Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
nStaff Reporter
www.oakmontvillage.com/oakmont-news
Say Hello To New OVA Board Members
Lynda Oneto was born and raised in San Francisco. As a child, Linda spent summers in Boyes Hot Springs and she feels that Sonoma County has always been a part of her life. She figures that she has probably hiked every trail in Sugarloaf, Annadel, Armstrong Redwoods, Point Reyes, Salt Point and all along the Sonoma coast. Lynda’s career of choice was in the dental field, where she earned a BS Degree from UCSF. She worked full time in San Francisco until 1987 when she moved to Santa Rosa. In 2012, Lynda moved to Oakmont and after getting settled she began to search for ways to meet her neighbors and contribute to the community. She found the perfect solution at Sierra Garden. Working together with a dedicated group of Oakmont volunteers, she participated in returning this long neglected garden into the thriving garden it was in the past. In conjunction, the group mentored teenage girls who were in a juvenile probation program. Following that, the next 2½ years were spent as Head Gardener at Oakmont Community Garden. Today, Lynda helps prepare books and games for the blind at the Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop. Before she was appointed to the Board of Directors, Lynda was chair of the Asset Protection Committee reviewing the OVA Reserve Study. Quote: “I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors and my goal is to be a good steward for our diverse and special community.”
Karen Oswald was born in Chicago and has lived and traveled throughout the world. While she has lived in Denmark and Italy, she also has lived all over California, from where she grew up in Beverly Hills to San Francisco to here in Sonoma County. With extensive experience in organizational development, Karen specialized in sensitive turnaround situations and corporate image enhancement. She is well versed in many aspects of day-to-day business operations, including policies and procedures, contracts, financial management and personnel. Karen is also professionally trained and has experience in both crisis management and Hostage Negotiation. Former Clients include: Department of Defense, Department of State and FEMA. She is frequently invited to speak to government agencies, corporations and the media. Karen moved to Oakmont in 2001 and has been active in the last two Board of Directors election campaigns. She has also volunteered for the CARES Ad Hoc Committee for the Senior Center. Quote: “I am honored to have been appointed to the Board of Directors for the OVA and entrusted with the faith of the community. I offered my expertise and experience in the hope that, in some small way, I can help facilitate the healing of our ‘village.’ I appreciate the opportunity to help ensure that this happens “
Transpartisanship: Addressing the Polarization That Leads to Tension and Hostility
nMichael Connolly
The main room of have been around for the East Recreation a long time and have Center was filled been arguing with to capacity on each other for about September 10 for a as long as we have very interesting and been around. At the thought-provoking same time, humans Sunday Symposium. have been wanting Capacity crowd attends September 10th Sunday Symposium. The presentation by and needing to solve Oakmont resident Steve Spanier on the topic “Solving their problems together for just as long a time.” the Problems of a Deeply Polarized American Society” Transpartisanship aims to synthesize a common was met with rapt attention, moments of laughter ground upon which issues may be addressed and and applause, and a lively give and take Q&A session potentially resolved. after the talk. Steve retired from a career in the high tech The presentation also introduced the idea of industry, last working for Cisco Systems as Director transpartisanship, a relatively new system of thought of Knowledge Products. He was in charge of all distinct from bipartisanship or nonpartisanship worldwide training and of the technical publications that attempts to move beyond bilateral opposing department, which included writing of product viewpoints on issues. As Spanier notes, “Humans See transpartisanship on page 3 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
October 1, 2017 • Volume 55, Number 19
Oakmont in Search of a Manager nYvonne Frauenfelder
For those of us lucky enough to live in Oakmont, there is no more beautiful spot on earth than the fabled Valley of the Moon, cradled in peaceful woods and towered over by majestic mountains. Far from the noise and industrial pollution, the community is surrounded by vineyards and golden meadows, punctuated by ageless oaks. A short drive brings you to the shore of the Pacific Ocean, Lake Tahoe and the Sierras are within easy reach, and a visit to San Francisco can be accomplished in less than two hours. The village and its 4,700 inhabitants project a postcard-like perfection with neatly kept homes, lush landscaping and a generous green belt in the shape of two golf courses. The public spaces—including pools, tennis and bocce courts, lawn bowling greens and walkways, recreation buildings and meeting halls—are immaculately maintained and ready to accommodate some 130 (!) clubs and associations. A board of directors is in charge of this Common Interest Development, the statutory name given to what is commonly referred to as Retirement or Adult Community. The directors, whose primary function is to develop policies guiding the overall operation of the village, direct their executive decisions to the association manager, who is tasked with their implementation. And here is where the story begins. After not quite three years, Oakmont’s general manager, Cassie Turner, resigned her position, and a search for a replacement is underway. This process is easier planned for than accomplished. While the location and the work environment appear to be a dream destination for anyone seeking a management appointment, the professional requirements are rigorous and challenging. Although gone are the days when an MBA from Harvard—as with Ted Throndson, our interim general manager and consultant—was “necessary” to run a homeowners association, today’s manager needs to be certified by the state to assume such a tenure. A thorough knowledge of the Davis-Sterling Act, part of the California Civil Code governing Common Interest Developments, is foremost. To be recognized as CID Manager, further qualifications are required in the following areas: understanding of all applicable governing documents, finance issues, budget preparation, administration of the association’s fiscal affairs, contract negotiations, supervision of personnel, management of recreational facilities, training and strategic planning for board of directors and committees; supervision of the building maintenance program, knowledge of insurance, liability and risk issues, and last but not least, interpersonal and communication skills. Much as the association manager is charged with the execution of board-generated policies, a major responsibility resides in providing professional expertise and guidance to the directors. A new administrator will find her/or himself confronted with immediate challenges. While one needs to become familiarized with a new environment, to reassure the residents and to gain the trust of the board, there exist critical operational See search on page 5