Panorama Builds Community Through Grassroots Leadership

panorama resident council
Kathy Houston (left) and Sue Ballard discuss Resident Council business. Sue is the new President of the council while Kathy served for the past few years as the President.
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By Lynn West

panorama resident council
Kathy Houston (left) and Sue Ballard discuss Resident Council business. Sue is the new President of the council while Kathy served for the past few years as the President.

Why would folks leave the beautiful weather of Green Valley, Arizona or Sea Ranch, California to come to Lacey, Washington? Retirees from 45 states have found the answer at Panorama. After visiting with residents and members of the Resident Council, I began to piece together what makes the life at Panorama so attractive, and why the waiting list is getting longer.

I wound through the streets of Holladay Park, one of the 17 districts that populate the 140 acres of Panorama. Meeting Kathy Houston, Past President of the Resident Council and her successor, Sue Ballard was like visiting with old friends. Ensuring that over a thousand residents are well represented, President Sue Ballard is the official interface with Joseph DiSanto, current CEO of the non-profit corporation that operates Panorama.

Sue and Kathy are eminently qualified and seem to enjoy the roles they play in leading Panorama. Kathy, the former Executive Director of Girl Scouts Western Washington, said, “All of my strategic planning and broad financial expertise definitely was an asset when I was President.” Sue brings a different but equally valuable set of skills. “I was a teacher and administrator for many years in the Vancouver School District and at WSU Vancouver,” she said. The residents I spoke with agree that they were very wise when they chose these leaders.

Part of the appeal of Panorama is the self-governing organizational structure that appears to work extremely well. Trying to explain how the governance is based on the community’s physical layout, Sue and Kathy shared a recent map showing how the community has spread over the past fifty years. Each of the 17 neighborhoods select a representative who meets monthly with the Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and then reports back to district neighbors. Kathy and Sue both began as district representatives.

“Each neighborhood has its own culture and way of doing things,” mentions Peggy Carmichael, a current district representative. The 69 people in her neighborhood have chosen to have their monthly get-togethers at the Garden Room in the Chambers House Restaurant in the central area of Panorama. Peggy said, “I share what I learn from the Resident Council, introduce and welcome new neighbors, and introduce guest speakers.”

Dick Voege, former Superintendent of Aberdeen School District, has lived at Panorama with his wife, Dorothy, for almost five years. “The leadership is doing a heck of a good job,” he continued. “I’m just glad my next door neighbor volunteered to be our district representative. It is a lot of work and not everyone wants to take that on.”

According to Sue Ballard, “About a third of the representatives change each year, so there is always continuity on the Council and an opportunity for interested residents to participate.”

panorama resident council
Sue Ballard (far right), current President of the Panorama Resident Council, listens as a Benevolent Fund President addresses residents at a district meeting.

In addition to meetings, residents of Panorama have many other ways to stay connected. Sue and Kathy shared the most recent newsletter, which contained a calendar of events slated for February. With over 50 planned Resident Activities, dates and times were outlined for everything from Tai Chi classes to bus trips to plays in Seattle.

Panorama also has its own television studio. Kathy Houston works at the studio and does a weekly interview on the “Inside Panorama” show, which highlights activities, events, and employee spotlights. Another show, “Outside Panorama,” focuses on the broader community, often interviewing government officials or other newsmakers.

The organizational structure at Panorama allows for fluidity. Kathy commented, “My concept of age has certainly changed since I moved here. We have so many active folks in their 80s and 90s and several over a hundred.” During the last five years, 25% of the new residents at Panorama were in the 60s.

Sue Ballard explained how her road led to Panorama. “When we decided to retire, we were going to buy a condo in Olympia, but then we took a look at Panorama. We asked ourselves if we wanted to move twice, and decided to come directly to Panorama.”

Laurie Padget who has lived with her husband Dave at Panorama for only 18 months said, “We, like many of the younger residents, wanted more room, so we selected a single family home that was remodeled from a duplex..” Laurie predicts such changes will be happening more.

Mr. DiSanto, the CEO of Panorama, shared an amazing statistic at the Resident Council meeting last week. He told the group, “Every day 10,000 people will turn 65 for the next 18 years.” The Baby Boomers are headed to Panorama. Look out Arizona and California, even with our liquid sunshine, future residents from sunnier regions continue to wait in line to find their home at Panorama.

To learn more about Panorama, visit panorama.org or call 360-456-0111.

 

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