Purposes of an HOA Newsletter

I've been editor of our monthly newsletter for about three years. We're 211 units. About 100 owners in our HOA receive the News by email blast and about 40 copies are picked up from our mailrooms each month.

To my mind the News has a few purposes or functions:

To help give residents a sense of belongingness & community via reports about HOA social events and very nearby community activities. I agree with those who say that if people feel that they belong, they're more likely to follow rules, pay their dues, etc.

To keep them aware of the limits needed in a densely populated high rise community such as ours via reminders about various rules that usually are in our Manager's Message.

To educate Members via items such as "What Are Reserves?," which the editor wrote; "How Does Our HVAC System Work?" by our bldg. engineer

To entertain with an amusing or fun item each month.

To show appreciation: for our many committee members, staffers, etc.

So, to sum up: Provide senses of belongingness; reinforce social limits; educate; entertain, appreciation.

Are there other purposes or functions that HOA newsletters serve?

(Please note, I'm not looking for layout, format, etc., suggestions.)

Carol thank you for sending in this subject. Tim I disagree with your last statement about wondering why Carol didn't include Board business in a newsletter. Carol is not a Board member. (Unless she is appointed as a committee). I think all business from the Board should come direct from the Board. The Board discusses many homeowners, owed dues, monies etc. and I do not believe this should be published in a newsletter. What has happened with our newsletter is the editor uses it to print harassing things about the homeowners if they do not agree with what the Board is doing she pounces on them. She quotes our Covenants wrong and misleads the homeowners with her vile attitude. I think Carol is doing what a newsletter is intended to do. Community news only. As a homeowner I don't appreciate my business with the Board being published in a newsletter and put out to the community. If someone wants to know, they can attend the montly meetings. Carol could also open herself up to be sued for harassment or libel if not careful. I think she is better off doing exactly what she is now doing.

First and foremost a newsletter in my opinion should be to inform people about what happens at board meetings, hit the high notes. Secondly it should be used to inform about community functions. Thirdly it should have a community/city piece to it where any hot topic items that may have an impact such as crime trends or land development. I also think it is a great way to send reminders, i.e. we are coming up on Christmas season so a quick blurb about your communities rules and regs on Christmas lights would be important. In our area we just passed prime tree planting season but that would be a good reminder as well.

You can also use it to sell advertising but that opens up tax implications, I think fun things are appropriate too.

Hey folks - If only our President's wife could read what all of you have written. What you are suggesting is the right way to write a newsletter. Thanks for informing me.

Brad - No way. I'm afraid of her :-).

Interesting replies!!

I'm horrified that I forgot to include that we do have a President's Message in which Board decisions often are included. Or sometimes our Manager's Message includes Board decisions, and also the reminders about when holiday decorations may be installed on balconies and when they must come down. One or the other also write twice a year about what owners can do to get their items on the Board's open meetings agendas. I'd put these in the category of a purpose to educate (perhaps "inform" is indeed a better word.)

I often encourage residents to contribute, but don't get much from them at all. One did write a nice item about restaurants within walking distance (we're in an urban setting)that have good vegan choices on their menus.

We actually had nice comments about the articles written about some engineering topics (high rises are very mysterious) and about reserves, so I guess someone is reading them!

Our board never has wanted delinguencies, etc. published. I personally would like to see, as some of you do, a brief summary of the month's financials, but the Treasurer doesn't want to do it and she works pretty hard as it is.

Neither the Board nor I want to include crime reports. The News is upbeat.

I've been on the Board for 6 years & just was reelected for two more.

We have a President's and a GM's column, at times somewhat redundant:

http://issuu.com/tahoedonnernews/docs/tdnews_november_2012

Our Newsletter used to be a pretty good balance of events and "business" related information. As mentioned earlier a new GM changed the "direction" of the Newsletter. It is now about 99% fluff. To help generate some interest you might add a condensed recap of your Board meeting minutes. We have Board meetings once a month, usually lasting most of the day.

Paul T

Yes, Sheila, we directors get copies of our financials every month and also a Treasurer's report. We as a Board could publish a few items from her report: % delinq. (over 60 days), $$$ in reserves, a couple more. I'll see if the Board wants me to do this since the Treasurer doesn't want to.

Our PM sometimes focuses on one topic. As a high rise, for example, she'll put an item in once a year on ways to prevent water leaks and overflows ("Gravity Rules!"). Other times, she has 4-5 short items. The Board, for instance, due to Owner requests reduced the cost of fobs for our common areas, elevators, etc. Because she could easily lead into it, her next short item in her column reminded residents to not let strangers follow them into our lobbies from the street entrances. Luckily, she's a good writer!

Our President's & GM's items aren't redundant as they check with each other about topics.

We have a full time staff of about 60 people instead of a property management firm. The General Manager is the "editor" and there are about 3 people in the "Communications" department that puts it together for the printer. Yes, he is supposed to report to the Board but with very rare exception they just follow his lead. Too much effort to oppose him, I guess. The Board meeting recap is about the only "administrative" type of info allowed and was just recently added.

Paul T