“Retire from work, not life,” was the mantra at Sun City when the community was filling up with residents.
Many Sun Citians left jobs and careers behind, and embraced social activities, recreation, and volunteerism. But that wasn’t true of all of us.
It was a health emergency that sent Bill Ziletti (former teacher) on a new path to a “career” in Sun City. (Photos by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Bill Ziletti is one of the latter group. He and wife, Mary, came to Sun City in the fall of 2004. Back in Virginia, he had been an adjunct professor at a local university. He came to Huntley, planning to continue to do just that, and also volunteer.
Then along came one of those events that remind us that we don’t always control our own destiny, or even our activities for the next few hours. On Jan 1, 2005, a heart attack suddenly switched Bill’s focus to his health. He recovered later that year. It changed his priorities, shifted his direction in Sun City, and slowed him down some. But it didn’t stop him.
What he decided to do that year led to an impressive decade of governance service in which he defined just what volunteerism is all about. Governing can make some heavy demands on a person’s time, but along the way Ziletti also found time to enjoy his leisure time interests.
The association staff and board currently are conducting a strong campaign to encourage more volunteerism among residents. The Sun Day decided to tie in to this effort by recognizing his example, (among many) of volunteer service to our community. Ziletti spent his career in corporate America, specializing in mergers and acquisitions for several large insurance companies. He moved several times throughout the nation, going willingly and enthusiastically wherever his work took him.
“I enjoyed college teaching, and I fully intended to continue doing that after Mary and I came here,” he said. “The heart attack changed that. I decided not to continue working, and I started looking around for some other things to do. I never envisioned a rocking chair-type retirement when I came here, I wanted to stay active and take on challenges. I was treasurer of a homeowners association for four years before I got here, and I knew that would give me some understanding of how a non-profit organization like Sun City works.”
Ziletti began his Sun City governance “career” in late 2005. He was appointed to the Transition Steering Committee that was guiding and coordinating the changeover from a developer-led organization by Pulte Homes, to a resident-controlled one. He served on this committee for three years, playing a key role in setting up policies, programs, and procedures that are still in place today.
The rest is history, Ziletti style.
He served four years on the Finance Advisory Committee, and was elected to a two-year term on the board of directors in 2010-11, serving as treasurer the first year and president the next. He later spent four years as chair of the Insurance Subcommittee of the Finance Committee, and then got back on the finance committee for two more years. Rolling into high gear, he served two years on the IT-Communications Committee and its website subcommittee. He played an important role in developing the CAM website into what it is today. He completed his governance by contributing another two-year term on the board of directors in 2014-15, when he served in the offices of secretary and treasurer.
He also has found time to work actively in the Computer Club, and to serve it three years as president from 2007-09. He has been an active member of the Woodchucks, and was chair of the Charter Club President’s Council in 2008-09.
Ziletti isn’t the only Sun City resident to leave this kind of legacy, of course. Dozens of residents, too numerous to identify, have made lengthy and distinguished contributions to the board of directors, advisory committees, the Neighborhood Advisory Council, and Neighborhood Watch. Many of them remain active today, inside and outside of Sun City.
In addition, members and officers of the more than 60 charter clubs and special interest groups have played significant roles, some of them for many consecutive years.
Today, Ziletti continues to be active in the Woodchucks and Computer Club (he rarely is seen in public without his android cell phone in his hand). A dedicated Christian believer and churchgoer, he also plays an active role in a local church. Ziletti says that volunteering isn’t just a late-in-life practice, but is something he always has done.
What part of all this is he most pleased about?
“One thing we accomplished on the insurance subcommittee was an assessment and study of risk exposures, to make sure we had adequate coverage for our exposures, and controlled costs. I also believe that the IT Communications Committee achieved a favorable impact on charter clubs and neighborhoods, keeping them informed and getting feedback from active leaders in those groups. When you are really listening to the residents, you can fix things.”
“Another project that took several years was serving on cost-cutting teams that reorganized cell phone usage by staff,” he said. “Each department (lifestyle, maintenance, fitness, etc.) had a cell phone contract, and we cut it down to one central one, and reduced our costs by 50%. We also centralized the purchase and cost of computer printer paper and many other supply items, and started using cost-effective LED lights.
“It was really interesting and enjoyable to work with about 200 people that participated in governance,” he said. It was great to be a part of maintaining Sun City for the future. We tried hard to listen to residents, to get all sides of an issue, and work together as a team. It was a great experience for me to work with everyone to fix problems and improve the way we did things.”
But Bill isn’t just about hard work. He has a lot of leisure time interests. He vigorously pursues one of his favorite activities regularly – eating out. After church on Sunday morning, a favorite event is to head to a nearby restaurant for a leisurely lunch and lively conversation with friends and neighbors. He loves to travel, and he does it often. He enjoys cruising the world’s oceans and rivers, and has done it nearly a dozen times on several continents.
“Cruising is one of the best ways I know to change my pace, relax, and see the world,” he said.
After nearly 11 years of continuous service, he decided to downsize in 2015. He informed his governing associates that he was “retiring” from the board and committees, to devote more time to his family, the Woodchucks, Computer Club, church, and, naturally, leisure activities.
Does he have any thoughts about the future of Sun City?
“We are well financed for our activities,” he said. “But we need to look more actively at our future needs. We need to project ourselves 5, 10, 15 years into the future. I’ve frequently thought about putting aside $1 a month (per resident) for the possibility of some day building facilities, or buying land, putting up a performing arts center, or possibly expanding our recreational facilities.”
But for the immediate future, Bill has some leisure time plans. This fall, he and more than a dozen Sun City friends and neighbors will head to Quebec, the Canadian maritime provinces and the U.S. east coast on a 14-day Princess cruise.
