Good news for directors and managers who hold virtual meetings but hate the hassles that come with hybrid meetings: you can legally hold solely virtual meetings! Read on for details. Associations have been using virtual video communications platforms like Zoom, GoTo Meetings, and Microsoft Teams for the last few years to hold board and member […]
Increase Annual Meeting Attendance (AZ)
It’s Annual Meeting Season! Our firm has been busy helping clients prepare for and execute successful annual meetings. After all, the Association’s annual meeting is the Association’s TIME TO SHINE! Read the article…………………………….
Arizona Law Mandates Open Meetings for Planned Communities
In Arizona, homeowners’ associations are governed by a law that promotes transparency and resident participation. The statute, A.R.S. § 33-1804, is part of the state’s Planned Community Act and requires associations to conduct open meetings with only a few narrow exceptions. Subsection (A) of the law sets forth the general rule: all meetings of an […]
AB 1458 Stop, Adjourn, Then Proceed: New Reduced Quorum Requirements Help Make Every Vote Count (CA)
Recent legislation has provided various tools to remedy the difficulties that many associations face due to the lack of member participation in director elections. AB 502 went into effect in 2022, permitting elections by acclamation when the number of qualified candidates running for a board of directors is less than or equal to the number […]
Director Elections—What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Director elections are one of the most important powers association members have, so it makes sense that owners take elections seriously. Whether voting in an election and/or running for the board, the process and its results are personal to association members. Therefore, any appearance of impropriety or error in the process is oftentimes met with […]
Achieving an HOA Meeting Quorum
It’s five minutes until the Annual Meeting starts. The governing documents require the presence in person or by proxy of at least 25% of the eligible voters to establish a legal quorum. With only 21% of the members so represented, the meeting has to be canceled and rescheduled. Read the article…………………………….
Holding Orderly, Efficient Annual Meetings – It’s Not as Hard as It Seems!
Talk to anyone familiar with common-interest community governance anywhere in the country, and they will tell you the same thing: apathy is rampant among residents of co-ops, condos, and HOAs. Not only is it difficult to get owners and shareholders to run for their boards of directors, but it’s a struggle to even get them […]
Dos and Don’ts of Election Challenges in Community Associations (FL)
Pursuant to their relevant statutory provisions, election disputes that take place in condominium, homeowners’, and cooperative associations are subject to mandatory nonbinding arbitration before the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes (the “Division,” for short). It is referred to as “nonbinding” because the arbitrator’s order is not final until 30 days after its […]
NYC Condo Boards: Know When Unit Owner Approval is Required
Last year, the Circa Central Park condominium decided to spend $60,000 to make the building’s many windows more visible to birds. The board decided to add translucent dots to the windows so the birds would see them and not crash. If this was your condo board, would you get unit owner approval before doing that […]
Why these condo owners want state ombudsman monitoring their HOA board election (DE)
A group of Le Parc Condominium owners wants Delaware’s common interest community ombudsman to monitor the complex’s upcoming board election, fearing the homeowners association board will block residents from voting. Read the article……………………………
Navigating Common Challenges in Community Association Meetings
Community association meetings are pivotal in fostering communication and decision-making among residents and board members. These gatherings, however, are not immune to common problems that can hinder their effectiveness and efficiency. This article will delve into some of these challenges and offer practical solutions, ensuring that community meetings serve their intended purpose. Read the article…………………………..
Annual Meeting Time: Making a Case for Assessments Increase (MN)
Proper financial planning is the bedrock of every community association’s sustainability. It ensures that the association can continue to provide essential services, maintain property values, and enhance the overall quality of life for its residents. One critical aspect of financial planning is the periodic assessment of whether it’s necessary to increase dues. In this blog, […]
Condo Column: Special Meetings (NH)
Let’s say you disagree with a board’s decision. It could be something as small as a $50.00 fine or something bigger such as not allowing a third car for your now driving child or perhaps it’s bit more important, such as discovering evidence believe a Board member is stealing money. Read the article………………………..
Update: Condo/Co-Op/HOA Meeting Agendas & Notice Requirements
Florida laws governing community associations require notice of meetings to encourage owner participation. Here is a helpful guide summarizing the notice requirements under statute; however, this guide is not intended to be all inclusive and is only for general reference. Read the article………………………..
Post-Pandemic: Virtual vs. In-Person Board and Annual Meetings (AZ)
Virtual board and annual meetings have become commonplace in the post-pandemic world. But, what happens when a homeowner doesn’t want virtual meetings and demands that the association hold in-person board or annual meetings? Read the article………………………..
10 Tips to Ensure a Well-Run Hybrid Meeting (ON)
For over 3 years now, most owners’ meetings have been held virtually. Technology has drastically improved, lessons have been learned, and changes have been implemented by virtual meeting host platforms to improve the overall experience of participating in a virtual meeting. Read the article………………………..
