Let us be thankful for what we have, and work together to make our community better.
With November being the month of Thanksgiving, I wanted to reflect on what I am thankful for. As I sit here looking out at the sunset, I realize how blessed we all are to live in a beautiful area, with a vibrant, friendly community, and extensive opportunities to be active and involved, whether your involvement is physical like walking, biking, playing golf, pickleball or tennis; boating in beautiful Charlotte Harbor and beyond, or just relaxing and enjoying life. We are truly blessed to live in this idyllic locale.
As fall arrives, our seasonal friends return to BSM. This month brings time with loved ones, and anticipation for the December holidays, a chance to appreciate what we have and enjoy special moments.
Throughout my life, I have adhered to the principle that one should speak only when they have something of value to contribute; it is wiser to remain silent, and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. While saying little would make for a brief article, it is important to honor the trust you have placed in me as your Section 22 HOA Board member, following my election in January of this year, by providing thoughts on what I have learned in the last 9 months.
When I was elected in January, I thought that I had a fairly good idea on what was going on with the operation of Section 22 HOA, like how the board worked, and the many aspects that make the Burnt Store Marina a great place to live and enjoy. Before the election, I attended most of the weekly workshops held every Tuesday, and the regular board meetings each month. I quickly learned that there was way more to learn. I have spent my first seven months getting involved in as much as I can to have as complete an understanding of what it takes to keep our community all that it can and should be. I would like to take a few moments to discuss many aspects that I have learned in the last many months. It is my hope that through my eyes, you will get a better understanding of your Section 22 HOA.
Frequently, conversations around the marina reference “the board” or “your board.” To clarify, Section 22 HOA is governed by a Board of Directors that each of you have elected to act in your best interests, representing you as residents, and serving as stewards to ensure your investment in our community is managed appropriately. Section 22 HOA encompasses more than just the Board, golf course, fitness center, irrigation systems, and amenities. It is not solely the gates or infrastructure. Section 22 HOA exists to provide all these services, and additionally supports your social network and daily activities, ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficient management so that your life here remains enjoyable.
In the last nine months, we have seen many valuable improvements for our owners. Some of the most important are, new irrigation wells, better access for maintenance of the wells, repaved roads, and upgrades to our golf course. Linkside stands out with great food, service, and a welcoming staff. If you haven’t visited yet, I recommend it. While other than the golf course and Linkside, some of these are not easily seen, but they ensure the continued attention to detail to keep our community on the cutting edge of communities in SW Florida.
For all the good I have seen and now been a part of, one of the concerns I have is that our community is run by a very small, but extremely dedicated group of volunteers. Social researchers note declining involvement in clubs and community events, often due to apathy or reliance on others. BSM is no different. There are two schools of thought on this. One is that things are going well, I don’t need to get involved. The other is apathy. While I don’t believe that apathy is the reason we have a very small group, I do think that we would all benefit from higher levels of involvement from owners. If for no other reason, that a diversity of opinions.
Your board serves two-year terms with four elected in odd years, and three elected in the even years. In January of 2026 there will be three seats on the board up for election. Current President McFeely has announced at recent board meetings that he will not be seeking re-election, so at least one of the three open seats will be open. I encourage anyone with interest in learning more about the workings of our community, to attend the weekly Tuesday workshops and the monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of the month to learn more about our community. Doing so, may do to you what it did to me a little over a year ago, which made me want to get more involved in our Burnt Store Marina community.
If you’re looking to get more involved, but don’t want to join the board, consider joining one of our committees. Our members are essential, and groups like Infrastructure, Irrigation, and Vision depend on volunteers. Even our dog park exists because a dedicated team led fundraising and promotion. These successes show the power of volunteer leadership. If you have some time, join in, meet others, and see how you can make a difference. Previous board articles usually addressed a single topic, but as the newest board member, I thought it would be valuable to offer some of what I have learned over the last many months. I encourage everyone to get involved in our community. Together we can build BSM into something even stronger. With November here and the holidays approaching, let’s appreciate what we have. I look forward to meeting more of you throughout 2026
