HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - August 3, 2012
Published: Fri, 08/03/12
=================================================================
Valued HOA Board Members at the End of Their Rope?
Try These Fixes
=================================================================
In a new article we show you 10 tips to turn frowns
upside down when it comes to board members who've
done yeoman's work but who are ready to exit stage
right. In this week's tip we offer 3 of those 10 ways
to prevent HOA board member burnout.
1. Remember that prevention is the cure. "To prevent
board burnout, establish a protocol for the board
that'll prevent it from happening," says Debra A. Warren,
vice president of client relations at the Dallas-based
Associa(r), a community association management company
with offices throughout the United States, Canada,
and Mexico. "Make sure board members understand their
role is to set policy and as much as they can-and
I know it's difficult with smaller associations-avoid
micromanaging and volunteering to do the micro-operations
themselves. Try to resist that temptation so you can
focus on the big-picture issues and spend your time
where it's most important for the association."
2. Train your replacement from day one. "I tell board
members that from the time they get on the board,
they should start grooming their successor," says
Harry Styron, a community association attorney at
Styron & Shilling in Branson, Mo. "That's best done
by finding interested owners and asking them to serve
on committees that make reports to the board, whether
those are standing or ad hoc committees. The idea is
to find people who can become board members later
and introduce them to the board's responsibilities
and how the board needs information assembled,
essentially grooming them for leadership.
3. Recognize you're one of many. "I give a talk to
new board members, so I have the opportunity to warn
them of burnout and the problems of trying to act
alone even though it's sometimes hard to find
volunteers," says Styron. "Board members shouldn't
identify too closely with their board role and forget
that they're members of a board. They don't personally
have any special board power and should remember that
board responsibilities are always shared."
Learn all 10 Ways to Prevent and Cure
HOA Board Member Burnout in our new article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/746.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
================================================================
Are You Shocked! Shocked! to Find Gambling at Your HOA?
A Florida HOAleader.com reader is gambling with his fellow home owners on
HOA property, but he says he was given the OK. Is that OK?
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Are-You-Shocked-Shocked-to-Find-Gambling-at-Your-HOA.cfm
================================================================
Seven Steps to Reform If Your HOA Board Has Been Ignoring Your
Own Rules
A common mantra among our experts is that you must enforce your own rules or
you could lose your right to enforce them altogether.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Seven-Steps-to-Reform-If-Your-HOA-Board-Has-Been-Ignoring-Your-Own-Rules.cfm
================================================================
HOA Owners Argue Over Temporary Structures--But It's a Dangerous
Debate
In this week's tip, we begin to answer a reader's seemingly simple question
about whether a playset is a temporary structure. But there may be way more
going on behind this question than just an innocent inquiry.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/HOA-Owners-Argue-Over-Temporary-StructuresBut-Its-a-Dangerous-Debate.cfm
================================================================
What's a Temporary Structure at an HOA?
An HOAleader.com reader writes, "Are playsets considered a temporary
structure? In our CCRs it states that no tent, utility shed, shack, trailer
or other structure of a temporary nature shall be placed upon a lot or any part
of the property. If a playset is a temporary structure, it should be denied
under the CCRs. If it's denied for this reason, can the family sue the HOA on
the basis of discrimination because of the children? This community has
four families with children and the rest are retired. So if the playset were
approved, then the retired group wants to know why they cannot put up a
gazebo."
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Whats-a-Temporary-Structure-at-an-HOA.cfm
================================================================
Is Your Pool Draining HOA Funds?
In this week's tip, we get you started on saving money on your pool operations
with these three suggestions...
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/Is-Your-Pool-Draining-HOA-Funds.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 2012, Plain-English Media, LLC
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com