HOA board planning session kicks off the new season!

Here is how we have organized ourselves:

Communications Team: Alex Henderson, Chris DeJarnett, John Slim, Lynn Roberts

Programs Team: Mike Ehrlich, Pam Epstein, Sandy Geibel, Verna Rauschenberg

Advocacy Team: Bill Holyoak, Ham Gadd, John Farris, Mike Monroe

Sandi Smalley is our vice-president; Arnold Reynolds, the treasurer; and, Lynn Roberts, the secretary of the Board.

To round out this core of people we are delighted to add these great neighbors who have already stepped forward and offered their expertise and energies: Carl Deane, Barbara Schneider, Paul Goldstein, Helen Buckelew, George Thurman, Sue Hauseman and Eric Lindblom.

Our first order of business was to agree on several operating principles that reflect the way we intend to tackle our missions:

Do not reinvent the wheel. Operate cooperatively. All major players and organizations in Big Canoe need to be partners.

To generate synergy within the community, we need positive input and suggestions. Dialogue is pivotal.

We intend to stay focused on the key events and trends that impact us all.

We will formally review progress against the objectives in our project plans.

We commit to make the HOA one of the organizations that the community wants to join because it makes a difference.

Our second order of business was to identify missions/issues/ tasks within each of the three areas of focus.

We began developing the specific action plans that will be used to monitor progress toward accomplishment. Those specific plans and actions will be formalized and presented in Smoke Signals next month. Suffice it to say at this juncture, there has been a lot of energy; obvious dedication to making a difference; and a willingness to work in concert with the other major players in Big Canoe.

This is really a fun group to watch do their work: creative, inquisitive, strategic and focused at the same time. We are already digging in . . . and it is only Day 1.

In closing, I think the best mental picture of the way this board wants to perform is to visualize a crew in a fast moving scull. Everyone is in the boat. Everyone has their hands on the oars. Everyone is pulling together, in rhythm and in perfect synch. That’s our goal.

You can help us by staying engaged. Our meetings are open. Please join us.