Barony Place I/Barony Place II

Here are a few questions for homeowners in The Summit. Is it wrong for the Board of Directors (BOD) to violate the CC&Rs? Was it wrong for a lawsuit to be filed in the name of the HOA that is prohibited by the CC&Rs? Was it wrong for the Board President to file a lawsuit that had not been approved by the BOD? Is it wrong for the HOA to spend money that the BOD has not approved? If you think these things are wrong, tell (don't ask) your Voting Member to take action on your behalf immediately!

Over the past 5-6 years I have documented many significant Sections of the CC&Rs, By-Laws, and published Guides of the HOA with which the various Boards have failed to comply. In many emails to board members I suggested that they seek competent legal advice. They weren't required to accept any of my suggestions. And they didn't. I am gathering names of homeowners and indications of interest for forcing the Board of Directors and the HOA's officers to comply with the Governing Documents of the HOA. The Governing Documents aren't merely "suggestions"; they are the Code of Conduct and should not be ignored. The past two years have solidified my decision. Now the question is, Who will join me in saying, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" The S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs does not have the statutory authority to correct the problems. The S.C. Attorney General will not act. I've been there three times. I've asked them to act on behalf of 2,480 homeowner...

I heard a story last month that Vernell Butler went to the HOA office (before CAMS finished out its contract) and announced that he would be joining the Board of Directors and would be Treasurer again. I've also heard that Vernell showed up at recent meetings of the Voting Members and declared that he was entitled to attend because he was an Alternate. Vernell is a past Board Member. He was elected to the Board on December 1, 2020, to serve a two-year term (2020-2022). On November 1, 2022, he was re-elected to a two-year term (2022-2024). The November 2020 Summit Scoop shows that Vernell was the Alternate for the Summit Hills V neighborhood. The January 2021 Summit Scoop does not show Vernell's name as the Alternate for Summit Hills V. That's because, when a Voting Member or Alternate becomes a Board Member, he must resign as an Alternate from his neighborhood. Vernell's term as Alternate ended on December 1, 2020. In November 2023, when Vernell was not re-elected as Tr...

Apparently, William Hill has turned in his letter of resignation from the HOA's Board of Directors. Is he quitting after four months because he now has had a good inside look at how the HOA is run, and he decided he'd better get out while the getting is good? Too late! Danny Trapp tried to appoint him to the Board but failed. The "executive session" on July 1st was not legitimate; the meeting before the Board Meeting started at 6:30PM was just a pre-board (short for "pretty-boring") meeting. Because he was not duly-appointed as a Board Member, he has also not been the legitimate Treasurer. But he has been sitting in the seat and acting like it (some of the time) - enough time that he won't escape notice for approving the illegal disbursement of HOA funds for the illegal lawsuit that was filed in the HOA's name on December 30, 2024. Perhaps his defense will be, "I wasn't really the Treasurer, because I was not legitimately appointed as a Dir...

I was reminded today, once again, of the qualities (that should be) sought by the HOA in Board Members. On the HOA's website, these qualities are listed under Committees: Nominating Mission: Provides quality candidates to hold office on the Board. Candidates will be of the highest caliber, selected for interpersonal skills, dedication to the betterment of our Association and community, and free of any personal agenda. (Source: HOA website) It is a pitiful shame that these qualities are totally lacking in some of the current Board members. Four qualities are listed. At least one of the board members doesn't even have one of those qualities.  The current tolerance for that board member may turn out to be very expensive for the HOA. Have you ever seen the movie, "The Burial"? I just watched it again last week. The little guy went up against a billionaire. I won't reveal the ending, but it's a good one. What would happen if I sue the HOA and win a huge settlement?...

Board Meetings are normally held on the first Tuesday of the month. NOTE: The November meeting will be Tuesday, November 11, 2025, which is the second Tuesday. If you show up on November 4th, take your sleeping bag and pack a lunch. You'll have a seven-day wait.

After the October 7th Board Meeting, did this really happen?  I've been informed that copies of my Response to the HOA's Motion to Compel (discovery) were handed out. Did you get a copy? Did you get the entire document? How many pages did you get? (Nine pages) Did you get Exhibit A? Exhibit B? Who gave you the copy?  Who paid for the copies? Who made the copies? Did you read the hand-out? Do you understand it? Was the person handing it out laughing about it? If so, he either hadn't read it or didn't understand what he read.  Come to court on November 3rd, 2:00PM, at 1701 Main Street, Courtroom 2-C. How will the judge respond to my facts that the lawsuit against me was filed illegally. Why is it illegally filed? It was filed in the name of the Association ; however , the Board of Directors never approved it! In fact, it couldn't approve it (the CC&Rs, Art. XIII, §10 prohibit it). Did Danny Trapp exceed his authority as Board President, when he told the lawyer to...

