HOA Sub-Committees?

Hi!

My family and I moved in March to an all single-family homes neighborhood. The neighborhood is comprised of 11 subdivisions built by 5 different builders. Everything is so new, though, that not even half the houses anywhere in here are built yet; my subdivision, specifically, is only just about 1/4 the way along.

We have an HOA, but the developers currently control it; the BOD won't fall to us homeowners until we're 75% built. Meanwhile, we obviously don't yet have any sub-committees: no Social Committee, no Community Newsletter, no group of nice folks to welcome people as they move in, none of that.

And that's where my interest comes in. I love my neighborhood, and I really _want_ to enrich and promote it. I believe what I'm most interested in coordinating is, in fact, a Social Committee, and further creating and a newsletter, organizing neighborhood events, getting together a welcome wagon, and so forth.

BUT I don't even know where to start. Do I wait until we hit that magical 75%, and then look into forming this committee? Or is this something I could get rolling now, and simply have it folded into the HOA proper later? I understand that, in part, it comes down to a question of funding a committee and budgeting for activities, etc., but there sure are things my neighbors and I could do now, either free or on the cheap-cheap.

I'm very motivated and very excited, as you can probably tell! =) I just want to handle this professionally, get it done the right way. Thanks for any advice!

-- Sara

Sara - The HOA will probably be under developer control until the last home is constructed and a cert. of occupancy is issued and the unit closed. In some Associations, mine included, Developers can retain a seat on the board with right of veto to protect their interests until that time. Gather some volunteers to join a social committee and be the spokesperson to approach the developer with your interest first. Good relations with the Developer is very important.

SaraT,
I wonder if it wouldn't be a good time for you to sit down with developer and sort of sound him out about turning over property to HOA. Once you get a read on that, then do what you think would help the transition when it comes. If possible have a pre-emptive "board" of residents that would like to be involved in the turn-over. As posted here, one association has the developer still on the Board. I don't care for that idea unless he owns property in Association and then his Board position should be as any other, an elective spot. But, it could have advantages, I don't know. Any of the work necessary to turn over control would go a lot smoother if you became involved personally with the nuts and bolts and maybe the developer would welcome your input.
Good luck

Sara:

Definately go and talk with the Developer and let him/her know that you would love to start volunteering with a newsletter or welcoming committee. The Developer should through his MC start a Liasion Committee (a junior board of sorts) to begin the education process of developing a board. I'm sure the Developer will find something you could begin assisting them with.

Good Luck!