Sound from the new Board: Crickets

Started by ArvaF • 10 replies • 1154 views

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ArvaF
Posts: 21

Posted:

Our HOA and Board of Directors are new (turnover meeting from the developer was held 8 months ago). We held our first official HOA meeting about two months ago, and several action items came out of the meeting. We haven't heard anything from the Board since then. When we ask questions, they don't respond or they tell us to go through the Property Management company (this particular management company isn't very helpful). I realize a brand new Board is juggling a LOT of work and appreciate the time that takes. Members just want to hear from them occasionally. It's one way to maintain a sense of community. What's the best way to approach this with the Board? Thank you for any suggestions.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

Volunteer to edit a newsletter for the community. This way you can make sure that the word gets out.

ArvaF
Posts: 21

Posted:

Thanks for the suggestion. Time is the enemy for creating and maintaining a newsletter. Our community is made up of a few active retirees, but most have full-time jobs and families with little time for extra HOA stuff. Even if the Board emailed the residents once a month with an update, that would be better than the crickets we're hearing now.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

As you said, time is likely the issue.

Serving on a Board of a self managed HOA, I spend 20 hours or so a month on HOA business (which is time away from my family). Therefore, things that aren't required to be done will be placed on the back burner or simply not done at all unless others volunteer to offer their time to help with the work load.

Today alone I've spent 2 hours already in dealing with a contractor, preparing checks, arranging for a co-signature and will spend more time tonight once I check the mail at the PO Box.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Your HOA is run by unpaid volunteers from the community. If you want better communication, then it starts with you. Why not offer your services for a newsletter? If not you, then someone else. Last I check there was nothing stopping you or any of your neighbors of participating in their HOA in a way to produce the communication/standards you want your HOA to be.

Former HOA President

ArvaF
Posts: 21

Posted:

I totally agree. A newsletter would be great, and I considered putting one together myself. However, I already work 50+ hours a week and probably just like the Board, I would not have time to maintain it. Apathy from others is healthy in our community. I care about our community, but I'm likely wishing for the impossible. Thanks for taking time to respond.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

When I was President of my HOA... I had a full time and part time job. Volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and other local charities... Plus decided to go back to college... Let's not forget still having a social life with friends/family that lived 45 minutes to 2 hours away...

I slept 4 to 5 hours a day IF I was lucky! So yes, sometimes you really do need to look at your HOA board's lives when considering the "crickets". It's hard work. So any time is still time spent on doing what you can. Don't be afraid to reach out and just volunteer to do a small thing. Sometimes the smallest things add up to make the community.

Former HOA President

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Like Tim and Melissa, I worked on my community's newsletter (and passed it out), and served on the board for 10 years, 6 as treasurer. There were a number of items that ran every month and if you use a template from Word or Publisher, you can cut and paste as needed - it usually took me a day to lay it out.

I understand the time constraints, which is why you really need to find one or two people to help you with a newsletter and then go to the board and propose what you'd like to do - I'm sure they'd appreciate it Talk to your neighbors and see if anyone's really handy with Word or Publisher - the board can approve the copy and your partner could lay out the newsletter. A few others could walk around the neighborhood and stick them in the door (you can't put them in the mailboxes). You might even find a talented teenager to help you - maybe this could serve as extra credit for a class.

Better yet, why not propose to the board that it set up a website - start with this site that provides such a service. Some things only need to go up once and you can update as needed. Talk to the board and see what it would be willing to help you with. Whatever you do, don't give in to the apathy - as you said there are far too many people who don't get involved. There are a lot of reasons for that, starting with them being as busy as you are. However, I find people make time for the things they care about - even this little bit can help your community and you never know who you might inspire!

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

The main issue is getting someone willing to do the work of generating a newsletter. I say there are two easier ways to communicate with owners:

1. A website with up to date information. Read only meaning no comments.

2. A simple textual based Email and Email only. If one does not have Email, have them ask a neighbor for a copy.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

There is an app for smartphones and the web, it is called Nextdoor. You can sign up your neighborhood and the folks at next-door will even
send out invitations for your neighbors to join...free of charge.

ArvaF
Posts: 21

Posted:

Thanks for all the great suggestions and advice. Many neighbors are members of Nextdoor already. That is a great way for neighbor-to-neighbor communication, and much less work than distributing a newsletter or maintaining a Web site. In addition to Nextdoor, because we're a fairly small community, we already have decent communication between neighbors face-to-face and through email. I'd like to see better communication between all the members and the Board of Directors. However, I think I need to reset my expectations and resolve that this particular Board must have their reasons for the spotty communication and just stop trying to change it. Maybe the next Board we elect will do things differently.

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