Volunteerism DEAD??

Recently I purchased in a new "tract" of homes. Our HOA was and still is managed by the builder even though the last home was sold well over a year ago! Out of the blue sky there was this HOA Board which started flipping out letters etc and sending fines. Once I started to ask questions about who elected them, where was the minutes, where is our money etc I was blown off. So I figured I would VOLUNTEER to be either on a committee or the HOA board (where ever I could best be used) because there is only TWO members on the board, and the MC controls our finances, I thought they could use some help.

At the last meeting I went to the "Prez" stood up and begged people to volunteer for the HOA board or a committee, so I did. I signed up on their sheet and was never called! Two weeks went by, I sent an email to the "Prez" and the MC to find out where they were going to use my volunteer time, no answer.

Finally I received a letter in the mail stating that "unfortuately at this time my volunteer services were not needed!" What??
I feel this is related to the fact that I am asking some important questions which no one wants to give me answers too!!

What can I do? Some in the community have said hire an attorney? Can I be denied volunteering my time? Don't they have to state why they are not allowing me to "VOLUNTEER" my time to my community? Is there legal recourse I can take?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't hire a lawyer. Suing an HOA is suing yourself. It may NOT be time for you to volunteer yet. It sounds like your HOA is still in "transition". The board members are most likely "picked" by the builder for this period. Usually the first board is picked by the builder and then it's officially turned over to the residents. This can take a few years depending on office terms.
If you want to volunteer, wait and find an oportunity. I am sure the more active you try to stay in your commmunity, the more likely you will get elected the first homeowner run elections.
You can always try to form a neighborhood watch or a cleanup committee. (With board knowledge). I even had a little "garden" party group that we shared plants and sometime planted flowers in the common areas. You could see if making a community garden could be done as well. There are other areas you can volunteer without being on the board. The board is NOT a paid position anyways.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! This is my first HOA and man is this stuff a hassle (atleast for now). I'm sure HOA's are good for the community if they are run right and not with everyone's (IGM=I got mine) attitude!

At this point, can the HOA not allow me to volunteer on one of the committees established? I do not want to be the bad guy in all this, I would like to evoc transition via helping to show them where they are wrong. We have no agendas, no minutes, no order at meetings, there are only two board members making financial decisions (plus the builder). I found out the other day they took $60,000 and moved it into some kinda of seperate account! They didn't even ask us members who were sitting right there! There was about 20+ of us sitting at this meeting and they just moved the money to who knwos where! They didn't ask for our opinion, they didn't call for a vote or anything, just POOF, it was gone?

I have a sense that because I'm asking to many questions about due process etc they have singled me out. First they are not answering my questions about what is going on, and now they wont let me VOLUNTEER!

Yes, I have been told by "others" to hire an attorney and I know this is simply because "they" do not have the "jewels" or money to do so themselves, I will have to be the HITLER in this war and they will stand by and "support" me from afar, maybe!

My first HOA and this is what happens? Is there anyway we (community) can just disband the HOA? I could not find in the bylaws or Articles a way to disband/dissolve the HOA, ie 50+1 vote of homeowners etc. Then again I noticed that the bylaws had been altered! When I first moved in the Real Estate agent gave me a set, and then once I was in the HOA sent me a set from the MC. Once I started to compare the two I found out that the one from the agent had items that the other one did not mention! Seems like they (builder/MC) dont want certain items included in the bylaws!

Most of the homeowners just want to do their own thing anyways, nobody is adhering to any rules and regulations of the HOA and frankly they (HOA) are just sending out letters threatening the homeowners with fines etc which no one is paying! Unfortunately unless a new group takes over, which they (current HOA) will fight, our only other resort is to dissolve the HOA!

I would like to add that HOA stands for HOMEOWNER's ASSOCIATION. That means ALL the homeowner's agree to work together in association to combine funds to maintain or improve their community. It's cheaper for everyone to pay for amenities than each person being responsible.
Your treating the HOA like it's some kind of entity. It's NOT. There is no "They or Them". It is YOU and YOUR NEIGHBORS. Don't treat it like it's some kind of object your forced to live under. It's like joining an exclusive club where only you and your neighbors are invited and can control.
If you want the copy of the Convenants and Restrictions, go to your local county courthouse. They should have a copy on file there. Don't expect to have Incorporation or by-laws there. Incoporation documents are STATE filed and By-laws are typically maintained by the HOA. The MC may have a copy of the updated by-laws.
You need to step back and learn about what HOA's are. They are what you make of them. NOT all HOA's are horrible thieving collaborations out to ruin your community. It is your community! If you want to make it a great HOA, then work with a good attitude and with the rules it's created. If you want a horrible HOA, keep badgering, threatening to sue, and make it a nightmare. Everyone gets out of an HOA what they put in.