The three Villages Corporations (Club, Association and Homeowners’ Corporation) are preparing for this year’s elections and annual membership meetings. Elections will be conducted in May and June with election results announced at this year’s annual membership meetings to be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at The Villages Clubhouse.

Club. The election will be held for two director positions (each for a term of three years) on The Villages Golf and Country Club (VGCC) Board of Directors. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation provide that there shall be seven directors. The directors who will continue to serve during the ensuing year are Richard Zahner, Judy Owen, Larry Versaw, Diana Hallock, and Michelle Breslin.

The Club’s Nominating Committee shall nominate as many candidates for election to the Board of Directors as it shall in its discretion determine, but not less than the number of positions on the Board that are to be filled in a particular election. All nominations shall be made from among Members who satisfy the qualifications set forth in Bylaws Section 5.2. The Nominating Committee shall announce its candidate nominations for the annual election of Directors no later than April 15. In addition, per the Club Bylaws Section 6.1.2, any Member in Good Standing may place his or her name in nomination by filing with the Secretary of the Club (Liz Kung) a notice of intent signed by at least two percent (51) of the Members in Good Standing. Self-nomination petitions must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2025.

Association. For the 2025 Director election there are two open director positions. As of the established deadline for receiving nominations (March 31, 2025), the number of qualified candidates for election to the Board does not exceed the number of director positions available, and all requirements set forth in The Villages Association Election Rules, Sections 2.5 through 2.5.6, have been satisfied. As a result, Stephen Gilbert is the sole qualified candidate, and he may be declared elected by acclamation to serve a three-year term, beginning immediately following the conclusion of the June 11 annual membership meeting.

Further, The Villages Association will conduct a vote in May and June to vote on the Association Resolution regarding the refund of membership income exceeding membership expenses.

Homeowners. The Villages Homeowners’ Corporation will conduct a vote on The Homeowners’ Corporation Resolution, Excess of Membership Income Over Membership Expenses Refunded to Members and election to fill two director positions to serve three-year terms.

The bylaws of the Homeowners’ Corporation provide that there will be five directors. Directors with expiring terms are Teddy Morse and Morton Cordell. Those who will continue to serve during the ensuing year are Rob Kirschbaum, Glen Seidel, and Larry McNary.

Any Member in Good Standing may place his or her name in nomination for election to the Board by giving written notice to the President (Teddy Morse) or Secretary (Glen Seidel) no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2025. To date Morton Cordell and Donna Ostheimer have declared their candidacy.

Watch future Villager and FastNews editions for continued updates on this year’s elections.

The Board Meeting Schedule provides the monthly Club, Association and Homeowners’ Board meetings–where, when, day and any pertinent information. Click the link above and go to the Board meeting details. If you see anything that is incorrect, please notify our Webmaster at webmaster@the-villages.com. 

Association

• The Villages Association Board of Directors All-Member Budget  Board meeting is  Friday, April 18 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 835 2969 5065; Passcode: 282363; Dial: 1-669-900-6833; Join meeting here

• The Villages Association Board of Directors Monthly Board hybrid meeting is Tuesday, April 29 at 9:30 a.m. in Foothill Center and on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 917 8108 3392; Passcode: 223468; Dial: 1-669-900-6833; Join meeting here

Club

• The Villages Golf & Country Club All-Member Budget Board Meeting is Friday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 896 0995 3403; Passcode: 394661; Dial: 1-669-900-6833; Join meeting here

• The Villages Golf & Country Club Board of Directors Regular Meeting is Tuesday, April 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Foothill Center and on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 961 5036 4740; Passcode: 260616; Dial: 1-669-900-6833; Join meeting here

Homeowners’

• The Villages Homeowners’ Corporation All-Member Board Meeting is Friday, April 18 at 3:15 p.m. in Foothill Center

• The Villages Homeowners’ Corporation Board of Directors FY 24/25 Quarterly Business Meeting Schedule is as follows: 

Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 9 a.m. (location TBD)

For the full meeting schedule, please refer to the Events Calendar on the Member Portal.

Dear Member,

All three of the Villages Board of Directors (The Villages GCC, The Villages Association and The Villages Homeowners Corporation) are working with McMahon Group, a professional club consulting firm, to conduct a survey of the membership at The Villages Golf & Country Club. We want to receive input from members so that we can provide the programs, services and facilities to best meet the needs of the Club and its membership.  

