"workshops"

As a new board,one board member suggested the next meeting be a "workshop". He explained it would be for the board to discuss issues(no homeowners are allowed to talk at this meeting,and the board can't vote on anything) I don't see anything in the docs about this. Doesn't anyone else have these "workshops".
Barbara

Your bylaws may state when board meetings MUST be held. So you can't subsitute this workshop for the Board meeting.

You can have all the workshops, seminars, etc. you want, as long as you follow governing documents. (I have a problem with the "no-input from residents" part, though. Ideas come from discussion, and everyone should be at the table before the info is brought to the board for a vote)

Barbara,

We did "workshops" all of the time, especially prior to Budget and amendment changes. These are also required to be posted 48 hours prior to their happening. But we ALLOWED the membership to participate in the discussions. This is the only vehicle that Florida Statutes allow the membership to openly interact with the Board or committee, whichever is holding the workshop. Our only requirement was that people wishing to speak should raise their hand and wait to be reccognized by the presiding officer.

This is a great time to find out in an informal setting what the membership wants or thinks. No voting is done, only discussions. Board meetings are where the Board should be discussion issues and then voting. Open these up to the membership and see how many people might have good input.

Sidny,
Your new M.C is not getting off to a good start IMHO. ALL meetings of the Board and their committees are open to the membership. ALL!!

720:303 Meeting of the Board: (2) BOARD MEETINGS.--

(a) A meeting of the board of directors of an association occurs whenever a quorum of the board gathers to conduct association business. All meetings of the board must be open to all members except for meetings between the board and its attorney with respect to proposed or pending litigation where the contents of the discussion would otherwise be governed by the attorney-client privilege. The provisions of this subsection shall also apply to the meetings of any committee or other similar body when a final decision will be made regarding the expenditure of association funds and to meetings of any body vested with the power to approve or disapprove architectural decisions with respect to a specific parcel of residential property owned by a member of the community.

1. Notices of all board meetings must be posted in a conspicuous place in the community at least 48 hours in advance of a meeting, except in an emergency. .

Barbara,
There is no rule that homeowners have to sit there quietly. A workshop is just an informal meeting of members and or committees. Other than proper notification and being open to the membership, there are no rules governing how it is held. Open it up at least this one time to the owners and see what and how it goes. You might be suprised at what they have to say. Let's just hope that a couple of the radical Fl posters don't appear.

I wouldn't have a problem with it.Some bod members said "no member involvement" and I wanted to find out if this was law,like they said.Upon researching many things that have been said was the law, I would find out that they were incorrect. So I always want the docs or florida law to back up what I say.
thanks
Barbara

Donna,
When you have power hungry people come on a board,the homowners needs go right out the window.
Barbara

FS 720 refers to land owned property. FS 723 governs land lease communities. Statute states the same as to meetings of the board/committees if quorum of directors present. The executive committee consists of the four board officers and past president. The current executive committee consists of a quorum of board members therefore any executive committee meeting must be open to the members.