Once again the Board President, Danny Trapp, has written in the Summit Scoop about street parking. In the October 2025 Scoop, published today, he wrote on Page 1 in the President's Report: "As a reminder, our covenants governing parking on the streets in our community are valid, legal and enforceable." If you think he is right, then ask him what Section in the CC&Rs governs parking on the public streets. If you get an answer, please let me know what he says. If his sentence is true, former Board President Justin Martin would have been able to cite the Section in the Covenants that covers parking on the streets in The Summit, when I asked him back in 2018 or 2019. If that sentence is true, then William Hill, Safety Committee chair, would have replied to my two emailed requests in November and would have provided the Sections. Instead, he did not reply to either email. Ever. It is true that the Covenants, in general, are valid, legal and enforceable. It is my belief tha...

On November 4, 2025 Voting Members will elect four persons to the Board of Directors. If Brenda Bryant runs for re-election, she should be re-elected. If Linda Potter runs  for re-election, she should be re-elected. Jeff Lummel is running. Without question, he should be elected. He is a long-time homeowner, active committee member, high-time volunteer, former Board Member, former Board President. He is level-headed, rational, and dedicated to the betterment of the Association. Angelo Turley-Moore is a homeowner who lives in Indigo Springs. He has spoken up at many board meetings about the short-comings of the Board. He has observed the chaos on the current Board and is a good candidate. Who else is running? Anyone? Call your Voting Member and ask him or her to vote for these four.  If these four are elected, your HOA will have a good shot at  regaining financial stability,  operating in compliance with the CC&Rs and the By-Laws, and  being transparent in...

I sure wish I could have been a fly on the wall at last night's Board meeting. Did any of these items come up? questions to the Board President about his request to the Church for it to prohibit three homeowners and one resident from attending Board meetings; dropping the illegal and prohibited lawsuit against Gus Philpott (me); illegal disbursements of HOA funds to the lawyers for the illegal lawsuit; sanctions of Board President Danny Trapp for starting the lawsuit in violation of the CC&Rs (Art. XIII, §10 Litigation) and without the approval of the Board of Directors; preview of the Proposed 2026 Budget; status of the transition in management from CAMS to Town & Country; the whereabouts of the 2024 Annual Audit; the whereabouts of the 2023 forensic internal and external audits that cost the HOA $7,500; who the vetted candidates are for the November 4, 2025 election of directors; directions to Town & Country for properly certifying the legitimate Voting Members who wi...

The Summit's HOA has many problems that are related to the CC&Rs, the By-Laws, and the published Guides, such as the Procedures Reference Manual. These problems are the result of the Board's not following the Governing Documents. One of the biggest problems is the illegal lawsuit against resident Gus Philpott that was filed in the name of the Association but without the approval of the Board of Directors . Danny Trapp, Board President, has apparently ordered the other Board members (with the possible exception of Tanisha Holmes, VP) NOT to contact the law firm for the Association, Turner Padget. He apparently declared himself, without Board Resolution, to be the sole contact with the lawyers. The law firm of Turner Padget and the two lawyers handling the case against Gus Philpott should meet with the full Board of Directors - all seven Directors. The in-person conference should be scheduled directly with each Director. Before that meeting, the law firm should send a questi...

On September 15, 2025, the Brookland Baptist Church Northeast received a letter from Danny Trapp, President of the Summit Homeowners Association. Based on that letter, the Church banned three Summit homeowners and one Summit resident (me) from its property. The Church wrote back to Danny on September 19th. On October 3, 2025, Danny Trapp sent a letter to me as "To Whom it may concern." He included the letter from the Church. The Church's letter bans me from entering the church or attending any meetings there. I hadn't been in the church since February 4th and have never caused any disruption, disorder, or problem during any HOA monthly meeting. What did Danny's letter to the Church say? I've requested a copy. Rumor has it that Danny will run for re-election. Why would he shoot himself in the foot only one month before the election? Should I be insulted that the letter was addressed to "Mr. Gus Philpot"? Should I have returned it with a note, "No...

