Annual Meeting Follies and Some Wagers

It has been well over a week since The Colonies Annual Meeting. Looking back, I must admit the idiocy displayed throughout the evening considered acceptable by the reigning Board of Directors (and, sadly, the co-owners who opted to re-elect them due to being so committed to the status quo, they senselessly ignored facts in conflict with their political viewpoints) amused me to no end.  Some highlights of the evening include:

• President Lauricella, when talking about the dedicated staff, does not mention the soon to be departing staff members (Administrative Assistant Smith, General Manager Carlton and Property Manager McCracken) nor thank them specifically for their years of service which demonstrates the resignation announcements were a ruse to ensure the incumbents election to the Board (yes, Smith whose last day was stated as Friday, May 13, 2011 is still with The Colonies)
• Treasurer Kelleher not giving a report and solely relying on the Auditor (yes, the co-owners signed up for another two years of her and she is the one and the same who works by day in the Administrative Office viewed by many as a conflict of interest and also serves as a member of the Finance Committee but rather interesting that with all the interacting with the public she does that she got the least number of incumbent votes); Per Article V (Officers) Section 7 (Treasurer) of the Bylaws of The Council of Co-Owners of The Colonies Condominium at McLean:   The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for the Council of Co-Owners's funds and securities and shall be responsible for keeping full and accurate financial records and books of account showing all receipts and disbursements, for preparing all required financial statements and tax returns, and for the deposit of all monies and other valuable effects in the name of the Council of Co-Owners in such depositories as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of the budget as provided below. The duties of the Treasurer may be delegated to the management agent. In such case, the duties shall be performed by the management agent under the supervision of the Treasurer.
• No Committee Reports given

Shall we place bets on whether General Manager Carlton will actually leave on Friday, June 3, 2011 as the resignation announcement dated Friday, April 29, 2011 mailed to all co-owners stated?  My bet is NO; there likely will be some announcement in some form either by week's end, an article in the June edition of The Colonies Crier or in the June monthly condo bills announcing the Board 'convinced' Carlton (who is 71 or 72 and should be retiring) to stay (which no doubt will include a raise or some compensation bonus as Carlton does very little out of the goodness of her heart unless it benefits her unlike Smith who had the pet adoption program for a while).

The personnel in the Administration Office, still mailing monthly statements to co-owners, have exhibited to multiple co-owners being technologically challenged, and in this economy with a job market full of qualified individuals, a local realtor whose home page states: then posts on The Colonies Connection Google Groups forum asking However, what are we going to do now that everyone has resigned in the front office? then also posts the following which entertains me to no end:

I have the technology and resources to generate demand for your property, provide buyers with the detailed information they desire, and have the ability to respond instantly to online inquiries

I am truly distressed to learn about the mass resignations. Is there anything we can do to stop them. I know how hard it will be to hire someone else to do their job and we will probably have to pay them considerably more.

All the candidates need to do whatever is necessary to see that all employees in the management office do not leave.

What can we do?

I guess the coalition won after all and will be able to hire new employees to their liking. By the way who hires new employees?

Carlton and McCracken's departures are not the end of the world!  Property Manager McCracken comes in one day per week for an hour so his departure is no real loss.  Administrative Assistant Smith's resignation is the true loss to The Colonies community as she truly knows the community and has worked numerous roles since starting with The Colonies at 19.  If anything, getting people in there with fresh ideas would be an improvement!!


- More wagers coming next week!