Now THAT's More Like It!

Spotted this interesting statement on www.lonehill.net - 14.04.09 - 12:59- DRAMATIC DROP IN CRIME IN GREATER LONEHILL AREA :

'The Lonehill Residents Association (LRA) is pleased to announce that there has been a dramatic drop in the incidents of crime in and around Lonehill, Beverley and Lonehill East areas over the past few weeks. Most areas have in fact experienced no reported crime at all, with only a few exceptions. '

Now THAT's more like it!

THAT's what we want to hear from our LRA.

Why it took so long to focus on the simple deliverables that we expect for what we pay, no one will ever know... save to say that I believe it was due to the standard malaise that sets into arrogant voluntary-based resident-type associations - they fell asleep! And some were well paid for this non-delivery of what we expect!

So what has done the trick? According to the quoted report, this did it: 'In line with the application of the enhanced security plan announced last year by the LRA, after substantial research and inputs, it would appear that the combination of improved training, deployment, tactics, and technology amongst the LRA Fidelity teams and the activities of the SAPS and SAPS Reservists is having a marked effect on reducing crime in our area.'

Quite simple, but everyone knew this years ago... we pay for this every month... why it takes so long to deliver on expected deliverables floors me. We pay for a proactive security solution, finished and klaar!

Now for an upcoming bone of contention - I see a little note to the next public feedback meeting - 7th May 19:00 - says 'Important - security cost increases will also be tabled' .

For what? The pathetic security we experienced in our community last year?

Actually, we are owed something back for being let down as we were!

And what about those who don't contribute? Who has brought THEM into the fold!

And why are the original contributors required to continue carrying an increased burden?

Where's the marketing that was promised... where's the sign-ons... what are the comparitive stats contributors vs. non-contributors... what stats demonstrate parity of contributions... who takes responsibility for the marketing to these non-contributors... wasn't that part of the Security tender conditions... what alternatives can be applied... who has failed us here?

In the recent post - VISIBILITY - One Off Wonder... Or Permanent Feature? - I made this note:

'I do hope that the LRA refer back to VISIBILITY & Vigilance - No.1 Priority and recognise that they have begun action on only part of the formula:

Priority No. 1 Strategy should be simple:

SECURITY ==> VISIBILITY & VIGILANCE ==> FUNDING

It's too easy just to raise the fees of those who contribute, without taking the tough road of doing one's homework first on non-contributors and/or looking for alternative routes of funding. My guess is that this issue is the WEAKEST function of our Lonehill community initiative run by the LRA.

Show me the homework done... and the effort put into to bringing non-contributors on board and or alternative funding mechanisms proposed BEFORE you ask me for more money!

Trevor Nel
Lonehill Resident - 011 - 705-2790

Welcome BACK - Doug Black

Just as I wrote in Lonehill: Should We Be IMPRESSED? - one can clearly see what gets achieved when you put the right man into the right function.

Welcome back - Doug Black!

Don't know why it takes so long to appoint the correct people?

This is what appeared in above article: 'Must say that I have been impressed by the exceptionally high visibility of Doug Black (standing in for a recuperating Ian Bell) and the Lonehill Estate Management vehicle. It seems that everywhere I drive around Lonehill, there is Doug and his team cleaning up something, somewhere.'

'Thanks Doug, your activity delivers on the vision of pro-active community management that launched this community initiative.'

Now for some with leadership, strategy, vision and marketing nous!

Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

VISIBILITY - One Off Wonder... Or Permanent Feature?

Back in February 2007 I wrote: VISIBILITY & Vigilance - No.1 Priority

Took a while, but seems that our LRA finally got to some action on this front. Hopefully, at last this belated action by the LRA will prove to be a permanent and regular feature feature in our community... and not just a one-off wonder that lulls everyone (especially those resonsible for delivering on their security deliverables) back into a state of slumber once again.

See this copy from Monday 16th March LRA newsletter:

SECURITY - LRA & SAPS SPECIAL OPS

Following the LRA security feedback meeting at Crawford Prep on the 3rd of March, the LRA conducted the largest single security operation in Lonehill, Beverley and Lonehill East on Tuesday, the 10th of March. The special operation started in the early hours of the morning. It involved almost seventy members of the SAPS, SAPS Reserve, Metro Police Services, the LRA, Fidelity Security Services (the LRA security service provider) and representation from RSS.

Security checks were conducted in the residential areas and road blocks were set up under a stop-and-search authority issued by SAPS Douglasdale. The operation was carried out by highly trained members of the SAPS Reservists supported by the SAPS Rapid Reaction Force. The message to criminals and criminal elements is clear...The LRA and our community mean business! And there’s more bad news for criminal elements...this was just the beginning.
We did not only learn from the logistics and coordination of the various elements involved in the operation, but also had the opportunity to use new equipment such as high tech body armour and the new Lonehill Security reflective vests. Special flyers with crime advice from the LRA and SAPS were distributed to the public.

The community of Lonehill shall benefit immensely from this historic operation between the Lonehill Residents Association and local security services/providers. We are determined to enforce zero tolerance towards crime. The whole community must be involved and we would encourage anyone who wishes to get involved in these initiatives in various capacities including volunteering for the SAPS Reservists to contact the LRA Offices for more information as to how to get involved. The LRA wish to thank the SAPS for their dedication to the fight against crime.

I love this line - 'We are determined to enforce zero tolerance towards crime' - makes a welcome change to the piddle-poor LRA attitude to our community security that really piddled me off last year - see: Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? . What a pity that their collective attitude stank so much. It's going to take a long time for me to ever trust or have faith in this lot again... if ever!

I do hope that the LRA refer back to VISIBILITY & Vigilance - No.1 Priority and recognise that they have begun action on only part of the formula:

Priority No. 1 Strategy should be simple:

SECURITY ==> VISIBILITY & VIGILANCE ==> FUNDING

I do like the fact that they now appear to be doing what they should have been doing for the last few years of my highlighting their alarming failings on this forum. Let's see how long they can last... or whether this IS just a one-off wonder.

Now, if we can only get our proactive guards more visibile for the full period of their shifts... there is often not a sight of a guard between 5 to 7 both a.m. and p.m.

Trevor Nel
Lonehill Resident - 011 - 705-2790

Promising? ACTION Is What We Want To See From Our LRA.

Pity that the LRA feedback meetings were moved from Saturday mornings to weekday evenings... just means that some of us can't make 'em.. ;-)

From the LRA mailing received - see below - it seems that the LRA slumber of last year is hopefully being replaced by a semblance of some decision-making... that's better, ACTION is what we want to see from our LRA... time will tell if they match their words with deeds!

My comment in light blue below:

LONEHILL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION SECURITY FEEDBACK AND UPDATE MEETING 3 MARCH 2009 - 06.03.09 - 10:53

1. The LRA was founded in 2000 on the back of a then existing serious deterioration in the crime occurrence statistics in Lonehill with the shooting of Steve Parrymore being the galvanizing event it proved to be. The LRA was in existence when my family arrived in Lonehill in 1988. Seem to recall that the original developers established the LRA with first purchasers. The Lonehill Security Action Group formed in 2000 to establish the foundation of this current Lonehill community initiative and merged itself with funds collected into the LRA in 2001. The LRA should strive to be a custodian of accurate historic records of this community.

2. The founders’ vision, which remains the same today, was:

2.1. The creation of a 24/7 security protection zone in Lonehill so that residents in the area would be free to live, exercise, shop and relax in a crime protected environment Would prefer a 'crime free' environment... ;-)

2. 2. To “come home to a quality” environment where parks, verges and common areas were properly maintained

The original VISION was actually stated as: ‘An upmarket community where all residents are free to live, shop and exercise in pristine surroundings with total peace of mind in their personal safety and security’.

