Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1492999
1. Maintain transparency. It's hard to bring people together and preserve community spirit when neighbors don't know what's happening. Boards should be transparent, keep everyone in the loop, and encourage participation and collaboration. To do this: • Ensure all meetings are well-advertised. Publicize meetings early and often, and let owners know you want to hear from them. • Make the annual meeting an event. Improve attendance by holding it at a fun location, serving light refreshments, and inviting special guests and vendors. • Stay in constant communication. Form a communication committee, send newsletters with important information, or host town halls. 2. Provide top-notch services. A major perk of living in a managed community is the exclusive services, programs, and offerings. Make it a priority to remind residents of this, and consider providing value-added but inexpensive services like: • Plant material pick up day. Partner with your landscaper to pick up difficult-to-dispose-of materials like summer garden waste or fall pumpkins. • Dryer vent cleaning. Bid and perform this vital service to save money and reduce fire hazards. 3. Practice professionalism. HOAs are non-profit corporations and should be run in a professional manner. Board members are elected officials, and residents expect leaders to represent them well and act in their best interest. To maintain this trust and promote positivity, board members should: • Treat meetings as business meetings. Dress appropriately, show up on time, stick to the agenda, and be respectful. • Remain objective. Keep association business confidential, leave personal agendas at home, and discourage gossip. • Make thoughtful decisions. If every decision is thoughtful, necessary, and for the good of the community, the majority will see the board as a professional and competent entity taking care of community needs." ASK A COMMUNITY MANAGER 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. 33 The inherent feeling of community is one of the main reasons millions of people across North America opt to live in a neighborhood with a homeowners' association (HOA). Thanks to the shared common areas, social opportunities, and economic benefits, residents in a managed community tend to have a greater sense of purpose and togetherness. However, fostering this coveted harmony takes work and effort—especially from the board of directors. To learn how board members can boost morale in their communities, we asked Jesse Dubuque, CMCA®, to share some advice. How Can Boards Boost Morale in eir Communities? Expert advice for promoting harmony in an HOA. Q A "Managed communities are generally great places to live—but you get what you give. In my experience, if board members do these three things, it leads to a positive environment: