Strata Corporation Committee Spotlight: Social Committee

December 19, 2023

group of people talking around a table with coffee

Committees are a crucial part of any successful Strata Corporation Comprised of volunteers, Strata committees help support the council so they can focus their efforts on accomplishing operational duties and achieving goals.

One important Strata committee is the social committee. Tasked with coordinating social
events, these committee members promote harmony and work to ensure the community is an all-around great place to live.

What’s a Strata Social Committee?

The Strata social committee is a group of homeowners who generate enthusiasm and
maintain interest in the managed community lifestyle. They organize social events and
activities geared toward homeowners, like block parties, holiday celebrations, and garage
sales, to facilitate positive experiences and neighbourly interactions.

Strata Social Committee Responsibilities

Social committee responsibilities vary by each Strata Corporation. Your governing documents will outline more details about committee roles and requirements, but most social committees:

Plan and host events
Coordinate logistics
Facilitate outreach
Fundraise
Develop and manage event budgets
Create event revenue reports
Recruit volunteers
Communicate event details
Solicit event ideas and feedback from residents
Confirm events are safe and compliant with governing document provisions

Who Is on the Strata Social Committee?

The social committee typically consists of three to five interested council members. While no specific experience is required to be on the social committee, it’s helpful to partner with homeowners who are actively involved in the community, passionate about nurturing a vibrant atmosphere, organized, and have a knack for socializing and planning events.

How to Start a Strata Social Committee

If you’re looking to start a social committee in your Strata, here’s what to do:

1. Check your governing documents.

Your governing documents may specify the kinds of committees you can start, how to
establish them, and other requirements. Review them carefully and get any clarification before proceeding.

2. Create a charter.

Once you’re approved to start the committee, you’ll need to set expectations and build the
framework of the committee in a charter. You should identify the committee’s scope of
authority and also determine things like:

Mission statement
Budget allocations
How decisions are made
How the committee works with the council
Leadership and voting structures
Term limits
Committee lifespan
Meeting regulations

3. Organize the team.

Detail the responsibilities and activities of the committee and its members. Decide how
many members the committee needs, land on an organizational structure, write job
descriptions, and recruit volunteers.

4. Get to work!

With the social committee now formally established, you can get to work. Set projects and
timelines, have meetings, assign tasks, and have fun!

two women walking in neighborhood

Strata Social Committee Benefits

One of the main reasons residents choose to live in a managed community is the inherent
camaraderie. The social committee plays a key part in achieving this harmony and fostering a collaborative environment. Other Strata social committee benefits include:

1. Regular and well-planned events.

With so much on their plates, council members often lack the time and commitment needed
to plan community events. A dedicated social committee guarantees events are well-
planned, hosted frequently, and executed smoothly.

2. Improved safety.

Community events encourage neighbours to meet one another. If neighbours have personal
relationships, they’re more likely to look out for each other and recognize and report
suspicious activity.

3. Better communication.

Poor communication can be detrimental to the community. Social committee events and
outreach provide another avenue for Strata to share information.

4. Minimized conflict

Involved communities are happier communities. When you know your neighbours, you’re more inclined to find common ground and less likely to have conflicts.

5. Increased property values.

Engaged communities are attractive to prospective buyers. People want to live where they’ll feel connected and at home.

Strata Social Committee Ideas

Every community is different, but Strata social committees usually have many opportunities to host fun in-person and virtual events and engage with the neighbourhood. These are some Strata social committee ideas:

Block parties
Garage sales
Holiday celebrations
Community picnics
Movie nights
Sports tournaments
Community clean-up days
Educational sessions
Community gardens

The popularity of these events will depend on your community’s location, size, and
demographic. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask neighbours for feedback about what events they want to attend or see in the neighbourhood.