Does the Morse family read TOTV?
 

I have been on TOTV for about a year and I have noticed that some of the things we have discussed have been changed to our liking. Do you think that the Developers read this forum? Has anyone met any of them personally? Are they nice?

I feel like we live in the land of Oz, albeit without a wicked witch to bother us. Gary Morse is the mysterious wizard of Oz who leads a life of clandestine privacy and mystery with private eatery, secret movie viewing booths etc. you've asked a great question.... has ANYONE met the man? Perhaps a condition of meeting him is that you swear to never admit that you did. Certainly the "TD Concretes" have met him. Has he EVER made a public appearance in TV so Villager could meet him? After all, former presidents have even done that. A great line in the book Leisureville was when the author thought he spotted Gary Morse thru a 1 way mirror in the theatre... only to have him disappear into the night like the Phantom.

Hey Gracie good question. I think that some of them do read TOTV. Maybe PR people or the sales people. I know that I would definitely read TOTV if I were in the family. And report to the powers to be what was being said, the mood of the member residents and the wannabees, and even the very very few who have not been too positive about TV. After all, in my opinion I can't think of a better forum for a CEO to keep a finger on the pulse of my customers and clients and residents. I think they would never admit to it, but that they know what's being said on here and maybe it does make a difference now and then. So, hi there Morse family, let us know. We care.

yes i have met most of them and theu are very nice people!

Please tell us about it Billy!

Well, I know he is a Jimmy Buffett phan! :coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

We Should Feel Blessed...
 

...to live in a place that's owned and run like Gary Morse runs The Villages. He does so many things for which he receives no credit. Don't get me wrong -- he neither asks nor expects credit. He just does things for the good of "our" community.

There's a long list, but just a couple recent things...

• He wrote a check for more than $20,000 to bring a superb orchestra and virtuoso violinist from Italy to entertain us here in The Villages.
• Do you think that The Villages Regional Hospital expanded from a small, rural hospital to what will be a 200+ bed full service hospital with "top 10%" ratings in less than ten years without the Morse family's involvement? It normally takes a new hospital a quarter of a century or more to make that kind of progress.
• How do you think TV got the new 100,000 square foot Veterans Administration Hospital? The fact the Gary Morse gave the VA the land on which to build the hospital might have had something to do with it, do you think?
• No, TV doesn't have its own Post Office...yet. But it's not Gary Morse's fault. He offered to build the new Post Office and sell it to the USPS for a dollar!

We have every reason to be proud of our community and thankful for it's owner.

That is interesting VK. Its good to note all the things that he has done and they all help to make TV the best place in the world to live. I know that there are a lot of pros and cons talked about when it comes to the Morse family. I don't live there yet but have visited, can't wait to be a resident, and know that all that TV is is due to the foresight and work of the family. I wish threm well and don't begrudge them one penny of their wealth. The wealth of good living they offer us is what I am looking forward to enjoying.

On the chance that the Morse family or TV staff do visit this forum I just want to offer a...

Thanks for a job well done!

I am absolutely in awe of the vision of the Developers who planned and executed this wonderful community. And best of all, it's affordable! :bowdown:

Agree 100%!
 

I'm with all of you on this. This is truly a place of beauty and we do have the Morse's to thank. I don't care if they make a gazillion dollars! They deserve every penny. I never could understand people complaining about the developer making money. It baffles me. All I know is that my Dad was a bricklayer and loved construction and buildings and when I drive through TV, I can feel him smiling down and saying "Yes! Now that's how it should be done!";)

Specifics?
 

Graciegirl,

What had changed in TV that has been discussed on TOTV?

Just wondering...

Dirigo

Just over three weeks to our visit!:pepper2:

true but NOT the question raised by Graciegirl. All she asked was did anyone EVER see him/them. She did not make a value judgement or attack anyone. How come everyone felt the need to rise to the defense of the Morses when all she asked was did anyone ever see them?

What???
 

