Thank you Deb Blagg for the clear and concise expression of your observations on the failure of our association. I and the members appreciate your willingness to speak to the truth. You can hardly be accused of a "power grab" when you were not even seeking re-election to the Board. The ones who engage in personal attacks against you, are the very ones who have the most to hide. They try to silence you by making unfounded untruthful comments here. I am glad to see their tactics are not working.
Since the day I made the decision to run for Trustee and jump into the cesspool of an HOA, I have had but one motive: to give all members a louder voice and greater control over the SHOA and BOT. This remains my motive on behalf of the silent majority of Members who continue to be silenced, neglected and abused by a corrupt and self-serving Board.
There are over 2200 members of SHOA, but a handful of members who represent less than one-fourth of the Members have control of Surfside and they retain this control by keeping a stranglehold on communications and decision-making. They do this through many devious means:
1) They withhold complete and accurate membership lists and contact information from other members by charging an exorbitant fee and by redacting email information, all in violation of the RCWs. They do this to stifle communications between members - particularly those who do not reside full-time in Surfside.
2) They abuse their power through control of Surfside communications - the Weekender, Surf-n-Sider, Facebook page and even official mailings to members. Members who wish to include information in publications are silenced by the editorial control of the Board and it’s puppet Community Relations Committee. On the other hand, the Board editorializes their own agenda - to the point of using a SHOA-funded mailing to recommend a NO vote against electronic communications.
3) They have circumvented the state RCWs by not allowing members to bring matters to the floor for a vote, even though there was a quorum of members at the Annual Meeting.
4) The Board has violated the RCWs by conducting secret meetings, failing to execute their fiduciary responsibilities and by not making decisions based on the best interests of ALL members.
5) They have suppressed the voting rights of members by rejecting signed proxies presented in a meeting by the designated proxy. They advocated against electronic voting for the same reason - they do not want all members to vote or they risk losing control. They are unwilling to conduct fair elections - one of the few occasions where the Board’s transparency has been so apparent.
28 comments:
1:11 et. al. - So you feel I have no right to express my opinions on SHOA? I guess you have superpowers to decide which members can or cannot participate in the discussion. You appear to be voicing your fears that if the majority of members actually were encouraged and allowed to freely and fully participate in the HOA, the obnoxiously loud minority might lose their power over the rest of us
Thank you for observing that my behavior at the Annual Meeting reflected my character. I have never wavered from my priorities and desire for the HOA to listen to and act upon behalf of ALL members, rather than a few. I took the initiative to put forth floor motions that would have expanded member participation in policy decisions and voting. Not surprisingly, my efforts were thwarted by our corrupt President and backed up by his crony attorney. I’m proud of advocating on behalf of all members, especially the neglected silent majority.
Perhaps you are referring to my motions to remove the Executve Committee who engaged in illegal, secret meetings, choosing to pursue a frivolous lawsuit that cost the members thousands of dollars? I’m also proud of taking a stand against corruption and advocating the dismissal of those who have wasted the association’s money. This is the same group of cronies who have now put us all in financial peril - not to mention risking the health & safety of every employee and member who has been endangered by exposure to asbestos - through their careless decisions and failure to excercise proper oversight of the water department’s decisions & actions. I consider your observations to be a compliment.
One person bitching again at Deb.
The volume of your posts does not make them right or even accurate. Her opinions are certainly more accurate than your own.
Change is needed here. Denial is just stupid, kinda like posting 4-5 times in a row, saying the same thing. The same thing you've been saying for years.
Blagg and Johansen have at least had the courage to try and stand up to the Board and all they got was ridicule. Johansen was harassed unmercifully, so it’s no wonder he left. I expect to see Blagg follow suit. Look at the minutes of BOT when Blagg was on the Board. The only “personal aims” she advocated was the technology committee. What’s so devious about improving the website and having electronic voting? She’s an RVer, but I don’t see where she ever made any motions that would only benefit RVers. She has trees, but never a motion to change or eliminate tree heights. She posted here often about her opinions on these subjects but made it very clear all she wanted was to for members to have the right to participate and vote on Covenant changes. I may not agree with all her opinions on Covenants, but I do agree the members should be able to propose changes and vote on them. The rules we live by should reflect the majority opinion of today’s members - not the original Board members from 50 years ago. I live out of state and would like to be able to vote by mail. The proxy voting is suspicious and should be stopped. Stop singling out and harassing anyone who tries to improve Surfside. I don’t think anyone will stick their neck out with the hateful attitude here and the bullying of the Board. Most of us just want to come to Surfide to enjoy the beach and chill. I think most the the Board and the J place crowd should move back to the city and find themselves a stuffy little gated enclave where they can bitch about their neighbors. You mean people deserve each other!!!
The Blagg bashers truly are a pitiful little group of lowlifes. These are people who have no useful input to offer, and can only insult. What morons - claiming there's a "gang" and that she espouses BAAAAAAD stuff, when she has only proposed members organize in common purpose to rid the community of the self-serving Williams and crew who have no interest in bringing the community together, and finding solutions we can all live with.
