committee to review bylaw changes.  

Marilyn Pomerantz: Programs and Services.

Marcia Ziccardy: Beautification.

John Gluszak: Infrastructure.

Eileen Pearlman: Information distribution.

John Gragg:  Production Manager, Channel 63.

For Barbara C

So Barbara C. is taking her venom and aiming it at Neil Moore.  Why? His thoughts are germane no matter where he is at the time. He can write from anywhere and have it published on the World Wide Web and read by thousands, millions, maybe.

What has to be done here is to lessen the rhetoric and lessen the hatred in this Village. A good place to start is with you. Stop hating! What makes you and Dirty mouth Peter Cruise think that your negative ideas are important? That they will change anyone's mind?

Not so. Negativity and hatred will not do anything good.

A Rebuttal to the Publisher of The Village Sentry CV Boca Raton

From the desk of Neil J. Moore.

To Fred Hadley Publisher of The Village Sentry CVW
In response to the article, you posted on David Israel's blog from  Century Village Boca Raton.

We sympathize with your plight as noted in your video. But the praise you heap on David Israel is not based on reality.
Is there any action from the two politicos who you begged for help? if so, it would be nice to see their response to your complaint.

I noticed in your video that you question your President quite vigorously and demanded answers to some concerns. I can say that would never happen here in West Palm CV, You would be shouted down, declared out of order, the microphone would be shut down you would be  threatened with arrest and finally relegated to the ranks of the Malcontents (David Israel's favorite label for those who ask the hard questions. ) If you have any doubt check out our website and view our video of "bad behavior in the village " (you tube ) and. www.centuryvillagemessengerclub.com.
FYI David Israel was read the riot act by Palm Beach County Sheriffs office for threatening to have people removed from delegates assemblies  by his demanding cry  CALL 911. CALL 911 when he didn't like what he was hearing. That's also recorded and posted on the internet, Israel cut it out after the Messenger Club sent a letter to the Sheriff objecting to it and the Sheriff gave him a spanking for it.

You are under a misconception that CV West Palm beach is governed  in a fair and above-board manner because committee meetings are recorded and posted on the internet. What you fail to understand is that D. Israel is a bit more clever than you think, Take a look at the meetings and it is glaringly apparent that the committee members are generally, all the same people on just about every committee and the votes on the issues echo David Israel's wishes. In other words ...THE COMMITTEES ARE STACKED WITH CRONIES ... check out the votes on the issues where the zombie committee members hold up their hands in a choreographed display. Get it? If that's not enough to satisfy you, take a look at David Israel's record of dismissing volunteers from committees who don't go along, and his consistent refusing to install willing, qualified and experienced volunteers on those same committees due to their opposition to his personal whims. Do you get it yet? Further proof of what we are saying can be seen in the video of the Insurance Committee meeting where Toni Salometti, a very good and dedicated volunteer, had a meltdown over David Israel's interference in her selection of one of David Israel's sworn enemies (Esther Sutofsky). The issue was so contentious that Toni resigned her position after serving for a number of years and performing admirably. In fact, she was given credit for saving the village millions of dollars in insurance fees.  Or how about the operations committee where the recording secretary resigned because she objected to David Israel's attempt to subvert the process then insulted her personally, causing her to pack up her kit and leave.
You obviously are uninformed about the situation at channel 63. It is totally controlled by Joy Vestal and Ed Black. You can see them at every committee meeting. They recently refused to air a harmless video concerning a book club because they don't like the person appearing in the video. The two people who produced the video and produced a series of entertaining shows featuring Cv Residents quit in protest of this blatant unreasonable censorship. Others who tried to work with the channel to produce entertainment also quit over the unreasonable and unfair attitude of the committee chair, who also happens to be the Co-Editor of The UCO reporter. And by the way, you should also be informed that the blog where you posted your congratulations is David Israels personal domain. He got rid of the website owned by CV and controls everything posted there. Needless to say, criticism and objections are nowhere to be seen.

  As for being open and transparent take a look at the video of the delegates assembly where David Israel grudgingly agreed to allow a resident,  practicing, licensed CPA to conduct a free audit of the books. David Israel refused to allow a motion to be considered on this and promised that the CPA would be welcome to attend the UCO offices and perform any audit he likes. A couple of days later the CPA arrived at the office and was refused access to the records. How's that for a "gold standard" Do you get it yet? There's more! Read The CV Messenger for  the details that are not apparent.

