Recruiting Social Committee Members

Hi - I'm the Chair of a my HOA Social Committee. I'm going on my 5th year in the position & I feel that it's nearly time to step down and let someone else serve the community. The issue: in a community of 544 homes, we get nearly zero response to our calls for committee positions, board positions, etc.

Everyone is interested in coming to SC activities & board meetings (when they have a complaint), but very few are willing to step up and serve. Therefore, I've been on the committee for almost 5-years along with three other ladies on our committee. Our HOA board has a member whose served for 10-years now because no one will step up to serve. We're alway on the verge of not being able to have a full board.

Anyway, my question is: I am determined to advertise and plead for volunteers to step up by using our social media pages to post requests for help and I'm wondering if anyone has struggled with getting community involvement and how you were able to get past that?

Thank you.

Lisa

Lisa,

At your next social function, make an announcement that you will be stepping down after 5 years of serving in the position. Tell them that in order for these type of functions to continue to occur, someone will need to volunteer to fill the position. Then let the members decide.

My wife and I were the family ministries committee at our church. That committee was effectively a social committee aimed at families. When we stepped down, nobody stepped up. It was several years before the committee was reactivated by a volunteer. I tell this story to show that the world won't stop if nobody takes over.

MelissaP1 ~

Thank you for your input.

We've actually tried this ... in various ways ... to no avail. A lot of "just call if you ever need help" but when the call is made, no actual follow through.

Pretty frustrating that a community as big as ours (544 homes) can't muster up enough volunteers to keep the board filled & to meet the needs of the various committees.

Disappointing lack of community spirit & sense of responsibility.

Again, thank you.

Lisa

The best way is to ask someone face to face if they are willing to serve. Actually phrase it with, I think you would be perfect for this position. . .

It's easy to ignore letters, newsletters, and general public requests. It's much harder to turn the request down in person.

Thank you Tim.

I do make it a practice to ask anyone who comes to our events to consider stepping up.

Adding requests for volunteers is our latest attempt to broaden our search. We have three locations that our owners access community information, four if you include our property manager.

All we can do is what we do, right?

Thank you again.

~ L.