By Stew Richland
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Century Village
lets go to press!
2016 is year that will be highly significant to all of us. In 2016
all 435 members of the House of Representatives will be up for
re-election. It will be up to the voters
to judge whether those running should be returned to Washington to do the
people’s business. Based on performance,
many of those Congressmen who won or retained their seats could find that the
voters are frustrated, disillusioned and angry by the quality of their
performance and their jobs may well be in jeopardy. Addressing the Senate, the Constitution states that one-third of that body will be rotated
every two years while keeping 2/3 of
this body in place to legislate the nations affairs. Based on the Senate’s performance, many of
those who seek re-election will also be in jeopardy of losing their seat.
2016 is a Presidential election year. The incumbent is moving ever closer to
becoming a “lame duck” and we, the voters, will be asked to choose a new
leader. The campaign season is underway
with a vengeance. The Republicans have
given us a very large slate to choose from.
We have seen the fortunes of some candidates rise and some fall based on
the recent televised debates performances.
Democrats on the other hand, are
offering up to the voters a limited slate of candidates for consideration.
In any event, both political parties understand the importance of
political rallies to allow candidates the opportunity to describe their vision
to the voting public. In addition, the Republicans have had their first debate
which resulted in a dramatic shift in the polls. On the horizon there are many more debates
scheduled that will most likely result in reducing the number of those who are
vying for the office of President.
2016 is also an important year here in Century Village. In March we are going to have an election to
decide who will guide UCO for the next two years. UCO has become the marquee for all that seems
to be wrong with the way our Village is administered. Over the past five years this administration
has given us a game plan so riddled with poor plays, questionable calls, misuse
of the time clock, and such lack of transparency that even the team from
“Bones” would not be able to unravel
UCO’s game strategy.
Here is short bullet list that illustrates
UCO’s myopia.
Using the UCO Reporter as an exclusive forum for UCO propaganda and
denying equal access for rebuttal
Arbitrary firing of UCO volunteers without cause
Appointing supporters to more than
one UCO position
Denying or ignoring past UCO
officers the opportunity to serve on committees in which they have
great expertise
Constantly demonstrating disdain toward Villagers that have opposing views. These include snide
demeaning remarks and innuendo especially during Delegate Assembly
meetings.
Breaking a long standing UCO
tradition on limiting officers to two consecutive terms
Most egregious is the concerted
effort by UCO to limit political campaigning in the Club House, and the pool
areas. This activity has deep roots in Century Village and to allow WPRF
to limit by fiat, denies to the Villagers our basic Constitutional
rights of Freedom of Expression and Freedom to Assemble.
In her campaign for UCO
President, Phyllis Richland, she is
demonstrating ability to inspire, and
re-energize those Delegates who feel they have been marginalized by the current UCO administration. What Phyllis Richland ‘s
campaign is aspiring to, is expand and
energize the voting delegates who feel alienated from what has taken place
these past five years. Mrs. Richland’s
goal is to convert the delegates from a non-voter status to voter status.
Richland’s
campaign emphasizes inclusion not exclusion.
“What was is not going to be what is!” She feels
that “Your are what you do.” She had
lived and breathed this motto during her 17 year service to UCO. With your support allow her to demonstrate that Century Village can again be a vibrant
retirement community as it was in the
past.