[dillywho]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I agree with getting facts. It is unfortunate that some agrue against the Law suit but have not taken the time to understand the details but rather take the position that MAYBE the suit was necessary. Some have said all was well with me so why the suit? Of course they did not belong to the Paradise Rec Center with rats running in the ceilings and no reserve funds set aside to repair and replace failures. This is really a significant point as to why a POA is needed. If a problem does not impact some residents they care less about the ones being abused. Thus the need for a POA that looks out for ALL residents and not just a few who have not been abused by some policies and therefore put their dedication to the Developer above all including the needs of their Village neighbors. I should add that these same residents reap some of the rewards of the dedicated members of the POA but refuse to recognize that benefit and put the developer above all. The POA Bulletin is just that "a bulletin". It is meant to bring issues to the Residents and not report all crimes, or social activities. Net, it would be worthwhile to read the details of the lawsuit and then put yourself in the pictue and decided if you would still have the same opinion of the POA after truly understanding the background.

In all fairness, there are problems with both the VHA, POA, and developer issues. Why? Because all involved are human, and as such, are imperfect. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with unanticipated changes and the ones that need to be aware sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Someone brought up about the siding. Sounds like assumptions were made that all siding installers are created equal....not. All these houses have not been/were not built by the same contractors. Some turned out much better than others. That is a fact. My house has not had anything but minor issues; one across the street had many. They were built by two different contractors. Mine was not perfect, but I had no problem getting TV to address and rectify the problems.

1) My kitchen sink continually stopped up no matter what. I had several attempts to remedy this, including Pat the Plumber (remember him? big mistake to the tune of $200+ dollars with no resolution). Finally contacted the Warranty Dept. and asked who was the original plumber. It was Mike Scott Plumbing. Long story short, there was dry wall from the construction in the pipe. The company turned it in to TV as warranty work and it didn't cost me a dime. No problem since. This was six or seven years after construction.

2) Someone asked why my yard light was white and my carriage lights on the house were black. I had not paid attention to that. I called TV (Warranty) and told them about the question I had been asked. She looked at my "wish list" (we built when you could choose everything) and said that it called for black like the other lights. She said that she would check out the situation and call back. This was about 2 or 3 years ago and our house was completed in 2004. She later called and asked if I would be home that afternoon because Price Electric would be out to change out the light.

No, we didn't use the Paradise Rec Center because of the distance, but we did use the MM trails which were very inadequate. Why? Because at the time they were built, they did not see the heavy use that they do today. When we first came for our preview, carts were only allowed out on those trails between dawn and dusk. That changed sometime in 2003, first in the Marion County section.

Unfortunately, there were things that had to be done through a lawsuit and those reasons turned out to be many. That is also when the AAC was born. The AAC spends some of my money in ways that are totally of no use to me and with which I do not agree. Some is very well spent (cart paths, etc.). No matter what the developer, AAC, POA, VHA, or anyone else does, not everyone will be happy about one thing or another.

Personally, I think that all of the above are simply a means of maintaining checks and balances and I can see no reason why anyone would want it otherwise. Like I said in the beginning, no one is all right and no one is all wrong.

[Johnd]

Have been a POA member/supporter since I got here. They are negative in most of their stances but do have a number of victories in the past. They suffered a major defeat 2 years ago trying to gin up the dog park on Morse south of 466 into a major issue. Lost a lot of credibility.

Still, it's the only marketplace counterweight to the many propaganda organs and deserves support for that reason alone.

[PennBF]

Of course most of their reporting and work is negative. If someone wants a cheerleader for the Developer they do not have to go far. Go to a HOA meeting, buy the Daily newspaper, Attend some of the Villages organizations who are populated by direct or indirect directions by the Developer or his staff.
What would be wonderful and a terrific thing would be for the Developer to attend a POA meeting and understands some of the concerns of the residents. If I were an input to his office I would definitely recommend this as I am sure his Grandfather would be there and out on the street shaking hands. The lawsuit is over and time for him to move on and defuse the contention between him and the POA. I am sure he would be received with the dignity and honor that he deserves and we could have a cohesive community.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

Maybe it would be nice if both organizations merged together, for the sake of ALL Villagers?

Agree, but since the VHA is subsidized by the Developer as a means of weakening the POA, it is not going to happen in the foreseeable future.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Johnd

Have been a POA member/supporter since I got here. They are negative in most of their stances but do have a number of victories in the past. They suffered a major defeat 2 years ago trying to gin up the dog park on Morse south of 466 into a major issue. Lost a lot of credibility.