3. To this end a security and area maintenance plan was devised that suited the needs of the community and met, by and large, the requirements of the Vision

4. Was the plan successful?Crime in Lonehill from 2000 to the present is considerably lower than surrounding areas and in some cases by 80% or more Does this statistic measure up against the zero tolerance standard of the LRA...certainly not and more particularly the members of our community who have been subjected to criminal activity.There is little divergence of opinion that in the area of the maintenance of the environment, the LRA has been successful in maintaining area quality and maintenance in difficult circumstances

5. As with almost anything else in this world, however, crime and criminals evolve their modus operandi. Yesterdays solutions are not necessarily today’s answers. The LRA’s approach and methodology to crime deterrence must also evolve accordingly Whilst there have been previous surges in crime statistics in Lonehill such as in 2004, the facts are that since October/November 2008 there has been a surge in criminal activity as outlined in the crime stats report back

6. As a result of several armed incidents, the LRA embarked upon one of the most comprehensive residential security reviews carried out in South Africa. This involved consultations with the SAPS, SAPS Reservists, Department of Justice, Business Against Crime, various Security Service providers and consultants, Security Technology Providers , community leaders and Association members from other complexes such as Dainfern and Fourways Gardens, some past LRA leadership and of course inputs from the Lonehill Community itself.

7. The LRA was able to distil the following concerning the present situation we face:

7.1. Most dangerous challenge is the drive in armed gang usually operating in numbers of 2 to 5

7.2 Hawkers can act as information sources for criminals

7.3. Housebreakers can move into a complex and take advantage of slack personal security habits such as open windows, no alarms, doors not locked and properties left in darkness to steal

7.4. Apathy in general towards security and critical attitudes

7.5. Challenges with management and personnel and equipment of the service provider

7.6. Massive increase in through traffic and pedestrians throughout Lonehill and surrounds

7.7. The fact that we are an “open” suburb with no perimeter fence or wall and no entrance control

We the community of Lonehill stand at a time of decision and direction

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty : Churchill

If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future : Churchill

There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and misery
: Julius Caesar 4.3.218

Record the vision and make it plain
And Without a vision the people perish

Accordingly it is our intention to outline several steps we intend to initiate in the near future and to also seek your response on as the community of Lonehill:

1. SMS Warning SystemWe have installed an sms community warning system which at this time shall be offered as a free service to existing LRA security clients and to non clients at a nominal monthly fee of R30, 00. This system will enable all residents of Lonehill to receive real time warnings of any suspicious or criminal activity as it becomes known to the Fidelity Control Room, wanted or sought vehicles or persons that may operate in our area, Community Notices and Community Interest materials.The challenge is that we need to swiftly verify and upload thousands of cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses on our databases. If anyone is willing to assist please speak to us after the meeting.

2. Ideco Fingerprinting and Personnel Verification SystemFor a nominal fee residents of Lonehill can access security clearance checks for domestic workers, for both current and potential employment. In the unlikely event of an issue a full record of such person’s background can be made available.

3. Domestic ForumCommunity domestic workers are receiving training at a bi-monthly LRA Domestic Forum. Some of the topics covered include security issues, first aid, recycling and what to do in emergency situations. These forums will create a useful source of area security intelligence.

4. Marketing Drive. We are in the process of launching a comprehensive marketing drive to increase membership of the LRA and to increase the co operation between various security service providers, the Police services and local government departments.

5. Observer Groups.This function, which proved useful and effective in the past, consists of groups of volunteers from the community who do not wish to be directly involved in confronting criminal elements but who wish to contribute by checking up on guards and their routines, equipment, and by going around Lonehill and its environs and reporting any suspicious activity to the LRA Control Room.PLEASE WOULD YOU CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO JOIN THE OBSERVER GROUPS TO ASSIST OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS MANNER.

6. Specialist additional Reaction Force.We are at an advanced stage of investigating and costing the provision of a Specialist Reaction Force to supplement our current reaction force officers. This will consist of two man teams with additional training and weaponry, special equipment such as night vision equipment, and will be used to supplement pro- active patrolling when not deployed on response.

7. SAPS Reservists InitiativeWe are calling on members of our community to volunteer to serve in the Reservists. Reservists have the power of search and arrest and will have proper training and equipment to conduct roadblocks and crime intervention and proactive patrolling subject to the command structures of the SAPS. ## Devlin ....49 reservists at present and training course commencing, subject to confirmation in May 2009.He will address you for 5 minutes on the reservists and categories of reservists

FUNDING AN SAPS REACTION VEHICLE BY THE LRA Douglasdale SAPS are aiming to place a reaction vehicle in each of the sectors serviced by the station. It was agreed by the majority at the LRA meeting that the LRA would finance an emergency reaction vehicle dedicated to the policing in the Lonehill sector.

7. Booming of Lonehill. We have received various representations concerning closing off all or parts of Lonehill and Beverley. We are in the process of lobbying the municipality and relevant departments for approval of this project. Once approval has been granted we will commence with a fundraising initiative. Please be aware that this will be a lengthy process and the LRA will keep you informed every step of the way.

8. Traffic Camera Monitors linked to number plate recognition monitoringIrrespective of Booms or not, the installation of traffic monitoring cameras at the 7 main entrances to Lonehill and Beverley is being investigated. We have identified systems we wish to install in the form of monitoring cameras feeding a real time video stream to our control room and. The system also simultaneously checks number plate recognition against the NATIS database for stolen or flagged vehicles.

9. Community steps for personal security. We appeal to you, the community, to be more vigilant, and to report suspicious activity or strange vehicles or noises to the LRA FIDELITY control room. Take basic precautions to ensure you are not being followed.S ecure your homes and property by taking basic steps such as night lighting, keeping windows of unoccupied premises and windows closed and locked, keeping valuables such as laptops, jewellery, cell phones and the like secured and out of sight when you are not on the premises.

Install at least a panic system or alarm, Join the sms community alert system, Together, lets all make Lonehill the crime free zero tolerance zone we all strive for. We can do this ......together

Lonehill: What We have HERE Is..

1. For some reason my ears ring with the immortal lines in the Paul Newman movie classic - Cool Hand Luke - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061512/ - 'What we have here is a failure to communicate'.

Was having a most enlightening series of discussions with an LRA director on www.lonehill.ning.com which highlighted our polar opposite viewpoints.

Most promising points made by said director were:

1. 'The LRA IS TOTALLY committed to the security and well being of Lonehill and its residents'

2. 'The LRA is in the process of upgrading security in the Lonehill environs and will continue to aspire with zero tolerance for a zero crime scenario.'

Sadly, said director seems to have pulled the plug on his communication contribution to the site and deleted his side of the discussions.

Don't know if it is because we were getting too close to sensitive territory for the LRA through my daring to comment: 'For contributors/stakeholders in the Lonehill community initiative who may not be able to be on the inside track of the LRA Board and/or make LRA meetings, there is NO alternative participatory, consultative, informative, feedback, communication loop process that provides an insight, or ability to provide input, into the establishing of or assessment of proposed/actual '..S.M.A.R.T. Objectives - (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Specific) - deliverables, accountabilities and responsibilities..' that we can all relate to.'

In the questions answered by the above LRA commentator as reported in Lonehill: Do Not Be Afraid To Question FEARLESSLY, hardly a specific answer can be deduced from the generalities provided.... let alone any further measurable to time-specific elements as discussed above.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that our LRA fell into slumber mode in 2008 which, for me, was reflected in the increased level of alarming security incidents in our community, and that they appear to have been stung into some type of action since.

Whilst one can sense something of an improvement in the attitude and awareness of our 'proactive' guarding presence on the ground and having being informed by above LRA commentator that we can expect things to happen this year, I have seen nothing of much change in attitude from our LRA directors to differ from my views voiced in Lonehill: Do Not Be Afraid To Question FEARLESSLY and Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? .

To be fair, the new e-Newsletter looks good and the www.lonehill.net site shows promise - if all categories are populated - notably annual financials and monthly financial summaries. One just wonders why it takes SO LOOOOONG to do something like this, which can be constructed in way less than a week. Hopefully it is now backed up... unlike the previous slip-up.

