Thinking outside the box for neighborhood social events due to the lack of volunteers.

We currently are without a social committee, the few we had just burned out after many years of serving our community and with less and less people. We have tried to recruit h/o’s but with no luck. A few have said they would help on an activity but were not interested in making a year-long commitment.

So here’s our thought. Please take a look and make suggestions/comments/wording etc. Thanks.

The board has decided to try a different approach, on a trial bases, with our Social events. We will fund up to $500 in expenses to anyone or group of homeowner(s) that organizes a community wide event. Of course, we have criteria that must be met:

• The social event and event budget must be submitted to and approved by the board first
• All receipts are required for reimbursement
• All homeowners must be invited via our HOA website, HOA email bulletins, neighborhood Facebook Group, and our Road-side message boards.

Why are we doing this? We hope this will encourage people to volunteer for one social event without making to make a yearlong commitment. Many homeowners have great ideas or experiences from previous neighborhood events that can bring to TP.

Here’s an example of a Social event we would likely approve: Halloween costume parade and costume contest with pot-luck dinner, HOA would provide hot dogs, hamburgers, plates & cups, and small costume prizes. Homeowners would provide side dishes and drinks. The event would take place at the clubhouse from 5-6pm. h/o’s must RSVP through the website to budget food.

An example of a Social event we would not approve: A “Tastefully Simple” type party at a homeowners house.

You're simply having too many events if no one is showing up and no one wants to volunteer. Many associations just have one BBQ per year. Think about scaling back.

We had a huge Halloween party each year. That way all the kids from our HOA could trick or treat together. The residents would know those are our kids in the HOA. They could then go on to their events after they finished. Plus people who would not be home could drop off the candy to the clubhouse. That is where the we all met and partied. No money involved.

I try to avoid using HOA money for social purposes. I didn't even buy donuts, cookies or coffee for our meetings. If you look at the way a HOA budget is set up, there is no need for social event money. It can even be taxable. There are a few HOA's that have their own bingo clubs but those are subjected to taxation.

My suggestion is to have a "Volunteer day" where the HOA provides the clean up/repair supplies and the owners the labor. Do a little spring cleaning of the area. People who complain the HOA doesn't do anything and how drab the place looks can see something done by planting flower/weed pulling. Just a simple clean up day can make a real impact.

It does not always have to be food and fun rides to be social. I do warn though the HOA should NEVER ever fund a neighborhood watch and it should be kept separate from the HOA. However, that is a social type event any body that lives in the HOA can join and take part in. Maybe a solution to getting people more involved.

Bruce,

I don't see any demand for the community wide events if this is your challenge. It's regrettable but maybe smaller-scale, private functions are serving the same needs without HOA expenditure and effort.