Monthly Archives: April 2020

Guideline for Creating Committees to Help Your Board

Your association board is a busy team of individuals. Not only is it responsible for making decisions for the Association but it must also put essential programs and improvements in place. The typical HOA Board consists of three to seven members who oversee the development of a community.

However, most of the time an association needs a little help in the form of committees. HOA committees are responsible for helping Board Members with various programs and tasks. Committees come in two forms; ad hoc (short-term committees) and standing (long-term committees).

Here’s an overview of what committees can help with, how to form them, and what their limitations are.

Determine The Type of Committee You Need

There are several different types of committees that your association can organize and form. Remember, not everyone on the board is going to be an expert at everything, so committee formation is essential to your neighborhood’s success.

Some of the most common committees we’ve helped form as association management include:

  • Finance
  • Landscaping
  • Maintenance and Repairs
  • Social
  • Document Amendment
  • Parking

Really, any aspect of your community that requires the touch of an expert or additional support for it to be beneficial can be positively impacted by the formation of a strong committee.

Consider the Structure of Your Committee

Remember, every state has their own laws regarding how committees are formed and the size of said committees.  Be sure to review your bylaws to familiarize yourself with how a Board can properly go about creating and nominating members to the committee.

Following the law with regards to how your committee is formed is essential. Fortunately, your community management team or association legal advisor will be able to help guide your committee to a successful and legal formation.

Finding Your Committee Members

No matter the job for the committee, your association must make it a priority to only have the most qualified members behind the scenes. Treat the advertisement of your committee with the same air as a job listing. Wherever you decide to advertise for the roles you need, make sure to include:

  • The responsibilities that come with the committee
  • Preferred experience for applicants
  • The roles of the committee members within the HOA

Does a Committee Have Restrictions?

Yes, committee members are essential to the community and board as a whole, however, every committee has its restrictions. The role of a committee is to research and advise a board on actions it should take. It is not allowed to make official decisions for the community, that responsibility is almost always still the Board’s.

Plan Your Next Committee With the Help of Goodwin & Company

Although your Board won’t physically be meeting for a while, you can still start considering the types of committees your association may need once shelter in place mandates lift, and your association is ready to start back up. This may not be the easiest situation for even the strongest community, so from Goodwin & Company, we want you to know that even through the pandemic and beyond, we are here for you if you need us.

Remember, when it comes time to recruit new board members, selecting the right ones is crucial. Here are four steps that your board can do in order to help make the best decision for your next member!

Dallas HOA Management Company

Tips For Successful Social Distancing Within Your Association

As Texas continues to push towards a flatter coronavirus infection curve, more people than before are becoming self-conscious about social distancing measures. At Goodwin & Company, we like to take every necessary step to ensure that our communities are safe and sanitary, especially at this time.

We know that sometimes social distancing can really feel like the challenge that it is. So, here are some simple tips your Board can follow through on in order to make flattening the curve a seamless effort.

Close Off Your Common Areas

If common areas like the rec center and swimming pool are closed for the time being, that’s a great step towards restricting the possibility of risky contact for the virus.

Also, while these facilities are closed off to the public, make an effort to work with some of your essential vendors to deep clean and sanitize your common areas. This way, when it’s back to business, your community can use their amenities with a mitigation of the current risks.

Go Virtual With Board Meetings

Although board meetings and standard HOA meetings may seem important, they are a massive risk factor to those in attendance. There are several ways that your association’s Board can meet and make decisions without unnecessary exposure to the elements.

Many HOA Attorneys are recommending postponing any HOA meetings unless there is pressing business to conduct.  If your HOA wants to push forward with an Association meeting, be sure you are familiar with whichever video or telephonic conferencing service you plan to use so there are no hiccups during the actual meeting.  Also, be sure you follow the specific notice requirements and have all details in line for remote or absentee voting procedures.

Post Notices From the CDC

The coronavirus pandemic situation is a constantly evolving issue, and just one notice to your neighbors won’t help keep them updated. As the CDC begins to implement new cautionary measures or release new information about the virus and its development within our nation, take to the social media channels and post the news.

 

Right now, most of your neighbors are inside relying on their computers for entertainment. Keep them informed where they’re going to see it! This is the best way to ask your community to exercise caution without having to organize an entire online meeting around the issue.

Encourage Fun In-Home Activities

Just because social distancing is in motion doesn’t mean that your community needs to stop being “social.” There are several ways you and your friends can stay in touch without exposing yourselves to a potential threat. On your community social media page, create a post that discusses some of the ways your neighbors can actually enjoy sheltering in place.

Some of these activities can include:

  • Netflix Party
  • Zoom Happy Hours
  • Make an Online Pen Pal
  • Virtual Exercising
  • Table Top Simulators

Practice Social Distancing for a Brighter Tomorrow with Goodwin & Company

Goodwin & Company hopes that all communities across the nation will take part in the social distancing effort against COVID-19. This is a battle we all fight, and if we do it together, we can all get back to normalcy sooner than later. Stay safe, stay inside, and remember, if you need us, reach out to us and we can find a way to safely help out.