A little sad to see that the interactive blog feature will be censored, especially if it is censored by those who cannot handle honest criticism with grace. Sounds a tad like the internet censorship laws in China... ;-)

Communication is a two-way dialogue... not just what one party wishes to hear or say.


2. All Lonehillers are encouraged to participate in open forum with their innovative thoughts and comments on www.lonehill.ning.com

Latest discussion posted is: What Will It Take To Make Lonehill Truly GREAT? - add your comment.


Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

Lonehill: Do Not Be Afraid To Question FEARLESSLY

After having had a great Christmas break on the KZN North Coast with family and friends, and having taken the time to review every post written on this forum by self (and having reread every link contained therein) , I so want to wish those directors and others on the LRA who take themselves overly seriously just to 'Be Happy' in 2009 and to get over their personal egos and their seemingly misplaced beliefs that the LRA must be protected from any form of critique or criticism at all costs.

I repeat my preface in Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? (please read it in full) - 'Please note that my comments in this email/post are not aimed at those who truly make things work and happen in Lonehill. I will never criticise those who honestly strive for excellence in delivery of our vision.'

After much contemplation during this break I am absolutely convinced that it is the personal egos of some of those in 'leadership' positions on the LRA who are not willing to apply the most basic of inclusive community leadership principles that holds our LRA back from being the powerhouse it can possibly be for all resident stakeholders.

It is not as if they cannot do it, anyone can do it if they really want to, but in my opinion more to do with a Child-like (as in Adult, Parent, Child - Transactional Analysis) instinct that prevails in a school-yard playground - 'I'm in charge of the ball and I'll pick who can play in the game'. The Parent would say, 'If you can't play nicely together I'll take one or some of you out of the game' - typical of the autocrat. Whereas the Adult would look to ensure that everyone, who wants to, gets to play and enjoy themselves.

So, I guess what I am calling for is a commitment to Adult Leadership on the LRA... and I fully expect the Child and/or Parent in some to lash out in massive assumption and misinterpretation before reading this Adult Leadership link.

For those whose egos can't stand the introspection, I gift you with a great piece of prose that I discovered many years ago and which soothes my tender ego whenever ruffled by the criticism of others:

ANYWAY
sourced from - Readers Digest Dec. 1982

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.

Love them any way.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down
by the smallest people with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for some underdogs anyway.

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

-------------------------------

The copy below was written in draft on 18th December, but not posted until after Christmas so as not to give some the heartache that they will extract from it:

Last year I was able to write - Lonehill: Grateful Thanks & A Simple Christmas Wish - 'Christmas is the time for giving thanks... and I want everyone of the LRA volunteers - especially those involved in the various Security portfolios and weekly meetings - to know that I offer my sincere thanks to them for getting the LRA process back to where it was with a reasonable semblance of management order.'

This year, as much as I'd like to give thanks to someone for making great things happen in our community I'm afraid that, in my opinion, it seems that we've gone backwards once again. And, what's the point of encouraging such retrograde steps with false compliments that some would like to hear.

In fact, reading this post - Here's OUR Challenge & Why WE Must Speak UP - written November 24 2006, where I wrote - 'My Point: Our challenge will be to proactively stem the influx of opportunistic criminal elements into our midst and thereby to protect our families peace-of-mind and security.' - it seems that we have slipped back to those times. What a sad waste of time, money and effort.

For me, and from my direct experience with some of these 'leaders', 2008 proved to be a sad, sad year for any prospect of great leadership taking root in our community.

I am of the opinion that our security initiative was allowed to slip into slumber mode, leaving us with primarily a reaction service as opposed to a proactive service, and as a result we probably had one of our worst years of security incidents on record since the launch of this initiative.

I cannot see anything of much added significance having been achieved this year by our LRA - apart from perhaps a focus on keeping the community neat and clean (aaaahhh, for that I can give thanks).

From the time we were attacked in our home - Lonehill: Attacked - 3 Gunmen Storm OUR Home! - to events leading up to and after my post - Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? - the saddest revelation to me has been how our LRA 'leadership' have reacted in almost direct opposite contrast to the sage advice offered on the many, many leadership and community development links referred to on this forum.

To me, our current 'leadership' sucks in that they have no idea of how to respond positively to the challenges of community leadership innovation posed on this forum or to this writer, nor do they have any idea of how to include those in the community who do not conform to their views (regardless of whatever the commentators openly declared vested interests or otherwise)... and they react predictably with open indignation as being hard-done-by, unfairly-slated, community volunteers who 'are doing their best'.

They clearly get little to zero respect from this writer for not having the leadership maturity to rise above their predictable reactions to criticism from their public/s.

As example, it took over 70 days - Lonehill: 70 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA - to get something of an attempt at answers to some simple questions posed of the LRA - see 2 comments or extracts below - which questions seem not to have been appreciated at all by the LRA respondent. Now that should raise every thinking person's attennae.

I can predict, right now, their very reaction to the above introduction... and it won't be to compliment this writer for offering an honest and frank opinion that they will address positively... ;-)

So, despite what I expect to have heaped on self, here's my warning to our community... do not abrogate your responsibility to ask simple questions of those in positions of leadership and trust.

It is no slight on you or them.

And, if they think it is, and they demonstrate clearly that they don't like the responsibility that comes with leadership of answering questions related to their actions or otherwise - start asking MORE questions!

Here are some interesting links that relate to the importance of individuals asking questions of those in positions of trust, and high-risk characterisitics to look out for, in any organisation:

1. The importance of questioning fearlessly and answering honestly - extract1: 'Those in the position to answer them seem to regard questions as accusations, if not inquisitions. Questions make them feel threatened. Or humiliated. Or both. That psyche makes them paranoid. They become totally defensive. They try as best they can to get away with saying nothing. Alternatively, they become totally vicious and vindictive. If they have a nimble tongue, they fight back with facetious cynicism..'.

And, extract2: 'The supreme question-dodger is somebody who ignores the question and chooses to answer an unasked question of his own making. That way, any damn fool can, unquestionably, always answer a question. But that brings us no nearer to the truth under any circumstances.'

2. TheInfluenceofOne.pdf - 'The independence, freedom and transforming power of even a single citizen should not be underestimated. There have simply been too many that have prevailed against improbable odds.'

3. Developing Ethical Leadership - extract: 'Principles, values, cultures, and individual differences often conflict. Ethical leadership requires an attitude of humility rather than righteousness: a commitment to one’s own principles, and at the same time, openness to learning and to having conversations with others who may have a different way of seeing the world.'

4. David Alexander - '..it's important to look at character traits of managers. Those managers who are aggressive, have big egos and can't admit to being wrong are high-risk candidates.'

5. Bernie Madoff - $50 Billion Alleged Scam - ‘No one has ever dared question what I’m doing.’

Never, never, NEVER... be afraid to ask simple questions and get straight answers... so let's see how our LRA fare for you.

---------------------------------------

This extract from 2 comments - LRA response in blue below:

i. What are the biggest challenges facing our initiative in the coming year?

1.1. The prevention of crime and especially violent crime in Lonehill and environs on the basis of zero tolerance.

1.2. To continually and innovatively raise the performance levels of the security service provider and its personnel and that of the Association.

1.3.To ensure the continued improvement of the environment in Lonehill and its environs.

1.4. To remedy complacency and apathy in the greater Lonehill community towards the above aims and objectives and to promote community involvement and spirit in achieving such objectives.

1.5.To promote such community participation in an atmosphere of encouragement and support and to confront and eradicate the type of destructive input from one or two malcontents that continues to have the effect, intended or otherwise, of dissuading participation by many of the incredible giftings and talents latent in our community when they view the contemptuous and disparaging manner that Association members and staff are subjected to when serving their community.

1.6. Increase Association funding by raising membership and corporate sponsorship.

1.7. Improving the efficacy of SAPS, Metro and other government depatrment interface.

ii. What plans are in place to resolve those challenges and what innovations will we see?