As the first step in the survey process, McMahon Group will conduct focus group discussions with groups of members on dates according to the following schedule: 

The purpose of the focus groups will be to identify issues to be incorporated in the survey.  These meetings will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes.   

In tandem with this work, we are pleased to share that Sussner Design Company—our branding partner—will also be joining this process. Given that focus groups are already underway, this is an ideal opportunity to align member feedback with our branding initiative. Sussner’s goal is to develop a brand strategy that authentically reflects who we are as a Club and community. Their insights will be stronger and more informed by your real-time input. 

If you would like to volunteer for the focus group discussions, please complete the survey in one of the following ways: 

• Online: Fill out the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GT5LGML. 

• In Person: Pick up and return a hard copy at the General Manager’s office in Building A. 

All surveys must be submitted by Monday, April 21, 2025. 

Since each of the groups will be limited to 20 participants, we apologize in advance if there are more volunteers than openings and you are unable to participate. The survey itself will allow every member to be heard. To allow as many member households to participate as possible, we ask that only one adult from each household take part in the focus groups. Every member will have an opportunity to complete a survey later in the process. 

The Board of Directors for all three entities appreciates your assistance in this effort to make our Club the best it can be.  

Sincerely, 

Theresa M. Ostrander 

General Manager 

At the March 25, 2025, monthly board meeting, the Board approved for 21-day member notice proposed changes to VGCC Board Policies CPo 208 Procurement Policy, CPo 208 Emergency Preparedness Committee, and CPo 305 Investment Policy prior to formal approval consideration at the April 29, 2025, monthly meeting.

Response to the proposed policy changes may be made by one or more of the following methods: 1) Participation in the discussion of the changes at the April 29, 2025, board meeting, 2) via e-mail (jmeadows@the-villages.com) with comments sent to the General Manager’s office at least seven days prior to the board meeting, or 3) via written comments to the General Manager’s office (Business Administration Building A) delivered at least seven days prior to the aforementioned board meeting.

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CPo 208 Emergency Preparedness Committee:  The purpose of the revision is to ensure The Villages community is prepared for emergencies by maintaining a current Emergency Response Plan, training resident volunteers, and coordinating with Public Safety and external agencies.  This policy aligns with the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS). 

CPo 308 Procurement Policy: The purpose of the proposed changes is to provide clear guidelines and limitations for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, and services. This policy ensures that qualified suppliers and contractors have a fair and equitable opportunity while maintaining fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. 

CPo 305 Investment Policy: To ensure the Club’s investment portfolio is managed in a conservative, prudent manner that aligns with the fiduciary responsibility of the Board. This policy provides guidelines for asset diversification, return targets, and liquidity requirements to safeguard the long-term financial health of The Villages Golf and Country Club.

Hard copies of the documents are available in Business Administration Bldg. A

The Greek proverb, “A society grows great when the old plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in” is an apt guide for The Villages three Boards and management as we prepare to implement The Villages Strategic Plan 2025-2028. 

This coming year’s budget will be a commitment to maintain our existing programs and facilities and prepare for improvements that are needed and desired by Club members—some of which will not be finished for years but will be treasured by future residents. They may thank us for keeping and making The Villages Golf and Country Club live up to its name and reputation. The near-term benefit of this strategy is maintaining and increasing the value of our homes for ourselves or our heirs.    

The next step in our strategic planning process, supported by the three Boards, begins with a detailed Member Satisfaction Survey starting with focus groups in May. These will be followed by an online and printed survey. The Boards have also committed to a branding exercise coordinated with the survey. We will consider revising our mission and visions statements and define how we would like the Villages to be regarded by South Bay communities and potential new members and residents. The results of our strategic planning, member survey and branding exercise will set the standards we expect for our community, and guide policy and budgeting to meet community needs and expectations for the future. 

The Club Board’s part in this effort, will include approving Goals and Objectives for the FY26 Board at the May Board meeting. Our intent is to provide continuity from one board to the next based on the Strategic Plan and our shared vision of the future. 

Please read the Villager Article the General Manager and I have published this week on next year’s budget. Also, login to the Members Budget Review Zoom meeting on Friday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m. The Zoom link is in the Member Portal. 

Thank you for your participation and support. Together we may even enjoy the shade of new trees plus refurbished and new facilities.

