EdwardL2 (Florida)
Posts: 15
Posts: 15
Posted:
Any ideas on how to get the neighborhood involved?
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How to get people involved
Started by EdwardL2 • 5 replies • 1713 views
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TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Here are some links to threads within this forum that might help:
Subject: Apathy and Volunteerism: Thinking outside the box
Subject: Recreation/ Social Committee
Subject: Ideas for Forming New Committees
Without involving the HOA, my wife and I hosted a neighborhood BBQ in the center island. We got commitments from individuals to provide grills and tables. We purchased the paper products ourselves. Then we put flyers on the doors inviting the family to the party. Attendees were to provide their own chairs, meat, drinks and a dish to share. We had 4 grills, 5 tables and about 80% participation. I've gotten many requests to host another one. My cost - about $20 for the paper products.
Hope this helps,
Tim
Subject: Apathy and Volunteerism: Thinking outside the box
Subject: Recreation/ Social Committee
Subject: Ideas for Forming New Committees
Without involving the HOA, my wife and I hosted a neighborhood BBQ in the center island. We got commitments from individuals to provide grills and tables. We purchased the paper products ourselves. Then we put flyers on the doors inviting the family to the party. Attendees were to provide their own chairs, meat, drinks and a dish to share. We had 4 grills, 5 tables and about 80% participation. I've gotten many requests to host another one. My cost - about $20 for the paper products.
Hope this helps,
Tim
NormaM1 (Florida)
Posts: 17
Posts: 17
Posted:
This is great! Maybe we can do a Cinco de Mayo or Fourth of July barbecue. Thanks for sharing.
DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293
Posts: 293
Posted:
We conducted our first Community Survey this year, receiving an 80% response, which is fabulous. We asked the question: "Community Participation: a) Would you like to see an increase in community social activities? and b) Would you like to see a community newsletter or website?" Out of that 80%, 75% said NO to both sections. NO. (Although, they clearly DID participate in the Community Survey!) I was quite bummed. While we have events for the kids, e.g. camp outs in the park, talent show and a July 4th Parade, we have nothing social for the adults (except those with the kids, right?). I wanted to do exactly what Tim did to get people out of their own cul de sacs, meet their neighbors from the other streets, and just get people together. We only have 42 houses! But the answer was NO. Now, I am wary that if I do that on my own, everyone will think I'm disregarding their wishes, following my own agenda and tripping the tyranny walk.
Do any of you think there is a way I could do this and NOT ruffle feathers? Or should I just accept this attitude -- an attitude I can't even rightly identify or define.
Do any of you think there is a way I could do this and NOT ruffle feathers? Or should I just accept this attitude -- an attitude I can't even rightly identify or define.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Dorthy,
I applaud you on having that much of a survey participation.
You can still do what I did, as I did not use HOA funds or require HOA permission (because what we did did not block ingress or egress. Neighbors just pulled things together and set it up in the common area. All I did was coordinate commitments to provide grills, tables, trash can and paid for the printing of flyers and paper goods (plates, napkins, silverware).
It's possible that the members who responded were concerned about costs involved and didn't want to see assessments increase to have social events. Therefore, if you do it on your own, make sure to specify that no association funds are used.
Side note, I only invited our street. We certainly wouldn't turn anyone away but when you start inviting other streets some may want to drive, then you have to worry about parking and blocking ingress/egress. I didn't want to deal with that hassle.
I applaud you on having that much of a survey participation.
You can still do what I did, as I did not use HOA funds or require HOA permission (because what we did did not block ingress or egress. Neighbors just pulled things together and set it up in the common area. All I did was coordinate commitments to provide grills, tables, trash can and paid for the printing of flyers and paper goods (plates, napkins, silverware).
It's possible that the members who responded were concerned about costs involved and didn't want to see assessments increase to have social events. Therefore, if you do it on your own, make sure to specify that no association funds are used.
Side note, I only invited our street. We certainly wouldn't turn anyone away but when you start inviting other streets some may want to drive, then you have to worry about parking and blocking ingress/egress. I didn't want to deal with that hassle.
DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293
Posts: 293
Posted:
Tim,
Well, we only have four streets, no one would drive, for sure. But, thanks for the suggestion that the definitive NO could have come from concern over association funds. I thought about that. There just wasn't any alternative suggestion of anyone doing it on their own, as in, "That'd be nice, but not if association funds are used. Maybe if we all got together and planned something?" The sense I get from this neighborhood is that maybe a few families do things together, kids play etc., but the adults do not share lives. Still, I might send out an e-mail, the devotee of futility that I am, asking those who did want to see more social engagement, to get together and see what we were all thinking.
On a related note, if the proposal to amend the covenant prohibiting outbuildings gets passed, that may be the perfect time for a celebration, it being the eternal sour note of complaint. On the other hand, it could be a Pandora's Box of which nothing good will come!
D
Well, we only have four streets, no one would drive, for sure. But, thanks for the suggestion that the definitive NO could have come from concern over association funds. I thought about that. There just wasn't any alternative suggestion of anyone doing it on their own, as in, "That'd be nice, but not if association funds are used. Maybe if we all got together and planned something?" The sense I get from this neighborhood is that maybe a few families do things together, kids play etc., but the adults do not share lives. Still, I might send out an e-mail, the devotee of futility that I am, asking those who did want to see more social engagement, to get together and see what we were all thinking.
On a related note, if the proposal to amend the covenant prohibiting outbuildings gets passed, that may be the perfect time for a celebration, it being the eternal sour note of complaint. On the other hand, it could be a Pandora's Box of which nothing good will come!
D
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