Do you like to volunteer? Sun Lakes Arizona is an active adult community with just under 10,000 homes. People from all over the United States, Canada and the world are homeowners at least part of each year when the mild winter climates are a magnet to those escaping cold, harsh and snowy winters. Many of these homeowners are retired or semi-retired with excellent professional skills that are put to good use in HOA committees.
IronOaks
IronOaks is the homeowner association for two of the gated communities known as Ironwood and Oakwood. A Board of seven community elected people govern the HOA with fifteen committees working in specific areas and providing input and recommendations to the Board of Directors. General Manager Clark Champion and his staff serve the community under the direction of the IronOaks Board of Directors. Community volunteers are the lifeblood of any entity and IronOaks HOA is always seeking qualified men and women to serve on one of these committees where your interest and expertise exist.
Committees
- ALC (Architecture and Landscape Committee) – focuses on the appearance of residential areas. They develop guidelines for changes to the exterior of homes, new construction and alterations in landscaping. They meet on an as needed basis. Member backgrounds include construction, architecture and/or landscaping.
- Image Committee – focuses on the appearance of property (entrances, signage) and the image presented to the community to both the internal (residents and staff) and external (visitors, realtors, prospective buyers and the public). They meet the 3rd Monday of each month. Member skills include marketing, writing, graphics, corporate branding, public relations, real estate, landscaping, interior and architectural design.
- Energy Conservation Committee – identifies ways to reduce energy and natural resource consumption both at the residential and community level. Members focus on areas like electrical, water, HVAC and recycling and identify areas to the Board where potential savings might be realized. They meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. Member backgrounds include engineering, construction, energy and environmental experience.
- Finance Committee – assures that the budget meets the operating needs and provides a financial plan for the maintenance and replacement of HOA assets. They meet on the 3rd Friday of each month. Member skills include budgeting, accounting, finance or entrepreneurial/business management experience.
- Properties Committee – is concerned with facilities maintenance and common area landscaping and capital improvement proposals for Association facilities. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month and background skills needed include engineer, project manager, contractor, mechanic, general business and computer knowledge.
- Fitness Committee – helps the Fitness Director develop plans for operation, activities and equipment choices. The members help evaluate usage trends and make recommendations to the Board regarding policy and operations of the Fitness Center. They meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Members demonstrate interest in fitness and have a desire to serve a homeowner need.
- Food and Beverage Committee – focuses on the operations of the three restaurants, catering and special events program. They provide advice to the GM and Board with respect to pricing, menus, promotions and marketing and assists with evaluation of customer feedback. They meet the 4th Thursday of each month. Members skills needed include anyone who has experience or interest in food service, management or public relations.
- Golf Committee – focuses on golf operations, programs and facilities. They also oversee the Adopt-A-Hole program. This committee meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. Background skills include marketing, management, budgeting and accounting, communications, golf course operations, public relations and knowledge of the game of golf.
- Racquet Committee – focuses on tennis, pickleball and table tennis operations. They propose policies and procedures that relate to use of courts, space and equipment and work closely with the Director of Racquet Sports to assure a wide array of programs for all levels of play. They meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Members should have interest in one or more of these sports and in promoting participation in these sports in the community.
- Communication Committee – was established to assure timely and accurate information from the HOA. Several subcommittees support different programs. Welcome Committee greets new homeowners and provides resource information. Feedback committee assists with surveys and comment cards that reflect homeowner input. The Web Committee promotes the use of the IronOaks website, Stay in the Loop and other eNewsletters. They meet the first Thursday of each month. Member skills include writing, editing, publishing, computer and web knowledge, education, hospitality, survey design and analysis and information systems/archives.
- Unit Captains Committee – provides a personal source of information on all matters of the community. IronOaks 4,019 homes is divided into 35 units with a Unit Captain who ensures a two-way communication between their neighbor, homeowners and the HOA. They meet the first Tuesday of each month. Members must have an interest in being informed and communicating with neighbors about HOA issues and must possess basic e-mail skills.
- Risk Management Committee – evaluates risks of loss to IronOaks assets. It advises the GM and the Board regarding insurance coverage and claim handling procedures. It performs periodic reviews of facilities to identify potential risks of loss and to recommend the most reasonable way to protect assets by eliminating, modifying, insuring or assuming such risks. These assets include cash, buildings, equipment, gates and the greenbelt areas. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Members should be familiar with insurance operations and/or loss prevention and risk management.
- Rules and Regulation Committee -makes recommendations to the Board for rules related to traffic regulations, use of association facilities and community standards. The committee collects data, analyzes and provides information regarding rules or rules violations or enforcement matters. It maintains and updates the Rules and Regulations of the Association based on Board decisions. They meet the 3rd Thursday of each month. Member skills include legal experience, knowledge of HOA operations, analytical thinking and writing ability.
- Master Planning Committee – develops a long term vision for the community and advises the Board on directions IronOaks should be taking to achieve the vision, to prepare and recommend a Master Plan based on community input, to monitor progress towards achieving the Master Plan and to recommend Plan updates and modifications as needed. They meet on the 2nd Monday of each month. Member skills include broad business background, experience with strategic planning, business processes and controls and communications programs.
- Elections Committee – oversees all voting election processes for the HOA. It oversees mailing of ballots and counting and announcing results. They meet on an as needed basis. Members are detail oriented, possess good writing skills, show flexibility, are open minded and have the ability to multi task and are hard working.
- Human Resources Committee – serves as an advisory committee to the HOA GM on a wide range of personnel related issues. The Committee also advises regarding other matters including but not limited to position descriptions, compensation and benefits, in-service training and Federal and State laws. They meet the first Monday of each month. Members include actively employed or retired human resource professionals.
You can see there is a wide variety of committees on which to volunteer your time and efforts. Here is what some of the volunteers have to say:
“I would like to work to assure that IronOaks plans for the future – that we have goals and strategies that frame our decision making processes.”
“I like working to assure that good communications are maintained between homeowners, the Board and management.”
“I enjoy working to assure that IronOaks is an attractive community – visually appealing and presenting a good impression to residents and visitors.”
If you are new to Sun Lakes or have been a homeowner for quite some time why not volunteer your expertise on one of the fifteen committees of the IronOaks HOA? Retired attorneys, engineers, project managers, business owners, marketing professionals, advertising professionals, human resource personnel…whatever your profession one of these committees and the Sun Lakes community will benefit from your volunteer efforts!
For more information on volunteering with an IronOaks HOA Committee call 480-895-7275 or visit the IronOaks website
For more information about Sun Lakes Arizona, contact The KOLB Team – Sun Lakes top producing real estate residents and experts! See community and listing videos on our You Tube Channel.