Set your goals, make your plans, and live your dreams! Community association board members are often faced with competing factions in the community who demand that the board fulfill their demands. Without a clear mission statement and goals, the board may have difficulty determining what course of action is best for the majority of members
Community association management oftentimes can save money and headaches. The number one reason many homeowner associations choose to self manage is to save money. Although an association may save money in management fees, the long-term benefits provided by a professional management company outweigh the short-term savings. All too often, self-managed companies run into a
“The object of Robert’s Rules of Order is to assist an assembly to accomplish the work for which it was designed, in the best possible manner” according to Henry M. Robert, Robert’s Rules of Order preface, 1876. Robert’s Rules of Order is a series of procedures written by Mr. Robert, who was a U.S. Army
“Community” and “Communication” have the same root word, which means a coming together. So it makes sense that good communications can lead to good communities, especially when boards provide so many ways to facilitate good communication, both to and from the client associations that we serve. These days, a person will provide his email
It may come as a surprise to you, but occasionally a board member needs to be removed from the board. In some cases, a conflict of interest or unethical behavior may be grounds to remove an individual from the board. In other cases, the behavior of a board member may become so obstructive that
A homeowners association is an organization established to govern a private community. Typically it owns and manages some common property for owners of private houses or condominium/townhome units. By buying a lot and/or home, an owner automatically becomes a member of the homeowners association of which it is a part. Most homeowners associations are corporations
It is important for boards of directors to be aware that both real and apparent conflicts of interest or dualities of interest sometime occur in the course of conducting the business affairs of the homeowner association. The appearance of same can be troublesome – – even if there is in fact no conflict whatsoever. Conflicts
Compared to a lawsuit, mediation is swift, confidential, fair and low cost. The ABC Homeowners Association, in Houston, Texas, has been trying to collect late fees from a homeowner for months. It seems the homeowner did not understand why he was being charged with the fees – he felt he was unjustly being singled out
To be effective, a homeowners association needs a strong board of directors that understands its role and pursues it with passion and a concise mission in mind. The following outline provides an overview of board roles and responsibilities. To form an effective board, directors must have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The past decades have seen an explosion of community associations in the United States. It’s estimated that more than 50 million Americans now live in homes that are part of a community association, and that four out of every five new housing starts will be part of a community association. It’s no wonder that many