BOD attending Community Events

Yvette, are you on the Board? How many members are there on the Board?

You need to learn more about your state's HOA board meeting laws. I believe that the committee chair may have misinterpreted Florida's version of some sort of open meeting act. You should find that portion of your statute and copy it for your Board.

I think that it's similar to ours in CA where a majority of the Board, except at a noticed open board meeting, may not discuss or deliberate "upon any item of business that is within the authority of the board."

So, in CA, a majority of directors certainly may attend all kind of functions so long as a majority conversing with one another do not discuss Board business. A majority of our Board almost always attends our social functions. Our building engineer gave a majority of us directors a tour of our mechanical equipment rooms so that we understood our high rises better. Our Mgmt. Co puts on an annual half-day seminar for directors covering its services, personnel, and updates us on CA legislation.

No, I am not on the Board nor wish to be. I did my share back home. I just attend meetings whenever I can and am in town. I am trying to understand the laws in Florida.

No, I am not on the Board nor wish to be. I did my share back home. I just attend meetings whenever I can and am in town. I am trying to understand the laws in Florida.

I never got that rule cause my BOD are my neighbors! So if it's a social event, then the more the merrier... Just don't talk business. Social events in my opinion should NOT be paid for by the HOA in the first place but that is another thread...

Yes, it can be construed that more than 2 members together counts as a meeting. However, it depends on the circumstances and if people really care about that perception...It also may be an excuse the BOD are using to avoid the social events.

Melissa and Glen I do agree with you. I do think this is just an excuse not to attend. They where the ones with the big idea to have an Event Committee for the community in the first place.

Thanks for the exact quote about open meetings in FL, Glen. The way I read it, the key phrase defines a meetings as, "whenever a quorum of the board gathers to conduct association business." "Conduct" means to discuss, debate and decide about HOA business.

A quorum of the Board at a social event saying among themselves, "oh, the flowers are so pretty," or "this party is fun" cannot remotely be described as "conducting business." If the comments are "inconsequential," they do not involve the "conduct" of business. But perhaps one director among a quorum adds, "I like the flowers too, but think we should replace them with perennials to save money on our landscaping contract." Another director should add, "let's put the topic on our next agenda and discuss it at a meeting."

Re: Glen's extreme example when he speculates that "Regulation Charlies" will cause trouble: Most owners don't know the laws. Many owners do not even know who the directors are. In my HOA of 7 directors, while there often are more than a quorum of us at social events, it's rare that 4 of us are standing around in a small group talking together, and certainly not about our HOA. We're at the party to have fun. W talk about new restaurants and construction projects in our neighborhood, sports, and vacation plans just like everybody else.

It's also important to recall that fewer than a quorum may talk about whatever they wish--HOA biz or not--outside of meetings.