You won't want to miss tonight's Board of Directors Meeting at 6:30PM at the Brookland Baptist Church Northeast, 1203 Summit Parkway. It promises to be a doozy! This is the final meeting of the current Board of Directors. Prior to the next meeting (November 4), there should be an election of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Voting Members (AMVM). I write, "should be" an election. The election can only happen if there is a quorum of legitimate Voting Members at the AMVM. Is that likely? Is it even possible? The new Property Manager of the HOA should certify to the President (Danny Trapp) and the Secretary (Noel Weatherbee*) who of the "recognized Voting Members" is a legitimate, duly-elected Voting Member. To my knowledge, there is only one legitimate Voting Member who was duly-elected in compliance with the By-Laws. In the absence of a quorum, the AMVM must be adjourned and no election can be held. But that isn't how your BOD operates. Attend tonight...

The Richland County Sheriff's Department assigns a Community Action Team (CAT) deputy to The Summit's HOA. She attends monthly board meetings.  Her phone number is listed in The Summit Scoop, but she is  NOT  the Association's deputy. At one Board meeting I suggested the CAT deputy's phone number and email address should not be listed in The Scoop. Only two people connected to the HOA should be able to direct her; the Safety Committee chair and the Property Manager.  Publicizing her phone number places an undue burden on the deputy and puts her at the beck-and-call of homeowners. It could interfere with her performance of her duties. It could also slow response time; e.g., if she is off-duty or engaged in another service call.  Calls for service should go to RCSD. The sheriff was at that meeting and said he did not object to such publication of her contact details. Who is the current CAT deputy?  According to The Scoop, she is Tyonna Gillepsie. According to...

Sent to Rep. Joe Wilson today. Dear Joe, A government shutdown is absolutely inexcusable! Congress is irresponsible ever to let this happen. We are sitting ducks for our enemies. Budgets should be made and approved for the year, every year.  If I were a government employee and the government shut down, I'd sit at home. I would not work without being paid.  If Pres. Trump threatened to fire me if I didn't work without pay, I wouldn't give him the chance. I'd quit first. Maybe this is why I never worked for the government. I read that Congress members still get paid. YOUR pay should be cut off, too. Congress would solve the problem in 6 hours. Gus Philpott

Will the HOA's new management company, Town & Country, prepare a real Agenda for the October 3, 2025 Board of Directors Meeting? I attended Board Meetings from 2018 until February 2024. In all those meetings the same Agenda (format) was used without any customizing to specific issues. Little follow-up occurred to issues raised by Board members or Members in attendance. It will be interesting to learn whether the new management company will bring a professional approach and customize monthly Agendas to show items of New Business and Old Business. Suggested New Business items : Discussion of the lawsuit filed illegally on December 30, 2024 in the name of the HOA by the Board President Danny Trapp, without the approval of the Board of Directors. Discussion of why and how it was filed in violation of the CC&Rs (Art. XIII, §10). Total cost of the illegal lawsuit to-date, including unpaid invoices. Motion* by the Board to settle with the Defendant and halt the lawsuit. Contract w...

The importance of Association Member turn-out at the next Board Meeting could not be clearer. This meeting may be the final scheduled monthly meeting of the current Board of Directors. The October meeting will be Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6:30PM at the Brookland Baptist Church Northeast  (not at the church listed in The Summit Scoop). Three days ago I posted a blog about items that could have come up at the pre-board meeting on September 30. Do you suppose any of those items was discussed? The current board members are Danny Trapp (2023-2025) Brenda Bryant (2023-2025) Linda Potter (2023-2025) Patricia Pollin *  (2023-2025) Tanisha Holmes (2024-2026) William Hill ** (2024-2026) Noel Weatherbee ** (2024-2026) * Pollin has never been a legitimate member of the Board. ** Hill and Weatherbee were not legitimately appointed on July 1, 2025. Two Board seats, vacated by LaToya Adams and Ciara Bates in May, continue to be open. On November 4, 2025 the Board seats of Trapp, Bryant, Pot...

