Candidates discuss wanting to serve on the POA Board

The five-member Canyon Lake POA Board of Directors are collectively responsible for the management and operation of the POA’s business affairs. The board members are elected for staggered two-year terms.

Three of the five seats are up for election in May when the terms of Mike Harris, Phil Hawgood and Tom Nathan end. These three directors are eligible to run for another term.

The five candidates vying for a seat on the board are Jeanne O’Dell, Tom Nathan, Chris Poland, Phil Hawgood and Mike Harris.

In the weeks leading up to the election, The Friday Flyer will feature a series of questions to the candidates. During this period, residents will have a chance to hear directly from the candidates and learn what they hope to accomplish if elected to serve on the board.

Last week, The Friday Flyer featured the candidates’ resumes. In this first installment of questions, The Friday Flyer invited the candidates to answer the following question in 300 or fewer words. The candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Question: Why do you want to serve on the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association Board of Directors?

Jeanne O’Dell

Jeanne O’Dell. Photo by Donna Ritchie

Every time I walk my dog, which is twice a day, I am reminded how beautiful Canyon Lake is and how thankful I am to live here. Of course, when it is 113 degrees for more than one day at a time I do need to be reminded of that thankfulness. However, as with anything in life, there is always room for improvement.

My entire professional life has been dedicated to serving people, in both the public and private sector. My personal life has been spent as a mother and grandmother while juggling a full-time career. We know as parents and grandparents that we are responsible for leading by example.

I told my son several months ago that I cannot voice concerns about anything anymore if I don’t try to fix it. I believe that serving on the POA Board of Directors is the opportunity I have been waiting for to step up and serve the public once again and take care of some of those concerns.

Canyon Lake is a vibrant community and we must make sure our business practices continue to evolve to match the community’s needs. My professional experience will help us to continue moving in a forward direction. I have had to make difficult and not-so-difficult decisions when changing established business practices. I am up for whatever challenges we might encounter along the way.

Communication is the key to organizational success. I have learned to communicate with a 300-person staff and a 40-person staff. I have learned to communicate with my peers and also with people who don’t have the same knowledge base as myself. A wise mentor would always remind me to “remember my audience” when communicating. I plan to continue to take that advice to heart.

Tom Nathan

Tom Nathan. Photo by Donna Ritchie

As director, one of my goals is protecting and preserving our exclusive use private community that Canyon Lake already is while helping to plan for an even better community in the years ahead.

Maintaining and enhancing the existing amenities makes our community a desirable place to live and provides residents with a variety of recreational activities to enjoy. Developing new facilities as the community evolves is also important to support the aspirations of our 4,800 members.

When I first moved to Canyon Lake in 2001, locking my car or even the door on my house was not important. I felt safe inside our private, gated community. I no longer feel that comfort and other residents have shared similar feelings. Crimes are committed in this community much too often. Proper entry-gate procedures, efficient response to calls for service and a regular presence of community patrol officers throughout the community are all important to achieve a safer Canyon Lake.

Being a director requires some critical attributes. One must be unbiased in their thinking and decision making, one must be responsible to the financial health of the association and one must accept that board decisions are likely to result in criticisms from some members, so one must be “thick-skinned” to serve in this position. I’m confident that I possess each of these director requirements.

My financial background provides the expertise needed to properly review current association expenditures as well as analyze those proposed for the future. I’ve been working closely with the Finance Committee to get the operating expenses more closely on target to the annual budget. Properly funding our various reserve accounts is vital for the continued health of the POA organization. It’s those reserve accounts that provide the association’s ability to repair, replace, update and expand our great community.

Chris Poland

Chris Poland. Photo by Donna Ritchie

Canyon Lake is a fascinating place with spectacular views, incredible amenities and people and families with children of all ages that work together to create, maintain and enjoy their favorite places. When Barbara and I retired in 2014, we moved here, built our retirement home on the golf course and engaged. We intend to stay a long time and do our part to maintain and enhance the community we enjoy and are committed to.