  What is troubling is that you identify yourself as the editor of a newspaper representing the residents of CV Boca Raton. What newspaper is that? We would like to subscribe, We can't find it anywhere.  You can read our newspaper, The CV Messenger, posted on the same website noted above and distributed in print throughout the village. What we can find is references to an email newsletter being published from the Boca Raton computer club. Is this the same newsletter that was warned by lawyer Merola to cease and desist using the Century Village name?  It looks like they are saying you can't use the name because you don't really represent Century Village. It would be nice to clarify your status. It would also be nice if you checked your facts to make sure they are based on reality before sending messages of congratulation.  Reading between the lines it looks like you are trying to make your administration look bad by making our administration look good, We get it!

It seems you do have some problems with your administration and we are sorry for you for that. Their actions in precluding attendance by residents at committee meetings is not kosher. What should be realized is that D. Israel seems to be a little more clever about the way he does things,  Committee meetings are conducted in a tiny room where attendees are compelled to wait in the lobby until summoned  and are forced to speak to their issues while standing shoulder to shoulder around the room. Then have to move on to allow others who have issues to enter. The results are pretty much the same as not allowing anyone into the room.  We get it, and you should be getting it by now!
It would be fair if you published this article in your "newspaper" we will be publishing your comments in ours. We would be happy to send copies of our newspaper, The CV Messenger, for distribution in CV Boca. How about sending us some copies of yours for distribution here? Be aware that you will not be permitted to place your newspaper in the clubhouse alongside the UCO Reporter and the Jewish Journal. David Israel won't allow it. If you try to distribute it by hand they will try to shut you down as documented in another video posted on our website entitled "A Sting In Century Village" (You Tube )Watch that one and then decide whether or not you want to send more congratulations for a gold standard administration.
The Messenger Club is responding to your article in the hopes that you could be set straight, We know there's problems in Boca. We got that. We would be more than happy to assist you in resolving them. We hope you get it about the reality of CVWPB and if you are interested in helping us resolve our issues we would have to welcome you to the ranks of "The Malcontents" first. If you really want to get up to snuff you should visit Gary Olman's blog: myvillageblogger.blogspot.com  I would suggest you read through it before judging CV West Palm Beach.

Neil J Moore. Editor The CV Messenger
Edward R Grossman  CPA.  Managing Editor The CV Messenger.

Mistakes to be rectified.

If one of Dave Israel's shills says it, it must be true. Israel and his gang HAVE made mistakes, they should work to correct them and not repeat them. But the major mistake is not to own the mistake and correct them.

One of the mistakes that bother me the most is his unrelenting anger at Esther. She was on the Insurance Committee and was removed by Israel, almost over the loud objections of Toni S., the Chair. but she was removed.

That is a mistake that must be rectified.

Another mistake that was made was the agreeing to a Forensic Audit by Ed Grossman and his team. at no charge, at the DA, and later the not allowing it. Why not let them do it. We have nothing to hide.

That was a mistake that should be rectified.

The guiding light is not fogiveness, but rather change, positve change. Change your attitude, change the way your anger makes you think. Lets think and act for the good of the Village. Not for our own private gain.

I think, with a concerted effort, by all. This Village, our Village can be great again.

THE ELECTION WAS A SQUEAKER

The dust has settled on the long anticipated election of officers at UCO. The results reflect a growing trend of support for the messenger club and a growing dissatisfaction of the administration led by David Israel. The 2014 election gave the treasurer a large majority win over Ed Grossman, 191 to 99 in favor of Howard O'Brien. The 2016 election shows a marked increase in support for Ed where the vote tallied 134 to 109. The presidential results also indicate a marked increase in support for David Israel's opponent Phyllis Richland, 124 to 152. The 2014 election the tally was 184 to 112 in favor of David Israel over Esther Sutofsky. The gap is closing as more and more people are becoming aware of the unacceptable practices now employed by UCO and Team Dave. The swing of the votes was a mere 13 for treasurer and 17 for President. The winners barely squeaked through.

What deserves a mention is that the so-called malcontents garnered a hefty share of the votes. It clearly indicates that the Messenger Club is gaining more and more support and are not the small group of disgruntled residents as claimed by David Israel and his "team". The numbers clearly show that opposition to team Dave represents about six thousand five hundred pro-Messenger Club residents.

The re-election of incumbents gives credibility to the argument that incumbents have an unfair advantage, especially when they control the distribution of information and should give residents food for thought in considering the reinstatement of term limits. Those candidates did as well as they did in spite of the efforts of the administration to close out any electioneering while using the village newspaper as a vehicle for their own efforts is a testament to the persistence and determination of the people.

