Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1459209
29 ASK A COMMUNITY MANAGER Q What Do You Wish Community Members Knew About Your Role? A direct account of what a manager does behind the scenes. Often described as the face of the community, your manager is the person you might go to for everything from RSVPing to a meeting to getting information about assessments. As the board of directors' right-hand person, they're responsible for keeping an HOA's operations running smoothly while juggling board demands and homeowner requests. The job of a community manager entails a lot, but they're not to be considered the boss of your community. We asked Jesse Dubuque, CMCA®, to share the top things he wished community members knew about the role of a manager. A "As a community manager, I've learned that everyone works better when we clearly understand each other's roles and recognize we're all on the same team. To do my part in helping build camaraderie and strengthen manager and member partnerships, I wish community members knew the following: • The board makes decisions—not us. Community managers are simply a resource for the board. We're here to represent owners and offer advice, but we don't have a vote and don't take sides. All decisions, like choosing contractors and setting the budget, are made strictly by the board. • We don't make the rules. Just like managers don't make decisions, we don't make the rules either. When your association was formed, a set of governing documents was also created. These documents define what the association does or doesn't do. When residents ask a question, we aren't telling you what to do—we're relaying information directly from the governing documents. • We can't do everything, but we usually know vendors that can. Community managers don't personally do things like shovel snow, mow lawns, or repair siding; however, we do connect you with the right people. The board sets policies, and we assist in implementing them by recommending vendors. • Although we try to be, we aren't omniscient. We wish it were feasible, but we can't see and know absolutely everything that goes on in your community. If there's an issue, please speak up! It makes a difference when residents pitch in and promptly report problems or needs. • We only help with community-related matters. Community managers want to help as much as possible, but questions must be limited to your association or community. We can point you in the correct direction—we can't give you answers to questions like: 'What's my neighbor's alarm system access code?' or 'Why is my smoke detector chirping?' • We want residents to get involved. If you aren't satisfied with your assessments, services, or rules, run for the board and become part of the solution! Most residents find that serving on the board is a rewarding and educational experience, and it really opens their eyes to what goes into running the association." Jesse Dubuque is a General Manager for Associa Minnesota and oversees a large master-planned community. He works tirelessly to provide superior communication and customer service to his clients. Jesse has been a licensed Realtor® in the state of Minnesota since 1999 and has been a valued Associa Minnesota team member since 2008. He has achieved the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) and Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) designations.