What an Ideal SAEPOA Board (and Nominees) Should Do

The current board should resign completely and make room for a new board for reasons we have previously discussed.  However, absent that, we need to replace the two positions up for election this October (vice president and secretary).  As we think about who should be on that board, we should consider what the board should do.  This includes:

• Resume performance of HOA duties, until/unless a clear legal restriction prevents it, such as a court order.
• Resolve any questions about whether we are proper or improper with our current 501(c)(3) tax status. Take any required corrective action regarding tax status. (e.g. write a letter to the IRS requesting that the status be changed to a regular non-profit without the 501(c)(3) tax status).  Note: To date, there is no record of adjudicated wrongful actions by the HOA. None.  There is also no record of negative interaction with the IRS on the part of the Association.
• Settle all lawsuits in the most direct way possible. (The Board can settle this one. No membership approval required.)

1. 1. The roads lawsuit is easy – just acknowledge that we own what we own – the roads.
   2. The dissolution lawsuit is also easy – if the tax status is resolved (see second bullet above), the lawsuit’s premise is moot.
   3. Reduce legal expenses, ideally to zero. (The Board needs no membership approval.)

• Obtain HOA insurance.
• Pay bills for debts clearly owed – such as paying the runway fees for which we are in arears, and which our current board refuses to pay.
• Prepare quarterly Treasurer’s Reports:

1. 1. Disclose the state of our accounts to the membership frequently and thoroughly.
   2. Communicate plans effectively with the membership about the use of the funds for long-term objectives (such as road paving, even if it will take decades to complete).
   3. Designate a portion of funds to repair roads and other common property. (2/3 membership written approval required)

• Hold the required quarterly membership meetings IN PERSON. Zoom can be used, too, to allow all members to participate whether they’re here locally or not.
• Honor our founding documents and bylaws. Where 2/3 votes are required, seek them.  Don’t try to get around the membership.  (Amazingly, our current board campaigned on this issue, claiming that prior boards had not treated membership votes with proper procedure and respect.  Since taking office, the Board now rules by fiat, and changes the Bylaws, ignores the Articles of Incorporation, and makes sweeping changes with no voting whatsoever.)
• Build up the HOA, make it better, and serve the community – rather than devote efforts to destroying it.

1. 1. Organize, lead, and participate in charitable events, as stated in our founding documents
   2. Host events to build up the airpark, rather than to divide it.
   3. Honor our commitments to the community – our roads are privately owned, but public access. Keep the access public.
   4. Invite the community to participate in airpark activities

• Have fun!

Unless all of our (4) current board members resign together (an appropriate action), the new nominees should expect a difficult year of service, if elected.  Those seeking to destroy the HOA (and perhaps the airpark) have entrenched themselves rather thoroughly in our board, and these new members would likely find that the remaining (incumbent) members (board president and treasurer) would resist doing those things that will build up the airpark, as mentioned above.  However, the effort would be well worth it.  Our neighborhood is a great airpark, in some sense the jewel of the East Mountains.  We should preserve it, improve it, and use it for the benefit of its residents and the community it shares.