What Makes a Great HOA Board Member?
HOA board members take on a lot of responsibility, and it’s important for your board to be made up of qualified individuals. Whether you’re voting for new members or want to serve as one, here are some traits that make a great HOA board member. Enjoy Volunteering First of all, board members need to enjoy the volunteer work they’re doing. Being on the board involves time and patience, so members need to serve the community without expecting something in return. Take the Role Seriously The decisions that the board makes impact the community, so the role needs to be taken seriously. You’re protecting the investment of homeowners, and they’re counting on you to make the right decisions. Be Consistent Part of your responsibility as a board member is enforcing the rules. Being selective about which rules are enforced makes the entire board look unprofessional and can upset homeowners. Be Empathetic Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that won’t make everyone happy. It’s important to stay positive and understand where residents are coming from with their frustrations. They will appreciate having someone to truly listens to their concerns. Cooperate & Collaborate Even if you vote against a motion and it passes, stand united with the board and support the decision. You’re here to serve the community, not yourself. In addition, it’s important to understand that you are always working as a unit, and in order to do so, you’ll need to work well with others. Be Detail-Oriented A strong board member will understand the governing documents in order to have efficient meetings and make the right decisions. Attention to detail and ability to look at the small picture will ensure nothing gets missed and rules are being followed. Sharper Management’s mission is to provide common interest communities the highest quality management services through a culture of communication, teamwork, and growth.
The Election of Officers vs Directors
There is a common misunderstanding among homeowners, and even Board members, about the difference between being elected to the Board of Directors and being elected to an Officer position. Of course, your Governing Documents may state otherwise, but an overwhelming majority of Documents state that Directors are elected by the Membership/Homeowners at the Annual Meeting – and then the Board elects each other to the various Officer positions. Typically, these positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The remaining Board members are usually referred to as “Member(s) at Large.” The most common and recommended practice is to hold a brief “Organizational Meeting” following each Annual Meeting to establish these positions among the Board members. The final point to understand is that Members are elected to the Board for a term that is typically one, two, or three years in duration. Term lengths vary by Governing Documents. Officer position, on the other hand, are typically elected each year.