Letter from the board

Dear Midway Residents,

I hope this letter finds you and your families doing well during the continuation of our National Pandemic.  As the Chairman of the Midway-Canaan Community Water Association, Inc. (Hereafter referred to as MCCWA).  I am sending this letter out to all residents to address several emails that have been sent to myself and Board members, messages left via telephone, and several agendas that I have been provided that were distributed at various community meetings.

I would like to once again recognize our Members of the MCCWA’s Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors are NOT paid employees.  Which means they give of their time, expertise, and professional talents for free.  The Board consists of the following individuals:

Viola Posley, Chairman of the Board

Dr. Posley has been a Board member with MCCWA since 2019.  Dr. Posley earned her Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from the University of Central Florida.  She completed her Ph.D. from Capella University in Clinical Social Services.  Dr. Posley has utilized her social service and social work skills to work with various diverse communities throughout her career.  She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the past 25 years.   She served as the Clinical Program Director at the BETA Center in Orlando for over 16 years.  In 2011, she founded The Counseling, Mediation, Educational Center, Inc., as she noted a strong need for services for children with incarcerated parents and other family discord and separation issues.  At her agency, she provides individual, family, and group counseling.  Her counseling services currently utilize equine and other animals if the client chooses to do so.  She conducts various types of parenting classes including the family stabilization class which is required for divorce in the State of Florida.   Utilizing her extensive knowledge in working with diverse families, she provides interactive and engaging parenting classes and various other educational classes.  Dr. Posley is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family/Circuit Civil Mediator and successfully conducts family mediations, bringing all parties to a healthy solution. She understands the stress and complications that arise and exist around family discord and divorce.  Dr. Posley assumed custody of 5 of her nieces and nephews all under the age of 6 in 2019 shortly after joining the Board.  She resides in Midway, Florida.  She loves spending time with her family at their farm in Geneva, Florida.

Cynthia Butler, Treasurer

Mrs. Butler has been a Board member with  MCCWA since 2019.   Mrs. Butler has a Bachelor in Education and a from the University of Central Florida, a Master’s in Education from Nova Southeastern University, and a Doctorate in Theology.  Mrs. Butler entered the education world to explore her love of teaching and education.  In addition to serving as a Board member with MCCWA she also serves on the MLK committee as a Board member.  Mrs. Butler is a active member of Byrd Memorial Church.

Timothy McClain, Officer 1

Mr. McClain has been a Board member with MCCWA since 2019.  Mr. McClain earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in political science from Livingstone College in 1996 and his JD-Juris Doctor degree in 2002 from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

He is the owner of the McClain Law Firm in Orlando, Florida.  He has been practicing in the Central Florida area since 2003 and was formerly a Senior Partner of McClain, Haynes, Laurent, Figeroa, and Wiggins.  Mr. McClain has a love of community which causes him to fight for those less fortunate.  Mr. McClain is an avid football fan.  His son is a fantastic quarterback and recently assisted his high school to win the State of Florida Football Championship.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and his children.

Henry Byrd, Officer 2

Mr.  Byrd has been a Board member with  MCCWA since 2019.   Mr. Byrd holds a Bachelor in Education, Master in Education/Criminal Justice, and a Doctorate in Ministry and currently resides in Florida. Mr. Byrd retired from the military and is currently the Senior Pastor at Byrd Church in Midway, Florida.  Mr. Byrd is credited with his contributions to the Boys & Girls Club (Columbus, Ga) committee, The Young Men & Women (Columbus, Ga) committee, and as a counselor in the Muscogee County prison system.  Mr. Byrd enjoys working with people and seeing things accomplished.  He has a genuine love for the midway community, and he is optimistic that Midway will survive through its current transition. He is excited about the new developments in the area because the community needs them.

Jonathan Wilson, Officer 3

Mr. Wilson has been a Board member with  MCCWA since 2019.  Mr. Wilson was born in Sanford and raised in the Midway Area.  He has studied business at Seminole Community College which is now known as Seminole State College.  He has spent his entire working career in Customer Service and is currently employed by JPM Chase & Co. as a Customer Service Manager. He has been with JPM Chase & Co., for over 20 years. Mr. Wilson has had extensive diversity and inclusion training.  He previously served on the Seminole Sharks Youth Football and Cheer’s Executive Board.  Mr. Wilson is the father of four children; three daughters and a son. He enjoys traveling, fishing, barbequing, and spending time with family and friends in my spare time.

I would to share with you an abbreviated list of what we have been doing since our appointment in 2019.  Please remember that although MCCWA’s new Board of Directors were selected in January 2019, they were only allowed to attend Board Meetings from January 2019 to May 2019, they had no authority to do anything else.  Therefore all of these items below were accomplished while our Nation faced a National Pandemic in less than 2 years.

