At this time next year I will no longer be the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation’s President. Term limits were wisely included in our bylaws, meaning that over the next twelve months someone else will need to step up and prepare to take responsibility for leading the organization. I would be lying if I did not admit having mixed feelings about eventually passing the torch, but, all in all, I am looking forward to seeing who and what comes next.
Fresh ideas, new involvement, and transition are hallmarks of a healthy organization. Without continued change we risk losing our relevance and focus. While I will not be completely fading from the scene (those same bylaws create a new role for me on the Confederation Board), there is a looming sense of relief from knowing that any number of responsibilities will no longer be mine.
These next twelve months will not be a farewell tour, though. There is much to be accomplished including planning for Candidate Forums for both Fall and Spring elections; establishing a meeting schedule that will inform and enlighten our members; continuing to monitor local governments and taxing bodies to ensure that homeowner needs are at least factored into considerations; and keeping a wary eye out for what I believe will be the 2017 implementation of DuPage County’s soon to be infamous “Rain Tax.”
While the Confederation plans for the future, there is room for individual homeowner associations also to step up and increase their neighborhood involvement. One easy way neighborhoods can come together is by taking part in activities associated with National Night Out. More details and information on how to register your neighborhood for that annual event are at www.naperville.il.us/nno.aspx.
In the meantime, watch www.napervillehomeowners.com to see what is keeping the Confederation busy over the summer.
