How does your community attract people to be on the BOD?

We request volunteers in the newsletter, post it on the website and ask specific individuals personally.

I've tried banging my head on the wall and walking the streets at night muttering to myself, but those two methods didn't seem to work well.

About three months prior to the annual meeting we publish a notice in the newsletter that elections will be coming up, and we invite prospective candidates to come to a "board information night" about two months prior to elections. We have also had the PM mail notices and invitations to homeowners inviting them to come. Board members will also invite people who have shown interest in volunteering, and even the loudest and most frequent complainers, as well as the micromanagers. (It's put up or shut up time.)

We usually have a reasonable turnout for the "board information night." The board attends and each board member describes what his or her officer duties are. what its been like for them to be on the board, and what the responsibilities are. Those attending are invited to submit their names to the PM to be nominated and placed on the ballot. We haven't had any difficulty in getting enough volunteers so far. The PM will place the names that are submitted on the ballot (they will automatically be nominated by a board member at the annual meeting). Additonal nominations from the floor are also taken. At the annual meeting, after the nominations and before tha actual voting, each candidate is given a brief period to introduce themselves to the community, describe their background and how it relates to being on the board, state why he or she wants to be on the board, their vision for the community, and to answer questions from the membership.