LET'S SHOOT THE MESSENGER -- IT'S HIS FAULT!

Another Flyer from Majestic Oaks Homeowners' Association

 

YOU STATE HOW THE BOARD MISREPRESENTED OUR COVENANT TO THE NEWS MEDIA.  THE BOARD (BOB WATSON) WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GOING TO THE MEDIA. 

I USED TO BE PROUD TO SAY I LIVE IN MAJESTIC OAKS, HOWEVER AFTER THE PAST WEEK, I AM ASHAMED TO SAY I LIVE HERE.  YOU HAVE MADE US THE LAUGHING STOCK OF OCALA.  FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, PRIOR TO MR. WATSON TAKING OVER AS PRESIDENT, THINGS WERE VERY UNPLEASANT AROUND HERE.  HE SINCERELY CARES ABOUT THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE HERE AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY DESIRABLE AND FRIENDLY PLACE TO RESIDE.  MR. WATSON STOOD UP FOR THE RESIDENTS OF 89TH STREET WHEN A DEVELOPER WANTED TO BREAK THROUGH THE STREET, HE RIDES THE CITIZENS PATROL, HE WEEDS THE GARDENS BY THE ENTRANCES AND REPLACES DAMAGED SIGNS; AND THAT IS ONLY A FEW THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE WITNESSED.  DO ANY OF YOU FOLKS DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS?

YOU HAVE DAMAGED THE REPUTATION OF A VERY FINE AND RESPECTED MAN.  THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN HOUSE.  INSTEAD, YOU TOOK IT UPON YOURSELVES TO GO TO THE MEDIA TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT.

DID YOU EVER CONSIDER THE FALLOUT AFTER THE STAR BANNER MADE US HEADLINES? FOR EXAMPLE, LOCAL REALTORS NOW DO NOT SHOW AS MANY HOMES IN OUR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PERSPECTIVE BUYERS DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.  THIS IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD YOU ARE AFFECTING, AND IT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR PROPERTY VALUES.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO, DISRUPTING OUR WAY OF LIFE SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM.

YOUR INTENDED ACTIONS ARE TOTALLY OFF BASE AND UNNECESSARY.

 

An Opinion By Jan Bergemann

Published September 13, 2005

 

It seems quite some people have warped minds. The above flyer suggests that the people who mailed out the initial flyer, disallowing residents to take in evacuees, are not to blame for the story that made national headlines! In their opinion, it's the messenger who is to blame that the community now has a very black eye. 

 

Actually, we heard this nonsense before, when Vice President Audrey Watson said the board's action was "blown out of proportion" and that she apologized only for it gaining media attention.

Obviously, board members don't seem to be very much in favor of freedom of press. A reporter of the Ocala Star Banner found that out when she tried to cover last Tuesday's board meeting. President Robert Watson took her outside -- the meeting took place in a room of the public library -- and laid down his "ground rules" of reporting about board meetings of the Majestic Oaks Homeowners' Association.

 

Lets face it: The board made the mistakes -- and nobody else is to blame for it!

  • The board obviously misinterpreted their own governing documents. Nothing in the deed restrictions would make taking in evacuees a violation -- as stated in the original flyer. 

  • The flyer was signed with: "Board of Directors." Obviously, not all directors were informed. Was it "assumed" that all directors agreed?

  • If the people in charge would have bothered to read the Florida Statutes regulating homeowners' associations, they would have realized that decisions like sending out such a flyer should have been discussed in a public board meeting. The board took it upon themselves, making decisions in private conversations!

I had in my office a sign saying: "Switch on brain before opening mouth!" I guess that reminder might have as well helped in this case?

 

We see again the fairy tale of the negative impact on the property values mentioned. We see it used as excuse for anything that goes wrong  -- and boards try to keep it secret. Many things went wrong in Majestic Oaks -- caused by the board of directors -- nobody else!

 

But, as usual, it's easier to shoot the messenger than finding the blame with the people who are really at fault. If you make mistakes, admit to it -- and don't blame others. I know it's more convenient than suffering the consequences -- but it's definitely not right! 

 

It's not about being a good guy, or weeding the gardens. It's about a decision that the president made -- which was plainly off the wall. It was his decision that may have ruined his reputation, not the actions of the guys who made his decision public. 

 

And if he is such a "good guy," as the writer of the above flyer claims, he would have long resigned to save his community from getting more black eyes. "Good guys" know when they have made mistakes -- and don't let a whole community suffer the consequences. 



According to Public Record this is the board of Directors of the Association:

Name Title Telephone Number
Robert Watson President (352) 291-1515
Audrey Andrews Vice President (352) 237-7086
Merrill Theviot Treasurer (352) 873-0772
Ruby Montgomery Secretary (352) 854-8933
Bob Walsh Director (352) 861-8177
Lou Colaianni Director RESIGNED
Christine Beers Director RESIGNED
PLEASE READ: Majestic Oaks Homeowners Association
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