HOA Web Site

In developing our web site I would like some input on several things.

1) Any advice on having forums regarding the neighborhood on the site? (Something like this for our neighborhood.) While I like the idea, the other four members are more cautious.

2) Do you place any financial statements on your site such as the budget? (Again, I think this is good since we are required to maintain open records. I am all for being as open as feasible. I do want to put these behind a login screen as it is nobody outside our neighborhood's business.)

3) What features have you found particularly helpful or troublesome?

I know there are guidelines and I have looked at a number of sites. But I am also interested in hearing some real life experiences.

A strong NO for discussion forums or the like. We only got negative comments which drew more negative comments. We eliminated that section.

We post monthly actual vs budget data in a section that is open only to residents. We also post meeting agendas and minutes.

We strive to be as open as is reasonable and consider this an advancement over the bulletin board - which we still use.

And naturally I screwed up the link for Drupal. If you want to find out more about it, go to http://www.drupal.org.

I'm always astonished by the replies concerning whether or not to provide financial information and other important information, and particularly about the strongly held views for and against providing a forum for members to sound off.

The website can always be set up to require acceptance of Terms of Service to use any posting features. The TOS provides the authority to delete offensive posts and personal attacks.

Most software used for owners association website provide the capability for members only access to certain information. This could include forums. Conceivably there could be a members only forum and a public forum. If one of the purposes is to sell the common interest development to the general public, good information may be important including a forum for participation by people interested in the development. Of course, offensive comments can be removed under the Terms of Service.

In the contemporary world of computers, forums are part of the expectation. Newspapers and many other organizations successfully use forums with TOS and with voluntary policing by readers.

My astonishment re forums at owners association sites is the mixed message about the need for transparency and openness, and the actions to prevent people from expressing their views. If an owners association only gets negative views, it is likely a reflection of the dissatisfaction which the board can attempt to correct. If only a few post negative views, readers will not read their posts. If you want good news on the forums, the create good news by good actions by the owners association.

HOA Talk is an example of a forum with participation by interested readers and writers. Should the sponsors cancel this forum because a few people might be concerned about what others may say? Are the users of HOA Talk elitists?

Of course, posts on forums should require names and use the protocol at a members' meeting. Forums are merely the electronic version of standing on a soap box in Hyde Park in London and expounding your views.