Proxy Voting & Boycotting meetings

Our HOA held a members meeting last night to discuss and vote on various changes to the by-laws. We needed a quorum of
63 households to conduct the meeting and vote on the bylaw changes. A certain group of residents did not want the proxy changes to an absentee system. Therefore, one of these residents announced prior to the meeting they will be boycotting the meeting. Their intent was to force an absence of a quorum, thus, no meeting, no bylaw changes.
It was well within their right to attend or not to attend the meeting, but where they crossed the line was being trusted by residents to submit their proxies so their vote would be cast and their participation achieved. At least 5 of these boycotters had from 1 to 3 proxies and purposely failed to attend the meeting and submit the proxies. The quorum was achieved
anyway and the changes were voted on. It was later established that some of the boycotters actually called other residents and discouraged them from attending the meeting. They now are crying foul that procedures for the meeting were not followed by RONR (was explicitly followed) and trying to discredit board members. There sole purpose is to have their three candidates
fill election vacancies for the upcoming year. Proxies were part of their agenda, that is, aggressively seek residents proxies and influence the vote.
If any of you had this problem before I would like to know if you took any action or if you care to comment I would appreciate the responses. Thanks

On face value... absolutely agree.

If one side can manuever LEGALLY against the other than that's how it goes.

I agree concerning rights but to purposely seek proxies and fail to show at the meeting is a blatant disregard for the resident's who entrusted their voice would be heard at the meeting. The residents who voted through proxy had their right to vote taken away by these individuals.

I cannot believe there are people who condone this activity.

You may also know DanielL7 as DanielL3 who had real problems a while back with a president who had not been elected to the board but had only been appointed. She came up through the ranks because others had resigned from the board. I AM THAT FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT. Let me assure you that Danny's rendition of the facts is very different than my own. Sometimes the information withheld is just as interesting. Danny didn't tell you back then that he was the vice-president who resigned allowing me to move forward. My real concern is that Danny may be posing his “shaded” questions to you so as to get a desired response that he can present as “from the experts.” Unfortunately, we have a number of residents that have made life very difficult for our board of directors. This group wants to maximize resident input and control of board actions and minimize the board’s authority.

One of the amendments that passed the other night was an issue espoused by Danny for the last few years, “Town hall meetings: The board shall schedule at least two (2) Town Hall meetings annually at six month intervals. The meetings shall be held at such time and place as determined by the majority of the Board of Directors. The purpose of these meetings is to provide the members with an opportunity to speak to the Board about their issues and concerns.” This replaced a section that allowed a resident to address the board at any board member by submitting a request to the president or vice-president.

I must apologize for airing my neighborhoods dirty laundry but I think it is important that one speaks when an injustice is being served – this time to the proxy holders in question.

Perhaps, some of you have additional thoughts or comments that would be helpful now that you have BOTH sides of the story. Thank you.

The facts still remain. A candidate for the Board held back a proxy vote and did not contact the resident as to the disposition of their vote. Another resident turned in their three proxies and did not contact those residents. FACT
A resident days before the meeting announced to a board member that "we will boycott the meeting". FACT

FACT -This group as I stated, BLATENTLY DISREGARDED the residents right to vote in an important bylaw meeting.

There is no doubt that the absentee ballot system will be compromised by this group to get their candidates in office.

By the way, when you Weezie was President, the board was actuall run by Gabriella, who is the candidate that failed to turn in a proxy. Another resident at the meeting went to her house and retrieved the proxy. FACT

Only when a quorum was achieved did the "boycotters" ( approx. 5 resident) came out, voted and left. FACT

Such a shame we have individuals like this in our community that are willing to stop the overall positive approval of
by law changes by the residents. Yes, it is politics, but dirty and unethical in my opinion.

The order of the "boycotters" actions: FACT

A candidate for the Board tried unsuccessfully to have a board member removed due to two people living in the same household.
Same candidate and others tried to remove another board member for "conflict of interest" due to her law suit with Chinese drywall. FACT

Since this did not work the "boycotters" submitted three candidates for the board (there are three vacancies).

Efffort is made to collect proxies and convince people to vote in their favor. FACT

Bylaw meeting was scheduled. Knowing the proxies they gathered would be useless if the absentee balloting amendment was passed, a boycott was planned. Prior to the meeting a resident told a board member a boycott was called. FACT

Also, there were residents who stated they received phone calls as to not attend the meeting. FACT

Point of the boycott was to have an absence of a quorum. FACT

The board acted appropriately in compliance with RONR and sought to achieve a quorum. FACT

After the quorum was stated phone calls were made to the boycotters and several showed up, voted, and left. FACT

The boycott failed and the bylaws were voted on. Of the 11 amendments, only 2 failed. FACT

A board member wrote a letter to the entire board detailing the actions of certian residents (no names mentioned)and also
requested the letter to be included in the upcoming newsletter. Only the board and the person handling the newsletter were
privy to the contents of the letter. Somehow, miraculously, it got into the hands of the dreaded "boycotters". Now, they are
calling for this board member, ironically, the same one they tried to remove for "conflict of interest", to be removed.
FACT

The present board is considering action against the residents who held proxies. To disqualify any candidate for improprieties
and any committee member or chair who held proxies. FACT

Weezie, you continue to distort the truth as you did as President. I tried to forget the past and move on, but apparently you have not.

I spoke with board members as to forming a commitee of residents to work in resolving the issues we have and become one community again, but the recent actions of some have driven a wedge so deep I am afraid the community will never be healed.
SUCH A SHAME. AND AS MILLIE SAID, SO SAD.

Another note:

I have been the President of 4 organizations and Director of a Louisiana Parish Alcohol Beverage and Charitiable Gaming Dept. I am also a retired Naval Officer and uphold the traditions of that position.

So, as Sheriff Earl said in "Best Little Whorehouse", "Don't piss on my boots and tell me its raining".

Have a great day!!!