HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - May 10, 2013
Published: Fri, 05/10/13
=================================================================
Have You Tried These HOA Best Practices?
=================================================================
In this week's tip, we give you a taste of six ideas
HOA boards nationwide have implemented to make their
communities better places to live.
1. Board members are now available to listen.
"The one thing that's changed for us is that we
actually have the trustees [board members] in the
neighborhood who give out their phone numbers so
people can call with questions or concerns.
Previously, everything went through a management
company and concerns were never taken care of. Now,
whether good or bad, the neighbors can call the
trustees and get their concerns heard. Most owners
have mentioned to me that they're happier with
this process."
Jessica Rider is treasurer of the 116-lot Bryan
Springs Subdivision Association in High Ridge, Mo.
2. Board members have learned to be good losers.
"Most successful boards have open and honest board
members, and when they don't agree with a decision
that's made, they disagree with it and then fall in
line. The most dysfunctional boards I've seen are
those with members who've been outvoted and refuse
to let the issue go. It's very dysfunctional when
a vote's taken and board members who've 'lost'
continue to try to get their way.
"One of our large communities recently had lots and
lots of discussion and a very contested board vote
about a fitness center. The board was split into two
groups with strong opinions, and when the vote came
down, the group with four board members won. And that
was the last you ever heard of the three losing
board members on that issue. They'd had very heated
discussions, but when it was over, it was over. They'd
lost, and they realized that. It's a very functional
board in a very functional community."
Steven Parker is president of RMI Management in
Las Vegas, which manages hundreds of community
associations.
To read all 6 Ways Boards are Improving Their HOA's
Operations, check out our new article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/845.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
================================================================
HOA Legal Committees: Good Idea That Can Be Abused
In this week's tip, we answer a reader's question about the legitimacy of his
HOA's legal committee and whether its secretive deliberations are
necessary.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/HOA-Legal-Committees-Good-Idea-That-Can-Be-Abused.cfm
================================================================
HOA Legal Committee: To Be or Not to Be?
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "A few years back our HOA board formed a legal
committee of board members. They have been operating outside of the board on
all issues, even those lacking pending litigation. Over the past 12 years,
I've been on the board five times, serving in an officer position each time.
This year I was appointed to the legal committee.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Legal-Committee-To-Be-or-Not-to-Be.cfm
================================================================
Was This a Secret HOA Meeting? You Be the Judge
In this week's tip, we discuss the fallout from what may have been a secret
board meeting. Here's what happened. AnHOAleader.com reader says a
handful of board members met to discuss how they'd handle a sensitive issue
at the next meeting--but they didn't tell anybody else they were meeting.
When the others found out, they balked.
It's not completely clear to all of our experts whether this board
absolutely, positively did anything wrong. But it may have.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/Was-This-a-Secret-HOA-Meeting-You-Be-the-Judge.cfm
================================================================
Are Illinois Courts a Danger to Its State's HOAs and Others?
In this week's tip, we head backto Illinois to discuss yet another
questionable Illinois court ruling that could have implications for HOAs
far and wide. (See last month's article on another questionable Illinois
court ruling.)
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/Are-Illinois-Courts-a-Danger-to-Its-States-HOAs-and-Others.cfm
================================================================
Illinois Court Rules Owner Can Shirk HOA Assessments
Last month, we discussed the wisdom of an Illinois Supreme Court case,Poris
v. Lake Holiday Property Owners Association, allowing HOA security
officials to stop and write tickets to speeding home owners. (See last
month's article.) In what we hope doesn't become a regular series, we'll now
discuss another controversial Illinois court case.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Illinois-Court-Rules-Owner-Can-Shirk-HOA-Assessments.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 2013, Plain-English Media, LLC
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com