The bashers are lovers of the sameold-sameold that got the community into the mess we're in. Our community is in serious trouble because of the entitlement of these Trustees, at least half of them still seated Board members - as the County, State and Federal governments ALL are examining the past policies, failings, and intentionally secretive deeds of Williams, Flood, Winegar, deLeest, and others.
Those who are stuck on replay with the Blagg bashing just have to deny that all of our community's worst HOA nightmares have come to pass under the watch of the status-quo meisters still on the Board. There IS no painting a pretty picture with your sad excuses for the current regime.
3:25. I’m not going anywhere. Wouldn’t want to miss the downfall of the Surfside cabal! Thanks for your mostly supportive comments. You prove we don’t have to always agree to get along.
3:30 Thank you, too.
Deb. Don’t worry about the comments - all from one person. As if his elevation to the Board wasn’t underhanded enough, Mr. Olds is required to post a minimum of 10 baseless, unintelligent ravings against any comment that might exhibit any rational thinking. This is to prove to the Board that he is totally void of any ethical or moral standards, just like the rest of them. Keep your chin up and we will prevail.
Impressive Deb. You made a floor motion. I'm really proud of you for that. I apologize for not being there. I would have stood with you.
Well said.
Well said.
Does the person who is constantly bashing Olds (who hasn't even had a chance to do anything yet on the board) realize he served on her precious tech committee and donated his time beyond that of just showing up at meetings?
I can't believe anyone thought that the behavior demonstrated by Blagg and her posse at the annual meeting was appropriate. It was an embarrassment. I felt sorry that those young people who were helping with the vote counts witnessed such a thing from so called adults.
Hi Deb,
Glad to see you sticking your head up for a fresh look .... Not much has changed since the Annual Meeting.
Dumb and Dumber are still running the show.
The stupid ACP issue is still pending and water dept. management has really done SHOA a bad deal. So many known regulations and laws were simply ignored for what?
Your carbon treatment plant is a joke and dumb and dumber really out did themselves in the lack of permitting and not heeding other providers concerns and warnings in using the filters.
Lastly never forget that in Surfside No good deed goes unpunished.
Heaven forbid that any concept about communicating with the members should be a part of the Community Relations Committee. After all it didn't fit in with the all knowing goddess Blagg's ideas about how things should be done.
Nobody has been arguing that communications with the members should be more transparent and informative. It is the BOT who are at fault for failing to honestly inform the members. As all committees in this hoa, this one has remained under the full control of the BOT. The criticism should be directed to the BOT, not at a deceased member of the CR committee who very likely believed that she was doing her best as a committee member.
When will Blagg learn that her pushy, deceptive methods to achieve change are not effective? In fact, her methods are disturbing and unwelcomed by the majority of members.
I support Deb. I don't know if you saw my previous reply, Deb. I'm proud that you made a floor motion. I apologize for not being there. I would have stood with you. I've been thinking about starting to make floor motions. Should I expect ridicule, harrassment, and condescension? It appears then the BOTs don't believe members can make floor motions.
BOT MEMBERS
If we (members) can't, direct me to the CC&R and the WA state RCW section stating that.
6:17. You need to learn how to separate the action from the person. My criticism was of the Committee and it’s indluence by the Board, not the people. My only contact with the CRC was through Ms. Wallace and deLeest. Good people or not, that committee wanted to control it; when that didn’t work, the tactics changed to delaying approval of the charter. I didn’t make this about Ms Wallace, you did.
Yes, I have deleted a number of comments. This posting topic was to view points of view, not a venue for someone to make personal attacks. You certainly can disagree and state your reason for doing so. I find the personal attacks and disrespect very boring and they offer nothing to the discussion. This may be just an attempt to keep members from having a serious conversation on the real issues.
That being said, Those elected and in positions of power and decision making are subject to criticism. That goes with the job and position.
We have every right to question their motives and character. As the old saying goes..."If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen".
Many of the problems we have, appear to be due to character flaws that you and I have to pay for and live with.
Remind us again. How many of those over 2200 responded to your survey concerning the tech committee, 15%?
No serious effort was made to inform the entire community of the survey, the issue was treated like an evil plan in the Annual Meeting, and the HOA panned the Electronic Voting issue, without offering a statement of support from the other side of the issue. That's dirty politics.
In a community that struggles to muster more than 15% participation in elections, any serious effort to judge/vote on such a plan requires a period of informing owners of the benefits, setting a clear and simple agenda by which this would be employed, and making certain that the entire community is receiving the information. None of these things were done because Williams and others intentions were to see it fail.
There really is no excuse beyond preventing broad participation in our governance, and creating a larger pool of potential candidates for the BOT. Trying to move the community away from the past is bound to take some time and require a serious campaign to draw all members into the discussion of where the community wants to go from here.
8:23 is another person who wants to make excuses for the current Board and avoid change at all cost - say, even if we were to come under criminal investigation by the Federal government. Oh yeah, WE ARE under criminal investigation by the Feds. No biggy, right 8:23 ? Lovin' that same old-same old, right ?
