This is Albert Kolkin's response to an e-mail that Irwin Seitelman sent out to a Baywinds resident and others on May 5th.

This is about an email on which I wish to comment that "Irwin" sent out to a number of people. I think that the issues he raised were very important.

Irwin, thank you for your comments, here is what I think.

Even the worst of the Presidents probably thinks that she/he is doing right by his/her community; some of them actually are doing a very good job for their community. The controversy is not about the Presidents. The controversy is also not about the "do-gooders" that you refer to in your email because they will probably help vote out of office the ones they think are not doing a good job. The issue is also not about whether the Presidents are dictators or whether the CERT fundraisers are allowed to hold their meetings (Lennar will allow CERT to hold the meetings as scheduled). It’s about respect, it’s about our contractual right to live in the community that was described for us in the purchase contract, it’s about homeowners having the courtesy to allow everyone with a different opinion to speak without being put down, it’s about "do-gooders" respecting the rights of the uninterested to remain uninterested if they choose, and it’s about not condoning deceit.

We all bought our homes here under a contract that said we had to do all the things that you pointed to in your email. Lennar also had rights and rules that were in that contract. Unfortunately, Lennar created a controversy when they decided to change the rules encompassed in that contract; they changed the rules about the composition of the Master Board after transition without discussing those thoughts with concerned Baywinds residents.

Since their attorney said that Lennar had no interest in Baywinds after transition, why did they decide to change the rules?

Subsequent to that decision how can we remain apathetic when our purchase contract has been fundamentally changed without our approval?

How can we, who live on fixed incomes, remain uninterested when our dues will go up at least 35% ($33 per month)?

How can we remain uninterested when a majority of the homeowners have lost a significant voting interest that their neighborhood’s dues now give them the right to have? (Click here for a full description and discussion of this specific problem.)

This is not about whether there are people who do not care and want to be left alone. This is about listening to those who care and hearing the logic of their case. I hope all of you choose to get involved by sharing your ideas about what you want this community to be, and I will respect your decision if you choose not to. I hope all of you decide to:

-support the Presidents as they attempt to come to a fair resolution of the club purchase,

-encourage Lennar to come to a fair resolution of the Club purchase, and

-encourage Lennar and the Presidents to keep the current rules about the subsequent makeup of the Master Board (3 - 9 members elected at large).

You can share those ideas anonymously or out in the open by clicking here. Your questions, ideas and viewpoints on will be published on BaywindsLife© if they do not contain personal attacks or inaccurate information.

Irwin, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us; I hope that all the rest of you also share your thoughts with us because everyone is listening.

Albert Kolkin