As you may know by now, I am a business and industry leader, a problem solver and always an active participant most everywhere I am. My experience being in leadership positions in major public, private and non-profit organizations is directly applicable to what we do here. My current participation on Canyon Lake boards and committees along with the news that is available has provided me with some insight into the current challenges facing the POA Board.

I am interested in joining the board to bring my experience, a fresh perspective to those challenges, and a proven ability to craft consensus-based solutions that will enhance our community.

We see Canyon Lake as a place where people came together, pooled their resources and created a host of amenities and opportunities we all can enjoy. Each of us has our favorites and we must remain committed to maintain and enhance what we have for everyone to enjoy in a safe and secure environment. Recent conversations about security, levels of subsidies, use of facilities and club autonomy are interesting but cannot be allowed to disrupt why each of us lives here. I believe that new levels of consensus can be achieved with better interaction between the POA Board and the POA committees as well as with the City of Canyon Lake.

Phil Hawgood

Phil Hawgood. Photo by Donna Ritchie

I want to continue as a director to complete more capital improvements and new projects for our community over the next two years. Below you will see a list of some of the completed projects during my first two years as a board director.

Happy Camp complete renovation, sewer, water, electrical, roads; fish restock; purchase two speed enforcement trailers; dog park shade; pickleball courts; country club remodel/renovation; operations fleet, most trucks replaced; lodge stage flooring and balcony deck coating repair; Holiday Bay Room patio cover, electric and ethernet, outdoor wifi access point; all gates new RFID lanes; complete corporate and community-wide rebranding plan/ new logo for 50th year; Gault Field infield sod replacement; main causeway electrical to palm tree lighting; window sun shades at lodge, country club, main gate and Holiday Bay Room; upper arena equestrian footing; hazardous algae education program/signage; courtesy dock access improvements with 22 new rental slips/dock; Lighthouse complete restoration; golf course lake bypass pumphouse and pumps; golf course bunker replacement; mailbox replacement community-wide; emergency golf cart funded/built/delivered; pump track final location chosen; built new Marine Patrol; pool shade and pool furniture; planted trees at Indian beach; POA remodel, additional office for communications and paint and flooring in corporate offices; Martins Landing historical monument at Holiday Harbor; paint at Bluebird Hall security offices; painting Holiday Harbor and Eastport restrooms; POA offices corporate signage conversion to LED and restore lettering; complete update to Canyon Lake Living Magazine – now quarterly with total re-design; completely new CLPOA website; Holiday Harbor ampitheater and new outdoor stage with electrical; and Happy Camp Internet/ Wi-Fi system.

The current board of directors is accomplishing more project completion in my opinion than any other prior board during their time on the board. Please re-elect me!

Mike Harris

Mike Harris. Photo by Donna Ritchie

I was drawn to our community because of the many amenities offered. As a full-time Canyon Lake resident, I enjoy boating on the lake with my children and grandchildren.

Like most residents, my first purchase was a golf cart. My family certainly enjoys cruising around our community, particularly to visit our many playgrounds, parks and beaches.

I attended the Opening Day ceremonies for Canyon Lake Little League. The bleachers have new shade and the grass was reseeded. This is just one amenity of many that have been upgraded, new ones installed.

Harkening back to when my children played baseball, the park was maintained by L.A. City Parks & Recreation and you had to bring your own chair, shade, snacks and windbreaker. The outfields were a combo of dirt and grass.

We are not constrained by a city budget. We five board members (Dale, Phil, Tom and Jim) have sought to improve our community for all.

My objective as I continue to be your board member is to share my passion and continue supporting our great community. I am committed to enlightening the community members of new and ongoing projects, particularly those that maintain and enhance our amenities, for the overall betterment of Canyon Lake.

Improving communications and informing the members is one of our greatest challenges. Our project database can be seen at canyonlakepoa.com/472/Projects. New projects are published in the monthly board meeting agenda, in The Friday Flyer and our weekly newsletter. Information is available through our website. You can tailor what you desire to be notified on by selecting “My Applications,” add a widget and check off your necessary information. “Notify Me” is also available at canyonlakepoa.com/list.aspx?Mode=Subscribe#newsFlash.

Working together as a team for the betterment of our community is why I am seeking re-election.