Social Club activities

Started by CarlaB4 • 5 replies • 1180 views

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CarlaB4 (Florida)
Posts: 2

Posted:

We have a Social Club that had planned all activities in our 55+ land lease community. About 2 months ago the Corporation that owns park, decided that they would dictate all activities. They selected Ambassadors from residents to promote this change. They would be the "workers", hence, all of them resigned. The Social Club was told if they wanted to sponsor, for example Bingo, we would have to obtain Liability insurance, AND they banned outsiders from participating. Statute 723 (Florida) states, the Corporation cannot make us disband the Social Club. The Corporation wants to hold all holiday dinners on the day before holiday (Easter, Christmas, Mothers' and Fathers' day breakfasts, etc.) What can we do with this situation ?

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

This sounds like your community is still under the developer's control and If that's the case, it can probably do whatever it wants until the community is turned over to the homeowners. Just like your last question - did you ask the board (or corporation) why the change was made? If so, what was the response?

Community amenities are there for use of the residents (that's part of what your assessments cover), so if there's an activity with a lot of non-residents, it makes sense to get some sort of liability insurance, depending on the activity. For example, I would think it's unnecessary for bingo, but a good idea for a swimming pool party.

As for holiday parties, it may be people weren't cleaning up the place and because the holiday was the next day, the mess would sit until the next workday. This would be a bad thing if the mess included food.

When you find out the why for all this, brainstorm possible solution and bring them to the company. For example, would YOU be willing to volunteer to show up on Christmas day to ensure the clubhouse or whatever is cleaned and secured, pick up the keys and return them to the property manager?

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

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

Is land/lease the same as trailer park? I can’t tell from the description.

PaulJ6
Posts: 990

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CarlaB4 on 03/22/2020 5:05 AM
We have a Social Club that had planned all activities in our 55+ land lease community. About 2 months ago the Corporation that owns park, decided that they would dictate all activities. They selected Ambassadors from residents to promote this change. They would be the "workers", hence, all of them resigned. The Social Club was told if they wanted to sponsor, for example Bingo, we would have to obtain Liability insurance, AND they banned outsiders from participating. Statute 723 (Florida) states, the Corporation cannot make us disband the Social Club. The Corporation wants to hold all holiday dinners on the day before holiday (Easter, Christmas, Mothers' and Fathers' day breakfasts, etc.) What can we do with this situation ?

Ignore them and do your own events.

In my HOA, the board said that events that were "community events" (with people from the HOA generally invited) had to be approved by the board and the board would decide all details for those events.

Whatever--this isn't North Korea. Nothing can stop private individuals from getting together.

If you can't hold activities in common areas without getting insurance, then hold them in people's homes or, if you think you may, do an informal get-together ("let's all meet at 4pm in the dining room!"). Invite whoever you want if the events are in people's homes.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Again, read your governing documents. It's possible that this social club is part of the amenities of the community and is described in the governing documents. This means it can't just be disbanded, since its existence forms part of the "contract" that everyone signs when they purchase in the community. (A 55-and-older community in my area employs a social director whose job entails running the monthly activities and managing the clubhouse and pool. This person's salary is part of the HOA's annual budget.)

A PaulJ6 said, there is nothing to stop individual homeowners from getting together in their own homes. I would expect that any group that wanted to use HOA facilities for their private event would have to compensate the HOA for any damage to the facility, cleaning services, and any additional liability insurance that may be needed.

The fact that they're looking at liability insurance and restricting access to residents suggests that they know what they're doing.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

It is a trailer park. Whenever you see oddball titles and arrangements about who's in charge of what and descriptions of things that don't seem to fit in with how condos and HOAs are run, you can almost be sure it's a trailer park. At least in Florida. The owner of the parks hold most of the cards, as landlords, and anything the "homeowners association" does is mainly for show.

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