In response to the the critical comments regarding the POA that have appeared in this thread, I would say:
The fact is that Villagers are essentially disenfranchised and live in a government of byzantine Community Development Districts which hardly anybody understands, but which are essentially controlled by the Developer. There is no independent private or governmental organization besides the POA looking after our interests. Take a look at the book
Leisureville (and ignore the accounts of the raging sexual promiscuity of Villagers and a some other exaggerations and distortions). The book contains interesting accounts of other senior communities that have disintegrated, as well as descriptions of the abuses of the CDD system that have occurred here.
The volunteers who are active in the POA are highly dedicated to serving the residents. I agree that, in the past, some articles in the POA Bulletin have, from time to time, come off as being overly negative and snarky. However, a lot of the facts that they have reported on (e.g., the conditions that prompted the class-action lawsuit) were in fact negative. We are damn lucky that the volunteers in the POA cared enough to do something about them! It is awfully easy to sit back, enjoy the great lifestyle here, think we are on a perpetual vacation, look at the world through rose-colored glasses, and convince ourselves that all this will magically continue forever-- even though it never has anyplace else.
Could the POA be improved? Sure, but rather than carp about it, why not get involved and do the improving?
