Live Oak Reserve HOA - Board of Directors Meeting 2025-02-18

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I am sorry to inform you that this month's recording is not available.

In October 2024 the Live Oak Reserve HOA Board of Directors ('the board') adopted certain arbitrary rules concerning recordings. One of those is the requirement to inform the board in writing and at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting that a parcel owner intends to record.
This month I had a family commitment and I could not be at the clubhouse at 7pm, so I informed the board, about 100 hours ahead of the 2/18 meeting, that another parcel owner would setup my recorder and I would arrive later.
Unfortunately I became aware, alas only 31 hours before the meeting, of another arbitrary rule: the person sending the request must be present at all times.
It was too late for the other parcel owner to send his own request.
He did show up early at the meeting anyway, hoping in a reasonable arrangement.
He was turned away. This is why I can offer no recording this month.

For the benefit of those interested in more transparency, and I know the number is not small, what follows is a brief background history.

With the intent to promote awareness and reduce the animosity created by misunderstandings and
incorrect hearsay,

1 I requested that the official board meeting minutes be augmented with a summary of what was discussed. The board declined, confirming that the minutes are not written for the association members. They are required to record how the board deliberates on each issue, but no more.

2 I later suggested that an audio-only recording be made available, created with a smartphone by someone sitting at the director's table, with full control over what to exclude in case commercially sensitive information was going to be discussed. I offered my free services to take those recordings, adjust the volume and make them available to the community. The board declined, stating that this would be too much of a hassle for volunteers such as themselves.

3 I then set out to do the recordings myself. As per Florida statute title XL, Chapter 270, Section 306, paragraph 10
(https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0720.306):

(10) RECORDING.—Any parcel owner may tape record or videotape meetings of the board of directors and meetings of the members. The board of directors of the association may adopt reasonable rules governing the taping of meetings of the board and the membership.

I created this channel (https://rumble.com/c/c-6983030) as a free service to the community, and posted what I could record. I then asked the board to send a one-time message to all association members informing them of the existence of this unofficial channel hosting all legally recorded meetings. The board declined, without giving a reason.

After all this, it is difficult to still believe that the board is interested in transparency.
Furthermore, the lack of common sense and consideration for the needs of the residents in these small matters casts a doubt in my mind about the board ability or willingness to apply the same principles to the important decisions that the community has entrusted them with.

To improve transparency the board notwithstanding, I would like to ask for help in sharing this channel on social media (I have no presence anywhere) and if you are willing to help out with the recordings when I cannot be at the meetings, please contact me at <inorbit@gmx.us>. Thank you!