2.1. The roll our of a comprehensive security enhancement programme, aspects of which are in the process of finalisation but components of which are already in action and have been publicised.

2.2. A new marketing initiative is in the process of implementation and the Association website updated and to be imminently re launched.

iii. Who is accountable for deliverables on these resolutions (what are their KPI's)?

3. The Association and its board and the management of the security service provider are responsible for deliverables and Key Performance Indicators for external assessment include crime statistics, the financial status and performance of the Association, the extent of community participation in Association events such as Carols by Candlelight, Fundays etc etc and the standard of the environment in the Lonehill and environs.

iv. What finances are required for the coming year and future... and where will it be sourced from?

4. The Financial Statements of the Association include forecasts of future expenditure and financial needs, track budget and actual income and expenditure and are subject to annual audit and monthly mamagement review by a Finance sub committee and regular community scrutiny at public feedback meetings.Future financial needs shall be sourced from present and future projected Association members and corporate sponsors and donors.

v. What are the critical numbers we should be watching to assess future success of the project?

5. The critical numbers and success indicators are set out in 3. above.

vi. What is being done to reduce the burden of current contributors?

6. A new marketing programme to attract additional members has been embarked upon and negotiations with service providers and corporate sponsors for limiting cost escalations and sponsorships are ongoing.

vii. Why do we only have +- 300 voting members on the LRA from +- 6000 householders?

7. One can only speculate as to why there are the number of voters as at present but it should be noted that when this Board commenced its tenure, there were only 8 members and now there are over 300.

viii. Are there any expected major budget allocations (in excess of R50 000 in total) that may be paid to individuals in the coming year and for what?

8. There are several sizeable budget allocations anticipated by the Association but excluding budgeted and regular salaries and remuneration, none of these allocations are to be paid to paid to individuals, but to service providers and equipment providers primarliy for improvements to the security of the community and environment.

ix. Should a new budget allocation limit be imposed on the Board requiring referral back to Members for approval?

9. At present, the practice of the Association is to disclose expenduitre of all sizes to the residents at regular feedback meetings generally before such expenditure is incurred save for urgent items and repairs. It follows however that disclosures can only be made once negotiations with service and/or equipment suppliers have been finalised so that accurate figures may be quoted. The Associations Board is authorised to carry on its business and that includes such activities as expenditure.

x. What added-value does each paid individual on the LRA add to our initiative (e.g if paid +- R250K, did individual add another +-R250K and more to the initiative)?

10. The value add by individuals to the Association, wherther paid or otherwise, is subjective and open to interpretation. Suffice to say that at present, the Association and its Board are satisfied that the limited personnel operating on behalf of the Association are performing a Herculean task in challenging circumstances but continually strive for higher standards and the implementation of technology to assist where appropriate.

xi. How can stakeholders benefit from and use the LRA community centre facilities which they have funded?

11. Concerning the community centre, if there are any suggestions for its use, please feel free to submit these."

It is not the Associations intention to get caught up in endless questioning of its affairs and will in future be focussing the energy applied on trying to answer your questions and elicit your co operation and support to more worthwhile endeavours such as the security of the community the Association was created to serve.

LRA

Tue Dec 09, 06:34:00 AM 2008

---------------------------------------

I will leave you to assess the above answers for yourself, and make my comment on them in January's post.

In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

Lonehill: Man Assaulted At Lonehill Roadblock - 'Nobody In Control'

Lonehill: Man Assaulted At Lonehill Roadblock - 'Nobody In Control' - click link for article

YOU can now comment on the above post on www.lonehill.ning.com - sign in (complimentary) and interact.

An informed community is one that communicates openly.

Take a look at and participate in the discussion links already posted on www.lonehill.ning.com (see below) or add your own:

Can ANY Criminal Intent Really Be Justified?

Victims Against Crime - The SCOURGE of "Complacency and Reasonableness"

Information and Intelligence Gathering - Criminal Activities

What Would YOU Like To See Discussed/Offered On This Forum


Please accept this invite to participate in a complimentary NEW Social Network Platform for the Greater Lonehill community.

Go to www.lonehill.ning.com and Sign Up.

Here's what you can do on this Lonehill Social Network Forum:

1. Stimulate Discussion Topics... make your comments known

2. Develop a local Security Alert facility

3. Create Individual Street/Complex Groups - invite your neighbours to participate - form Buddy-Buddy security networks to look after each other in your neighbourhood

4. Post Photos/Videos

5. Form local Interest/Service Groups - Bridge Clubs, Jogging, Camera Club, Security Observers, Counselors, Babysitters, Handymen, et al

6. Contribute Blog Posts

This is YOUR community.... make it work as YOU want it to work. All ideas and input welcome.

Go to www.lonehill.ning.com and Sign Up.

Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

Lonehill: Oh, For A BARACK On Our LRA Board..!

It's no secret that I am not at all enamoured with our LRA 'leadership' - see Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? - and nothing has transpired since that article to change my view.

I find it frightening and extremely unhealthy that one cannot ask questions and/or get answers of the LRA Board - see Lonehill: 70 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA

In my opinion, our LRA 'leadership' lacks authenticity for the reason advocated in this article: Authenticity Starts With Transparency - extract: 'Leadership is about influence. Influence is about buy-in. Buy-in comes through trust. Trust is born in transparency. Transparency is a reflection of authenticity... lack of transparency opens WIDE the door of misunderstanding... there is nothing that builds trust more, than letting people inside and being... TRANSPARENT.'

I noticed this recent announcement in the world media - Obama announces his national security team - 'Obama: I assembled this team because I am a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made. '

Now THAT's Leadership!

Is Barack Obama going to make mistakes? Of course!

But, here's what I believe he recognises that our LRA 'leaders' don't - see Do you want to make better-quality decisions? - extracts: 'Many leaders, managers, supervisors, and employees have become conflict-averse. They shy away from conflict, feel uncomfortable about “going against the grain”, rocking the boat, or being perceived as a “trouble-maker,” not being a “team player.” If you’re not experiencing constructive conflict in your workplace, you’re most likely not making high-quality decisions; nor are you encouraging your colleagues to be committed to implementing the decisions you are making.'

A thought just struck me that it might be an interesting postulate to research that: 'weak leadership begets that which it fears most'.

Googled it and found these extracts:

1. 'Secrecy begets suspicion, suspicion begets fear and fear can beget conflict rather than cooperation.'

2. “Like begets like, honesty begets honesty; trust, trust, and so on.” James F. Bell - Here are the 12 most common reasons (not in any particular order) I hear over and over for why teams won’t take responsibility.

3. '..poor leadership begets more poor leadership because poor leaders often select managers who possess the same traits they themselves demonstrate.' - What It Takes to Be a Good Leader - Ken Blanchard

Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

LRA Director Responds (extracted from comments)

2 comments

J Berdou said...

Having read the contents of this blog as authored by Trevor Nel and several of his associated contributors, I decided to respond as per Nel's invite on the blog, to his version of the "attitude" of the current LRA board and related matters. I set this out as follows:

1. I find the depth of criticism, jaundiced interpretation of fact and perchance to insult and recrimination which is replete in regard to the present LRA board to be quite frankly disgusting, uncalled for and unnecessary not to mention the total antithesis of the community spirit Nel subscribes to or so he says.

2. The present LRA board are most certainly not subscribers to mediocrity in service delivery especially when it comes to the provision of security for the residents of Lonehill.The pursuit of zero defect in this respect is the top priority of the present LRA board and the SAPS statistics reveal that Lonehill experiences far lower levels of crime than any of its surrounding precincts which is a clear result of the LRA security initiative and its associated activities. The fact that some criminal activity still takes place in Lonehill, such as what happened to Nel and several other of our fellow Lonehill residents, is simply not acceptable and should spur us all to redouble our efforts to pull together as a community rather than embark on the route of blaming the LRA board, who incidentally consist of fellow Lonehill residents giving of their time and effort and whose families security is of equal concern as that of all other Lonehill residents. In short we are in this together. It should be remembered that criminal activity still took place in Lonehill from time to time from the inception of the Lonehill Residents Association initiative, including during the tenure of Mr Nel , so to ascribe the blame for occasional criminal activity that still takes place in Lonehill to the present LRA board is not factual.

