Dear Neighbors:

With noble intentions, I attended the 6/20/05 community information meeting run by the Baywinds Presidents' Transition Committee.

I was the ONLY speaker to compliment the Presidents for their tireless efforts, while taking the time away from their families, businesses and retirement activity. Yet, unacceptably, the Chair and some "rude" audience hecklers did not allow me to complete my statement.

I had intended to give the Presidents five suggestions to help improve their communications with the residents. Since your publications have historically favorable reputations for being open forums for the exchange of ideas, I wish to convey to the Presidents and to all Baywinds residents (those who attended the meeting, and those who did not), through your media, the suggestions that I was not permitted to espouse.

1) The Committee should issue to the residents weekly information bulletins on its progress with regard to the Club and transition, of course, with discretion concerning confidential matters.

2) The Committee's Secretary, if there be any, or other designee, should prepare and retain written Minutes of the discussions, motions and decisions of the Committee, including the date and place of the meetings and the names of the Presidents who attended. Because of the confidentiality of the matters in discussion, the Minutes should not be distributed or made open to the residents until AFTER the transition and the purchase of the Club are completed.

3) A small group of interested, independent and objective residents, committed to confidentiality, should be permitted to attend the Committee meetings, except, of course, for Executive Sessions regarding matters of attorney-client privilege and negotiation strategy.

4) The Committee should acknowledge that upon taking office as the duly selected or elected members of the New Master Association, all meetings of the Master Association should be "open meetings", again, accept for Executive Sessions regarding matters of attorney-client privilege or sensitive confidential issues.

5) Because many residents are away, or otherwise unable to attend periodically announced information meetings, the Committee and the new Master Association should actively communicate with the residents through multi-communication media, such as The Breeze, BaywindsLife.Com, Baywinds' Closed Circuit TV Channel, Residents' E-Mail List, Newsletters, etc..

Thank you for allowing me to communicate my message to the Presidents and to my fellow residents. The Chair and the audience hecklers should be ashamed of their prohibition of an exchange of ideas. All Baywinds residents should be thankful that The Breeze and BaywindsLife.com exist as loyal open forums for the exchange of ideas.

IRA J. RAAB,
The Estates