Social Committee policies (holidays)

Started by DavidG45 • 13 replies • 516 views

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DavidG45 (Delaware)
Posts: 994

Posted:

I am the resident board member of a fairly new HOA with about 300 homes that will be 650 homes at completion. We recently created several committees, one of which is the Social Committee. None of us have much experience with HOA's so I have been posing questions here and getting great input.

One question that has arisen has to do with holidays. Some members of the social committee want to decorate the clubhouse and spend money on other primarily Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Others have said it is probably not good policy to spend HOA money on religious-specific activities. The disagreement is civil, and both sides understand the other side's position, but they have reached out to me for my thoughts.

I'm curious if there is any "conventional wisdom" on this kind of thing. Thanks in advance for thoughts on the subject.

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

Easy answer is to simply discuss “Holiday” decorations ... drop the religious context completely. Don’t talk about Christmas, but rather discuss Holidays and Holiday Celebrations.

Very glad to hear this is a civil discussion.

AugustinD
Posts: 5,144

Posted:

I think conventional wisdom is of three minds:

-- The Christmas- and Easter-celebrating crowd is in the majority, and majority rules.

-- The Board may spend membership's money only on those items listed in the covenants. I doubt this includes holiday decorations. Some will stretch phrases like "the health and well-being" into covering expenses like holiday decorations. But in my opinion, this does not fly.

-- Those who do not observe Christmas and Easter have a right to say they should not have these holidays imposed on them. The majority makes fun of these folks. Which disgusts me.

I believe City Halls get in trouble in the courts from time to time for putting up Christmas decorations.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

We're a twin tower high rise with two lobbies in the middle of our city's downtown. We do have a social committee with a budget as do all the surrounding high rises. We have a Xmas tree in each lobby and non-christian items on on a side tables, reception desk, decorations, e.g., candles, pointsettias. Our circle drive on the premises has lights on the trees and a charming reindeer display.

There's a console table in each lobby that has a menorah, and other Hannukkah items on it. We don't decorate for Easter. It's secular version is manly for children and only a handful live here.

Our entire neighborhood went all out this year because of Covid and ppl were ready for lights and good cheer. Neighbors balconies are music more lit and decorated than previously.

A nearby hotel has a huge heart made out of empty rooms with their lights on to honor health care workers. Instead of white lights, which have been on for months, the lights now alternate red & green.

IMO, non-christian, but secular Xmas decorations are just fine.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

These are great responses. I think there are at least three holidays that come up around this time of year - Christmas, Hannukah and a Hindu holiday, I think. So it's best to keep religion out of decorations - a big sign saying Happy Holidays should work.

Fun fact - many of the Christan traditions around Christmas have pagan origins, so I don't know why some of your members want to limit the decorations to one religion since everything borrows from everything - consider this article: https://holidappy.com/holidays/twelve-christmas-traditions-with-pagan-origins

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:

We put two wreaths on our entrance sign and let it go at that. Wee keep a blind eye to people decorating their homes as it is not worth the aggravation. All will be gone in a few weeks.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Our HOA this wasn't an issue. That is because no one could see inside our HOA. There was one way in/out only. Only the back end of some houses backed up toward the main road. So not a lot of holiday decorating. It was just basically internal amongst each other. Unless it was causing someone lost sleep due to lights, we weren't picky if you choose to decorate.

Former HOA President

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

This thread is about the common area(s), I think, not individuals homes.

MarkM19 (Texas)
Posts: 1,459

Posted:

Shelia,
I just heard today to not forget Kwanzaa which is Celebrated from 12/26 to 1/1 every year.

David,
One of the first things to learn about board life if you can never please everyone. I like the idea of trying to please the majority.

JohnC77 (California)
Posts: 562

Posted:

At our HOA we planted a pear tree and stuck a partridge, two doves, three hens, four calling birds, six geese and seven swans at the base in a pool of water. We couldn't get the humans as they were told we couldn't reimburse them for their services.

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

This is not about a majority.

Put everyone together and wish them Happy Holidays.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

We don't decorate the common areas.

This removes any issues.

AugustinD
Posts: 5,144

Posted:

Bah. Humbug.

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