3. The fact is that criminal activity evolves in cycles with vehicle borne armed gangs being the most dangerous. By placing unarmed security officers in reflector vests on streets to give such criminals a fright, as suggested by Nel, is simply not the answer. Readers of this blog will know what will happen to such personnel if such personnel were to confront these armed gangs. The only way to deal with such a threat is to institute roadblocks using properly trained, equipped , armed and legally authorised personnel and to site such roadblocks at places of our choosing as far away from homes and schools as possible for obvious reasons.

4. As such, the LRA board, in association with the SAPS, has launched an appeal for residents of Lonehill to volunteer to join the SAPS reservists. Such reservists will receive training, proper equipment including automatic weapons and will be legally empowered to conduct searches unlike ordinary security officers. Additionally, the LRA board is in the process of securing donations of equipment such as vehicles, radios and roadblock materials in association with sponsoring corporate contributors.

5. The LRA Board most certainly does not believe that they cannot benefit from inputs from the community and in fact owes its existence to such community and its inputs and participation. But this cannot surely be taken as an invitation to destructively criticise, insult and demean fellow Lonehill residents who happen to be serving on the LRA board at present.Im sure there is no reader of this blog who would appreciate being spoken about as Nel has spoken of the present LRA Board on this self same blogsite!

6. With the correct counselling and mediatorial interventions, perhaps the tremendous and remarkably extraordinary efforts that Nel goes to in his criticisms of the present LRA Board, could be channelled into co operative activities with the LRA Board who, contrary to the impression given on this blog, remain open to such joint activity.

7. We owe it to our community to put all of this ridiculous recrimination aside and to get on with the job of focussing our limited resources and time on protecting the residentsand bettering the environs of Lonehill for the benefit of all its residents. J BerdouFellow Lonehill ResidentMember of LRA Board
Fri Nov 14, 07:24:00 AM 2008

Trevor said...
if the cap fits wear it... far more productive to answer questions posed on this forum which will show what the LRA Board is actually doing, or at worst, planning to do. Refer previous post linked in main post above - Lonehill: 42 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA Talk is cheap. What does the LRA Board want to have happen? Who do they want to deliver on the objectives? Allocate tasks to competent people (volunteers and/or professionals) who will make things happen... and then get out of the way.
Fri Nov 14, 08:59:00 AM 2008

Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..?

Preface:

Please note that my comments in this email/post are not aimed at those who truly make things work and happen in Lonehill. I will never criticise those who honestly strive for excellence in delivery of our vision.

I aim my comments specifically at those whose lack of strategy, tactics and/or proactive action have resulted in the current failure in our community initiative to deliver a 24-hour total security solution. When guns against our foreheads in our homes are now the result of their short-of-the-mark efforts, I WILL call a spade a spade.

I am reminded that we all see things differently and that I acknowledge the right of others to hold a contrary opinion.

I apologise up-front to those who may take personal umbrage to my tone in this email (please forgive me) and ask that if we do seem to hold an adversarial position that you look past any tone that may upset you to the core issue/s in discussion. Please feel free to submit your argument/debate/opinions in response.


Summary Extracts: This forum post argues, with reasons derived from a 3-hour meeting with the LRA Board, that in my opinion:

1. Our current LRA Board provides lip-service to our Vision of zero-tolerance towards crime in Lonehill
2. Our current LRA Board accepts levels of innefficiency, incompetence, mediocrity, and deficiency in their service delivery under the justification - 'we're doing our best'.
3. Our current LRA Board no longer considers itself responsible for delivering on no-nonsense pro-active first-line-of-defense security for its community.

It is my contention that this current LRA Board is fooling themselves... and us as a community who believe that our Vision of 24-hour total security is being resolutely honoured and delivered upon by the LRA.

My primary observation from this meeting was that this Board clearly does not believe that the LRA can adequately protect this community against crime.

It has now passed the point where I actually FEAR the Peter-Principle incompetence, intransigence, ineffectiveness and crime-accepting-resignation of our 'leadership' MORE than I fear the criminals themselves.

This is now the third time in our twenty years in this community that I have experienced this sad showing of our LRA in Lonehill.

Some of this Board did not take kindly to my analogy of their attitude to their 'best efforts' being like constructing a 'Golden-Gate'-type bridge across an ever-widening Grand Canyon and having it fall 20 metres short of reaching the other end. Some still cannot see that all their 'best efforts' are rendered ineffective in delivering on the intended objective if 150% span, change, expansion, flexibility, innovation and growth et al are not built into the design of the bridge.

My Resolution: To return to shoring up our own personal home and family protection once again from our Home and Street outwards - recognising sadly that we're on our own again. And, at the same time, to do everything in my power to return the Lonehill Community initiative to the original Vision intended, no matter how unpopular that may make me in the eyes of some.

Summary Ends.


Now to the full post, for those who want the full insight and reasoning behind my opinion.

Warning: this post is lengthy because I am serious about safety & security for all in this community:

One of the easiest things to tell in the business world are those individual egos wrapped up in their own corporate arrogance. And often, these egos look to congregate in collectives (called Groupthink ) to engender support and seek 'official' confirmation to back up their arrogance... no matter that it further deepens the fools they make of themselves in the eyes of their publics.

There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see.

Or, put another way, there are none so blind as those with closed minds who make up their minds to manipulate the 'facts' to fit their own jaundiced perceptions and/or subjective assumptions.

Classic case (could well be a pun given the corporate in this story) of this occuring at the moment is in this story - Our Zero tastes just fine: Coke - where some Coke corporates appear to miss the entire point of one man's critical input and clearly enjoy the 'research' and rulings that support their arrogant view on the situation.

A real pity, because Coke is one of the world's greatest product and business stories of all time. But, great history does not protect an entity from the arrogance of a few individual egos in their midst.

Here's what I mean. In my taste-buds' collective opinions, there is no way in a generation of Sundays that Coke Zero tastes like Real Coke.

My taste buds are hooked on Real Coke..! They know the real thing.

That's all that one man was telling them (there's no way that Coke Zero tastes like Real Coke)... and they seemed to fight that one man with research data and a justification that is totally off issue (the point is not whether people like Coke Zero or not) seemingly not realising that they are fooling themselves and their publics by making patently unbelievable claims to which many just don't bother to jump up and say anything about.

We just won't buy the stuff.

If anything the unwitting 'genius' in their claim (for which I doubt that they can seek credit) is that it's probably doing more for improving the sales of Real Coke due to the marked 'yugh' factor from the first taste-test of the new product. I immediately bought a Coke to wash away the after-taste of the Coke Zero.

The corporate arrogance of such individuals cannot see that it is not what you say that is important, but what you do/deliver as a customer experience.

You can do everything you want - cute slogans, adverts, studies, legal opinion, and press releases - to fool my taste-buds into believing that it taste like Real Coke... but what you actually deliver is the true acid test. That's where your integrity gets found out.

And so it is with the LRA right now.

The LRA's new slogan could well be: LRA Zero - just like the Real LRA.

Here's why I say this.

Just like the Real Coke... our Real LRA was taken over in 2001 by an active community (the Lonehill Security Action Group formed in 2000) to deliver on the Vision: To create an up-market village community where all residents are free to live, shop and exercise in pristine surroundings with total peace of mind in their personal safety and security.

I will argue below why today's LRA Zero is a pretender delivering on PARTIAL safety and security and placing our families and homes at risk... as opposed to TOTAL safety and security.

As promised, I followed through on requesting a 3-hour meeting of the LRA Board last Friday 24th October and introduced them to six outsiders from my vast contact network of business specialists with resource, experience and skills in the fields of business strategy, innovation, leadership and crisis centre management.

