Anyone willing to share HOA newsletter examples?

Started by LesleyK • 22 replies • 16308 views

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LesleyK (Florida)
Posts: 7

Posted:

I think the idea of a community newsletter is terrific. Does anyone have examples that they could share to give me an idea of topics shared? I was thinking we could have:
- Police blotter which contained any information on break-ins, theft, etc...
- Meet your neighbor (interview someone from the community)
- Recognition corner (best lawn, most festive decorations for holidays, best night lighting, etc...)
- Meet the board (interview with someone on the board)
- Pie chart on dues paid, dues owed, dues excessively overdue
- Service updates (things that have been fixed, things broken, etc...)

I look forward to hearing from you.

CathyT1 (Washington)
Posts: 68

Posted:

Just some thoughts:

You can add:
-upcoming events' (such as annual bbq, next HOA meeting, garage sale, etc.)
-annual dues update;
-volunteers (include an application form with (garage sale help; social events; website; fundraisers; neighborhood watch; neighborhood cleanup day; homeowner surveys, etc.)
-Find your parking laws for your state and include that in your newsletter
-lawn care info & tips (mowing, blade sharpening, when to water, fertilizing, preventing problems;
-Add a Homeowner's Corner that affect thems (issues such as plumbing problems, trash, landscaping, construction issues, etc.)
-set a reminders headline - keeping trash containers out of sight, sharing thoughts, advertising in the newsletter, home improvements guidelines, etc.)

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Lesley a newsletter is a great idea for keeping the community involved, one of the biggest complaints I see here is about the BOD acting in secret. Even though most people can't be bothered to come to the meetings and find out what's going on. But before you "borrow" things from other sources for your newsletter you might also want to take a look at this web site. http://www.companynewsletter.com/copyright.htm

Don't think who's going to bother about an HOA using something; remember the aggregate value of most communities runs well into the millions of dollars. Even the "Naked Cowboy" the guy in New York that sings on the street in his undies & cowboy boots is suing M&M Mars because they dressed an M&M up like him.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

Make sure to put in some fun stuff!

News on upcoming social events. News on past social events with photos. Recipie exchange. Have a nurse that lives in your community? Maybe you can get him or her to write a health tips column. Trivia - about almost anything. Our homeowners love the trivia we use to fill up the remaining white space. It's perfect filler material because it doesn't need to be timely and can be as long or as short as needed to fill up whatever space remains. How about an events calendar? A list of important dates? (We put a list of important dates on the front page and an events calendar on the last page). You can't remind folks enough.

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

LesleyK: To add to the exceptional ideas you have already received:
- Before Here (what neighbors accomplished or had as a vocation in another area prior to moving 'here'...
- Favorite Recipes (especially any brought to a community get-together)
- Contractors, Vendors, Professionals in the area which neighbors have used and been pleased with their services
- Neighbors who personally have skills in painting, interior decorating, wallpapering, gardening--any service which could be provided within the neighborhood
- Family Accomplishments; also Grandchildren Accomplishments
- Art/Craft Workshops (Holiday/Seasonal)
- Local Community/Important Dates (Church Affairs, Meetings, etc.)

You have received quite a lot of good ideas, and there is no way you could include it all. However, you may want to divide it up into certain column headings and have an 'association reporter' assist in gathering the information with you. This is a great way to meet neighbors and people do love to talk about themselves! Its the best way to get them involved.

Please keep us updated on your success.

-

MagdaS (Florida)
Posts: 32

Posted:

Our Residents Group just started a newsletter. Our Editor (a former newspaper man)
solicited area businesses to advertise in the our paper. This sure helps pay for the printing and other expenses.