What if The Summit's HOA had a newspaper or newsletter that was published several times a month? Written by a reporter - someone independent of the Board of Directors. The HOA has 2,480 properties. It's like a small town. A small town would have a newspaper to inform its residents what is going on, not only with the people but also with the town - with the town's government . The Summit's "government" is the HOA's Board of Directors (BOD). Wouldn't it be nice to know what they are cooking up? For example, the BOD has already announced a "tax increase". On January 1, 2026 the annual assessment will increase $50.00 (9.8%). When it was announced, no reason accompanied the announcement. Don't you wonder why the dues are going up? Would you like to know why dues were increased? And why by $50.00/year? If a dues increase is needed (and it is - and by more than $50.00/year), it should have been announced after the Proposed 2026 Budget was presen...

The Summit HOA's Board of Directors usually meets one week before the Regular Monthly Board Meeting to plot (errr, plan) the next Board Meeting. Lately, they've been meeting more often, without mention to the Members. The October 7th Board meeting is the last Regular Meeting before the November 4th Annual Meeting of Voting Members (AMVM) and the Board's Annual Meeting. The Organizational Meeting (election of officers) should be that same date. They will have their hands full tonight. Will they discuss - dropping the illegal* lawsuit against Gus Philpott (me)? the illegal disbursements of HOA funds to the lawyers for the illegal lawsuit? sanctions of Board President Danny Trapp for starting the lawsuit in violation of the CC&Rs (Art. XIII, §10 Litigation) and without the approval of the Board of Directors? a preview of the Proposed 2026 Budget? the status of the transition in management from CAMS to Town & Country? the whereabouts of the 2024 Annual Audit? the wherea...

When Town & Country Management Company assumes the role of HOA management company on October 1, it must understand that it was contracted by, and is paid for by,  the Association . Its allegiance and responsibility must first be to the Association . What do I mean by this? In past years numerous Boards, which have revolving membership of directors elected every two years, have failed to comply with many Sections of the CC&Rs, By-Laws, and published Guides (such as the PRM).  It may be that CAMS objected strenuously to the directors in private. If they did, their objections never reached the Members. The ultimate responsibility for decisions lay with the Board of Directors; the BOD told CAMS what to do. The Board of Directors will tell Town & Country what to do. How will the on-site property manager, who is employed by Town & Country, respond or react, if he is told to do something that is not right or if he is told not to do something that is ri...

When the HOA filed its lawsuit against Gus Philpott (me) on December 30, 2024, there was a " VERIFIED COMPAINT " [ sic ] signed by Board President Danny Trapp attached to it. It has every appearance of an Affidavit, and it closes with "FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT". (I laughed out loud. Where are we? Merry, olde England?) Danny Trapp, after being duly sworn, deposed that "he is the President of the Board of The Summit Community Association, Inc., that he is authorized to execute this Verification..." To me, the oath sworn before the Notary Public is not clear. Was Danny swearing to the truthfulness of his statements, or was he merely swearing that he was Danny Trapp who was signing the VERIFIED COMPAINT [sic]? And yes, the typo is in the original, as filed by the big downtown law firm representing the HOA. For me there are two huge problems. First, Danny swore that "he is the President of the Board ..."  In November 2023 Danny was "elected...

How many old cell phones do you have, just sitting around your house because you don't know how to get rid of them safely? I have four. The HOA's Youth Committee is collecting old cell phones and will be donating them. The phones will go to the Richland County Sheriff's Department, where somebody, who knows what he is doing, will "wipe" them. "Wipe" means to clear all the personal data off the phone. Then the phones will be given away and can only be used to call 911. I am not going to take my phones to the office and leave them. It would be too easy for sticky fingers to grab them. I am unwilling to risk that someone might access whatever data is left on the old phones. Contact a member of the Youth Committee and donate your phone(s) directly. Let me hasten to say that I trust Teresa But who else could have access to the phones left at the office?

When Town & Country takes over on October 1, 2025, what will happen to all those years of emails sent to and from CAMS' email addresses for Teresa and other CAMS office employees. What happened to the hundreds (thousands?) of emails to/from Justin Martin, George Reynolds, Vernell Butler, and other former board members? The new email address for the HOA's office is Summithelpdesk@tcgrd.com Now would be the perfect time to task the new management company with developing the HOA's own server. The HOA already has a seldom-used email address of HOA@summithomeowners.com   Officers and Directors should have official email addresses for HOA use. They should not use their personal email addresses. Employers of Town & Country in the HOA's office and directors and officers of the HOA should use the HOA's domain, which would allow preservation of all official emails. Clear rules would have to be established for regular use of the official domain and specific rules about...

