MelindaB1 (New Jersey)
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Posted:
The association would like to form a "wine club" for residents which will be held in the clubhouse about 8x annually. They do not sell liquor - has anyone had experience with this?
A service of:
Community123.com
Professional websites for HOAs & condos, since 2004
Professional websites for HOAs & condos, since 2004
🎁 1st year FREE for HOATalk members! →
Forming a wine club?
Started by MelindaB1 • 11 replies • 1855 views
💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.
Create Free Account →
⚡ Takes 30 seconds
Already a member? Log in
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
My feeling is do not spend HOA money on this club. Instead form it outside the HOA amongst yourselves and pay for the rental fees amongst yourselves if applicable. Remember HOA money is EVERY MEMBERS MONEY. So is it fair to spend HOA money for a few members? No. Keep it separate. Same advice I give for a neiguborhood watch. It can be made up of HOA members and residents but no HOA money should be spent.
Former HOA President
MelindaB1 (New Jersey)
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Posted:
Thank you so much - that's a great point and makes absolute sense!
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
It depends on what kind of community you are. In my urban area comprised of lots of high rises, social committees are very common and are funded by the HOAs.
Under the Soc. Comm umbrella in my 200+ condo HOA, there is a Movie Night about 10 times a year. The SC spends about $40 for food & soft drinks for that event. It also has arranged other events like a free CPR class and a short-lived Pilates classes for which resident pay. For about a year, we had a Book Club & the SC provided funds for coffee & cookies for that monthly event.
We also have about four parties a year three in one of our lounges and one luau poolside. These all are free to whomever would like to attend and are partially catered.
But, of course, we all pay the Social Comm. budget with our dues just as we all pay for the pool, spa, gym whether or not we use it.
Some HOAs will not feel like they need a social committee and that on their own residents can organize their own potluck picnics, etc. I think that works less well in high rises and feel that social activities help bind members to our community just as our newsletter does.
I don't think there's any right or wrong here. If the Wine Club doesn't consume a lot of the HOA budget and there are no insurance issues because of the alcohol, it sounds very nice!
Under the Soc. Comm umbrella in my 200+ condo HOA, there is a Movie Night about 10 times a year. The SC spends about $40 for food & soft drinks for that event. It also has arranged other events like a free CPR class and a short-lived Pilates classes for which resident pay. For about a year, we had a Book Club & the SC provided funds for coffee & cookies for that monthly event.
We also have about four parties a year three in one of our lounges and one luau poolside. These all are free to whomever would like to attend and are partially catered.
But, of course, we all pay the Social Comm. budget with our dues just as we all pay for the pool, spa, gym whether or not we use it.
Some HOAs will not feel like they need a social committee and that on their own residents can organize their own potluck picnics, etc. I think that works less well in high rises and feel that social activities help bind members to our community just as our newsletter does.
I don't think there's any right or wrong here. If the Wine Club doesn't consume a lot of the HOA budget and there are no insurance issues because of the alcohol, it sounds very nice!
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Carol
I like the idea of socials but what would make me nervous is HOA sponsored events involving alcohol..and this from a drinker....LOL
I like the idea of socials but what would make me nervous is HOA sponsored events involving alcohol..and this from a drinker....LOL
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Mel proposed a good idea on the wine tasting. Form it outside the HOA and rent the clubhouse.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061
Posts: 21,061
Posted:
I agree with others. Have the residents/members who want it to form the club and then have the club rent the clubhouse (as any club might do).
When Association funds are used for one club, it has others question why not my club, or that club. Same thing happens if an Association donates to charity - why that charity over this one?
Using Association funds just causes too many potential problems that can easily be avoided. Not to mention the potential risk exposure if someone got stopped for being under the influence after an Association hosted event.
When Association funds are used for one club, it has others question why not my club, or that club. Same thing happens if an Association donates to charity - why that charity over this one?
Using Association funds just causes too many potential problems that can easily be avoided. Not to mention the potential risk exposure if someone got stopped for being under the influence after an Association hosted event.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
Well. again I think there's a difference between suburban detached homes and urban high rise condos when it comes to supporting social events. Since all of the high rises I know of around me have social committees with social activities they support, I know that my HOA is not unique. There is, for example, quite an active mahjong club in the high rise across from ours that's supported by their social committee.
As I wrote earlier, alcohol might be an issue and this might be the case whether HOA-sponsored or not if in the HOA clubhouse.
In the 9-1/2 years I've lived here, I've never heard anyone complain about soc. comm. supported activities. And no activities have been turned down by the board when a new club of some sort-based in our HOA-wants to start.
As I wrote earlier, alcohol might be an issue and this might be the case whether HOA-sponsored or not if in the HOA clubhouse.
In the 9-1/2 years I've lived here, I've never heard anyone complain about soc. comm. supported activities. And no activities have been turned down by the board when a new club of some sort-based in our HOA-wants to start.
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Most declarations contain a statement about the purpose of the association. I doubt that running a wine club is one of the purposes.
Even if promoting social gatherings is one of the purposes of the association I would be reluctant to endorse a wine club just as I would not want to see a political club or religious club. I see these as things that will ultimately divide the community rather than bring it together.
Even if promoting social gatherings is one of the purposes of the association I would be reluctant to endorse a wine club just as I would not want to see a political club or religious club. I see these as things that will ultimately divide the community rather than bring it together.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
You remind me, Larry. A few years ago, a owner/resident started a Saturday AM Discussion Group that he advertised in our newsletter. He just invited whoever wished to come to kick around local and national issues. He paid the $10 to reserve the conference lounge. We bought our own coffee, etc. There were about a dozen of us. I was the only female (?)
The discussions, which the man led were all highly politicized & one-sided. So mainly we all debated and tempers flared. it lasted about 4 meetings.
The discussions, which the man led were all highly politicized & one-sided. So mainly we all debated and tempers flared. it lasted about 4 meetings.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 1,767
Posts: 1,767
Posted:
I would not endorse an HOA forming a wine club, not because of the alcohol, but because of it having a narrow membership.
On the other-hand, as Carol's community's has done, our association had an events committee, which put on about 12 events per year, from movies at the park, Halloween contest, holiday event in December and a adults only, no alcohol, event in the summer.
The money came from a finance committee, chaired by me, investing wisely, our reserves. It was a matter of either managing funds through a money market account or through CD's. For us, the difference amounted to having an additional $19,000 available to us. My motto has always been, before starting a new project, can I fund it without raising or taking away from members dues. We found a way to have our cake and eat it too.
On the other-hand, as Carol's community's has done, our association had an events committee, which put on about 12 events per year, from movies at the park, Halloween contest, holiday event in December and a adults only, no alcohol, event in the summer.
The money came from a finance committee, chaired by me, investing wisely, our reserves. It was a matter of either managing funds through a money market account or through CD's. For us, the difference amounted to having an additional $19,000 available to us. My motto has always been, before starting a new project, can I fund it without raising or taking away from members dues. We found a way to have our cake and eat it too.
RwT (Florida)
Posts: 154
Posts: 154
Posted:
Form a Cheese Club and they can bring their own wine.
* Non-Lawyer spokesperson.
🎯 You've read this entire discussion
Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:
- ✓ Ask follow-up questions
- ✓ Share your experience
- ✓ Get expert advice
- ✓ Access 350,000 discussions
Create Free Account →
⚡ Takes 30 seconds
Already a member? Log in here