CathyT1 (Washington)
Posts: 68

Posted:

I also add a "special thanks" section for those volunteers that have helped improve our community too.

good luck :-)

LesleyK (Florida)
Posts: 7

Posted:

GlenL, thanks for the article, I did read it. I wasn't asking for examples of other's newsletters to copy or "borrow" them. I just wanted ideas on topics and layout, structure, format. I plan to write all original articles, through interviews with board members, other neighbors, etc... I love the idea of asking a nurse to give health pointers. I undertand that I'm able to illicit facts from articles and write about those facts in my own words and not those of the author even if sourced. I appreciate you watching my back.

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Lesley I wasn't implying anything of the sort just warning against it. Other people will read these posts and maybe decide to start their newsletter. We had a homeowner that wanted to distribute a newsletter and provided a copy to the BOD for review. It was full of articles gathered from other places and cartoons and was clearly a walking talking copyright violation. Here are a couple of HOA's that post their newsletter online:

http://www.unionmills.com/newsletters.htm
http://www.riverpinescondominiums.com/newsletters.htm

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

BobS10 (Connecticut)
Posts: 39

Posted:

We are in the process of publishing our first newsletter in years.
I got a lot of great ideas from Bob Gourley of the CT chapter of CAI. In fact he just did a class this past weekend.

I hope you can access this link, http://www.caict.org/comm_interest_articles_comm_newsletter.html

Look him up, he has a sample newsletter on his own site as well.

TinaS3 (Colorado)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I do have an example letter but it is larger than the size allowed on this site.
Will be glad to email it if you'd like on a different email address

Tina Sharma
Board Director
Cherry Tree (CO)
[email protected]

DebraV (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 8

Posted:

This is an example of our community newsletter.

http://www.apoconocountryplace.com/newsletter.htm

PatriciaB6 (North Carolina)
Posts: 13

Posted:

Our community newsletter is published and mailed monthly to the residents at no charge by a company called N2 Publishing. They have a website (www.n2pub.com). The newsletter is in a magazine format, so it looks great. The cover photo is in color, but photos inside are black and white. You provide the articles/photos and they secure advertising to pay for it all. For more info, email Bernadette Hayes, Director at [email protected]. Good luck.

WardellD (Washington)
Posts: 64

Posted:

This is an example of our community newsletter.

http://home.comcast.net/~countryparkiihoa/newsletter.htm

But they have not updated it in over a year.

http://www.cp2hoa-info.com

WE give more information then the current board.

BevH (Oregon)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Hi,
I just started anewsletter and have it ready to send on an email until our wesite is up. I don't know how to send it to you.
I put in the history of the development, Recipts, What going on, Upcoming events, Volunteer s who have done someting for the development etc. I use Microsot Publisher. Working well.
I think nesletter might work well.
Good luck

RayH (Colorado)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I'm going to take over the newsletter for my HOA and just signed up with HOATalk to get some ideas. The suggestions listed above are great. Has anyone tried having "cutest pet" photo contest, or "best recipe" contest? I wasn't thinking I'd ever proclame a winner, just keep adding new contestants as they contributed.

Is there anything we shouldn't do in an HOA newsletter? (I mean beyond the obvious illegal and distasteful stuff). Things to beware of? I mean I don't want to cause discourse or a riot or anything. ...or upset the members.

Thanks!

LoriE (Indiana)
Posts: 34

Posted:

There is a group of residence who have started preparing a monthly newsletter. The residence have asked the board numerous times but they continue to prepare a quarterly newsletter that is filled with old news.

Our board likes to do things in secret. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback. We just present the facts from the board meetings, upcoming events, important news, important topics like drainage, election process, etc. We do not have any advertisers. It is at their cost. That's ok. We feel like we are doing something for the community the board refuses to do.

MaryH6 (California)
Posts: 7

Posted:

Lori,
Have you had any negative responses? Has the Board tried to shut it down or threatened legal action? A group of residents in my HOA are considering something similar since the Board doesn't even share old news through a newsletter or other means.

Thanks.

LoriE (Indiana)
Posts: 34

Posted:

Not one negative response. All positive. The board has not tried to shut us down. I don't see how they can because we report only the facts ... discussions at board meetings, who moved the motion, who seconded, pool hours etc.

