HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - September 24, 2010
Published: Sun, 09/19/10
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HOA Strategic Planning: How to Perform True Strategic Planning
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Does your homeowners association you have a strategic plan? We
don't mean just a budget and reserve study, but a full-blown plan
for where your board would like your association to be in 3, 5,
or 10 years. In this week's tip, we offer insight for smart
strategic planning for HOAs.
Strategic planning can guide your board and unite your board,
management, and members through common goals and objectives, says
Debra A. Warren, principal of Cinnabar Consulting in San Rafael,
Calif., which provides training and employee development services
to community association management firms and training and
strategic planning sessions for association board members.
Why don't more boards do strategic planning? Warren says there's
a perception that it's complicated and requires a lot of time and
money. Many board members also think their reserve study is their
plan. Not true. A reserve study is an important part of a
comprehensive plan, but it doesn't address many factors--like
changing demographics, local economic conditions, and aging
landscaping and design elements--that contribute to the overall
health of your community.
To get your board ready to plan, Warren recommends your board
start by answering five questions:
1. Do we understand our association's legal structure?
2. Do we understand our association's financial condition?
3. Do we understand the human resources available to our
association?
4. What's important to our members?
5. What conditions are present in our general community?
Why do you need to answer those questions? To learn more about
why each question is important, the steps to take after you've
answered them, and the importance of a physical plant analysis,
reserve study, and succession planning, see our new article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/484.cfm.
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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You've Done HOA Planning; Have You Done Strategic Planning? 5
Questions Your Board Should Answer
The best way to manage your condo or homeowners association is by
planning rather than reacting. But how can your HOA board develop
a strategic plan? Here, we discuss what your board should know
about strategic planning and provide tips to help you effectively
plan 3, 5, or 10 years down the road.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/483.cfm >
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Should You Separate Religion from Homeowners Association Business?
In this week's tip, we discuss one of the topics to avoid if you'
d like to steer clear of controversy--religion. Is there ever a
role for religion in your condo or homeowners association's
business? Can you open meetings with a prayer? What about
restricting your facilities to only members of one religious
group?
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/public/481.cfm >
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HOAs and Religion: The Role of Religion in Your Homeowners
Association
Can your condo or homeowner association begin its public meetings
with a prayer? What about allowing only some religious groups but
not others to have meetings in your common areas and facilities?
The experts are divided. Here are their thoughts.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/480.cfm >
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4 Tips for Avoiding Trouble When Entering Homeowners' Units
When can a representative of your condo or homeowners association-
-whether it's a board member or your manager--enter a homeowner's
unit? And what should they do to protect the HOA and unit owners
when doing so? Here are four tips.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/478.cfm >
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Condo Board Member Arrested! How to Avoid a Similar Fate
Something went horribly wrong in July at the Four Sea Suns
Condominium in Boynton Beach, Fla. In this week's tip, we explain
the unfortunate events that led to a condo board member's arrest
and get you started with one of four tips on when and why to
enter owners' units.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/public/477.cfm >
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