Association member Sherrie Clifford tells the OPA Board of Directors there is a "Need to shut down (social media) groups that have their own agendas behind them!" Draconian? Appalling? An early April Fools joke?

This incredible statement took place during a meeting of the Board of Directors with the Strategic Planning Committee on March 29, 2022.

Association member George Alston wrote on OceanPinesForum.com, "I don't believe what I just read. Sounds like the book Animal Farm."

Former board member Esther Diller wrote, "Wow, just when you thought it couldn't get crazier."

OceanPinesForum.com member Robert Enderle wrote, "I don’t think there’s any legal way for OPA to 'shut down' a Facebook group, unless it were demonstrated that the page was somehow libelous… and good luck with that. Anyone suggesting this as a viable option — in public, no less — is either outside of their mind or seeking to manipulate people through easily-punctured rhetoric."

Clifford, a relative newcomer to Ocean Pines, is the founder of a Facebook group whose members have been battling online with another Facebook group created by Diller.

Board member Amy Peck seems to be central to the inter-group animosity, having initially supported the Diller group created about a year ago and then recently switching her alliance to this new Clifford group. Clifford, says her group intends: "To provide oversight, transparency, trust and positivity with the OPA and its residents. Centralized location for information and conversation."

Clifford also wrote, "Ocean Pines currently has a Social Media crisis on their hands right now and the OPA needs to get this under control vs always being on the defense!" A crisis? Yes a crisis, Clifford says.

Dinah Hoffmeister, a Diller supporter, wrote, "Now this is funny. The troubles didn’t start until (the Clifford group) wanted to oversee the board of directors by having said board of directors in her group!"

Let's backtrack a bit to examine three things that took place at the board meeting of March 23, 2022. First, Hoffmeister attacked board members Amy Peck and Frank Daly in public comments, publicly exposing private communication from Peck regarding former board member Esther Diller. Hoffmeister also revealed some private communication from former OPA employee Colby Phillips that was negative about Peck.

 A Matter of Trust 

Second, director Doug Parks brought up for discussion the possibility of some sort of board policy regarding board member participation on social media sites. Director Rick Farr was apparently ready with some sample policy but never provided the details. Director Larry Perrone wisely suggested dropping the entire topic. Incredibly, president Colette Horn then appointed Peck to look into the issue and report back to the board. 

Third, Horn appointed Clifford to the Search Committee but rejected the application of Stuart Lakernick, Diller's husband. I know. I know. The players in the cast can become complicated.

Not many days later the board meets with the Strategic Planning Committee and Clifford makes her outrageous comment. However, her comments to the board did not end with suggesting the need to shut down some social media groups. Clifford wants the board to establish a Social Media Committee and she wants it "ASAP!"

There is more. Clifford also writes on OceanPinesForum.com, "If the OPA potentially were to have their own Paper and/or Social Media Group the residents might be more likely to read & communicate where centralized factual information is being shared."

Asked about her "paper" idea, Clifford did not respond. As a relative newcomer, Clifford may not be aware that OPA tried an official community forum social media site a few years ago. It failed miserably. OPA does, however, maintain an official page on Facebook and an extensive website loaded with factual information. It is not enough for Clifford.

Hoffmeister wrote to Clifford about her Facebook group, "When asked by many people the purpose of an (Clifford's) overlook group, why the logo was very similar to Ocean Pines logo, why the mugs and business cards, etc., you would delete their comments, turn off comments, put people on admin approval or worse yet, remove them from group. That is not transparency, that is control."

Others have made similar charges of deleted posts and lockouts regarding the Diller group.

God forbid any board members with half a brain even think about becoming wrapped up in all this nonsense. Trying to control social media would be like trying to catch mosquitoes with a crab net.