FEATURED EBOOK: Board Team-Building Efforts That Work!

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Each community association board is unique, and so are the needs of their respective communities. Whether you live in a townhouse, master-planned community, or high-rise, one fact remains the same: a managed community is only as strong as its board.

Even the most successful boards have to make an effort to maintain a positive team dynamic. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of seven common issues board members encounter and identified team-building exercises to help you navigate each one. Here are the issues we address in this ebook:

1. Board members don’t see eye to eye

2. The board has a complex problem to solve

3. A new board wants to discover each member’s strengths

4. Difficulty in aligning points-of-view

5. Board burnout

6. Clash of personalities

7. There’s no recognition of accomplishments

At Associa, we’ve spent decades empowering boards to accomplish more. In this ebook, you’ll find team-building exercises that can help your board work through these issues. This information could be the key to helping you solve some of the biggest board communication challenges. Download the ebook now!

FAQs About an HOA Board of Directors

What do HOA board members do?

An association's governing documents detail specific HOA board member duties, tasks, and powers. However, homeowners' association board of directors responsibilities can be distilled down to three key tasks. Board members:

· Enforce the governing documents

· Manage HOA financials

· Maintain common areas

Do board members get paid?

No, not typically. In almost all cases, state laws and governing documents prohibit board members from receiving payments, gifts, or kickbacks for their contributions to the community.

How many members should an HOA board have?

The number of members on the HOA board is usually outlined in an association’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, which can be found in the governing documents. Governing documents are, in essence, the constitution, law, and regulations that explain how a community is governed. In some states, there are laws that determine the number of board members allowed for a community.

All communities differ, and larger HOAs may have bigger boards while smaller ones have fewer members. On average, an HOA’s board is comprised of three to five members. Some boards have as many as nine members.

What are the term limits for board members?

HOA board member terms vary by community and state. Some states have one-year term limits, while others have two-year or four-year term limits.

What are the HOA board president duties?

The HOA board president is vested with the same powers typically given to the chief executive officer of a corporation. This office should be the authority on the rules and laws that govern the board, handle procedural duties, and serve as the spokesperson for business matters. While the exact responsibilities of the board president vary by community, the following are the most common:

· Schedule, attend, and run board meetings

· Establish meeting agendas

· Serve as the main point of contact for management partners

· Sign association documents

· Call for votes and announce results

· Appoint committees

What are the HOA board vice president duties?

The HOA vice president is second-in-command to the president, so this person will have some parallels and similar duties. In fact, it’s crucial that vice presidents familiarize themselves with the president’s role and be prepared to step in. On occasion, they may need to act in their place when the president is unavailable.

However, VPs also have responsibilities unique to the role that no other board members fulfill. Depending on your community, some of these duties may include:

· Presiding over meetings, signing contracts, and other presidential duties when the president is absent

· Ensuring the president’s directions are implemented and followed through

· Heading committees and liaising between the board

· Communicating between the board and the management company

· Speaking to community vendors on behalf of the HOA

· Completing tasks delegated by the president

What are the HOA board treasurer duties?

In short, the treasurer is the custodian of the funds, securities, and financial records of the association. While specific roles and HOA treasurer responsibilities vary by association, primary duties typically include:

· Reviewing financial records for accuracy

· Overseeing billing and collections

· Ensuring timely payment of invoices

· Making necessary investments of the association’s funds

· Confirming audits and reserve studies are performed