And that's a wrap!

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

Had our special Board meeting last night to discuss the process going forward with the election. Board confirmed that we will proceed as we previously approved, no changes are needed.

During homeowner forum, 5 homeowners spoke for their alloted time. Four of the five are passionately against me being on the Board and serving as President. Standard complaints of transparency, not listening to the community, and the like. Several made serious complaints about having to sit through a long drawn out description of the history, legal background, and status of our HOA elections. (It was a Board meeting, but this group of homeowners consistently believes that they are actually homeowner meetings). For the 4 complainers, the comments were personal and directed their anger toward me but lacked in content or actionable requests that can be accommodated.

One kind homeowner offered a couple comments about the ship has sailed this year for the election, but we might be able to make some improvements next year and listed some concepts. I appreciated that one.

However, I decided last night that I no longer need to be the guy standing in front of the room receiving the grief from homeowners about things that really can't be changed. I no longer need to be the lightning rod for people to throw lightning bolts at. I'm not paid for this, it is not a glamorous job, and frankly, I receive very little in return for the effort that is required.

Thus, I let the Board know that it was time for us to find a new face of our association to conduct our meetings, stand in front of homeowners, and represent our organization to our homeowners. It's time for someone else to take the helm of the ship. They can figure out meeting styles, formats, transparency, and the like.

What wasn't understood by the complainers, despite my best efforts to explain it, is there is only so much that homeowners can expect from unpaid volunteers. A lot of good people have no interest in serving on an HOA Board. Most good people run far, far away from anything to do with the HOA. Thus, HOA Boards are filled with people who choose to volunteer. How a HOA performs is directly related to whomever volunteers for the job.

I've accomplished a lot in our community in three years. We're in far better shape today than we were when I joined. I'm not quitting the Board, but think it's time for a different role. Maybe I can be a vendor coordinator or the like. Maybe I can be a potted plant on the Board, where I say "aye" at meetings and nothing else. Perhaps At-Large, with no Officer role? Who knows.

Thanks for all of your commentary and input over the last couple years.

NA1 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 190

Posted:

paraphrase of one of the main comments we get is "I don't want to be a target"

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NA1 on 12/21/2022 10:31 AM
paraphrase of one of the main comments we get is "I don't want to be a target"

Yes, that is a correct statement.

There is no personal benefit to being HOA president, yet, you are an easy target for community frustration. I no longer want to be a target for our community.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

My takeaway:

Some homeowners would like the Board to work more as a group and as a team. i.e., in a Board of 5, they would like to see each Board member do 20% of the talking and 20% of the workload. They'd like to see a variety of opinions expressed and a variety of discussion at the Board meetings that they come to observe. We've not found success with meeting that homeowner desire, unfortunately. I've consistently found that other Board members either don't complete tasks they volunteer for or don't volunteer for tasks. When I've tried to follow up to encourage them to complete their tasks, several Board members have quit the Board or quit their Officer position, or whatnot. It's really a shame. Ultimately, motivated volunteers that do independent work are hard to come by.

Some homeowners wanted to see me as a good leader, think like a senior manager at the workplace managing his team of people, rubbing elbows with homeowners, and doing all of the right leadership steps. We have a lot of senior leaders in our community. None of the senior leaders have any interest in the Board. And ultimately, to keep our community in good standard, it takes more grunt work (signing contracts, meeting with vendors, validating quality of work, etc), and it's really hard to find a senior leader who is interested in doing a lot of grunt work for free. Thus, some of our homeowners are disappointed, but I'd offer that the structure of an HOA is not one that is going to satisfy that desire.

There is a desire in some of our community to remove the virtual barrier that surrounds the HOA. That is, make the virtual meetings open mic, open chat, for all to discuss and have input. I fundamentally don't agree with it, because that is giving a loud voice to those who have time to attend meetings, and takes away the voice from busy families who do not have time. It also puts non-elected homeowners who have strong personalities into decision making capacity. I prefer a Board, elected by homeowners, who make decisions at meetings with homeowners in observation capacity only. Homeowner forums are nice but not required (in my state & association).

Overall, we have 500 adults in our community. About 1% of those people showed up to speak against me. About 3% of community showed up at all. Clearly it was not an uprising so I don't feel ousted. But I do feel that I don't need to be the target of their ire anymore.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Do not worry you will get over it...

My last months as President I announced it was my last year. I had bought a house next neighborhood over and leaving. It was no secret. However, the group who followed the conman ex president decided to form a mutiny anyways. Why have no idea. I stayed as a board member but moved out.

The new board were made up of the very same people I spent years protecting the rest of the members from. They were brain washed by the Ex who was using the HOA for personal gain.

A few months later and several bad decisions, I got several phone calls wanting me back. By that time I had regrouped myself and just played a supportive role. No need to drag me back into the game... This will most likely happen to you as well. Decide if you want to keep playing later.

