If you think it is simply enough to “do your best” while serving on the Board, you may be in for a rude awakening.
Tag: Governance
My Year of Living “Legislatively”
By Bob Gourley “The less people know about how sausages and laws are made, the better they’ll sleep at night.” – widely attributed to Otto von Bismarck, German aristocrat and statesman “Decisions are made by those who show up.” – fictional President Josiah Bartlet on the TV show “The West Wing” Before I begin, I…
Commit to Unit Owner Education. Reward Yourself with a Better Community!
Dedicate a portion of your condominium or HOA newsletter and website to education on a regular basis.
Are Community Leaders Politicians?
By Bob Gourley According to Merriam-Webster, the word “politician” is defined as follows: 1: a person experienced in the art or science of government ; especially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government 2 a: a person engaged in party politics as a profession 2 b: a person primarily interested in…
The Emotional Cost of Foreclosure
By Bob Gourley Have you ever had to foreclose on a neighbor? The word “foreclosure” strikes a note of fear and panic in most people. Typically, foreclosure is only considered when all other possibilities have been considered and no other solution can be found. It is the final remedy an association has to fix a…
Explaining the “Benefits” of a New Roof
By Bob Gourley I am often asked about the difference between a fact and a benefit as it pertains to preparing a community association newsletter to tell the story of a community enhancement, such as a new roof. Community association members buy benefits but before they do, they want to know the facts. In construction…
Failure to Communicate Can Lead to a Manager’s Failure
By Bob Gourley Since I work closely with management professionals, one of the more difficult questions I routinely face from community association leaders is how the community should go about the process of selecting a new community association manager. It causes me great concern when I first hear that a community is thinking of changing…
The Importance of Communication to a Self-Managed Condo or HOA
By Bob Gourley Communications within a condominium or homeowners association are vital to the community’s success. In most states, timely communication is a right to the association member that is granted in the governing documents and guaranteed by law. Along with the financial and management efforts put forth by the community, communication is the third…
Are Your Communications Secure?
By Bob Gourley Fences, security cameras, guards, and gates can go a long way towards bringing condominium owners peace of mind when it comes to their physical safety. But there is another type of security that should be pondered by community association leaders. Theft of data can be just as damaging to unsuspecting condo owners….
Construction and Communication for Community Associations
By Bob Gourley Is there any time more critical to keep residents informed than when a new construction or maintenance project is about to get under way? Contractors are on site, residents can be confused and chaos is often the general order of the day. What can you do as an association manager or board…