Personally, I was extremely disappointed with the outcome of the meeting, having prefaced my opening comment with my committment to subordinate my emotions of the attack on my family, friend and home, and to allowing past happenings within the LRA to be water under the bridge, in preference for finding positive ways to move our initiative forward.

I think that the invited outsiders were also a little taken aback at what they witnessed: See - Attack Meeting: Outsiders Feedback & Thank You Thread

I chose to ignore the earlier attempts at stonewalling the agenda despite being invited to set the agenda - 'Trevor, Our understanding was that this session today was specifically to address the security issues at hand, at a high level, with a few people, in order to prepare for a more open public session. Your agenda details otherwise, and seems to want to focus on a myriad of other matters. This will not happen, and the focus will remain on the security issues. RG' - with my simple response: 'Sorry... this is the agenda... it is not your meeting'. See link: Friday 24 Oct 2008 Meeting Agenda Thread

Update insert: This intransigence and arrogance continues 15 days later with the LRA Board not releasing draft minutes of the meeting to all attendees who participated, but preferring to release it to their select few for their sanitising first before releasing it to others (even the sanitised version is not yet released). My response to the LRA Chairman (still ignored) was this : 'I would think it far more appropriate and transparent to allow ALL who took the trouble to participate in this meeting an opportunity to comment on the 1st draft minutes of that meeting.' Sadly, the LRA Board seems incapable of assessing how such action has the potential to render any such sanitised minutes to be unreliable and not representative of those who attended, and for how it shows a lack of respect and disregard for the value of the time and input of others.

I ignored the fact that the agenda was claimed not to have been received by the LRA Board and therefore not printed for circulation at the meeting despite all clearly having been copied on the agenda email: From: Rob Gillespie - To: 'Trevor Nel' - Cc: Don Perry ; Hamish McBain ; Jean Berdou ; Michael Goodwin ; Ray Stride ; Ray Stride ; Rob Gillespie ; Roger McKee ; Sally Pearson ; Simon Bradshaw - Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:03 AM - Subject: RE: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

However, instead of allowing the meeting to flow down the direction of brainstorming ideas for achieving innovative excellence and positive change to the 'don't cross this line in the sand' attitude to crime in our community that is our Vision and Mission, the verbal ripostes from the LRA Board members highlighted their frail, defensive, protective sensitivities as a collective - demonstrating a seemingly misguided loyalty to each other as individuals - towards any comment made by this writer on this forum.

The first indication of their intended direction was when they embarrassed themselves with a puerile show of unmitigated suspicion towards representatives of a Crisis Management Centre that had traveled a long way without condition as part of my team of invited outsiders to lend of their experience in brainstorming possible solutions.

The LRA Board's general 'NO, We Can't' poor attitude to almost every innovative approach made to them is in stark contrast to Barack Obama's 'YES WE CAN' campaign that swept him to victory in the US Presidential elections. Just as Gregg thompson writes in When The Leader Speaks…. : 'Things happen! People become engaged. Teams gel. Customers are served. Problems are solved. Products are invented. Such is the power of a leader’s communication'. Would that our leaders would just deign to read this article link, if nothing else.

There are some that patently could not hide their deep embitterment for myself and this forum's comments (which they interpret has wholly negative), leading to non-helpful emotional comments and barbs arising from the LRA Board, such as... 'there are many people in Lonehill who hate you'... 'if we bring you onto the Board there are many who will leave - they just won't work with you'... and... 'it seems that you have something to sell..' and even an after-meeting follow up telephone contact comment to one of the attendees to say '..he's lost the plot'.

All such silly barbs do is to compound my lack of respect for their leadership immaturity. I'm not into politics. I couldn't care less for what other people think of my looking to protect my family, home and community from armed gangs running around at will through our current security initiative which currently leaks like a sieve.

I have no desire to be on such intransigent Board lacking in any innovative growth-oriented qualities at all - I've already committed over four and a half years to establishing this initiative and being on the Board. Besides, they would never be able to take the honest feedback and input of an individual like myself on the current Board... worse, they subscribe to none of the minimum standards and principles that I use as a base measure for governance, openness, inclusivity and transparency, et al - judging by their shutters coming down the moment I referred back to our original Lonehill Manifesto proposals.

And, to confirm my consistent stance on this forum, if the LRA Board is going to waste R100 000's to millions of our hard-earned Rands on non-delivery by incompetent people, as has happened, I'd rather see competent people in Lonehill being paid to deliver what we really want. But, I recognise that given my role on this forum, it's hardly likely that I could give away ice-cold Real Coke to an immature LRA Board dying of thirst in a desert... let alone 'sell' them anything!

The issue is not about smokescreens, bruised egos, false perceptions of power and control, personalities and silly internal politics - that's just pathetic in any community - and it turns me off to see it consistently at play here in Lonehill.

So, what's the issue?

It's about the hard-core issue of non-delivery on our most critical objective - total 24-hour security.

It's about being an individual responsible for striving to achieve the difference between effective delivery vs. ineffective delivery of this key objective in our community.

Maybe it's time for the sensitive softies (who all have an equal place in this community) to separate themselves into focusing on the soft issues that keeps them 'so busy' - sterilising feral cats, garden competitions, et al... and to bring in the hard-core to focus on the hard issues.

I just believe that it's time again for some of the fragile egos on the LRA Board obstructing our community progress on our core issue of providing 24-hour total security to step aside and allow fresh, mature leadership to lead the way forward!

In my opinion, it seems that many of the current LRA Board are more intent on protecting their personal egos/integrities, which they perceive to be under 'attack' from this writer/forum, than they are committed to seeking and innovating solutions for providing 24-hour total security to us homeowners in this community.

They should read: Lonehill: Uphold The Right To Comment, Critique, Disagree & Criticise .

On my asking why we only had +-300 LRA members from +- 6000 householders after almost 3 years of this new Board's tenure and given the changes to the LRA AGM voting participation requirement process, only one individual on the Board, to his credit, had the honesty to call a spade a spade (which I do repect) and to admit a core area/s of failure of the LRA - Marketing & Communication - which led to a positive suggestion from self to address the problem at the root of our community: To conduct a market research interview of EVERY household.

The response to this market research proposal floored me, to paraphrase: 'We already use Fidelity to conduct this type of market research feedback and the findings are excellent'.

Hmmmm... well, they would be, wouldn't they? Why not just get the criminal elements that attack us to conduct another even more 'unbiased' market research opinion of our security initiative?

What is frightening, is that some of these Board members truly believe some of the absurd logic and assumptions they verbally espouse and do everything in their power to control or browbeat contrary opinions into oblivion. I focus on' verbally', as it is almost impossible to get this LRA Board to make and clarify such absurd logic and assumptions in writing. Most disingenuous. Refer: Lonehill: 42 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA - this link also includes an indication of how draft minutes from our meeting will not be circulated to all attendees for comment prior to sanitisation by the LRA Board.

Who's fooling who..?

Let me just say that the divide between certain individuals on this Board and self is so wide as to have us more than Poles apart on our viewpoints.. ;-)

My primary observation from this meeting was that this Board clearly does not believe that the LRA can adequately protect this community against crime... and therefore they are resigned to doing 'the best we can' and look to justify their service and actions by comparison against statistics in other areas.

In other words, in my opinion, this Board does not believe in the most critical part of their mandate as stated in our Vision derived from our original security mission - '..to provide 24-hour total security..' and consequently they choose to focus on softer issues that they feel they can deal with operationally.

Not that I have any problem with what they're attempting to achieve on the softer issues - see: Lonehill: Should We Be IMPRESSED? - I am just more concerned with the hard issue of how we can protect families in our community from being attacked in their homes and driveways with guns to their heads as we were.

Individual Board members highlighted clearly their views that the responsibilty for protecting oneself against crime in this community vests in the householders themselves at their home base... and that the LRA was merely just another incidental line of defense. Some, of course, blamed the government and the police, which just was not useful comment at all.