Former HOA President

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

My 14 years on our board of 7 (only 6 active) shows me that there never will be a board where all directors contribute equally. In my case, it almost always was 2-4 directors who had ideas, contributed at meetings, and were what I call 'active" board members. There always were 2-3 bumps on a log who knew nothing about our HOA's governing docs or statutes for even how to make a motion. My silent chant about one was "Stan, Stan, the 2nd man" as he only seconded motions. They did not form or sit on committees. a couple of the types had small-time special goals

I probably have nagged you, MichaelT, more than anyone else has, to urge your board to approve & budget for a community manager who works solely for your HOA for more than 4-6 hours a week. That person would do the "grunt work." With almost 300 homes and many parks, no owners are going to volunteer to do everything that you do. this isn't the old bugaboo, "apathy," it's in reality a big job indoor HOA.

To step down as president due to 4 loud mouths is your choice, but, you know no one else will be able to preside, right?

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 12/21/2022 11:05 AM
My takeaway:

Some homeowners would like the Board to work more as a group and as a team. i.e., in a Board of 5, they would like to see each Board member do 20% of the talking and 20% of the workload. They'd like to see a variety of opinions expressed and a variety of discussion at the Board meetings that they come to observe. We've not found success with meeting that homeowner desire, unfortunately. I've consistently found that other Board members either don't complete tasks they volunteer for or don't volunteer for tasks. When I've tried to follow up to encourage them to complete their tasks, several Board members have quit the Board or quit their Officer position, or whatnot. It's really a shame. Ultimately, motivated volunteers that do independent work are hard to come by.

Some homeowners wanted to see me as a good leader, think like a senior manager at the workplace managing his team of people, rubbing elbows with homeowners, and doing all of the right leadership steps. We have a lot of senior leaders in our community. None of the senior leaders have any interest in the Board. And ultimately, to keep our community in good standard, it takes more grunt work (signing contracts, meeting with vendors, validating quality of work, etc), and it's really hard to find a senior leader who is interested in doing a lot of grunt work for free. Thus, some of our homeowners are disappointed, but I'd offer that the structure of an HOA is not one that is going to satisfy that desire.

There is a desire in some of our community to remove the virtual barrier that surrounds the HOA. That is, make the virtual meetings open mic, open chat, for all to discuss and have input. I fundamentally don't agree with it, because that is giving a loud voice to those who have time to attend meetings, and takes away the voice from busy families who do not have time. It also puts non-elected homeowners who have strong personalities into decision making capacity. I prefer a Board, elected by homeowners, who make decisions at meetings with homeowners in observation capacity only. Homeowner forums are nice but not required (in my state & association).

Overall, we have 500 adults in our community. About 1% of those people showed up to speak against me. About 3% of community showed up at all. Clearly it was not an uprising so I don't feel ousted. But I do feel that I don't need to be the target of their ire anymore.

In other words, some homeowners would like to dictate how the board does its job. Which - oh the irony - is micromanaging.

But wait! I have some good news for them: they can get themselves elected to the board and implement the changes they'd like to see! Such a deal!! Of course, they'll be limited by uncooperative fellow board members, and pesky governing docs and state laws, etc. etc. And they'll get to experience being on the receiving end of behavior that they gleefully dished out. But who needs to worry about that, huh?

The best cure for that sort of ignorance is experience, so you should allow them to learn the hard way. But I predict that the folks with the biggest mouths will not volunteer. It's so much easier and more fun to take potshots at others than to reveal the level of one's own incompetence. (FWIW, I often handled complaints like this by thanking the person for volunteering and giving them a job. It's amazing how quickly this weeds out the sincere folks with ideas from the chronic complainers whose only purpose is to gripe.)

And even if nobody was taking potshots at you, at some point hard working board members burn out. You've earned a rest, so enjoy it (any schadenfreude is up to you).

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Considering the last set of posts you've made, I'm not surprised by this. Eventually, people get tired of being used as a punching bag for whatever reason and say "enough." You've said the other board members just sit around and watch, so now it'll be interesting to see who's got next. That would also include the five homeowners and your arch rival (you didn't say if she was there.) If you're as awful as they say, surely they'll jump at the chance.

I know I've been hard on you, but I also think you did care a lot about your community and worked hard on its behalf. The criticism was to make you better, I hope. To wit - some of the complainers talked about a lack of transparency and not listening to the community. That may actually mean you don't listen to THEM, but it is important to let folks know what the board is doing and why. It may be some of your suggestions are ahead of their time - if it's a good one, people may eventually come around, but if they don't, don't take it personally. People don't have to agree with everything the board does, but they should see the method behind the madness - and sometimes you would go ahead and do whatever you wanted anyway (people don't like to be blown off).

