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Members and The Art of Happiness casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people;
often involving details that are not confirmed as being true. One of
Pat Patterson the ways we try to combat the spread of gossip is the “Fireside
Chats.” These chats consist of two Board Directors that listen and
Vice President, Board of Directors take notes to come up with responses to the members’ questions. We
follow up by sending the questions and our responses to all the
members in The Club. Many of these questions come as a form of
What is a member in our committee? A member is an owner rumors or hearsay that are repeated over a period of time and
of a household located in The Club at West Park Community become misguided conversations. They then take on a life of their
Association, (The Club). I look at our membership as a partnership. own. The opinions expressed at Board meetings and the Fireside
We share similar lifestyles as members of a 55-and-older and have Chats can be quite lively at times. Mark Twain wrote, “I am not one
different outlooks on life as many of us are retirees. I hope we are of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to the facts,
wiser, more knowledgeable, and freer than other homeowners. We (1907). There is more real pleasure to be gotten out of a malicious
are members in Good Standing. Oh, what is a Member in Good act, where your heart is in it, than out of thirty acts of a nobler sort,”
Standing? According to the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions Mark Twain 1900. I think we can do better in our Club, by listening,
or CCR’s a Member in Good Standing is a member who is current in thinking, and providing constructive ideas.
the payment of all dues, assessments,
fines, penalties. I believe most of us are
Members in Good Standing! For those Honesty is another factor. Before us lie two
who are not we have many ways to clear paths: honesty or dishonesty. The ignorant
up all of those irritating payments. Yelena, embark on the dishonest path; the wise on the
our Director of Operations, and Pam honest. For in helping others, you help yourself.
Ciapessoni at Riverside Management can in hurting others, you hurt yourself. Those who
work with you to resolve these burdens. remain honest know the truth. Trust rises above
Yelena, Pam, and the Retreat staff are on fame and honesty is still the best policy. I
your side and will make every effort to remember this policy from my past work
resolve your difficulties in these payment environment. At The Club we all share the same
issues. environment and as members we can always find
a way to help each other!

What else is there about being a Member of The Club? I
believe there is responsibility, conduct, honesty, and friendship. We often have dreams fulfilled and at times we are still
What is the responsibility of the member? “Success on any major waiting on that next adventure. Sometimes I wake from sleeping still
scale requires you to accept responsibility. In the final analysis, the clutching and holding on to one last dream unfilled. Our dreams,
one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on history, friends, and families are where we find our legacy! Time is
responsibility,” (Michael Korda). These can be put into action by like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the
suggestions, ideas, methods, and imagination. If we all sit by and flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of
hope everything turns out okay, that is not taking responsibility. your life. It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life
Neither is being critical about decisions without making a that matters. My desire is to live among friends, retirees, and people
suggestion of a better solution! with their own dreams past and future. One of the focal points is the
Retreat where we gather in activities of pleasure, fun, laughter,
strength and dream building. This is where we belong as Members,

What about conduct? Members observe high standards of friends, homeowners as one community together; The Club. We
business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and have the best of times of our lives by retelling the events of the past.
responsibilities. As members of the Club, we must practice honesty Come join the staff, directors, and management in making this all
and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and comply with all come true. Whether it is a dream, vision, or an idea, all Members are
applicable laws, rules, and regulations. welcome to share at The Retreat.

That leads to the discussion about gossip. Mark Twain has P.S. I found myself in Jamaica one summer, and the song of the day
said, “He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep was “Don’t worry, Be Happy.” I find that being in the midst of
still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue.” Gossip can be members of The Club happiness finds me. Let it find you.

April 2020 Page 17