Still, it's the only marketplace counterweight to the many propaganda organs and deserves support for that reason alone.

And yet... there is now going to be a dog park south of 466. The effort has to start somewhere. What looked like a failure might have been a beginning.

[Indydealmaker]

There are several posts on this topic that describe the POA as being negative. I assume they are referring to many of the POA stands against decisions and/or actions by The Villages management.

However, these positions by the POA are normally not negative for the sake of negativity. They are positions by the POA that are FOR and on behalf of the property owners which, if taken with a long view, are positions FOR the community as a whole.

When did an alternative viewpoint become synonymous with negativity?

From what I have read about the POA of old and today's POA, this organization has become far more moderate while, at the same time, not losing focus of the mission that advocacy for the property owners does not have to mean they are AGAINST the Developer.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

There are several posts on this topic that describe the POA as being negative. I assume they are referring to many of the POA stands against decisions and/or actions by The Villages management.

However, these positions by the POA are normally not negative for the sake of negativity. They are positions by the POA that are FOR and on behalf of the property owners which, if taken with a long view, are positions FOR the community as a whole.

When did an alternative viewpoint become synonymous with negativity?

From what I have read about the POA of old and today's POA, this organization has become far more moderate while, at the same time, not losing focus of the mission that advocacy for the property owners does not have to mean they are AGAINST the Developer.

Amen.

[Gary7]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

There are several posts on this topic that describe the POA as being negative. I assume they are referring to many of the POA stands against decisions and/or actions by The Villages management.

However, these positions by the POA are normally not negative for the sake of negativity. They are positions by the POA that are FOR and on behalf of the property owners which, if taken with a long view, are positions FOR the community as a whole.

When did an alternative viewpoint become synonymous with negativity?

From what I have read about the POA of old and today's POA, this organization has become far more moderate while, at the same time, not losing focus of the mission that advocacy for the property owners does not have to mean they are AGAINST the Developer.

Ditto

[Cedwards38]

My observation is that the POA and VHA are both helpful to residents in various and sometimes different ways. I'm happy to be a member of both.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

There are several posts on this topic that describe the POA as being negative. I assume they are referring to many of the POA stands against decisions and/or actions by The Villages management.

However, these positions by the POA are normally not negative for the sake of negativity. They are positions by the POA that are FOR and on behalf of the property owners which, if taken with a long view, are positions FOR the community as a whole.

When did an alternative viewpoint become synonymous with negativity?

From what I have read about the POA of old and today's POA, this organization has become far more moderate while, at the same time, not losing focus of the mission that advocacy for the property owners does not have to mean they are AGAINST the Developer.

Once again, the voice of reason - thank you!

[LittleDog]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

My observation is that the POA and VHA are both helpful to residents in various and sometimes different ways. I'm happy to be a member of both.

Me too.

John

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by indydealmaker

there are several posts on this topic that describe the poa as being negative. I assume they are referring to many of the poa stands against decisions and/or actions by the villages management.

However, these positions by the poa are normally not negative for the sake of negativity. They are positions by the poa that are for and on behalf of the property owners which, if taken with a long view, are positions for the community as a whole.

When did an alternative viewpoint become synonymous with negativity?

From what i have read about the poa of old and today's poa, this organization has become far more moderate while, at the same time, not losing focus of the mission that advocacy for the property owners does not have to mean they are against the developer.

you are 100% correct !!!

[Mr.Big]

Yep. I guess that I am better off just renting in The Villages until I croak. Just a big, tall, snowbird tenant that does not have to think about the POA or HOA. If my landlord is happy; then I am happy.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Mr.Big

Yep. I guess that I am better off just renting in The Villages until I croak. Just a big, tall, snowbird tenant that does not have to think about the POA or HOA. If my landlord is happy; then I am happy.

To each his own! I'll take the problems of home ownership in return for the warm shoulder seasons.

There is now 8 inches of snow in our former neighborhood. Back when we had two houses, we would have been in the car this morning headed south. Renting wouldn't give us that option. Also, when we were renting, the rent kept going up hill, and the places that accepted dogs kept going downhill.

But I do get your point. There's some freedom from hassle there.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Mr.Big

Yep. I guess that I am better off just renting in The Villages until I croak. Just a big, tall, snowbird tenant that does not have to think about the POA or HOA. If my landlord is happy; then I am happy.

That would not suit me. I like the permanence of belonging somewhere and being part of something. POA or HOA does not interfere with me one way or the other.