HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - December 10, 2010
Published: Thu, 12/09/10
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Tips for Happy HOA Holidays!
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This week's tip is a reminder that one way to bring your
community together is to party!
The Park Plaza Association in Albuquerque, N.M., is one of the
many associations that choose to do a traditional holiday party.
"We have an annual 'holiday party' during the month of December,"
says Trish Scott, the association's manager. "The bill is footed
by the association and it's always budgeted for. All of the
association is invited to attend, and we have a committee of
volunteers who decorate the lobby and hospitality room, where the
party is held. Those on the committee also cook all the delicious
food that's served. We usually have music as well. Last year, we
had a violinist and harpist. There was a huge turnout."
Other inexpensive holiday events include competitions. "We've
had associations do Christmas decoration competitions," 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.
"Though associations tend to call them 'Christmas' decoration
contests, you can also call them 'holiday' decoration contests.
We've had lots of homeowners whose home's decorations included
blue stars and lights to celebrate Hanukkah. In addition to the
contest, they had an event for the viewing of the decorations to
connect people, too."
Of course, when you plan a holiday party, you must be careful not
to ruffle feathers. There's no law that says you can't call your
party a 'Christmas' party. But if you do that, you can make
residents who don't celebrate Christmas feel unwelcome, which
defeats the purpose of bringing community residents together.
Can your association actually foot the bill for a holiday party?
Get the answer, and learn of other holiday ideas with our new
article, http://www.hoaleader.com/members/517.cfm.
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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