A new CEO was coming on board, and met with the outgoing CEO on his first day. He asked if she had any advice. She told him she had prepared three envelopes marked 1, 2, and 3, and that he should open them at the end of his first, second, and third years. The new CEO tucked them into the top drawer of his desk—and promptly forgot about them.
At the end of his first year, things hadn’t gone well. While rummaging through his desk one day, he found the envelopes. He opened the first. Inside was a single page that read, “Blame your predecessor.” So, he did—and felt much better almost immediately.
By the end of the second year, things were even worse. This time he remembered the envelopes and opened number two. It said, “Reorganize.” So, he did—creating a new org chart that looked very impressive.
The third year flew by—and it was a disaster. He hurriedly opened the last envelope. Inside, it read: “Prepare three envelopes.”
Now, on to this month’s column.
Last June (2025), I reintroduced Between the Numbers as a column focused on financial matters relevant to members here at Heritage Palms. The column was originally started by Paul Tilly, a CPA and longtime member of the Finance Committee. In fact, Paul is something of our resident historian on all things financial at the Club—and if you ever need to know what happened to a budget line item in 2012, he’s your guy.
My goal has been to provide insight for those of us who aren’t—and never were—accountants or finance professionals, while keeping things light enough to be an enjoyable read. Many of you have been kind enough to offer compliments, some have challenged my thinking (always welcome), and a few of you seem to look the other way when I walk by… those must be the accountants, still reconciling something.
This column isn’t strictly about financial matters, but rather about the value of owning here at Heritage Palms. The Club is financially healthy and well-positioned to weather whatever storms may come—both financial, and the occasional Florida variety. Despite some understandable concerns about dues increases and the cost of golf cart rentals (which, at times, seem to rival a car payment), our Club remains one of the best values in SWFL. And that’s before you even consider the intangible benefits.
This past year brought many highlights: new tennis and pickleball courts, a new sidewalk, and of course, the outstanding new Oasis. It may have been a long time coming, but judging by the crowds, it’s clearly been worth the wait. At this point, the biggest challenge may be finding an open chair.
One of my personal highlights was watching a tennis match featuring two members of the Over 70 Men’s Team—Ron Morrison and Bob Gerlicher—both in their 90s. Proof that around here, age is just a number… one that may come with a very dependable backhand.
This has been the first season my wife, Kellie, and I have spent here full-time, and it’s been a terrific experience. Heritage Palms offers outstanding amenities, dedicated staff, and beautifully maintained grounds. More importantly, it’s a place where we’ve made many new friends—from across the eastern United States and even a couple of Canadian provinces. Finances matter, of course—but friendships like these are priceless… and considerably more fun than a budget meeting.
The opportunities to get involved are nearly endless. We’ve played golf, tennis, and bocce—and just as importantly, enjoyed the social side of each. Kellie volunteered with the Nine-Hole Golf League, and I joined the Finance and Communications Committees. Both gave us a chance to contribute while building new relationships—and, in my case, to prove that finance discussions can occasionally include a sense of humor.
So, in closing…if you’re not already involved, I encourage you to jump in. Not just in the amenities, but in the life of the Club. Volunteer, join a committee, meet new people. It’s a big part of what makes Heritage Palms such a special place. And who knows—you might even enjoy it as much as a good round of golf…on a day when you don’t keep score.
At the end of the day, the numbers matter—but the people matter more. And around here, we’re doing pretty well on both fronts.
Should you have ideas for topics you’d like to see covered in Between the Numbers for 2026–27, feel free to email me at [email protected].
