Now that your Annual Meeting has been held, budget ratified, and new board members elected, it’s time for those new board members to get comfortable in their roles and help positively influence your association. There are several keys to becoming an effective board member, and we will address many of them throughout the year. Even if you are not currently serving on your Board of Directors, it’s good to know what you should expect from those who are calling the shots for your community.
Education
The first key to becoming an effective board member is getting informed and staying that way. Learn your association’s governing documents. Being able to assist a homeowner as a direct result of knowing the governing documents not only answers their question, but builds their confidence in your ability to lead the community.
Conduct research on topics discussed at board meetings. This is a quick way to learn what issues matter most to the residents, and be able to come up with ideas for resolutions.
Finally, seek out additional resources to further educate yourself. Your management company as well as Community Associations Institute (CAI) are great resources to gain additional knowledge. Your management company, the community’s attorney (and their website), as well as Community Associations Institute (CAI) and their series of GAP reports (Guide for Association Practicers) are great resources to gain additional knowledge.
Hammersmith team members have had several articles published in CAI’s Common Ground and Common Interests magazines with topics including building community, time management for board members, and providing quality service. (Many of these same topics will also be presented on this blog.)
Hammersmith will also be holding a Board Education Seminar in February. If you are a board member and are interesting in attending, please email BoardSeminars@eHammersmith.com.
Continue to check back to the HOA Education section for more keys to becoming an effective board member!
