getting members to show up

You who have members that show up at meetings, HOW do you get them there?
Kidnap? Hogtie and drag? Bribe? Trick?
Or are you kidding us, and no one actually shows up except most of the board most of the time?
What do you do that makes (helps/invites) members to get themselves to the meetings?

Our dates are published in the quarterly newsletter. That's it.

"Getting your members involved in committees really helps." It sure does, unless, of course, you have a board who wants to do it all to maiantain control as one recently posted here.

Right On Harold but---
Your Board is only as good as you allow them to be. Boards who make it difficult for members to be involved need changing. Residents can force any issue if they band together. There is power in the masses. I get tired of people complaining of a Board and then walk away without doing something about it.
I went door to door with a proxy form to get 47 signatures needed to increase our Developer created Board number, from 3 to 5. It worked. Now when we need something very important to be voted on, we have a committee who raps on doors and gets the work done. One more committee was created and it has worked beautifully. I would rather that they show up at meetings but they won't so we go to the masses.

JC......When I first came to my HOA very few folks showed up....SO... I started a neighbors group via google... got people to join...started chatting... then we did the old...."if ya gonna bitch online then show up in person and bitch for real at the source" ...IT WORKED.... I bake home made whatever on the 3rd Sunday of each month....we have a whole lot more folks showing up and getting involved..... Need to explain to your HOA members that it takes more than a few to make a neighborhood....it takes all of the neighbors... Also thru our google group we EDUCATE the other homeowners.....We were SUCCESSFUL that thru our online group we educated people here about the requirements for AUDITS....We never had one in 30 years .....BUT with perserverance and the law we got the members to vote for an audit....much to the distane of the BOD....But MEMBERS RULE.....It was cool......So off tonite to neighborhood burger fry and election get ready chat....Its that time of year....... Best of luck to you with your members......Like Donna says.....BROWNIES........and not the funny ones or maybe ????? LOL LOL LindaC3

DanaA... I kinda sorta understand your post .....I actually like to have Members attend as many BOD meetings as they can and have a say, after all it is their community also....
This past year with member participation we pointed out mistakes that our BOd was making and those comments were appreciated by the BOD.... I think that if that particular motion had passed, some of the things they were discussing, ALOT MORE UPSSET people would have been at the next meeting and what a waste of time to have UNDO what they did wrong....So, as adults we all should know how to conduct ourselves at meetings...with respect for the process... make a point of information, and let the business proceed at hand... We have at the adjournment of all our BOD Meetings a lively round of 15- 30 minute open floor for discussion ans suggestions from those in attendance..Lots has been accomplished by these chats...Hopefully if will prove sucessful for you as well....Best of all and by all means encourage active Member participation in the process.....LindaC3

I really don't understand the issue of wanting people to show up. We asked people why they don't come. We got several replies; most of them positive. For example: The mundane things we need to talk about don't interest most members. They elected us because they don't have the time to sit in on monthly meetings. They trust us. If there is something REALLY big coming up, we make certain that all members are aware that it will be discussed in an upcoming meeting. Trust me, if it hits them in their pockets, they'll be there. Board meetings are not a "show" for their evening entertainment. Our meetings are very open--we have them pool-side. I personally take it as a compliment that they feel we're doing a competent job. Our minutes are posted three days later---so everyone is informed as towhat was discussed and decided.

Dana, HANG IN THERE!!! Trust me----our Board has been a living HELL this year! I've used this forum for all sorts of advise, in 2007! We had a president that (at one meeting) someone called her HITLER! We tried (unsuccessfully) to have the Board remover her President; she had people banging on our doors to harrass us; she spent over $10,000.00 in money (not board approved) from our reserves; she publicly belittled us at Board meetings; she had neighbor turn against neighbor---even those who were friends LONG before she showed up; the list could go on and on. My message to you is, we (boards) are all alike. I'm learning this more and more from what I read here. My CURRENT board are (finally) people who have lived here from Day One---who finally got tired of the "newcomers" trying to change everything. Don't get me wrong---we always welcome "new blood". But those who have no knowledge of the "history" of a complex have to sit back and learn (first) what we've gone through to get where we are NOW. Only intellegent, informed people will sit on a board and have the best interest of ALL members. Don't give up, Dana. Are you by any chance in Naples? Just curious.

