A custom at many dinner tables at Thanksgiving is to list all the reasons you are thankful. I thought I would adopt that idea in my commentary this month. I feel we have many things to be thankful for in Sun City.
This year Jan Ek, our general manager, is retiring after serving Recreation Centers of Sun City and our residents for the last 15 years. She not only served as our general manager but also as a neighbor as Jan has lived in Sun City for the last 16 years. Jan started her career at the RCSC after serving as the CEO for Glacier Park Incorporated in Montana. It has not always been smooth sailing as just before she started the roof at Sundial collapsed into the pool. Luckily it happened in the middle of the night, so no one was injured.
Unfortunately, at that time, there was no preservation and improvement fund that could be used to fix the situation. Jan had to make as many financial cuts as she could in order to be able to fix it while the RCSC sued our insurance carrier to pay the claim.
Since that time Jan has worked with past boards of directors to budget the PIF that is used for projects more than $300,000 with a depreciable life span of at least 15 years. This vision of what was needed will help us in fixing our lake, making our golf courses compliant with the Arizona Department of Water Resources 5th Management Plan and redoing our Mountain View Center. Jan now leaves us with projects planned and knowing that we are debt free.
A current board director stated that you cannot find a more hardworking, intelligent individual and the rest of us could not agree more. Jan has always been accessible, responding to board questions and taking care of RCSC responsibilities even when she is on vacation. We are thankful that Jan found and employed Bill Cook as our director of finance, who was then hired as our new general manager. She spent the last six months helping Bill learn the ropes, which is providing us with a very smooth transition. Thank you, Jan Ek, for all the hard work you have done for RCSC and our Sun City residents. Enjoy your retirement as you have more than earned it.
I know all of us are thankful for our sunshine and beautiful fall, winter and spring temperatures. We know that we are now envied by a large portion of the United States as they dig out their ice scrapers and snow shovels. We all are thankful that our winter residents are returning this year and all our outside activities are picking up and can be played all day. Our clubs are once again flourishing, and we can enjoy socializing with our friends.
I am also thankful for my fellow board of directors members. You have volunteered hundreds of hours this year serving our cardholders and the RCSC. I know it has been a difficult year and I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I would also like to thank our residents and especially the ones who are willing to suggest solutions to issues instead of just complaints as that has been very helpful.
As we begin to move into the Christmas season, take the time to enjoy all the things Sun City has to offer and be thankful you are not having to dig out your ice scrapers and snow shovels.
Editor’s Note: Sue Wilson is Recreation Centers of Sun City Board of Directors president for 2021.