Update: Condo/Co-Op/HOA Meeting Agendas & Notice Requirements (FL)
Florida laws governing community associations require notice of meetings to encourage owner participation. Here is a helpful guide summarizing the notice requirements under statute; however, this guide is not intended to be all inclusive and is only for general reference. Read the article………………………..
Big Changes to Condominium and Homeowners’ Association Elections are Coming This Summer: Part II (PA)
Act 115 of 2022 will amend the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act and the Uniform Planned Communities Act to change the ways meetings and elections are held. In Part One, I listed many ways that Act 115 will help communities. In this part, I will talk about some of the ways Act 115 may make things […]
Tips for Running a Successful Community Association Meeting
Have you volunteered to sit on your community’s board of directors? If so, chances are you understand how exhausting meetings can get. Nevertheless, meetings are necessary to take care of the association’s business. Fortunately, solutions are available to ensure these issues don’t derail future meetings or hamper progress; today, we have some tips for managing […]
First HOA Meeting? Here’s What to Expect
A knowledgeable homeowner is a helpful homeowner. If you’re new to an HOA community, then you may not know what to expect when it comes to meetings held by the board. In this guide, we’ll cover what to expect when attending your first HOA meeting as a homeowner. Read the article………………………..
Planning & Preparing for Effective Meetings (CA)
Ineffective meetings in common interest developments, especially when addressing sensitive topics, can easily devolve into shouting matches, threats, and even news coverage. Fortunately, these meetings are rare. More common is apathy or frustration with how business is conducted, which results in very few homeowners attending association meetings, even when important topics are discussed. Read the […]
The Complete Condo Annual Meeting Guide
In condominium corporations, regular board meetings are essential to the community’s operations. However, once a year, there is a meeting that takes on greater importance in the form of an annual meeting. Read the article (PDF)………………………..
Are you Following Robert’s Rules at Your Community Association Meetings?
If you’re a board member of a community association, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with and follow Robert’s Rules of Order. This article will give you some background information on the rules and how they relate to homeowner’s association (HOA) meetings. Read the article………………………..
Timesavers at Annual/Election Meetings (FL)
In condominiums and cooperatives, general proxies are used for establishment of a quorum and limited proxies are used to vote on a particular matter – amendments, waive reserves or financial reporting requirements, etc. It is only in homeowners associations when proxies may also be used for elections. Read the article………………………..
How to Run an Effective Open Meeting
Community board meetings can be challenging in terms of overcoming logistics. As always, the key is time invested in preparation and organization. Please consider the “professional meeting skills tips” provided below that might assist your community in conducting a successful open meeting. Read the article………………………..
Digital Decision Making: Community Association Board of Directors Can Conduct Business Electronically
In recent years, as work, entertainment, and socializing have migrated online, community association governance is following suit. Traditional face-to-face meetings do not always offer the same convenience and accessibility as digital communication technologies. There are several electronic platforms that Boards have begun utilizing, such as Messenger, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and even WhatsApp, just to […]
5 Common HOA Meeting Problems & How to Fix Them
Required and crucial to the success of a community, board meetings are where most homeowners’ association (HOA) business is conducted. During these meetings, board members review operations, make plans, and address resident questions. Read the article………………………..
Brookhaven homeowners denied entry to HOA meeting (SC)
News report about Brookhaven annual meeting. Watch the news report………………………………..
Community Association Quorum Issues (FL)
In the final article on our series on the basics of community association meetings, we address common questions involving quorum – that is the minimum number of constituents (directors for a Board meeting or Members for a Members meeting) that must be present in order for the meeting to occur. Read the article………………………..
Make Sure You Do These 4 Things at Your Condo Association Annual Meeting
Florida Condominium rules and regulations are subject to the Florida Condominium Act. It is important to understand what is needed for condo association annual meetings as regulations make the occurrences of these meetings mandatory and clearly outline how to conduct them. Read the article………………………..
Tips for an Effective Virtual Annual Meeting
Annual meetings are a requirement for all HOAs as outlined by the Homeowner’s Association Act. These meetings should give residents enough notice to attend (at least 14 days before the meeting), and will cover important information like budget updates, amendments to current governing documents, and new board member elections. Read the article………………………..
What Can Members Vote on at an HOA or Condo Membership Meeting?
A question came up during a recent online discussion about “what members can do at an HOA or condo membership meeting?” Specifically, the questioner wondered if a member could seek recognition and unexpectedly make a motion to “make the association do most anything.” Read the article………………………..
