After serving the community as a member of the North Shore Towers Board of Directors for 14 years, Chuck Robbins has decided to retire from the Board.
“Everybody has a shelf life and I think I’ve reached mine,” Robbins said. “It’s time to move on. We have other good people here.”
A resident for about 30 years, Robbins spent 13 of his 14 years on the Board as president. During this past year, he was acting as a community ombudsman.
Robbins said that his proudest accomplishment during his Board service was that, between 1996 and 2001, there was never a maintenance increase or assessment. He said that during this time the cooperative was still able to have a surplus while doing landscaping, redoing the arcade, putting in new roads and sidewalks and making improvements to the golf course and tennis courts, among others.
Robbins noted that things changed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks when things such as oil prices and tax assessments “went through the roof,” making it impossible for future Boards of Directors to hold the line on maintenance.
During last month’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, Robbins was recognized for his many years of contributions.
“There’s a gentleman who’s leaving the Board this year and I think he deserves a great deal of recognition from our community,” Board President Bob Ricken said. “He was successful at being elected on five occasions and Chuck was the first ever recipient of the Director of the Year Award by the Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.”
While giving a brief speech during the meeting, Robbins said that the past year had been “particularly gratifying” and thanked Ricken and the other Board members for their work.
“I’m very proud of the work they’ve done and I think all of you have benefited from the effort and time put in by all of the Board members,” he said. “I’m very proud to have served with them. I’m very proud to have been your neighbor for over 30 years and I’m very proud to have served you in the capacity as a Board member. It’s my distinct pleasure and privilege to live out my life in this community with all of you.”
Robbins later said that receiving the recognition was very exciting for him and that it was something he was not expecting.
One of the things that Robbins will take away from his time on the Board is the notion that in order to keep the “outstanding lifestyle” at North Shore Towers that attracts people to live there, people must get involved so that the cooperative will continue to grow. He said that “the help and advice of people serving on committees” and “good people being elected to the Board” are required to accomplish that growth.
Robbins said that things are being left in good hands. He said that he felt Ricken did a very good job as Board President and said that the Towers has outstanding management and an outstanding general manager in Glen Kotowski. He also extended his thanks to Errol Brett, house attorney, and to Kris Debysingh, director of security, who he said have always been there for the Board. Robbins also described Jim Short as “an employee of our sponsor who, nevertheless, always put shareholder interest above all else.”
Now that he has retired from the Board, Robbins said that he will “sit back” and give advice if anyone wants, but will not be a critic.
“In closing I wish to thank all of my fellow shareholders, not just for their support at election time but more importantly for their warmth and affection,” Robbins said. “God bless you all.”
