POA candidates discuss club fundraising

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. The 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 asked the candidates what specific subsidies would they like to see reduced and what would they do to help those amenities support themselves.

In this third 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: There are more than 50 clubs in Canyon Lake that provide activities and services for the residents of Canyon Lake. The clubs are self-supporting through member support and fundraising activities.

Earlier this year, it was suggested that funds raised by Canyon Lake clubs utilizing POA facilities, such as the lodge, golf course and other venues, should do so in partnership with the POA and that the POA should determine how the funds raised would be spent.

Do you believe the POA should be involved in the clubs’ fundraising activities and determine how the funds are spent?

Jeanne O’Dell

Jeanne O’Dell. Photo by Donna Ritchie

The many clubs we have in Canyon Lake are our ambassadors to not only our community but our neighboring communities as well. By their offering of many different activities, they provide us with the chance to enjoy our surroundings. They provide a multitude of benefits to all of our members, from young to old, and with the chance to become involved and volunteer our time. They provide us a chance to meet new people and enjoy many activities that maybe we wouldn’t normally enjoy.

Most importantly, they give back to the communities both in Canyon Lake and our neighbors in Lake Elsinore, Menifee and beyond, whether it is through the many scholarship opportunities that are offered, the ability to earn community service hours for high schoolers, or just for a chance to get to know our neighbors.

The benefits of having these clubs are endless. In addition to the many philanthropic programs that are supported, they have donated benches, trees, fountains, rose bushes, funds towards an amphitheater and many other things that go unnoticed by most of us.

The clubs need to be encouraged to continue their fine tradition of community involvement without direct oversight by the POA. The POA should be here to support the activities, not manage them.

There are things that the POA can do to support the activities and the volunteers who coordinate them. The communication process with the clubs needs to be improved. All of the clubs need to be aware of any changes at the corporate level that might affect their operations.

The clubs should be consulted regarding the proposed changes so that they can provide input before implementation. Clubs and the POA staff assisting the activities should be given the necessary tools to make sure the events are a success.

Tom Nathan

Tom Nathan. Photo by Donna Ritchie

The simple answer to this week’s question is “No” and “No.” The POA staff functions are to manage the daily operation of our community. There is no desire for POA staff to be involved with various club fundraising activities.

POA involvement with how club funds are spent is even more unthinkable and may likely not be legal. Some Canyon Lake clubs are registered corporations, some are registered with the IRS as non-profit organizations and some are both.

These Canyon Lake organizations operate under their own bylaws and with their own officers/directors.

The lead into this question by The Friday Flyer was, “It was suggested….”, but there was no identity of who “It” referred to. I believe this idea or topic evolved from members of the community.

Earlier this year, the POA had a discussion workshop on Facility Use policies. Before the meeting date, it seems some members either misunderstood or misinterpreted what this workshop was about. Social media posts and email blasts were sent out suggesting what is posted in this week’s question to the candidates.

The first Facility Use workshop was largely unproductive, as many members arrived believing the suggestions seen in social media and emails. The POA made it clear at this meeting that it had no intention of participating in the business or finances of clubs.

A second Facility Use policies discussion workshop was held the following month. At this meeting the POA presented a great deal of information that included Facility Use policy, Sanctioned Club policy, community use of amenities, fee schedules, permitting and approvals, and access control.

While these POA policies/rules have existed for many years, my impression was that many in attendance were seeing this information for the first time. The POA now understands it needs to communicate this information in a better fashion.

Chris Poland

Chris Poland. Photo by Donna Ritchie

No! Canyon Lake has always been a place where people live and work together to maintain a special place that all can enjoy – each with their own favorite part. The clubs are the heart of where people connect, play and work together. They are required to follow written policies and do not need to be told what to do with the money they raise by a five-member POA Board. We are the POA and we partner within our clubs to determine how the money we raise is spent.

Our over 50 clubs are where people of common interests come together, work together, enjoy their time together and provide service to our association and the communities around us.

Clubs that apply and are “sanctioned” operate under an appropriate Sanction Club Policy that requires “some degree of community service” in exchange for the right to use the facilities. Community service requirements include volunteering and monetary donations to Association organizations, events or activities.

Clubs are sanctioned for a three-year term after which they must reapply and demonstrate that they have complied with the policies. Once every three years, the POA Board determines if each club complies and that is enough.

I expect that this question grew out of an idea that was communicated to many of us a few weeks ago through rumor and speculation. It signals a need for the board and the community to step back and reconsider how policy changes are developed, introduced, vetted and enacted.

I believe that the collective wisdom of our sanctioned clubs, not individual Facebook posts or personal communications to the board, are the best source of what the community supports. We need to re-establish the Club Presidents Council and use it as a primary source of community input on key issues and policy changes.

Phil Hawgood

Phil Hawgood. Photo by Donna Ritchie

Canyon Lake is “A little bit of paradise.” The more than 50 clubs are a big reason for that in Canyon Lake. I am sure that many Canyon Lake residents are also club members. In my opinion, Canyon Lake clubs bring our members more opportunity to engage with people that have similar interest and live in Canyon Lake.

Take our Tennis Club, you can call the membership and ask about lessons, you will receive a phone call from a tennis pro who will meet you at our court to give a lesson on our courts. Because of clubs you’ll always be able to join the ones you want and you’ll meet Canyon Lake residents though our clubs.

The POA is a short name for Property Owners Association. We the POA Board have oversight over our general manager who runs the staff. The board guides regarding the clubs mostly as an assistant to the clubs use of our amenities. Each club submits a reservation request and asks for a date, which the board generally approves. It is then placed on the calendar.

We as a board should not charge or collect fees from the clubs except if a club asks us to set up, serve food or drink and tear down. There should never be a charge to Canyon Lake Clubs utilizing POA facilities, such as the lodge, golf course and other venues.

I do not believe the POA should determine how the clubs funds are raised or how the clubs should spend the money that they have raised. It’s the clubs money. We are here to help the clubs, all 50 plus to utilize their rights. In my opinion, we all live in the jewel of the Inland Empire here in Canyon Lake.

Mike Harris

Mike Harris. Photo by Donna Ritchie

The clubs are an integral part of the whole community. Without the clubs, the POA (4800 property owners) could not afford to put on every event that the clubs sponsor.

The question of whether the POA should partner with the clubs and determine how the funds raised was never a motion from the board of directors. The discussion was in Executive Session, the board members are not allowed to talk about issues discussed in Executive Session.

After the last Executive Session, it was decided to bring the suggestions to a board work session. The work session was convened on Jan. 9, 2019, in the POA conference Room at 12:30 p.m.

Due to one or two board members leaking false and misleading information, we were faced with a group of club members that were upset. They deserved to be indignant after they were misled about the purpose of the meeting.

This meeting ended with the promise of another work session held in the Holiday Bay Room. The second workshop was convened on Feb. 13, 2019. Both meetings were properly noticed as discussion/work session only.

In order to change any policy, procedure, rules and regulations, the action must be noticed in the board agenda. This was noticed as a discussion only.

The matter of clubs’ participation in the community was resolved at the board meeting on Mar. 5, 2019. The board agenda item 6.7. Club Special Events List Proposed Resolution recommended that the board of directors approve/reject the Club Special Events Lists, effective Mar. 5, 2019. The motion to approve was made and seconded with five votes in favor.

No changes were made to policy. The three members in the majority never agreed or attempted to change the clubs’ policy, as was implied by the leak from the Executive Session.