Opposition to the policies and practices of the administration is growing steadily and is reflected in the results of the election that show a growing number of residents are not happy with the way the village is being run by team Dave. they should take notice and recognize the voices of the not so small group of so-called malcontents.

Labeling a large segment of Century Village as malcontents and continuing to vilify them does nothing to move the village forward in a spirit of cooperation and in fact, fuels the fires of discontent. To lump any segment of any population and label them as such smacks of bigotry and intolerance.

The closeness of the vote is indicative of the deep division among residents. We have to agree that name calling and sarcastic snide remarks from either side are counterproductive to achieving any progress. But the frustration of residents who have been subjected to this kind of behavior is manifested in retaliatory outbursts that spiral downward into a mudslinging contest that goes nowhere. In order for it to stop the lead must be taken from the top. There is no consideration given by the administration that the so called "mals" are reacting to the treatment they are obliged to endure and that the anger and resentment they face is created by the arrogant and sarcastic attitude emanating from the top.

The ploy of vilifying residents has to stop somewhere, the obvious place to start would be for the executive to demonstrate tolerance and respect for everyone regardless of their position, and to address the concerns they bring to the table rather than threatening and publicly castigating them and removing them from volunteer positions in the hope they will become so humiliated they simply give up and shut up.

We intend to continue to do what we do. We are encouraged to see that support for our efforts is reflected in the polls. Though no candidates that we supported were elected to office this time, the results do show encouraging signs that more people are becoming aware of the true political situation in the village, and that the Messenger Club is having positive effect on the attitudes of CV residents

In analyzing the results, a definite trend is apparent. Many more delegates than ever before voted in favor of the candidates that David Israel opposed and stated that no votes should be cast in their direction. The numbers tell us that a lot of people are rejecting his arguments. The margins were close as can be seen in the results, the trend continues, we see positive changes looming on the horizon.

A post-election article posted on David Israel's website states that it will take a long time for the Messenger Club to be forgiven, What, we would ask, is just what are we to be forgiven for?

Perhaps the exposure and eventual resolution of the Sheffield O situation? The publication of the details of the road paving fiasco? The exposure of the situation at Kent C where residents who openly disregard bylaws (no smoking) are, if not supported by, then at least condoned by a member of the UCO executive. Our opposition to WIFI, clearly backed up and supported by residents in their vote turning that proposal down? The publication of the details of the disabled couple who were refused ID cards on David Israel’s whim and the results of the settlement that cost Greenbrier C not only seven thousand dollars but casts the whole association and the village in an unfavorable light? Or maybe our condemnation of the condition of CV Lake is not to their liking?

Then, of course, there's the unreasonable censorship of the UCO Reporter and channel 63, a loud outcry objecting to the policies that are heard quite often at assemblies but ignored by the leaders, and the unreasonable dismissal of dedicated volunteers who object.

Let's not forget Howard O’Brien’s attempts to deny some residents access to finance committee meetings, a glaring contravention of the Sunshine Laws which we are legally bound to obey. A position that was soon abandoned after The Messenger Club published objections.

I suppose the administration is still stinging from the exposure of one of their own who got caught red handed destroying the Messenger Clubs distribution of the CV Messenger. That was really an egregious act that is borderline felonious and contrary to any concept of free speech and democracy. The video of the whole incident exposed Century Village to thousands of people who watched it on the internet, subsequently, the Messenger club was accused of destroying the image of the village, The truth is that the culprit who was exposed did more to damage our reputation than the Messenger Club did by showing it to the world.

Our publication of the details of the registered sex offenders living in Century Village raised no objection from residents. I guess we should ask the offenders to forgive us.

These and many other issues that were brought to light by the Messenger Club are issues that would never have been brought forth without the efforts of the few who were willing to stand up and demand action, accountability and transparency. The few who are quickly becoming the many. Some of the above-noted issues remain unresolved, The Messenger Club fully intends to pursue them to the end.

The Messenger Club's members are not looking for forgiveness as they know they did nothing that begs forgiveness. Nor are we dismayed that the election did not turn out the way we would prefer. We are encouraged by the swell of support, we intend to continue to work for the betterment of the village and we refuse to be discouraged.

We can only hope that the newly elected administration sees the writing on the wall and conducts their activities accordingly. If they choose to pursue an open and transparent administration that includes everyone regardless of their position, then we will support them in their efforts. If they choose to continue in the manner they have historically conducted themselves, then we will speak up against them. The choice is theirs to make.