Biography of Frank Batchelor
I earned my B.A. degree at Stanford University and J.D. degree at Hastings Law School. I practiced law in Southern California for 32 years and was President of the Inland Chapter of Trial Lawyers for 4 years. I also owned and managed a sporting goods store for ten years while practicing law. Retiring from law, I moved to Flagstaff, AZ, and enjoyed being a Realtor for 7 years. My wife Carolyn and I moved to Oakmont in 2008. I was a co-leader of the Hiking Club for 5 years and a member of the Long Range Planning Committee in 2013-14, drafting the āGovernanceā and āCommunity Appearanceā sections and co-authoring the āOpen Space and Recreationā portions of the Plan. In October 2014, I was appointed to fill the vacated position of President John Taylor and then elected to the current Board in 2015, serving one year as President.
Three questions:
- I offer two and a half years of experience and continuity if re-elected to the Board. My law skills have helped me and my fellow Board members find solutions for reinstating the Emergency Preparedness Committee, contracting for an emergency Red Cross shelter at the Berger, and establishing a Senior Social Club.
- The Boardās responsibility is to collect and set aside adequate reserve funds for the construction, repair, and replacement of our recreational facilities. Each year the Board decides which projects should be undertaken primarily based on these guidelines: (1) The 30 year reserve study automatically schedules most yearly projects, e.g. re-plastering pools. (2) Safety concerns, such as the sagging East Rec deck, require replacement or removal. (3) Constructing new facilities and doing major renovations, such as to the Berger Center, occur over longer time spans. These projects can and do occur simultaneously, and the welfare and safety of the members always has highest priority.
A Director should be willing to listen to and to respect the diverse interests and opinions of all members, should do his homework in researching and investigating the often competing alternatives available, and then should make an intelligent and informed decision on what should be done, without being swayed by intimidation and angry rhetoric. A director must be willing to do what he believes to be in the best interests of the Association, even if this exposes him or her to ridicule.
- As a Director, I do welcome letters and emails from members and listen attentively to members at Board meetings. I believe a Director should be open minded and should fully explain why he voted in a particular manner. A Board member should be courteous to both his fellow Board members and to the public, with the expectation that such conduct will be returned in kind.