No one is attacking Gracie! :shrug:

I recently met Mark Morse. Honestly it was the most amazing situation....he came in to my place of employment to see how things were going. I had no idea who he was until we started having a conversation about TV's. We spoke mostly of the Charter School. I was telling him, as I do all the time, how much I LOVED the school. I essentially told him the reason for taking a job in TV's so that my daughter could attend the school, etc.

Once I finished singing the praises of the school...he said told me that his grandchildren attend the school as well. He was glad to hear how much it was appreciated as the grandkids don't always share their thoughts about it.

It was a pleasant conversation....one I have had many times. Then he used his CC for his payment. I almost fell over! I just looked at him and smiled.

He nodded and knew that I recognized the name. With a smile, he thanked me for the conversation. He was so glad to hear the good things. Especially since I was candid and honest...not knowing who he was!

Very nice man! I was impressed that he did not act as if he "owned" the place....even though he does! LOL

great story!

I knew someone would nail me on this...lol.

When I first started looking at houses on line, I was struck by the fact that most but the high priced had rinkydink light fixtures, almost all of the same kind, mostly brass, which was out of fashion, and there were complaints about it here. Now you see more variety, most in silver, instead of brass, really upgraded. There was some discussion about The Villages furniture stores, although wonderful and very quick to provide unheard of services, like a loaner bed for incoming new residents in a new home, still didn't have a lot of variety of lower priced furniture. Now that is changed with Southern Lifestyles in Spanish Springs changing to "something direct" with lines like Broyhill and Flexsteel that are more affordable, but still very nice. When there was a lot of conflict and angst on TOTV over a street being made unavailable except to residents and others not allowed to cut through, there was a very large meeting about it at Colony Cottage, and the street was once again available for all to use. (Not sure that is a valid argument, maybe that is how issues are handled all of the time). There was discussion of the different names for "The Village Watch" in different counties and now they are all called the same thing.

Can someone help me here? I know that there have been discussions about rats near a pool and pool furniture in need of updating and those things have been resolved apparently. Maybe by other means, and not just because TOTV'rs were talking about it.

On the minus side, there was a huge outcry on TOTV about the buffalo being removed from their enclosure, never to return, and yet they still left for greener pastures. (There was a safety issue, to be fair)

You are too funny!! He did tip...but I will not reveal how much! I am too private a person...LOL

He honestly was a very nice man! I was glad to have met him....

Chels and Bare,

That is such a wonderful way of putting it.

You two (and many others) are what The Villages is about!

Thank you. You keep my dream of living there going.

I've met them
 

I've had the pleasure of meeting Harold Schwartz many years back when he was still shaking hands with everyone. :wave:

I also met Gary Morse some time ago in Miami. I recognized the Cracker Bay and walked over to get a better look just when Gary and Rusty were leaving. I stopped and introduced myself; told him I lived in his "friendly hometown". He seemed shy and was surprised I recognized him. Good looking man! He just turned 72 last month (December). :angel:

I've also met Mark, Jennifer and Tracy a number of times. :a040:

Haven't met M'lissa yet. :ohdear:

Skip

PS: Go the Citizen First Bank and ask for a 2009 calendar. There are some great shots of Harold and Orange Blossom Gardens in there. It's a great photo history on The Villages. Hurry, they only printed 15,000 of them.

As graciegirl said, let us hear more.
VK's post was very enlightening and assuring.

I heard, from a reliable source, that the Morse family built and gave the library to The Villages. If so, another kind gesture from a remarkable family!

Off Topic..
 

I noticed that too, Donnalonie? Wonder who did that, why wasn't I included??? Waaaaaaaaa!! :sad::cry: Fess up, peeps.

Peggy, we do kibitz from time to time on TOTV about little issues. But .. I'd be willing to bet that the satisfaction level of residents of TV is 95%. I never thought my "golden" years could be this enjoyable. TV really is a dream come true for most of us.

I hope you're able to move here soon. It is the best decision we ever made.

Nice story Cassie.