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Town & Country Management Company takes over as the management company for The Summit's HOA. The very first questions they should answer are, "What will you do when you observe a violation of the CC&Rs, By-Laws, or any published Guide of the HOA by the Board or by any Director or Officer?" "Will you insist on doing what is right all the time?" "Will you refuse to do what is wrong?" "If you are told to do something that is not right, or not to do something that is right, what will you do?" Town & Country's contract is with the Association. It is not with the Board or with any officer or director.

  "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Does this apply today to The Summit's HOA? Right now, evil is triumphing. The Voting Members represent the Members - the homeowners - YOU. Voting Members now know that the HOA has filed an illegal lawsuit against a resident. Why is it illegal? The lawsuit is illegal because it was filed  in the name of the HOA , but without the approval of the Board of Directors. The HOA is prohibited in the CC&Rs (Art. XIII, §10) without prior approval of 75% of the Voting Members. Voting Members were never asked to approve, and they never did approve. The Board never voted in a Regular Board Meeting to approve the lawsuit. The Board never authorized Danny Trapp to file the lawsuit. The HOA is paying a big Columbia law firm to handle the lawsuit. These payments are illegal disbursements of HOA funds , because the Board never approved the lawsuit. Danny Trapp knew, or should ...

The Financial Overview Report for August 2025 has been posted to the HOA's website.  If you like numbers, it makes for "interesting" reading.  For example, on Page 4 - Manager Notes - is listed Contract Summary. The new contract with Town & Country Management Company is not there . But, in the Minutes for the September 2, 2025 Board Meeting, the Contracts Committee reported that a contract was signed with Town & Country in August. The Board of Directors never discussed the bids that the HOA received for the 2026 year. The Board never discussed the services and bid amounts of any bidders. The Board never voted to award the contract to Town & Country. The Board never revealed Town & Country's bid amount. A reading of the September Minutes reveals that a contract WAS signed in August. Who signed the contract? What's the secret?

The HOA has a debit card. Who has it, and who is entitled to use it? Who knows? The monthly Financial Operating Statement of the HOA shows the balance in the debit card's account (Line 1006) on the last day of the month. What it does not show is the activity in the account. How many charges are made in a month? What is the total amount of charges? How much money is transferred into the debit card account, and from what other account? Who uses the card? Here's what the balance in the account looks like for the end of each month in 2025 (so far): $1,359.85 January $1,109.22 February $1,032.40 March $1,028.69 April $2,091.48 May $   846.89 June $1,669.02 July $2,115.39 August Why did the balance go up $1,000 in May? Why did it go down $1,250 in June? Why did it go up $800 in July? Why did it go up $450 in August?

The HOA's Balance Sheet for August 31, 2025 ought to give any decent CPA heart-burn! The HOA has Cash & Cash Equivalent funds of $805,277.71. Line 1001 - FCB/CIT Operating $431,376.01. Is this in a checking account? $400,000+ in a checking account? What does "200k" mean? Line 1002 - FCB/CIT Debit Card $2115.39. Who has access to the debit card? Where is it kept? Under lock-and-key? Or in someone's wallet? Who reconciles the use of the debit card? Line 1057 - First Community Bank $65,417.02. What does "..55%" mean? Why is any money sitting at one-half of 1%. Why isn't it earning 4-5%? $65,000 @ 0.55% = $357.50 interest in one year $65,000 @ 4.00% = $2,600 interest in one year Is someone asleep at the switch?

The August 31, 2025 financials have been posted on the HOA's website. Accounts Receivable dropped 8.7%. $645,169.84 as of July 31, 2025 $588,984.71 as of August 31, 2025 $  56,182.13 The Board and the Treasurer should have been aware of this by the Board Meeting on September 2nd. Were they? What is the reason for the reduction? Did the HOA collect $56,182.13 from delinquent homeowners? Or did the Board write-off bad debt in August that hasn't been announced yet? Either way, the homeowners should be informed.

