Board Members who only attend meetings..

Asking for hop from the less-active directors is not a suitable topic for email. Wait till your next meeting and have the item on the agenda..Make a list, if possible, of ways they can help. Include that on the agenda. Invite them to assist you two.

I don't see any justification for discussing this in executive session. Maybe I'm missing something?

I also seem to recall that you have a property mgr. (PM). If so, why isn't s/he doing these tasks?

Jon's remarks are all too true often.

But still if you two let the other three know that you appreciate their attendance but need a little more from them, they might actually respond. Again, do not by voice mail, email, etc. Do this at a duly called and noticed meeting.

Btw, I can see that some projects could use a director's oversight. But what do you mean by projects that need "extra work"? Examples??

We do have an onsite PM and Mgr. Asst., so we directors don't need to do that kind of work. If you don't have PM, or don't have one who's on your premises very often, perhaps your board needs to vote for a PM that does those tasks. Let's see if they're willing to raise dues to pay for additional services.

Nicole,

A majority of your board members seem to understand their role. You and the other member do not.

The job of a board member is to make decisions for the benefit of the community. That's it. The job description of a board member does not include trimming trees, changing lightbulbs, or hosing down the parking lot. I did note, however, that you are not specific about what extracurricular help you seek.

As a board member performing the recognized tasks of that position (i.e., making decisions for the benefit of the community), your liability is limited by law. When you start doing other tasks, you become personally liable along with the association. That's plenty of reason to limit your involvement.

Part of the board's function is to hire those persons needed to get the work done. If things need to be done outside of the meeting you should seek out those who can do the work, either as employees or contractors. Yes, that will increase the costs of doing business and you will need to increase assessments to cover the additional costs. I never lose sleep worrying about raising assessments to cover the costs; if your members cannot afford it they should not have purchased.

Ok. To keep Kerry happy. When the issue can wait for an regular meeting, start the conversation with:

"I don't have time to do this, . . ."

It is highly possible that the others don't volunteer to put in more effort because they know that they don't have to. You will do the work. Therefore, try more delegating rather then doing.

Nichole, it would be most helpful if you could provide some examples of what you are talking about. In my experience, members of the Board exercise oversight for the most part; the association relies on the MC and/or volunteers to accomplish tasks. That's not to say Board members should not roll up sleeves and pitch in when appropriate.

One of the associations we manage held a board meeting last evening. I was thinking about the messages you posted yesterday on the way home from the meeting. Of the five members of the board, two travel extensively in connection with their employment. They simply are not available during the work day to even respond to e-mail. From my own days in a similar position, even after the business day was concluded I was faced with numerous business e-mail messages to process, and I had to prepare for the following day. These gentlemen simply do not have the time to do much besides fulfill their board responsibilities. Of the other three, one is employed full time and is on call 24X7 due to the nature of his position, one has a heavy volunteer schedule, and the third, while retired, has an e-Bay based business.

Bottom line, no one on this Board has the time, the desire, or the expertise in many instances, to manage projects. They made it very clear when we interviewed with them they wish the MC to manage virtually everything, save certain social events for which there is a committee. Of course this comes at a cost, meaning we bill the association at the project management rate included in the contract.

Examples include having be onsight to show a workman where work is needed to be done, or allow entrace ot a part of the building that is not accessible,

Being availble to be on sight for obtain bids for work etc.