Is anyone going to put any restraints on William's use of his new $700/hr. attorney ? Sounds like an urgent matter that needs to be set in place by the Trustees immediately. Will anyone show any sense of responsibility to the membership in this regard ? We'll see. Doubt there's any courage to take the bull by the horns.
Our Carbon Treatment Plant needs a $60,000 filter replacement NOW, but has been put on hold. Williams insisted on pissing away over $75,000 on the stupid shed lawsuit which was withdrawn, and that would have easily paid for REAL HOA expenses, not a personal crusade that was called off.
Post all votes by name and vote from November 17 on the SHOA website now. Show percentage required for valid vote and quorum information. We demand transparency immediately.
I know BOT members are reading this, will you do this?
Thank you 10:24. Keep in mind the BOT doesn’t meet in Dec, so whatever they are up to now is all being done in secret.
Dissolution is only answer, as voter turnout proves. Why have an hoa if huge majority don’t give a damn?
12:28. The HOA owns common property which must be maintained. The alternative is to sell off the water treatment plant (perhaps to Long Beach or North Beach Water Department), close down the trash compactor (owners could get curbside pick-up from county - part-timers would have to haul it away), and then hire a management company to maintain the grounds & facilities and provide administrative support (collect dues, paying bills, providing someone onsite in office).
We live in a a gated HOA in Olympia where a 5-person Board sets policy, oversees the ARC and sets the budget & dues. Everything else is done by the management company, from collecting dues and separately billed services, to maintaining the grounds & facilities. The HOA - through the management company staff - provides a staffed office/visitor control 7 days a week, free water, electricity (metered/billed), septic system, propane service ($1.79/gal), 24 hour garbage/recycling drop-off, free CATV, low-cost Internet, free mail boxes/package delivery and free pick up & disposal of yard waste. We also have a video monitored security system, laundry facility, swimming pool & spa open Jun-Sep, tennis/pickle ball courts, a gym, billiards room, clubhouse, mni-golf course, playground, picnic areas, a lake with a fishing dock, and hiking trails. Monthly billing & payment is done online through the management company’s website. They use seasonal Workampers during the summer for landscaping, which is beautiful with lots of flowers. All of the employees are super nice and if there are problems, the management company deals with it. They handle all pay & benefits for staff as part of their contract), along with being legally & financially liable for their mistakes, errors & omissions.
There are better, more cost-effective ways to maintain an HOA without all the politics and game-playing we have in Surfside.
And what is the cost? Many of our members are part time and low income. Many of the initiatives you cite are not wanted or would be used here. I agree on outside management, but it has to be affordable for all members.
Why do we need an hoa anyway? doubt many would miss, other than j placers.
2:31 - I was not advocating these amenities for a Surfside, only used as an example of all that a management company can do. It should be very affordable for Surfside given the relatively few common facilities we have. My suggestion is to do a cost trade study and see if an independent management company would be less expensive.
We also have a “Buddy Club” of Members who coordinate social events, paid for by donations and annual fundraising. We have at least one potluck BYOB get-together each month as well as holiday events. The HOA pays for none of these activities. At the Annual Meeting the Buddy Club provided burgers & brats, members brought the rest. There was a silent auction for gift baskets that raised about 75% of the club’s budget. The HOA finds are used solely for maintenance, operations and capital improvements.
We have a large community with considerable assets that require maintenance, and people to do that maintenance. We have a great deal of community property that is taxed, and funds are required to pay for all of this - so we need a business office to send and receive member funds, and answer owner questions.
We have seen that it is terribly dangerous to not have oversight of our employees and the services we provide - so we need some form of management such as a Board. A few would probably be plenty. But compiling a list of necessities that this 2025 member household HOA requires quickly makes it clear that we require organization and services - and that's why we have a non-profit corporation called an HOA.
We want to have some overall authority to manage the quality of life and property values by preventing properties from becoming auto-wrecking yards and private dumps. This was the primary premise that lead to the creation of HOAs, and that has not changed over time.
It is obvious that our governance and management need to be carefully assessed and changes made to make our HOA more efficient. We must try to bring about broad communications with our membership, try to tap into the views and ideas of the many disenfranchised owners, and try to draw in new candidates to run for representatives of our community. Our best bet is to work with what we have, and hammer-out compromise solutions that can make our system work better. But it is likely to take some time, and require volunteers, meetings and organized efforts.
First, we have to see how the legal system is going to treat our BOT's massive failure to manage the Water Dept., and what our long term debts and responsibilities will be. At some point we will have enough information that a letter can be put together to send throughout the community, outlining the outcome of the Water Dept. debacle, as well as the failed lawsuit staged by Williams and friends.
At that point we may be able to put the pieces of our broken community back together.
Although I sold my property in Surfside, I am still here, active, and happy to help.
It's going to take a little more than that. How do you propose to deal with existing board? They need to go. Not much is going to happen until that does.
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