Posted:
I've heard (and have seen) people resigning via text, but sending a formal letter is not only professional, but it leaves a paper trail. Text messages can be deleted by mistake (or on purpose) and so can emails, which can also be ignored or intercepted by anti-spam. You also need an effective date to make the thing stick.
I suspect one reason the management company wants you to stay is that you HAVE done a lot for the community and the new bunch needs time and experience, otherwise, the community will be right back in the shitstew it was before. In your heart of hearts, you know this too, otherwise, you would have said to the president nope, nada, hell to the naw. We don't talk much about transitions on this website, and one HOA best practice is to recruit and train homeowners who will continue to move the community forward because one day the current bunch WILL step down.
A few years after I joined my board, our president resigned by email after a board meeting - he'd done a lot for the community, and during the board meeting, the rest of the board voted down something he wanted, so I think that was his tipping point. We realized that we'd depended on him for a lot of things and had to start figuring out things ourselves, so everyone took on certain areas. In my case, I became newsletter editor and then treasurer about three years later. I was on the board for 10 years and was totally burned out by the time I said enough and announced and mailed my resignation six months before our annual meeting when I'd be up for re-election anyway. I used the last 6 months to try and educate the board on things I'd done and why they were done, so they'd be able to continue when I left. One thing I pushed was setting up a website which the board set up within a year
You don't say when your term is up, but why not stay until then? Meanwhile, attend the meeting with your letter and hand a copy to everyone. Let the property manager and your colleagues know starting right now, everyone has to take on something you're doing. They can choose or the president should do it for them. If no one takes on something, it won't get done because you have a life outside the association. So do they, and if they don't want all their time taken up by association business, they need to learn to get organized.
If everyone takes on something, it'll result in less work for everyone. Your property manager will still handle the day-to-day, but each board member can take the lead on something. For example, if you have someone who's good at writing, he or she could write articles for the community website or newsletter. Someone who's good at numbers can take on the treasurer's spot.
Everyone can go to the CAI website (had a typo in my previous message, sorry) and get some educational materials - better still get a membership for the association. they can read up on best practices and make suggestions on what might work for your community. In short, the board needs to understand you don't just show up once a month and decide how to spend money. You can be as busy as you like, but you have to put a little effort in the position. At least show up to the meetings prepared, having read the management report and reviewed the agenda, so you can contribute and say something intelligent from time to time.
As for you, it's ok to be a resource, but don't let them get away with "well, can you do X just this once?" Nope - you VOLUNTEERED to do X, so here are some notes to give you a start - from there, find a way to get it done. Meanwhile, get out of the way - they might make mistakes, but that's how they will learn (I'm sure you didn't do everything right during your tenure). The sooner they learn what they can and can't do and gain confidence, the better. You may be able to leave sooner with a clear conscious.
All of that said, don't be a martyr - if they get the notion all they have to do is beg you to stay, that's what they will do. And if you keep saying "oh, all right", you'll have no one to blame but yourself. Good luck!
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius