Sunrise Ranch Neighborhood Association

Sunrise Ranch Neighborhood Association

Decision Making and Directing

Policy decisions of the Sunrise-Ranch-Neighborhood-Association are made by the Area residents who attend the monthly General-Meetings of the Neighborhood-Association, held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Mariposa Elementary School. The elected Directors direct how those policy decisions are to be accomplished (how the work is to be done).
The authority, the Sunrise-Ranch-Neighborhood-Association Bylaws, read in part,
"The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Association within the policies of these bylaws and as further set in General-Meetings; and shall have authority to speak on behalf of the Association."
Examples of the differences between "policies" and "managing affairs" (directing) might be as follows. Deciding whether to get something accomplished or a desired outcome might be "policy". Directing would include determining a satisfactory way to get it done, investigations, determining the cost, planning, preparing, and communicating. Some of this is not well done in General Meetings. Thus, a motion in a General Meeting telling the Directors "how to" instead of "what" might be taken as a suggestion and not a mandate. Suggestions as to the possible ways is very much in order in General Meetings.
Directors need not do all of the work themselves. The Board of Directors could appoint a Committee to investigate, determine the cost, and recommend the plans. The Committee would need to report back to the Board of Directors for approval of the plans, to authorize the necessary funds, and to authorize the execution of the plans.
We appreciate those who participate in our monthly discussions, or just attend and vote on the issues. We invite others to bring their ideas to our meetings and participate however they can. Everyone is invited to all Neighborhood-Association functions. We are not perfect, but together, we can accomplish much. Yes, both inside and outside Sunrise-Ranch, there are some, perhaps in their attempts at steering activities in what they think is the right direction, who seem to want to dictate. And, if we are complacent they may assert a disliked course. Leadership we encourage, and, with your help, our direction and our advice to the City will be with consideration of the views of most and in harmony with the wishes of most citizens and businesses of Sunrise Ranch. We need your votes and to know your wishes.

Present Director Assignments

Present Director assignments and responsibilities are as follows, at a minimum:
A. Chairman (Sometimes called President)
Coordinate meeting times and places.
Have prepared meeting agendas.
Chair meetings.
See that committees are formed that pursue each and every Bylaw Objective.
Coordinate with committee-chairpersons.
Liaison with other organizations as required for Association-business.
Review and sign or cosign all Association official documents and written correspondence, including expenditure checks.
B. Secretary
Record and report meeting decisions.
Keep a list of Directors and their terms of office.
Keep a list of active and interested Members.
Maintain the official document file.
Provide timely notices and news-releases to the various newspaper-staffs.
C. Chief Financial Officer (Sometimes called Treasurer)
Be responsible for Association moneys.
Keep a record of receipts and expenditures.
Sign all Association expenditure checks.
Prepare written financial reports per the California Corporations Code and the applicable tax laws.
D. Vice-Chairman
Perform any of the Chairman duties in the absence of, or at the request of, the Chairman.
E. R.E.A.C.H.-Board Representative
Represent the Area at R.E.A.C.H.-Board meetings.
Provide written reports on all R.E.A.C.H.Board questions and decisions.
F. Newspaper Chief-Executive-Officer
Manage the preparation, publication, and distribution of an Association newspaper.
G. Alternate R.E.A.C.H.-Board Representative

About our association

Sunrise Ranch Neighborhood Association

The Sunrise Ranch Neighborhood Association
is the membership of a Chapter of the Nonprofit, Public-Benefit-Corporation known as R.E.A.C.H., and it is not organized for private gain of any person. It is organized under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for public purposes.

The purpose for which the Association is organized is for a format to obtain resolutions to community problems and improvement recommendations.

History of Area-6

The first Mayor of the City of Citrus Heights, William C. Hughes, pulled together a group of volunteers and, in 1997, formed what was called the Neighborhood Empowerment Task Force. He told them about hundreds of cities throughout the United States using neighborhood associations to address community problems and to advise City Governments on improvements. The Task Force divided the City into 11 areas for 11 Neighborhood Associations. The 11 Neighborhood Associations incorporated to become a Nonprofit, Public-Benefit-Corporation, named "Residents Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights" (R.E.A.C.H.). Each of the 11 areas was to provide a Director as one on the Board of Directors of the Corporation. This is about one of the 11 Areas, Area-6. The geographical boundaries of Area-6 are Auburn Blvd., Sunrise Blvd., Old Auburn Road, and the County Line.

Dr. O. I. (Van) Ford, a member of the Neighborhood Empowerment Task Force and later a Director on the R.E.A.C.H. Board, was asked by Mayor Hughes to organize the Neighborhood Association in Area-6. Dr. Ford knocked on every door in Area-6 to ask people to come to meetings.

The name selected by the attendees at an early meeting in Area-6 was "Sunrise Ranch", suggested by Mr. Richard Kniesel, because it has historical significance. Much of Area-6 was called "Sunrise Ranch" starting in 1868, by the homesteader, Mrs. Jane Pitcher, who, with her eight children, started a horse ranch. The road to Sunrise Ranch became known as Sunrise Boulevard.

The purpose for which the Association was organized in the words of then Mayor Bill Hughes, in a 1998 letter, "The City will continue to partner with your association, and looks forward to working with you and your association on a variety of civic issues such as land use, transportation, infrastructure maintenance and other functions and services of local government."

More History

During the organizational phase, O. I. (Van) Ford, who had been coordinating with R.E.A.C.H. and Area activities (pending the completion of initial bylaws and Director elections) was elected to continue as Interim Area-Coordinator. Katie Martin was elected as Interim Secretary, and Michael Maesden was elected as Interim Meeting-Chairperson. A Bylaws Committee was selected consisting of Andy Borovansky, Louie Chapman, Gayle Davidson, Jerry Dodge, O. I. (Van) Ford, Jim Hamilton, Michael Marsden, and Steve Ochoa. In 1999, the Sunrise-Ranch-Neighborhood-Association adopted a set of Bylaws and elected Directors. The first elected Directors were Phil Ashley, Andy Borovansky, Louie Chapman, Jerry Dodge, O. I. (Van) Ford, Jim Hamilton, and Michael Marsden. The Neighborhood Association got down to business listening to citizen concerns, ideas, and problems and coordinated with the City to start improvements and problem corrections.