Special Meetings of Owners – Who Gets to Call them and How? (CO)
Have you ever received a demand from an owner or multiple owners to call a special meeting of members? The demand may have been to schedule a recall meeting, or it may have been to discuss a particular issue. Regardless of the cause for such demands, many boards do not know what to do with […]
Robert’s Rules of Order & Sturgis Motions “Cheat Sheets”
This year saw the publication of my two new books on proper meeting procedure, Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition. With the publication of these books (based on the new 12th Edition of Robert’s), I’ve been asked if there are updated “cheat sheets” to the motions […]
How To Increase The Attendance At Your Annual HOA Meetings
As a board member of your Homeowners Association, you might be wondering how to increase attendance at your annual meeting. After all, having high attendance is important for HOAs. Read the article………………………..
Here’s What Your HOA Should Know About Proxy Voting
When it comes to governing a community association, all votes are important. However, because association members often have busy schedules outside their community it can be difficult to achieve quorum at required meetings. Read the article………………………..
How to Make Online Voting Work for Your HOA
Online voting is a great tool designed to pair the greatest need of an HOA—homeowner involvement—with a technological solution. As a follow-up to an earlier article about community voting, this week we will share the benefits and challenges of online voting for your HOA. Then, we will provide some best practices to consider when planning […]
Whitefish Area Property Owners Association shares speaker highlights from annual meeting (MN)
The Whitefish Area Property Owners Association’s annual meeting Aug. 20 featured guest speakers and over 15 organizations providing information in booths in the narthex of Immaculate Heart Church in Crosslake about their water quality related programs and activities. Read the article………………………..
Conducting Better Meetings: Tips for Saving Time & Staying On Track
Residents in condo and HOA communities are frequently quite busy. Boards generally consist of elected volunteers who nearly always have other jobs and lives outside their duties as trustees. So while a professional management company can handle much of the day-to-day operations of a multifamily community, no decision can be made without those board members […]
Tips to Conduct Virtual HOA Meetings
Virtual meeting have many benefits, including saving travel time and allowing members to participate who might not otherwise. But before you rush to hold your board or membership meeting electronically, check to make certain you can. State law or the governing documents need to authorize meeting remotely. It’s also important to understand how virtual gatherings […]
Solutions to Get A Quorum at Your Next Annual Meeting
Annual meetings are arguably the most important event for a community association. This meeting is a chance for the board of directors and management to tout their accomplishments and communicate updates and information about the association. Read the article………………………..
What Are Robert’s Rules Of Order? How Can These Rules Help HOAs? (NC)
Robert’s Rules of Order have long been used by many homeowners associations to keep meetings on track. But, what are Robert’s Rules of Order exactly? Read the article………………………..
HOA Voting: A Guide For Board Members And Homeowners
When it comes to HOA voting, not all homeowners associations have it down pat. Some still struggle to standardize their procedures and hold seamless elections. This is where a guide will come in handy. Read the article………………………..
New Ways To Improve AGM Attendance
Poor attendance at your condominium’s AGM can delay your building’s initiatives. Failure to achieve quorum typically results in having to reschedule a new meeting. It’s frustrating, disheartening, and a waste of everybody’s time and money, especially for those volunteering on the board of directors. Read the article………………………..
HOA Homefront — Establish standards for HOA meetings with meeting rules
Along with the property’s overall condition, another positive initial impression upon new members can be board meetings which are effective, positive, and orderly. However, how does a new owner or director learn how board meetings are to be conducted? The law does not require associations to have meeting rules, but such rules can be extremely […]
NY Condo’s Can Now Legally have Owners’ Meetings by Means of Electronic Communication
The Governor signed into law on June 30, 2022, a change to the Real Property Laws that govern New York condominiums. Effective immediately, boards, in their “sole discretion”, irrespective of what the bylaws say, can decide to hold owners meetings solely or partially by “means of electronic communication”. Read the article……………………………
New Changes to the Civil Code Allows for Member Meetings to be Held Over Zoom, but Only During Limited Circumstances (CA)
As the COVID-19 Pandemic subsides, it is becoming increasingly clear that for better or worse the world will never be the same. One of the many things that changed during this trying time was the manner in which people communicated. Concerns that congregations of people would further spread the virus led to an increase in […]
Acclamation Decisions Have to be Made Early (CA)
When Civil Code section 5103 became effective on January 1, 2022, many community association managers and board members celebrated the new authority for boards to approve nominees by acclamation when there are not enough candidates to hold a contested election. However, there are limitations on a board’s ability to approve nominees by acclamation and a […]
Voting Cards at Conventions & Annual Meetings (NC)
Although COVID-19 is (hopefully) waning, there are still concerns about immediately going back to the way things used to be done at annual meetings. For instance, the most common method pre-pandemic of voting during large meetings was by voice. On any matter to be decided, the presiding officer would ask all those in favor to […]
Community Association Meeting Basics (FL)
This is a first in a series of articles on community association meetings. In this first article, we address the basics of community association meetings – why they are necessary and the basic components of a meeting. Future articles in this series will go into more detail on each of the meeting components, how a […]