Forming a President's Club

Has anyone heard of such a "thing"? I would like to form one for/with condos(associations)
within a 10 or so mile radius... The idea is of course, to change(exchange) ideas on most all subjsects
to include contractr information,etc. Has anyone had any experience in how I should start as I am
very anxious to get one started in our area.

I had tolaugh at your comment Melissa and think just HOW TRUE it was... some nuts and even some nuts
on the Board so you are right.. it might not work.

There was one formed in my area about a decade ago. Nothing really came of it. It consisted of real estate agents and area board members. They called themselves a "preservation association" and I assume the common goal from subsequent actions from those involved was to convert the neighborhoods into mandatory associations with increased enforcement.

I would think for anything like that to exist membership should be opened to all members of all associations, otherwise the impact could be quite limited.

As an alternative, you might consider becoming a member of the local chapter of the CAI (Community Associations Institute). Another option is to have membership in the CAI for all board members (or at least the president) paid for by the association.

Part of our annual budget is to pay for annual membership for all five of our board members. I don't remember the exact cost, but it's under $400 a year for all five board members and includes the right for any board member to attend meetings and seminars, access to the CAI library, and two magazine subscriptions with articles pertaining to homeowners associations.

Our president and one other board member will be attending the local CAI convention later this month. I have attended in the past. There's a wealth of information to be had, including free legal advice from attorneys whose primary practice is HOA law.

Alex-
CAI was originally intended to be something like what you have in mind, but it evolved into a trade organization for professionals who make their living serving HOA boards. I think what you really want is to share best practices and vendors etc. with other actual board members in your area. It is a splendid idea, and perhaps a web-based organization would be more successful since people are often too busy to meet up in person. I think you will need a catalytic issue to start with in order to drum up interest. But I don't know what that might be. For me, it was flood insurance in one neighborhood ( we were being newly included in a flood plane and that pocketbook concern got enough people's attention to form a group). What is happening that you could coalesce around?

Also your organization would be free, and the answers you would be getting would be from other folks in your shoes. The answers from CAI tend to be tilted toward drumming up more business for their members, in my experience. I do think you should start with CID/PUDs which are near your size with similar amenities so you'll have more in common. Geographical location might be my 2nd criteria.

I hope you do this, and I'd love to hear all about it!

Elaine