The list includes:

1. 1/2019 to Present- By-Laws being changed, discussed, items added, and items being removed. Because of the necessity of membership assignments, it will take time to complete them.  When we complete them we will file them with the State, place them on our website, as well as give the residents a copy.
2. 5/2019- The past office manager no longer works at MCCWA
3. 5/2019 to 10/2019- State of Florida Unemployment Appointments and Mediations
4. 5/2019 to 9/2019- Forensic Report conducted on past funds of MCCWA
5. 9/18/2019 to 11/2020- Investigation conducted by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in regards to Forensic Report
6. 9/2019 to Present- Support and Address Legal Issues in regards to MCCWA.
7. 1/2020- Payment methods changed (Cash no longer accepted)
8. 8/2020 to Present- Grant Search and Grant Writing in process
9. 8/2020 to Present- Various Goals to Growth established
10. 1/2021 to Present- Membership (Ongoing task)
11. 1/2020 to Present- Understanding our tax status and adjusting as necessary (MCCWA is not a 501 C (3)
12. 5/2020 to Present- Initiated the Recycling Program at MCCWA (Ongoing)
13. 5/2021- First independent certified audit in 25 years (scheduled for May 12, 2021)

In addition to the items listed above the following has occurred:

1. We created a complete business inside and out, (NOTHING in regards to an office or the responsibilities of MCCWA’s office existed prior to the new Board)
2. We attended over 6 meetings within the Midway Community in 2019 and gave presentations.
3. We attended at least 5 meetings within the Midway Community scheduled in 2020.
4. We held our MCCWA’s annual -meeting in November 2020 with a question and answer opportunity for residents.
5. We attended 2 meetings within the Midway Community in 2021.
6. We removed unnecessary resident fees from our billing procedures.
7. We created MCCWA’s, Facebook Page.
8. We created/distributed MCCWA’s annual quality reports that were completed and issued on time.
9. We created a website for MCCWA that launches at the end of March 2021. (www.MCCWA.net)
10. We created an official logo for MCCWA.
11. We improved MCCWA’s finances significantly, 990’s for 2018 and 2019 have been filed. Our 990 for 2020 will be filed this month. We do not complete profit and loss statements because we are a non-profit.
12. We made major repairs and ordered needed items that included a roof for the building, repairs to the truck, office electronic supplies, and water supplies.

 Some important changes to the By-Laws have already been made. This is a list of abbreviated changes:

1. The Board changed the annual meeting to November.  We held the meeting in November of 2020.
2. The Board changed the procedures for calling meetings to include electronic components as well as the ones previously stated.
3. The Board changed the term limits of the Board of Directors to include alternating years.
4. The Board has changed voting formats to include voting by proxy (Older residents can vote by form without being present).
5. All residents have only one vote despite the number of properties they own.

We have established goals for the future and they are as follows:

1. Allow our experienced and licensed attorneys do the jobs that MCCWA has hired them to do without interference from anyone or any entity.
2. Continue to plan for the future water growth of MCCWA.
3. Create and Maintain a strong savings plan for MCCWA
4. Continue to develop the ownership and benefits of MCCWA.

Establish a grant program for the older residents of Midway.

In conclusion, as you can see we have been busy despite the National Pandemic. We are making every effort to ensure that we have quality water at comparable prices.  We have been determined to provide water to everyone without interruption of services despite the national crisis.  I am happy to report that since the start of the Pandemic no resident has been without water due to late payments.  In less than two short years we have actually created a business that runs effectively and responsibly that did not exist prior to the current Board.  MCCWA has a past of operating without a Board, without members, and without office staff involvement.  We have worked hard to change all that by ensuring that all Board members and all staff are educated and informed on all inner office procedures.  In addition, we are ensuring that MCCWA works for all residents and not just a few residents.

Although the Board of Directors does not have daily contact with the residents of Midway, we are working hard to ensure that MCCWA is a success.  I’ve always said numbers don’t lie and the proof is in your success.  Our finances are better than they have been in the past 52 years.  Our office for the first time is a real office, which includes necessary forms, human resource files, financial files, historical data, and water equipment. In addition, despite past issues with inspections in regards to our water we have passed every inspection in 2020 with no issues or concerns cited for our water delivery.

We cannot discuss with you our current legal plans and proceedings and what various attorneys are doing for MCCWA.  However, we have hired the best attorneys to address various issues and we trust them to do their job.  We will not openly discuss some of our plans in an effort to prevent competition and to protect the interests of the MCCWA.

Please remember we did not get in this situation overnight.  This is actually 50 years of clean-up.  We are tired, however, most of the Board of Directors are from Midway.  All we’ve known is hard work and we are trying to ensure that MCCWA is a success.  We are committed to using our professional experience, which is over 100 years between the 5 current Board members to make good things happen.  We need your continued support and your understanding to let us do our jobs.

What I know personally is that I and the other members of the Board are always doing various tasks  (meeting with each other, meeting with lawyers, listening to meetings, writing grants, meeting with utility experts, meeting with office staff, meeting with customers, creating forms, etc.) As a full-time therapist, a wife, an aunt and caregiver to 5 children under 6 years of age, and the owner of a farm, more than likely I will not attend every community meeting that is held by the community.

Attending meetings in the Midway community is not a requirement for the Board of MCCWA or our staff.  When I have attended those meetings in the past, I have always said that if a customer has an issue or a concern to please just call me.  I’d rather address it with a customer over the phone or visit your residence instead of having a customer wait to attend a meeting that I may or may not attend.  In addition, I can’t spend time going back and forth with anyone or any group of residents.

We have a lot to do and I specifically set aside time that allows me to do what I have to do to keep my commitment to MCCWA, to myself, and to my family.  I am asking that you please understand that and support our efforts in building the MCCWA without feeling that if we don’t see you in person we aren’t working.  If you missed something let us know.  You can listen to the Annual meeting that was held in November 2020 as the meeting was recorded via zoom and is found on our Facebook page.  You can reach me and other Board members via our website and Facebook.  My personal cell phone number is 407-619-6620.     In addition, you will be able to access all of the information stated in this letter as well as pay your bill online, send us direct emails, etc., via the website by the end of the month. When you get a chance like our MCCWA Facebook page and leave a review on Google.  We look forward to continued success.  Love to all.

Sincerely,

Viola Posley

Viola Posley, PhD, LCSW, MSW

Chairman of the Board