There is an attitude of resigned 'acceptable deficiency' that prevails. The current LRA Board is accepting that crime will happen in our community... and, I repeat, are happy that their best is OK as long as we 'look' better than the stats from surrounding areas.

This attitude, in my opinion, has resulted in a marked decline in any semblance of pro-active security visibility.

It is now becoming rare to see a Lonehill Security vehicle parked off anywhere (whilst one notices them either travelling outside of our community or parked off at the LRA office - what good is that?) and roving guards are becoming difficult to see. No wonder criminals are seeing us as easy meat once again.

This attitude also has some on our LRA Board REACTING to any of my/our pushing for expected service delivery ... by themselves pushing back in often belligerent, defensive, protective, aggressive and even obstructive (stonewalling) fashion... rather than accepting our questions and feedback as essential input to be applied positively to attaining our ideal of total 24-hour security in our community.

It is clear that the LRA Board's jaundiced attitude to questions asked by this community is that such questions are designed to undermine the LRA... whereas in actual fact, their not answering simple questions honestly, with openness and transparency, foolishly undermines their very integrities they seek to protect.

It would be laughable if it weren't for the fact that people have been attacked in their homes in Lonehill whilst I believe this LRA Board must know in their heart-of-hearts that they have NOT been focussing on protecting us to the levels of excellence that we expect... and, all the more pathetic in that that they almost always seem to begrudgingly react after serious incidents to launch stop-gap reactionary attempts at short-term security visibilty in damage-control mode to minimise the fall-out from their publics.

That's too LATE!

The LRA Board must know their deficiencies, they must know that they react no different to the way that most security companies react in most communities, and they must know that they appear not to have a clue what to do to make this initiative sustainable and PROACTIVE in delivering total 24-hour security for our community.

This LRA Board does not appear to know where they want to go and seem intent on just keeping the ships engines turning... and therefore they meander around in circles painting the decks and re-arranging the deck chairs.

It has now passed the point where I actually FEAR the Peter-Principle incompetence, intransigence, ineffectiveness and crime-accepting-resignation of our 'leadership' MORE than I fear the criminals themselves.

This is now the third time in our twenty years in this community that I have experienced this sad showing of our LRA in Lonehill.

As further indication, from the experience I have from the reaction and follow-up to our attack, it is my opinion that their sad attitude is now endemic from LRA top-down and permeates through to the E-grade guards on the ground who are now too scared to communicate (those that have the ability to communicate) with us as a community - their clients on the ground.

Sadly, I had to witness the patent fear of an intelligent proactive guard who applied his street-smart savvy towards reporting suspicious activity (very likely, from the descriptions, a return of our attackers) to a non-appreciative and threatening internal management structure. To me, this fear stems from the autocratic, subjective, closed, 'I'll fire you' management-by-fear style that emanates from the top of our LRA, that has people on the ground, and management in-between, too scared to comment for fear of retribution.

Bully-Boy 'threat' and 'fear' seems to be a consistent weapon/tactic of choice employed by some on this Board as I have personally experienced in both the threatened litigation of self for comments I make on this forum - See: Lonehill: The BEST of People... The WORST of People... and Everybody In-Between ... and in responses to my dealing with unfair labour practice issues on behalf of a loyal LRA staffer who was not having his simple questions answered. What for? These are out-dated management-style tactics that belong to a bygone pre-1994 era... and should have disappeared with The Ark.

Consequently, it's my opinion, the LRA Board gets only the feedback that their fearful subservients believe they want to hear.

Some of this Board did not take kindly to my analogy of their attitude to their 'best efforts' being like constructing a 'Golden-Gate'-type bridge across an ever-widening Grand Canyon and having it fall 20 metres short of reaching the other end. Some still cannot see that all their 'best efforts' are rendered ineffective in delivering on the intended objective if 150% span, change, expansion, flexibility, innovation and growth et al are not built into the design of the bridge.

It will collapse at some point!

It's like the car manufacturer advertising 'zero-tolerance' in their brand whilst having a built in 'acceptable-deficiency' which can have four lock-nuts left off a rear wheel.

So, I sadly left our 3-hour meeting recognising that we (my family and household) can no longer depend on these LRA Board members to protect us as an initiative with a no-nonsense first-line-of-defense, as they no longer feel accountable for that... and that any reference to 'zero-tolerance' to crime as I read in a recent LRA e-mail is purely lip-service from this LRA Board.

They have almost returned our initiative to back to being not much better than any other security reaction service in any other community.

What they are really saying is - LRA Zero - just like the Real LRA - and sadly, in my opinion, they operate to that mantra and they will not allow the facts to interfere with a good story that they're going to stick by.

Here's my offer to each current LRA Board member, please enjoy a Coke Zero on me and tell me if you truly believe it is the Real Coke. And then ask yourself whether you believe that what you offer to us as a zero-tolerance 24-hour total security service in our community right now is truly that.

Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790

Attack Meeting: Outsiders Feedback & Thank You Thread

The following thread from bottom to top are thank you's to LRA Board and Outsiders, and Outsider's responses received:

Ivan Andersen writes:

Hi Trevor,

Only a pleasure. Sorry I could not do more in moving the process toward a mutually acceptable way forward.

My feeling is that there appears to be just too much baggage on both sides to get to point where the parties could/would sit around the same table and be able to leave the personal sensitivities and egos behind and focus on the “right” solution for the community as a whole. This feeling was confirmed when statements like “if Trevor is to join the board, some members would leave ...” were made. This clearly shows division and differing agendas, in my opinion, as that comment was made after a proposal for you to be co-opted and positive statements w.r.t. your passion, energy and experience had been voiced.

This is unfortunate, because initiatives like this, depend on people working together for the greater good. As soon as there is fragmentation of effort and agenda the system WILL break down and fail.

It would appear to me, as an outsider to the community, and with my limited exposure to the inner workings of the LRA, that a shake-up is required.

My perception, as a frequent visitor into the Lonehill area is that there has been a noticeable drop-off and reduction in visible policing (Fidelity foot & bicycle guards), specifically in the last six weeks or so. I clearly recall a number of discussions we have had in this regard over the last few years and have noticed the disappearance and re-appearance and disappearance of these guards from time-to-time. This to me is also an indication of the challenges faced internally by the LRA.

As I mentioned on Friday, clearly one’s priority must be the safety of your own family and home first, so the decisions need to be made from that basis.

All the best
Ivan

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Morne Mostert writes:

Hi Trevor

I am always cautious not to oversimplify these things, but here are a few thoughts:

The LRA requires a clear vision of what they intend to achieve in the next 18-24 months. I don't just mean what actions will they take, but what will Lonehill look like in 18-24 months from today as a result of their management practices

They may then benefit from articulating a number of Values that will govern their behaviour, such as client centricity, safety first, etc - this will depend on the unique challenges and character of Lonehill

Then they need to be clear on a few strategic objectives with regards to issues like safety, client engagement, internal management, decision-making processes,etc.

Internally, they then need to respond to some challenges, such as their Human Resources: If they only have one person for communication & marketing, what strategies will they employ to overcome this constraint? They cannot simply point it out it is a constraint. This includes possible solutions such as a communication drive for co-opting volunteers, ensuring each board member is managing a committee of volunteers, etc., establishing LRA sub-committees, etc.

On Marketing & Communication, there appears to be a lack of feedback mechanisms for residents to respond to them. They then argue that no news is good news. It's a bit like saying no-one has ever complained about living on the the planet Jupiter, so it must be a great place to live!

In terms of broader stakeholder engagement, I am not convinced they are interacting regularly with bodies corporate of complexes, other security companies in their area, business networks, etc. They appear to operate in a highly isolated way.

On Finance, they may want to consider sponsored advertising by local businesses on all their communication. This will reduce costs dramatically.
In terms of their overall functioning, such a more strategic approach will make them less reactive.

They then need to communicate these commitments to the community and report regularly on progress made.

I hope this helps a little - we all have our own angles on ways for improving effectiveness.

