The Most Powerful Tool for HOAs: Meeting Participation
If you’ve ever lived in an Homeowners Association (HOA), you know that sometimes changes happen that you were not quite expecting, and, let’s face it, surprises are not always fun (unless it’s cake!). Luckily, HOAs have a wonderful tool available to owners to help alleviate the element of surprise: Board Meetings. Decisions of the Board are made at regular Board Meetings and owners are always welcome to attend the open or general session of Board meetings. During these meetings, owners are able to observe the discussions and decisions made by the Board and get a clearer idea of the ever-elusive ‘WHY’ behind the decisions. Additionally, there is a ‘Homeowner Forum’ during the open session, which allows owners a few minutes to share any ideas or concerns with the Board and/or Management, because, YOU, the Owner, deserve to be heard, and the Board wants to hear from you!
Having personally attended a great number of Board meetings with many different Boards, I can tell you your Board volunteers truly appreciate it when owners both attend and participate. Your Board members live in the same community as you and pay the same assessments you do. When it comes to budget time, it can be tough having to increase assessments when necessary to adequately fund your maintenance requirements. No one wants to pay MORE money, right? Some Board members become social pariahs within their neighborhoods simply because someone doesn’t understand why the decision was made.
Observing the meeting, you will finally understand ‘why’ and possibly build a greater respect for your elected directors to make these decisions. You will also witness their discussion of various options and compromises, plus see the exercising of the Directors’ Fiduciary Duty to the Association: A responsibility to act and make decisions in the best interest of the Association.
We all have the same goal: a successful HOA. Communication, participation and trust are the foundations of a successful HOA. The owners and their elected volunteer directors, coupled with their partners at their Management company (like Aperion), help make this happen!
Board meeting agendas are posted in a prominent area or distributed to the membership via email or mail and outline all items to be discussed during the upcoming meeting and provide details as to when and where the meeting will be held. There is no need for you to RSVP, just come on down and join the team! Who knows? You may end up making a few new friends!
Author: Marlena Weisbrot, Aperion Community Manager
Having personally attended a great number of Board meetings with many different Boards, I can tell you your Board volunteers truly appreciate it when owners both attend and participate. Your Board members live in the same community as you and pay the same assessments you do. When it comes to budget time, it can be tough having to increase assessments when necessary to adequately fund your maintenance requirements. No one wants to pay MORE money, right? Some Board members become social pariahs within their neighborhoods simply because someone doesn’t understand why the decision was made.
Observing the meeting, you will finally understand ‘why’ and possibly build a greater respect for your elected directors to make these decisions. You will also witness their discussion of various options and compromises, plus see the exercising of the Directors’ Fiduciary Duty to the Association: A responsibility to act and make decisions in the best interest of the Association.
We all have the same goal: a successful HOA. Communication, participation and trust are the foundations of a successful HOA. The owners and their elected volunteer directors, coupled with their partners at their Management company (like Aperion), help make this happen!
Board meeting agendas are posted in a prominent area or distributed to the membership via email or mail and outline all items to be discussed during the upcoming meeting and provide details as to when and where the meeting will be held. There is no need for you to RSVP, just come on down and join the team! Who knows? You may end up making a few new friends!
Author: Marlena Weisbrot, Aperion Community Manager