Do you ever look at the monthly financial statements of the HOA? If you do, all you are seeing is a snapshot.  What's important is to look at what is happening month-to-month? For that, you must set up your own accounting system. I have, and that may be one reason is that, twice, I was asked not to attend meetings of the Finance Committee. It seems to me they need all the help that they can get. They don't want it. Over the past years I suggested to past Treasurers the-late George Reynolds and the still-breathing Vernell Butler that "Percent-of-Change" columns would reveal Line Items that might need close attention. No help wanted from the peanut gallery. Not from residents. And especially not from Gus Philpott! Look at the Variances listed in the August 31, 2025 financials. Variances are over-spending. Pretty important; right? I don't know where the HOA is taking the money from, but as of August 2025 the HOA has over-spent its budget (Y-T-D) by $83,356.95. That T...

When the September 2, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors was to convene at 6:30PM, Board President Danny Trapp was not present. His absence meant that a quorum (4) was not present . Present were directors Tanisha Holmes (VP), Brenda Bryant, and Linda Potter. Also present were Patricia Pollin, William Hill, and Noel Weatherbee. None is a legitimate member of the Board. In November 2023 Pollin was appointed to the Board, even those she was not eligible to be appointed. She was not a Member of the Association (name on the Deed) and was not the spouse of a Member. She has been allowed to sit on the Board for almost two years! On July 1, 2025 the Board held what they called an "executive session" before the Regular Board Meeting started at 6:30PM. That meeting was actually a pre-board meeting or workshop. It was not an official Executive Session. At that pre-board meeting (workshop) something took place. Who knows exactly what? When the Regular Board Meeting started, i...

Or did it? On September 5, 2025 the office emailed many Members of the HOA that " Your Association will transition to new management effective 9.30.25." The Contracts Committee reported at the September 2nd Board Meeting that "The Summit will be transitioning to a new management company on October 1." Which is correct? Who will be in charge on September 30? The Contracts Committee also reported that a contract with "Town & Country Management company" [ sic ] was signed in August. A review of the Minutes of the August 5, 2025 Board Meeting reveals no discussion of a new management contract or approval of Town & Country Management Company as the new management company for The Summit. Who signed the contract with Town & Country? Who authorized them to sign that contract? When did the Board consider the bids for the 2026 management contract? Why wasn't this done at an open, public, Regular Board Meeting? How did Town & Country compare with ...

In view of how the business affairs of The Summit's HOA have been conducted in the past few years, should directors of the HOA, upon election or appointment, be required to take an Oath of Office? The State Oath of Office could be modified to read as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified for the office of Director and have been duly-elected by qualified, eligible voters (Voting Members), according to the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and the By-Laws of The Summit Community Association, Inc. "I swear (or affirm) that I shall exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected (or appointed) and that I shall, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and observe, comply with, preserve, and protect the Association, its CC&Rs, its By-Laws, and its published Guidelines." Upon assuming office after each election or appointment, a director will sign a sworn statement of the Oath of Office, whic...

The Minutes of the September 2, 2025 Board Meeting include a report by the then-chairperson of the HOA's Neighborhood Committee that "The committee met on August 16th on the litigation matter and voted to send a letter to Danny." First of all, I don't think it was the Neighborhood Committee that met on August 16th; I think it was a meeting of the Voting Members. The Neighborhood Committee would have nothing to do with the "litigation matter"; meaning the HOA's lawsuit against Gus Philpott (me). What did that letter say? Was it a friendly "You're doing a great job, Danny" letter or was it a letter critical of the litigation that had been filed by Danny in the name of the HOA?  Did the letter make some demands on Danny Trapp? If that letter really was sent by the Neighborhood Committee, then a copy of it should be included in the Minutes of the Committee's meeting. And those Minutes can be inspected by any Member of the HOA by going to th...

The Board of Directors of The Summit Community Association, Inc. (HOA) should have smart people on it who are capable of understanding the CC&Rs, By-Laws, PRM and other Guides, and who are willing to comply with them. Prove me wrong.

Today is the memorial service in Arizona for Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at age 31 on September 10th. Please read this Opinion by former Secretary of Education William Bennett, who served under President Ronald Reagan. In it he wrote, "Charlie Kirk may have been the last American who genuinely believed you could change someone's mind with a good argument. Think about that. When was the last time you saw someone actually switch positions during a debate? When did you last witness someone say three of the most treasured words in the English language: 'I was wrong?'" In how many situations have you been afraid to speak out? Or to speak up? Do you worry about what people with think or say or do?  What if some called you a Nazi? Or a racist? Or a White Supremacist? Let's get this closer to home - right here in the HOA? What happens when you speak out against the Boards of Directors in recent years? Has any director on the board ever said, "I was wrong...