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JoyceS1
(Indiana)
Posts:107
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| 07/11/2006 12:14 PM |
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I just held my first BOD meeting as HOA President and managed to survive. The Board plans to hold a town hall meeting in September to hopefully help clear the air and dispell so much misinformation and paranoia that exists within the community.
We have three ladies who are the community gossips. Word of mouth is fact and anything written in minutes or newsletters is ignored.
Gossips happen in every walk of life, but I'm not sure how to deal with them while living amongst them and now serving in the capacity as President. These three were not in favor of my being chosen President. At the same time none of them is willing to serve on the board.
Is it possible to address this issue of gossiping either at the town hall meeting or through a newsletter without making matters worse?
I'm concerned about this affecting my ability to perform the duties of president with this constant distraction. I'm counting on the town hall meeting to help with this situation.
Thanks to all who provide some insight.
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BrianB
(California)
Posts:1748
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| 07/11/2006 12:35 PM |
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gossiping is a fact of life, and pretty much, it isn't worth your time or effort to stop it.
My grandpa would counsel: Never try to stop a pig from wallowing: it gets you dirty and only annoys the pig.
your best hope is to provide a clear, absolute source of truth/data, and when people begin to talk about "gossip", simply state "we deal with facts here, and the facts are always in evidence in our note/minutes/web page/etc.. Let's deal with those, not gossip/rumour."
take the high road, deal with real issues not false ones, and don't give the gossips your time. |
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BradP
(Kansas)
Posts:1742
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| 07/11/2006 12:36 PM |
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Joyce:
My opinion is that gossip will happen no matter what you do, I would not address it. It ultimately is up to each individual person who they will believe and by trying to combat it I think you will only lower your credibility.
I would however at your town hall meeting encourage everyone to attend your meetings, let them know that they are welcome to look at your books, meeting minutes, etc. Make it known that there is no shroud of secrecy in what you are doing, and that you want as much participation as you can get. You will get dissenters, we all have them, some more than others. God knows I have a couple of people who hate me, However, you can't let a couple of non-supporters derail your desire to make your association better.
As for the three old ladies, if it ever becomes appropriate I would simply say to them that you respect their opinion about you, however, a majority of the association felt you were right for the position and you are only doing what you were elected to do. I would encourage them to become involved and help, and after that it is on their plate to put up or shut up so to speak. |
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RogerB
(Colorado)
Posts:3725
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| 07/11/2006 1:33 PM |
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| Joyce, a humorous parable which put gossip in its proper perspective could be published in a newsletter might be effective. If anyone has one I would like to use it. Thanks |
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Roger Borcherding
Official HOATalk.com Sponsor
DARCO Property Management (Colorado)
(303) 925-0150 
*See legal notice below (end of page) or go to www.hoatalk.com/legal |
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JoyceS1
(Indiana)
Posts:107
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| 07/11/2006 4:15 PM |
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Thanks!!!! Brian, Brad and Roger.....
Your perspectives were insightful and will keep me focused on the job at hand. That kind of support from this site has been enormously helpful.
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JulieS
(Georgia)
Posts:412
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| 07/12/2006 9:09 AM |
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| There will always be people who gossip. As long as you are communicating the facts to everyone via newsletters, emails, meetings, website, etc., you shouldn't have any problems. These ladies probably won't even come to a meeting. Most people see gossip for what it is. |
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BrianB
(California)
Posts:1748
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| 07/12/2006 1:58 PM |
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one final (from me) piece of advice: the more often the gossips are wrong, and the more often your sources of information are right, the less credibility they have. people will turn to get their true information from the source that is easy, available, and always right.
so, let them gossip. it's just adding rope to their noose. |
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JackJ
(Florida)
Posts:40
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| 07/20/2006 10:24 AM |
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Welcome to the club.
Gossips can be useful in that you can always point to them and say,"would you rather that our HOA be run by these people or those of us who volunteer and try to give you the best we have to offer for everyone's benefit?"
OR "shut up and sit down!"
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