If these folks don't like what's going on, they should either offer to help or run for a spot on the board and then we'll see how it turns out. That said, if someone else comes up with an amazing idea or approach, be happy for them and support it (even if it is the arch rival). Ultimately, you're all after the same thing - a clean, safe and attractive neighborhood, so don't worry about who gets the credit. You know what you did and so does everyone else, although they may not say anything. .

You're still on the board and I think the others will find something for you to do. Just make it clear that being an officer of any type isn't it. Now, go forth and have a happy holiday and New Year - you've earned it!

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

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

One of the 4, is MiacheT's arch rival, a woman who was on the board for a long time. In MichaelT's telling of it, it's her messes that "his" board spent a lot of time cleaning up. And it does sound like his HOA is in much better shape than when he started serving.

But, this woman wasn't going to run again. Instead, she claimed that she had others who wanted to run, but they didn't get the right info in time or some such. MichaelT can correct my lapses.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 12/21/2022 12:32 PM
One of the 4, is MiacheT's arch rival, a woman who was on the board for a long time. In MichaelT's telling of it, it's her messes that "his" board spent a lot of time cleaning up. And it does sound like his HOA is in much better shape than when he started serving.

But, this woman wasn't going to run again. Instead, she claimed that she had others who wanted to run, but they didn't get the right info in time or some such. MichaelT can correct my lapses.

You have a good memory, Kerry. No corrections needed.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Thanks MichaelT. My typing always needs correcting, tho.

WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522

Posted:

good job, and stay on the board. no one needs that crazy $250K in litigation ex president/ arch rival anywhere near the board again.

vis ta vie

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 12/21/2022 11:57 AM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 12/21/2022 11:05 AM
My takeaway:

Some homeowners would like the Board to work more as a group and as a team. i.e., in a Board of 5, they would like to see each Board member do 20% of the talking and 20% of the workload. They'd like to see a variety of opinions expressed and a variety of discussion at the Board meetings that they come to observe. We've not found success with meeting that homeowner desire, unfortunately. I've consistently found that other Board members either don't complete tasks they volunteer for or don't volunteer for tasks. When I've tried to follow up to encourage them to complete their tasks, several Board members have quit the Board or quit their Officer position, or whatnot. It's really a shame. Ultimately, motivated volunteers that do independent work are hard to come by.

Some homeowners wanted to see me as a good leader, think like a senior manager at the workplace managing his team of people, rubbing elbows with homeowners, and doing all of the right leadership steps. We have a lot of senior leaders in our community. None of the senior leaders have any interest in the Board. And ultimately, to keep our community in good standard, it takes more grunt work (signing contracts, meeting with vendors, validating quality of work, etc), and it's really hard to find a senior leader who is interested in doing a lot of grunt work for free. Thus, some of our homeowners are disappointed, but I'd offer that the structure of an HOA is not one that is going to satisfy that desire.

There is a desire in some of our community to remove the virtual barrier that surrounds the HOA. That is, make the virtual meetings open mic, open chat, for all to discuss and have input. I fundamentally don't agree with it, because that is giving a loud voice to those who have time to attend meetings, and takes away the voice from busy families who do not have time. It also puts non-elected homeowners who have strong personalities into decision making capacity. I prefer a Board, elected by homeowners, who make decisions at meetings with homeowners in observation capacity only. Homeowner forums are nice but not required (in my state & association).

Overall, we have 500 adults in our community. About 1% of those people showed up to speak against me. About 3% of community showed up at all. Clearly it was not an uprising so I don't feel ousted. But I do feel that I don't need to be the target of their ire anymore.

In other words, some homeowners would like to dictate how the board does its job. Which - oh the irony - is micromanaging.

But wait! I have some good news for them: they can get themselves elected to the board and implement the changes they'd like to see! Such a deal!! Of course, they'll be limited by uncooperative fellow board members, and pesky governing docs and state laws, etc. etc. And they'll get to experience being on the receiving end of behavior that they gleefully dished out. But who needs to worry about that, huh?

The best cure for that sort of ignorance is experience, so you should he allow them to learn the hardi way. But I predict that the folks with the biggest mouths will not volunteer. It's so much easier and more fun to take potshots at others than to reveal the level of one's own incompetence. (FWIW, I often handled complaints like this by thanking the person for volunteering and giving them a job. It's amazing how quickly this weeds out the sincere folks with ideas from the chronic complainers whose only purpose is to gripe.)

And even if nobody was taking potshots at you, at some point hard working board members burn out. You've earned a rest, so enjoy it (any schadenfreude is up to you).

I can’t say it better than CathyA did.

I’ll comment that it might be that someone in the neighborhood is attempting to sow the seeds of opposition, possibly with an eye towards running one or more BOD candidates in the next election. Just MHO: before resigning, try putting your ear to the ground and see if you can get some idea of how the overall neighborhood is feeling about things.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”