Proxy Votes

The Proxy vote form sent to homeowners in November 2016 (similar to many previous such forms sent by the WEHOA) reads in part:

"The undersigned member(s) of the Woods Edge Homeowners' Association ("Association") designate Joan Matterness to

(A) attend, on behalf of the undersigned, the 2016 Annual Meeting of the members of the Association (and any adjournments or postponements thereof);

(B) to cast all votes which the undersigned may cast for the election of new directors; and

(C) to vote in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting."

The bottom the form warns:

"NOTE: All parties registered as owners on the Deed, must sign." [emphasis added]

Indeed, if you fail to return this Proxy, you may get reminders in the mail and in some cases a phone call urging you to return your Proxy.

What the Proxy doesn't say:

• You are under no obligation to give your Proxy vote to a Board Member.

• When you give your Proxy vote to a Board Member, that vote can be used by them at their "discretion" in voting on any other matter.

• You MAY give your Proxy vote to any WEHOA member who is planning to attend the meeting.

• You are under no obligation to give your Proxy vote to ANYONE, whether or not you attend the meeting.

At the Annual Meeting on December 6, 2016, some of these issues were brought up, and attorney Angela Ward confirmed that the Proxy can be given to another WEHOA member in good standing. She agreed that the form would be revised for 2017 to include a blank space for us to write in the name of our designated Proxy.

Whether or not WEHOA members realize it, Proxy votes have allowed the WEHOA BOD to make substantive changes to the Declarations and By-Laws, and re-elect themselves year after year.