How to get Homeowners Proxies to remove Board members

I have thought and thought and can't come up with a solution so I'm coming to you good people. I have checked other forums and can't find anything pertaining to this. All opinions appreciated.

We just received notice of the annual meeting with the proxy which states "I hereby designate the Board Member whose name is checked below or the member whose name is written as my proxy with power and substitution to vote for me at the 2012 annual xxxxxxxxx meeting, or any adjournment of such meeting". Then it list all the Board Members and the 6th line is blank. Then Date and Signature. Then statement "Must be dated and signed to be valid". It also says proxies must be filed with the Secretary of the Assoc before the appointed time of each meeting of the members of the association. Please sign, date and return the Proxy whether you plan to attend the meeting or if you are unable to attend the meeting. Proxies received will be turned over to the Homeowner named on the Proxy at the start of the meeting. Since most of the homeowners do not attend the meeting they will check one of the Board members because they have no idea of the problems in the community. There are 3 positons on the Board that are coming vacant. There are other people that want to run but their information doesn't get out to the homeowners until after most of the proxies are returned checking one of the Board members. In the letter it says there are 3 BODs positons will be open and if you are interested fill out the enclosed application and send to the Nominating Committee. Have no idea who the Nominating Committee is! Don't know how they will get the information of who is running before the meeting. I know you folks have run into this. We usually have more proxies than people in attendance. The majority of the proxies are used by the people now on the board to vote themselves back in. The present Board will not give anyone a list of the homeowners and we have had quite a turn over in the community. There are a couple of us that are trying to figure how we can get the word out not to send their proxy to a board member. Thank you for this forum.

Jay P - 100 homes

Need something more. One of the Board members canvassed the community last year and it really annoyed a lot of homeowners. Also like I said there are a lot of homeowners that don't live here year round and not here for the meeting, plus about 10 rentals. Any suggestion on what to say in a letter?

If NC state law requires that the HOA give owners a list of the names & addresses when requested in writing, write such a request to your prop. mgr. Your PM most likely is not allowed to break the laws of your state. You may be charged a small fee for copies.

But I don't know what your state requires.

Mailers from the candidates with a small pic of each will work, but you need those addresses. We sent a mailer with our slate of three and our joint goals for and commitments to our community.

If NC permits it, you should be able to have a "Candidates Night" in the common area where you hold your meetings. Maybe lure folks in with wine & cheese or cookies & punch, or? Make it a little party.

But I'm sure that others with experience with proxy voting can help.

HOW DO WE FIRE OUR BOD? WE NEED 2/3 votes to put them out. Has anyone ever heard of replacing the whole board, for failure to do what the by-laws say, and not doing what is in the best interest of ALL homeoweners?

Thanks Will: Have about 3 weeks. The letters could be placed in the newspaper box under the mailbox. Any suggestion on how to ask homeowner to not sign their proxy over to a Board member?

Edith - Do you know where to find the statue you are writing about. If so, would you send it to me. Thanks

Nancy

I have never seen major changes made nor an election won in an association without the use of proxies.

To collect proxies requires grass root politicing to be done. It requires you to meet and talk with people to get them to sign a proxy for you to vote as in collecting them for your cause/people. It requires work. Door to door politicing, Email, US Mail, Etc.

The lady with the trash bags was an awesome idea. She got done what she wanted to get done, like it or not.

Now a proxy cn be directed or non-directed. Directed means you must cast the votes for the issue/people as per directed to do so in the proxy and in no other way. Example it says vote for Mary, Tom, and Joe then they are the only ones you can vote for. Even if one pulls out then you can only vote for the other two.

Non-directed proxy says you can cast the votes in a way you wish to.

Most people will go after Diected Proxies as it assure the giver that their votes will go the way they wish.

Also a later proxy can override an earlier proxy. Say one collected proxies and they were dated July 1, 2012. Someone can come along and collect another proxy from th same person dated July 2, 2012 and the election officer will have to accept the later proxy.

Bottom line is you cannot sit and hope proxies come your way. You have got to get out and do it the old fashioned way. You must earn them.

Hope this helps.