For New Board Members

For New Board Members

Congratulations on your new appointment!

So now you're on the board! Here is a guide for Board Members of Condominiums, Cooperatives, and Homeowner Associations.

Clarify your job  - review the checklist:

• Mission of the Association
• Goals and Objectives of the Association
• Community Governance
• Communication and Service
• Administrative Management
• Financial Management
• Property Improvement and Use
• Community Development
   

As a board member you have an opportunity to make positive contributions to your community. To be successful, you need to know the basics of association leadership. These basics relate to your three major areas of responsibility as a director: security, property values and quality-of-life.

A starter set of considerations include:

• How to make your community a model place to live.
• How to assure your members that you are listening to them and acting judiciously on their behalf.
• How to prevent lawsuits and charges that you are violating legal requirements.
• How to find good managers and tradespeople and to administer a cost-effective contracts program.
• How to fund major repairs or equipment replacement.
• How to adopt, and effectively enforce, workable rules for using the common property. 
• How to learn from the experiences of other associations so as to minimize waste and inefficient practices.
• How to maintain a sense of humor and “roll with the punches”.
• How to develop a feeling of community.