Is a Social Committee a Good Idea?

Gordon, I think an HOA social committee is a great idea. And I think the Board should advise the committee that:
1) no alcohol is allow in the recreation and pool/spa facilities;
2) no noise which disturbs other is allowed; and
3) if they can not (or fail to comply) with the rules they may not meet in the recreation area.

Gordon,

I don't believe you would need special ins coverage; all the members would be covered under the assn's general liability policy.

IMO, I see nothing wrong with using the recreation facility for a social function. If yours is a very large assn you may consider limiting the function to HOA members only. I think it's great when the assn members want to get together socially. Why would anyone object to using the rec facility; where else could you have a social function???

Gordon,
Why not appoint the Social Committee, then have them make sugestions an ideas and make recommendations to the Board.

What are you planning to do, decide what you want done as a Board, then tell the committee this is what you all do?

Gordon,
I think I read your post correctly, it was my answer that caused the problem.

Lets go back a step. Does your CC&R's forbid alcoholic beverages on the common property? Lets say it is just a Board rule you are talking about? If this is the rule, no alcohol on common property, then of course you can change the rule. I don't think committees can make up rules or discard rules or whatever. They make recommendations to the Board. So then the committee does not enter into the equation at all as far as alcohol is concerned. Anything they propose has to be with the restriction no alcohol will be served.

I think you have a problem. If the rule is no alcohol, you are punishing the innocent owner that takes a drink in what amounts to his property. For a group of owners to get together and socialize and have drinks doesn't seem wrong to me. As long as you do not sell alcohol, I doubt you can restrict it's use in any common areas. You can restrict the kind of container, you can set hours of operation, you can restrict who is invited to an associations to do.
In fact there is a question if you can restrict renters from using community facilities. Some CC&R's do. I can be completely non personal, I gave up drinking 30 years ago.

So to be practical, your Board seems to have decided they will make a rule about consummation of alcohol on common property or some common property, and as long as it is not against the law I doubt you can win any legal battle. So the board will have to decide.

I also suspect there is more to the story. Nothing ever seems simple around here.

Don,

I believe we were talking about social event for the members. So, why would rent of the assn facility be required? It would be like paying rent to yourself!

My assn has a Holiday Party each year. It's held at one of our parks; any costs incurred are paid for by the assn; all members and their guests are welcome to attend. The activities include: pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus; gift bags for each child; a "bounce house"; face painting; balloon artists; children's raffle (prizes paid for by assn); adult raffle (prizes donated by local merchants). Earlier in the day Santa & Mrs. Clause ride through the neighborhood in an antique car. We don't have a social committee; the event is handled by the BOD. Santa & Mrs. Claus are our Pres and Treas.

I definitely agree, social activities must be authorized by the gov. docs. Our CCRs are very broad in the "use of funds" provision: ". . .for any uses of whatsoever kind or nature, and whether within or without the property, as the board may, in it's sole discretion, deem necessary, desirable or beneficial for the interests of the Property, the Owners or the Residents. . ."

Thank you Mary. I think this is an excellent idea.