—Richard Zahner Villages Golf & Country Club Board President

In April, the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget will be submitted to the Club Board for approval. An increase in Club Dues is expected due to rising costs, regulatory requirements, and necessary financial adjustments in both the Operating and Capital accounts. Leading up to the final budget presentation, we will hold two open member budget meetings to discuss key factors, gather input, and walk through the details. It is important that we communicate to Villages Club members the considerations that have shaped the recommendation and Board review. Along with inflation and regulatory impacts, we have also addressed past accounting errors, process improvements and best practices identified through the most recent annual audit. 

Our responsibility is to operate, maintain and improve Club facilities in the most cost-effective manner possible. We know that maintaining the value of members’ homes depends on the quality of Club facilities and services. As we plan for next year and the future, the Club Board commits to spending no more than is necessary and not less than is needed.  

After a detailed review of the conditions of our buildings and finances, we now know that we must increase next year’s Club Dues for both Operation and Capital accounts to address increased operating costs and long-term capital needs. The recently completed Strategic Plan for 2025-2028, and last year’s audit, highlighted weakness in our current financial practices and we recommend addressing them this year.  

Issues addressed in next year’s budget include: 

The Cost of Operations. Like every business, our cost of operations has increased. Contributors include inflation and major increases for insurance, water, electricity, and waste disposal. 

Regulation and Code Compliance. Requirements from city, county, and state government including turf reduction, wildfire safety, and modifications to meet building and health codes, i.e., Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). 

Staff Compensation and Benefits. We expect a salary increase in wages that addresses the cost-of-living and persistent labor market pressures, especially in high-cost regions like the Bay Area. Our wages increasingly fall short of what is required to remain competitive in recruitment and retention. We anticipate an increase in health benefit costs this coming year driven by rising medical costs and structural pressures on health plans. 

Repair and Maintenance. We will begin to correct the allocation of routine repair and maintenance of Club facilities to the operating budget, not the Capital Replacement account, as has been done in previous years. This correction may be a one-time correction, or with a better understanding of the impact to the budget, it may need to be implemented over multiple years. 

Inter-Company Transfers. With the implementation of our ERP system(s) and true separation of accounts, we now have real-time analytics and dashboards providing a clearer view of operational data. This enhanced visibility allows for better separation of financial accounts, ensuring allocations are more accurate and transparent. By separating previously co-mingled Club, Association, and Homeowners’ Corp. monies, we have improved our sightline into The Villages’ day-to-day operations, enabling more precise tracking of expenses and cost-sharing between the Club, the Association, and the Homeowners’ Corp. This data-driven approach strengthens financial accountability and supports more informed decision-making. 

For example, Public Safety, Communications, and The Villager were not included in inter-company transfers, leaving the Club to cover 100% of these costs. With this data, we can now adjust and fairly distribute expenses, improving financial accountability and transparency. 

Underfunding Capital Needs. The current annual Capital Replacement Dues revenue of $2.7 million does not cover the $3.9 million required annually to maintain existing facilities. There is a need to increase the Capital Replacement Dues to at least match the depreciation rate. At the current rate, the Capital Replacement Fund will be exhausted in approximately four years. Our buildings, roads, and underground utilities require significant ongoing repair and enhancement to maintain the quality of our environment. In effect, our capital “burn rate” to maintain these services exceeds the available revenue.  

Capital Improvement Fund. The Club needs to sustain a Capital Improvement Fund by collecting Dues dedicated to improvements and/or new amenities requested by the Club Members. Currently, we collect nothing for this purpose.  

Additionally, an increase in Club Dues is warranted due to constraints imposed by Club policies and bylaws that limit our ability to invest Club Capital Funds to keep pace with inflation. For years, interest earnings from investing in these funds have fallen behind inflation rates, eroding the real value of our Capital Replacement Fund. Also, the decline in purchasing power is estimated to have reduced the fund’s value by over $1 million. Additional revenue and flexibility are required, and the Board intends to revise bylaws and policies in FY2025-26. An additional source of revenue to raise Capital Funds could assist in lowering our monthly dues. 

As Board President, I can attest that the budgeting process of this year is the most thorough and professional we have experienced in the last four years. Our staff, using new software and detailed analysis of all operations, produced an excellent budget presentation for The Villages community at the April 18 Members FY26 Budget meeting.  

Please attend the April 18 budget meeting which will be available via Zoom.