Page 2 - August 2020 Newsletter

A Message from the Board President
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Dear Neighbors:

As I write, the heat is hitting full-force. But, looking ahead a month, the temperatures are predicted
to begin moderating. And, Desert Horizons is not a bad place to safely transit these challenging
times; indeed, many, many more folks than usual have decided to spend the summer here. While,
sadly, our socializing consists only of Zoom cocktail hours and friendly waves as we morning walkers
pass by each other, I know we are all looking forward to better times when we may joyfully and

safely gather.

And, looking ahead is the focus for my comments.

The question that seems to be on all minds concerns what the long-range plans are for comprehen-
sively addressing our community’s challenges and opportunities. I am regularly asked about “what
is the plan?” And, believe me, I want to know, too.

So, let me start with a word about effective leadership, something that comes from my professional
focus as well as my personal experience. And, believe me: when it comes to the future of our com-
munity, each and every one of us has a critically important leadership responsibility.

Leadership begins with questions, not answers. Indeed, we should be wary of those who come in
claiming to know the answers. Instead, we need to ask questions, specially questions that take us
outside of our zones of comfort. And, then, together we must come to (and own) the answers we

collectively develop as appropriate for us.

While I know we would all like to concretely know where we are heading, I think it most appropri-
ate that our Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) began with questions. That was most notably
the case with the recent extensive survey. Your rates of participation were truly extraordinary, and I
hope you have had a chance to look over the very interesting results. They are available here.

Starting with questions means, of course, that leaders must also be able to then listen. And, to really
hear! Board members and those serving on the LRPC, certainly. But, as I have said, when it comes to

the future of our community, we are all part of the leadership team. And, so it follows, we must be lis-
tening to – and genuinely hearing – each other.

Looking to our future, I see an enormously positive opportunity for our community. But, before we get
to actual plans, we must make sure we are getting the listening part done right. That means more lis-
tening and then testing what we think have heard by providing draft proposals for wide critical review.
Then listening yet again. That is the process that Country Club president Jay Clancy and I sketched in a
recent communication to you.