Kind regards
Morne Mostert
Director of Leadership Leadership Options
Tel: +27 (0) 11 467 9985
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 855 7328
Fax: +27 (0) 866 133 476
morne@leadershipoptions.co.za
http://www.leadershipoptions.co.za/
DataDeal Place, 41 Wessels Road, Rivonia, 2191
P.O. Box 104, Petervale, Bryanston, Johannesburg, 2151

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Marilyn Overend writes:

Hi Trevor

Yes, we were not prepared for the highly emotional interaction from both sides. However I do believe they were compassionate about your situation. I think there are very few South Africans that would not feel for your situation. It happened to my younger son two months ago – and he is lucky to be with us. So I understand the anger and despair and fear.

From our perspective we felt there was blaming on both sides rather than finding some common ground to move forward to the start of a solution.

As you have a lot of experience Trevor, then maybe you need to move back onto the committee. I think it was a good idea to “put a stake in the ground” and move forward – learn from what is not working and try new ideas.

Warmest regards

Marilyn Overend
Assessor - Corporate College International
Assessor No. 175733US

Futuristic Training and Development
Cell: +27 82 601 0056
Tel: +27 11 704 6838
Fax: +27 11 704 6815
http://www.futuristictraining.com/

marilyn@futuristictraining.com

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Kevin Foot writes:

Hi Trev,

Firstly it was no trouble!! And you are not beholden to anyone….favours are not given or stored for cashing in later; they are given with love and respect and with no expectations.

Only a pleasure to assist and participate….I only wishes I had known sooner about the incident, and been in a position to give you and Ivan more support.

Any time, anywhere…it’s only a phone call, and I will do whatever I can. Both of you know that.

My thoughts today are not changed from the conversation we had at the Wimpy. And Ivan summed it up very well. And your final remarks about securing the home, the street etc are most valid.

To carry on interacting with the LRA now, is a “mission” I think you should delay and give yourself time to heal.

Cheers.

Kevin

PS. On 3 occasions this week; today at about midday, Thursday morning, And Monday...can't remember time.......I drove thru Lonehill and around the "big Loop" and was surprised to note that the Bobby on the Beat was conspicuous by their absence. Not so long ago, the security personnel were visible all over the area, including vehicles. Has there been a cut back in the number/activity?

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From: Trevor Nel [mailto:growth@global.co.za] Sent: 25 October 2008 09:30 AMTo: Kevin FootCc: Ivan Andersen; Marilyn Overend; Jacques Grobbelaar; charlvj@lantic.net; Morne Mostert; Lindy BoulangerSubject: My Thanks - Fw: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

Kevin, Marilyn, Morne, Jacques, Renier, Charl, Ivan, Lindy

Many thanks for volunteering your valuable time to attend yesterday's meeting.

I cannot express adequately how much I APPRECIATE your trouble taken to lend an ear and participate.

I am beholden to return the favour to each of you, I am at your call... :-)

Below is the response to the LRA Board attendees FYI.

Realising that it must have been very difficult to enter such meeting totally uninformed (that was necessary so as not to create preliminary bias from any perspective) and try to evaluate 8 years of history in such a short session, I would however like for you to be brutally honest in what you assessed as being at play from your specific specialist skills-set point of view.

I will forward that to the LRA Board, either as anonymous comment, or under your professional signature so that the LRA can contact you direct for your professional input or otherwise. You choose - just let me know.

You are more than welcome to contact the LRA Board in your professional or personal capacities, as you see fit, to offer advice/service/solutions.

Regards
Trevor - 011 - 705-2790


----- Original Message -----
From: Trevor Nel
To: Rob Gillespie
Cc: Don Perry ; Hamish McBain ; Jean Berdou ; Michael Goodwin ; Ray Stride ; Ray Stride ; Rob Gillespie ; Roger McKee ; Sally Pearson ; Simon Bradshaw ; info@lra.org.za
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 7:15 AM
Subject: Re: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

To all in attendance

Many thanks for taking of your valuable time to attend this meeting.

I will reserve my personal comment pending:

i. Review of minutes/notes taken by Elmarie/Jenny - please forward ASAP compiled.
ii. Feedback from outsider specialists invited. (will copy you on their feedback).

Rob/Jean, as regards your joint claims that the http://www.lonehillaction.blogspot.com/ forum does not post your comments, this is surprising as it is an OPEN forum where any comment can be posted by anyone under the comments and Post a Comment facilities.

My records shows 2 posts from LRA directors - LRA Director Comments & LRA Chairman Responds - and I have personally posted - LRA 2008 AGM - Chairman's Report & LRA AGM 2008 Minutes - to represent the LRA's views to this community.

I am unaware of any request from yourselves requiring publication to this blog not being published, kindly copy myself on any such request having been made and I will ensure that it is published.

You are, of course, cordially invited to respond to the questions asked on Lonehill: 28 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA .

Thank You
Trevor Nel - 011 - 705-2790
Lonehill Resident

Friday 24 Oct 2008 Meeting Agenda Thread

Posted for recordal purposes:

From: Trevor Nel
To: Rob Gillespie
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

Sorry... this is the agenda... it is not your meeting

----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Gillespie
To: 'Trevor Nel'
Cc: Don Perry ; Hamish McBain ; Jean Berdou ; Michael Goodwin ; Ray Stride ; Ray Stride ; Rob Gillespie ; Roger McKee ; Sally Pearson ; Simon Bradshaw
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:03 AM
Subject: RE: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity
Trevor

Our understanding was that this session today was specifically to address the security issues at hand, at a high level, with a few people, in order to prepare for a more open public session.

Your agenda details otherwise, and seems to want to focus on a myriad of other matters. This will not happen, and the focus will remain on the security issues.

RG

From: Trevor Nel [mailto:growth@global.co.za] Sent: 24 October 2008 08:52 AM
To: Rob Gillespie
Cc: info@lra.org.za
Subject: Agenda - Re: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

Hi Rob

Herewith guideline agenda - I will facilitate initially and hand over to an outsider 'Chair' asap during process

Please can you arrange light refreshments/snacks/ cool drinks for all attending to keep them energised.

Flexible Agenda for LRA Meet - Friday 24th Oct 2:30 to 5:30

To all attending:

The purpose of this afternoon is to conduct an informal Current Situation Analysis and Brainstormer Session for further progress.

Specialist outsiders have been invited to facilitate impartiality, balance and input where they feel so inclined - 5 confirmed attending - others trying to change diaries.

It appears that some Lonehillers are determined to attend as observers from feedback I am receiving - cannot confirm, numbers unknown - should they attend they will be given 10 minutes at end of each 35 minute segment discussion to comment/provide input.

LRA to provide simple show and tell feedback with samples/visuals/graphics/maps/financials of feedback shared at weekly/monthly security and LRA Board meetings

The agenda for this afternoon will progress in simple discussion units of top 3 priorities per segment.

2:30 - Introductions

2:45 - feedback on LRA's Top 3 Priorities

1. Security
2. Community Contributions/Commitment - Financials, Contributors and Demographics
3. Marketing/Promotions

3:30
Soft Issues related to LRA attitudes towaeds Leadership/Vision/Strategy
1. LRA attitude towards community
2. LRA attitude to internal service/competence levels
3. LRA attitude to openness/transparency

4:15
Change, Innovation, Growth
1. Shattering the dogma of mediocrity and 'best practice'
2. Constructing a change-oriented eco-system - a living, breathing organism 'built to thrive'
3. Understanding the Age of Transparency

5:00
General

5:15
Closing question for LRA Board: Is there any reason why the LRA will not commit to supporting the changes discussed..?

5:30 Ends

----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Gillespie
To: Trevor Nel
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:18 PM
Subject: Meeting with the LRA and Fidelity

I have arranged for Friday afternoon starting 2.30pm at the LRA offices, for your discussion forum. Please let me have an agenda if there is one, or else we can put it together at the meeting.
RG