It's turned out to be a 4 page newsletter (2 pages front and back). I'm working on April's now.

We also included important articles the neighborhood needs to know about. Whether it affects them or out. Trying in a subtle way to put pressure on the board if they try to back out. For example, drainage.

The trifecta on the board make a big deal of "fiscal responsibility", "transparency" and "the community knowing what they are doing".

1) Fiscal responsiblity -- at the last meeting our treasurer reported the association was $2,700 over budget on snow removal with $1,500 remaining for snow removal in the fall. The total budget is $8,000 for 2008. We have spent $6923 so far this year. If I do the math, $8,000 - $6,923 = $1,077 left for snow removal in the fall. I don't see an overage for that budget item. That's is the kind of mentality and incompetence we are dealing with. We are not giving the financial info at the board meeting. We have to wait until it is posted on the web site. It could be before or after the next board meeting.

2) Transparency -- they vote by email. There is nothing in the by-laws about electronic voting. However, they do mention at the board meeting but do not tell us who voted how.

3) The community knowing what they are doing -- we receive a quarterly newsletter that contains old news. The spring newsletters has not been distributed yet. The board member in charge is extremely lazy. It was supposed to be out March 1st. The community has asked numerous times to have a monthly newsletter. That is what we are now providing.

Sorry the response went so long. Go for it! You will be doing your neighbors a favor!!!!!

DwightT (Idaho)
Posts: 664

Posted:

I looked through some of the samples that have been made available online, and one of the things that I noticed was that they all included personal phone numbers. Maybe it's just my personal paranoia kicking in, but I have to wonder about the advisability of doing that. I have no problems with including the phone numbers in actual printed news letters, but I'm not so sure about including them in anything that is actually available online. When I've posted our newsletters on our website, I always try to remove phone numbers first. Am I being overly concerned?

LoriE (Indiana)
Posts: 34

Posted:

Personally, I feel that information should not be available to the general public on the web. I know there have many discussions on this board about this exact topic. Phone numbers, lot numbers, legal reports should be left to a secure login area for members only.

That's my $0.02!

ST2
Posts: 22

Posted:

Several months ago, several motivated and concerned residents began an independent newsletter entirely written and published by residents.

Our Management and BOD has no interest in participating in a newsletter in our 800-unit homeowner community. Most of our "Unsubscribes" have been by BOD members. There is an unfortunate disconnect here.

The monthly newsletter is extremely timely and topical because it is produced in digital form (as a pdf file) ONLY. It can be updated and published "instantly" and also contains embedded, clickable links to websites for further information. It is published in easy-to-read, large font, high contrast type.

The PDF file is hosted on an owner-owned website, entirely paid for by the owner. (The website also includes a sister-forum for residents to engage in discussions about many topics.)

It has no interest in "calendar events" as this is done by other individuals in paper form during the snowbird season. The newsletter is specifically article-focused, exploring concerns and projects in the community. Though it has a point of view, it does not shove editorial opinions down readers' throats. Contributors are folks who like to research and write and care about the future of the HOA.

It also features a significant educational component in an attempt to bring owners up to date with Florida law.

It includes articles on a variety of "lighter" subjects of interest to our residents (ie an article about heat exhaustion/stroke for people and pets in the August issue, a "Featured Food" article with nutritional info/recipes, money/energy saving tips, as well as cartoons and owner feedback and comments. These are fillers, as the intention of the newsletter is to address "meat & potatoes HOA business" and stimulate interest and discussion.

It is unfortunate that our community functions in an "information vacuum" and has been on an increasingly bad track with rumor-mongering, paranoid management and suspicious owners. The editors of this newsletter are attempting to introduce some productive, informative and enjoyable involvement in the business side of the community.

I hope there is something here that gives you some additional thoughts as you pursue your newsletter project.

FranD (Georgia)
Posts: 102

Posted:

We have a neighborhood directory with everyone's phone number, address, email etc and people love having the contact info

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