One of the things to be aware of is that in Florida a great many things now can be in committee but have the same restrictions as board meetings. Previously we had an Architectural Review Committee that accepted the applications and also noted those who failed to get approval for something. In July of this year FS 720 was changed to require that committee (which never had a majority of board members) to post notice at least 48 hours before they would meet and to make it open to everyone. For us the result was to bring that committee back under the board and it significantly increased the turn around time for approvals. The board meets once a month so people have to wait for the board meetings now to get approval.

In Florida, if the committee is going to spend money, discuss/make a decision regarding ARC approvals or discuss/make a decision regarding policies then it must also have notice similiar to a board meeting and be open to all. In most small communities that means it ends up being board functions again.

Brad,
ARC issues are one of my passions as I chaired the rewritting of our guideline manual this last year. ARC discussions have always been so iffy because many decisions by ARC committees and Board members have been at their individual discressions. If you talk with anyone in enforcement at the State Attorney General's office, they will say that ARC complaints are huge in numbers compaired to other complaints about H.O.A.s and board members.

Having said that, the Florida State legislature was bombarded by a couple of very strong anti HOA owners association groups along with several district representatives who lobbyed to get State Bill 720;3035 passed, which is the new guidelines for ARC committees to operate. As a strong ARC supporter, I am thrilled to have this bill pass because it takes the power away from Boards and committees who might have personal agendas and just want to be powerful in their control of their associations. The new guidelines are very explicite and associations will have to get thei ARC guidelines updated to be in complience.

You are correct that all meetings of the ARC and as a matter of fact, all committees must post their meetings 48 hours prior to the meeting time and an agenda must be also posted. They are required to be open to the membership. This always has been the law but it seems to slip thru the cracks with some associations but it is now much clearer to read and find in the Statutes.

JC3,

A Board that will only do what is right, what their job really entails only if owners participate and attend is pathetic and is IMHO an example of one of the lowest levels of human decency. Owner apathy with a Board like that is a dangerous cocktail.

Conversely, owner apathy with a Board that governs according to the By-laws, reasonably/realistically, and with a rationale willingly eplained may not be a bad thing.

Therefore, my opinion is that owner apathy contributes to stress on a volunteer Board taxed with day to day tasks. However ultimate fault is with the Board and not owner apathy.

My positive view on HOA/COA Boards has diminished over the last 10 years, sad but true. I have found that my experiences of governing according to the cc&r's, budgeting wisely, enforcing rules with reason has been challenged by scumbags that are only interested in creating their fifedoms. These types of people never matured outside their possesive sandbox thinking that amenities are their personal tonka toys and enjoyment to offer and remove from their neighbors at whim. These types of people are in it for a variety of reasons. Perhaps kickbacks, or money they can craftily skim off the budget funded by their neighbors.

The only chance these types of people will ever be routed out, the only chance their will be a sea of change for the betterment of the person subject to and harrassed by these types of people is with state oversight tailored to every single association. Meaning annual state audits, and state to HOA/COA homeowner questionnaires. This would require a state run legislative branch, a costly undertaking. Unless the states realize the benefits to the taxpayers and need for taxation with representation, the sea of change will drown those in need, and allow the sharks to swim.

That is a job and cause I would willingly take to attempt some meaningful oversight of the rampant corruption that is going on accross our nation. The purpose of which is to level the playing field a bit and let the Boards know that someone higher than them and their neighbors is watching and will make assessments and wield corrections based upon the cumulative responses of owner input. If owners are still apathetic they only have themselves to blame when they complain.