These two sites are generally well managed and contain lots of information and discussion, albeit members of each site seem to have decidedly different opinions on OPA politics.

Ocean Pines ~ Get Involved (GI) with 1,800 members

and

Ocean Pines ROC with 4,400 members.

GI was started by Esther Diller, wife of current OPA president and board candidate for re-election Stuart Lakernick, and Colby Phillips, back in the day when there was some expectation that Phillips would become OPA's General Manager. Diller was "mentoring" Phillips, as was my friend Jeff Knepper, an appointed board member for a short period.

A major goal of GI became encouraging association members to run for the Board of Directors and volunteer on Committees. GI was successful, probably beyond their wildest imagination. For the last two years, GI-supported individuals have held six of seven positions on the OPA Board of Directors.

This represents a major board majority that will continue, on the surface, with a 5-2 majority, regardless of the election results this year. On the surface, as there appear to be cracks in support of GI among at least three or four of the sitting board members originally closely aligned with GI.

ROC is the creation of Sherri Clifford, a relative newcomer to Ocean Pines. Clifford's ROC is newer, but with thousands more members. Not surprising, perhaps, as Clifford spends many dollars in advertising the site, including full page ads in local newspapers, and ads in OPA promotional materials.

Clifford also created a podcast, a website, and an online newspaper.

The site most active politically at this point is ROC, perhaps because board candidate Amy Peck, an admin on that site, is attempting to take a spot on the board. Candidate Lakernick posts campaign videos on GI. If Peck wins, the majority will be 5-2; should Peck lose, the majority control will remain 6.1.

ROC and Clifford are also the target of ongoing attacks by a Facebook hate site administrator who is obviously a supporter of GI.