Board & Management Company

What? Your going to make the board work for a living? Please!!!! LOL! The board members obvisously are volunteers and don't know much about business. They have probably always had a management company in existence and just assumed it took care of everything. If you didn't know about a HOA, wouldn't you assume whoever you write your checks too run everything?
It's just a matter of educating the board and letting them understand what they to do. Basically, your board isn't up to par in knowing what to do. They're taking the easy way they know how.

Sounds like it's time for the old "Gipper" speech! Now, before you face your status quo board, it's time you make sure you understand things first. You must be versed backwards and forwards. You must treat this like an inquisition. There isn't anyone that isn't going to ask you a million questions. You hesitate, you fail. There will be NO failure on this HOA forum for lack of education!

This calls for a "culture change". That's probably the MOST hardest type of change to initiate and get done. It's a slow process that can be grueling and thankless. However, it's got it's own benefits and learning experiences far more valuable than words can express. (okay little overdramatic). Is it going to be worth the effort? I can't answer that for you. It's something that you will discover as you go through this experience.

My first suggestion may be to jump into this feet first and make a splash! After I was well versed and understood the HOA setup, I would arrange a "special meeting". It may be one just at your house informal or it can be formal. Whichever way your comfortable. At this meeting, I would request that everyone interested in their property show up. They should bring a copy of their CC&R's and by-laws. Any documentation that exists basically. Then read the documents out loud. This may be a long process so stretch it over time for each section. Get everyone on the same page. Let them know that this is public information available at the County courthouse in the records department. That way they can tell their buyers where to get information. The HOA should pay for copies for dispersement to the members.

Make sure everyone has an updated copy. If you want, maybe get a lawyer friend or hire one that is versed in contractual law to come speak. You may find someone here that does seminars on HOA's. Just get the people talking. Get them talking and realizing that the HOA is run by the interested owners. It's THEIR association. It is funded by them and ONLY for them. The homeowner's have the control and can make the rules they want to live by. The CC&R's and by-laws can be ammended/changed by their majority vote. The MC is just a hired entity paid by them to do the finances.

This is something that takes initiative. It will be a slow process and maybe not alot of participants. That may never change or will change. The first step is always the hardest. We landed on the moon with just one step, so this should be no problem for you huh? A HOA can only operate and maintain by the interests of it's owners. The beast of this burden may fall onto you alone. That's okay as long as you know you can change it. Keep reading the post on here and it will help. There are some great posters on here. I have a feeling you may become one of them in the next few years.

Art:

Here is what it takes to serve on a board:

WHAT IT TAKES TO SERVE ON THE BOARD:

A conscientious desire to serve the community
The ability to make thoughtful decisions that effect the community
Understanding that leadership is being able to make tough calls
Have an ability to be strategy-driven
Relevant experience

A FUNCTIONING BOARD:

Meets regularly to carry out its duties and responsibilities as prescribed by the governing documents.
Provides for due process (the opportunity to be heard) for owners in association - related matters. This is done through correspondence, meetings.
Discloses to the owner’s information that is required by law & the governing documents.
Has a system is in place for owner’s requests for association maintenance and for other association-related matters (multi-family building maintenance, common area repairs/maintenance, etc.).
Has a system is in place for property inspections and monitoring to ensure proper maintenance and appearance, both current and preventative.
Communicates with the owners periodically (newsletters, flyers, etc.) to provide information concerning the association and to get feed back from the owners.
Has a mechanism and procedure for assuring residents obligations to adhere to the governing documents, and a confidential forum for the resolution of disputes.
Maintains appropriate insurance - such as commercial general liability, property damage, and directors and officer’s liability is maintained by the association as required by the governing documents.
Has a system is in place to administer property damage and personal injury claims.
Maintains the Association’s financial stability.

SETTING GOALS: Goals are a means of focusing on the community. Some goals are designed to correct problems; others aim to sustain positive growth. A well-formed goal not only points out what needs to be done, but also helps measure success. To assess Association needs ask these questions:

Are the members happy?
Is the association financially sound?
Are the members informed?
Are there any adverse trends?
How do property values compare with previous prices or with those in neighboring communities
What is physical condition of the common areas?
Is the crime rate rising?
Is the rules sound; do members adhere to them?
Are there plans for the future?
Are there adequate reserve funds for upkeep, renovations and potentially disastrous events such as a fire or weather hazard?

THE END GOAL(A Governance Policy Model): The Board, on behalf of the owners, must see to it that the Association achieves the desirable while avoiding the unacceptable. This model of governance allows boards to delegate the day-to-day operations to management so they can focus on the bigger picture - long-term needs to the association.

THE ENDS Policy: What results, for which people, at what cost? .
Research; feedback, draft statement, adoption. Repeats with each issue.

Through “The Ends” Policy Governance the Board seeks out members in a more proactive way to be involved in decision-making relating to ownership issues.

The Board has a moral obligation to the membership and should be a downward extension of ownership instead of an upward extension of management. This result is better linkage with the membership so the Board is able to do its job as owner-advocate/representative. In essence the Board sets policy, and management carries it out.

The Association should adopt rules of governance, including a vision statement, the association’s mission and all policies.