HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - November 20, 2009
Published: Fri, 11/20/09
=================================================================
Has Your HOA Board of Directors Adopted a Model Code of Conduct?
=================================================================
There's no shame in admitting that sometimes you're not sure of
your responsibility as a board member. Being a board member is a
volunteer position, and few associations offer training that
provides in-depth guidance for well-intentioned but inexperienced
board members. That's why you need a model code of conduct for
your board members.
If you don't think that a simple list of guidelines would help
your board, think again. "The general consensus is that a model
code is a good idea, and we find them really helpful," says
Elizabeth White, a shareholder and head of the community
associations practice at the law firm of LeClairRyan in
Williamsburg, Va.
"For a lot of board members," Elizabeth told us, "when they vote
to approve a code of conduct, it makes them stop and think. But
it also gives the rest of the board and management something to
point to when a board member starts straying outside the
appropriate lane. It gives them something objective to evaluate
behavior against. It also prevents board members from saying,
'I didn't know that was inappropriate. I didn't know accepting a
Christmas gift from my landscaper, who also happens to be the
association's landscaper, wasn't proper.'"
To view the 10 points of our model code of conduct for HOA
board members, go to: http://www.hoaleader.com/members/361.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Free Group Membership Upgrade
HOAleader.com members can now get a free upgrade to group
membership.
With a group membership, the rest of your HOA or condo board--up
to 9 additional members--will get their own member accounts.
It's a fantastic value.
Make your job easier. Help the rest of your board get up to
speed on HOA management best practices by adding them to your
HOAleader.com membership today for no cost.
Already a member? Create complimentary accounts for the other
members of your HOA board now:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/main.cfm
Not a member yet? Sign up now with our low individual rates and
then add your fellow board members for no additional cost:
http://www.hoaleader.com/details.cfm
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
================================================================
HOA Board Governance: A Model Code of Conduct for Board Members
We've asked our experts for their best advice on the conduct that
HOA and condo board members should always follow, along with
conduct boards should avoid. Here's that list.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/361.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Finances: Six Tips for Preventing Embezzlement of Association
Money
A Florida condo association recently had $167,000 stolen from its
bank account. The condominium's experience reinforces two truths
about this economy: You can't afford to lose a penny of your
association's money, and desperate people do dumb (and sometimes
illegal) things. Here are six money-handling tips to ensure your
association doesn't end up the victim of embezzlement.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/360.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Facilities and Maintenance: Everything You Need to Know about
Building Exteriors
If you're like most people, you don't give much thought to the
exterior of your buildings until something leaks where it's not
supposed to leak. You can prevent that from happening with visual
inspections and regular maintenance. Here's some basic
information to help you understand how to maintain your HOA
buildings' exteriors.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/355.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Legal Compliance: A Primer on the Fair Housing Act for
Homeowners Associations
The Fair Housing Act prevents many types of discrimination in
housing. Here's a basic overview of how it affects your
homeowners association.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/354.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Financial Matters: What's Receivership, and When Do Condo and
Homeowner Associations Need It?
Though it's still rare in community associations, receivership
has become more common in today's economy. With any luck, your
HOA will never experience receivership. But some unlucky
associations will. So here are some basics on receivership, along
with information about how it's arising in condo and homeowner
associations today.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/353.cfm >
=================================================================
Get your own copy!
Subscribe to the HOAleader.com Tip of the Week at:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/department49.cfm
=================================================================
Please feel free to forward the *entire text* of this email to
others.
Copyright 2009, Plain-English Media, LLC
909 Marina Village Parkway #183
Alameda, CA 94501
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com