Why do we serve?

Started by TimB4 • 12 replies • 3024 views

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TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

This question was brought up in another thread but I thought it was a great question that deserved it's own thread.

Why did we first volunteer to serve?

Why do we continue to volunteer to serve?

Tim

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Why did we first volunteer to serve?

I initially had an issue with my Association that boiled down to interpretation of governing documents and State law. The Association said I was in violation of a guideline and I said I wasn't. This led me to start attending meetings of the Board to see what was happening. What I discovered from attending these meetings concerned me enough that I started my own (unauthorized)newsletter which was used to educate the membership on what I had learned from the meetings and reading/understanding the governing documents and State law.

Being of the mindset of not wanting to just complain about things but to step forward and help fix the things I was complaining about, I tossed my hat into the ring. Note, I wasn't elected to the Board until two years after that initial toss of the hat.

However, the Board did appoint me to the Architectural committee, and I volunteered and was appointed to overseeing the Association website.

Why do we continue to volunteer to serve?

I like to say so I can leave it better than when I found it. However, I suppose the honest answer is more to the need and desire to correct things I keep finding. The benefit I receive is the knowledge and experience I gain in actually doing the job.

Tim

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219

Posted:

Why do we first volunteer to serve?

My husband and I have volunteered for numerous civic or other non-profit entities for over 30 years. I am 49 years old and have been around the block a few times. Now knowing my age consider the fact that my mother purchases homes throughout the country and places them in the family trust and of which I am the trustee. Because she is not at each various property for the entire time frame and likes to have certain “amenities” I have pushed the issue that if you want said amenities such as pool access you need to consider an HOA. If you consider the cost of maintaining certain amenities vs. association dues, when you are not physically present for x amount of time then it potentially is a no brainer. Each state where there are properties I monitor and learn the governing documents and the state statutes.

On top of that my husband and I moved to Colorado a couple of years ago and purchased our home within an HOA. When we initially moved there was actually the thought of potentially taking a break away from all the volunteering we had done in the past. Well that worked for a few months until as the old saying goes … we had a couple of developers piss in our bowl of wheaties. Now I serve on a board for the local city and we also volunteer within our association working to fix the issues encountered.

Currently we are under developer control (even though according to our state statutes) said control has ended. It unfortunately is now up to a court to determine certain issues regarding our subdivision. I led our homeowners down every avenue with numerous meetings with the various entities to avoid legal litigation; however, when it came down to the “statute of limitations” we had no other alternative.

Currently we are in a holding pattern, except for certain issues like irrigation valve blew, and who do you think received the initial telephone call … LOL it certainly was not the developer. All the current homeowners at this time have stated when this issue is resolved that I will be on the Board as President and have no choice (we will see). Even the current developer stated in one of our group meetings I should be in the upcoming position, which surprised me as I have in essence been the ring leader and potentially the biggest pain in their butt.

Why do we continue to volunteer to serve?

I can no longer count how many times we have asked this question of ourselves. It certainly is not for any financial benefit as there is no said benefit whether it is for our HOA or any other entity. While there may be frustration at times the one item you do gain is “personal satisfaction” in possibly a job or duty well done. Also, like Tim I am an individual who always is curious, likes to learn, and has a desire to insure my family, friends, neighbors, and community at large benefit in any way possible as a team.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Why did we First Volunteer?

I will bite on this one. Honestly, when I first got involved with my HOA it was out of love...The president at the time was completely HOT, single, my age, and I thought he was the man for me! It was pure passion and lust at first site! Had visions of being "King and Queen" together of our HOA...Then REALITY struck hard and across my face like a cold rag wrapped around a hard brick. Took the wind completely out of my sails and sunk my heart into Davy's locker...Turns out this guy was a con-man.

Luckily, it took me only a month to find out the truth. It was after meeting and talking to the other members of the HOA, I learned just how badly he was treating the HOA and them. He was using the HOA funds for his own. He hired only his friends to do the work. Gave them pretty much what they wanted money wise. He didn't follow the rules. If anyone ran against him he could convince the WHOLE neighborhood that person was "crazy" and had issues. He worked as a general "handyman" without a license to do so. He ripped off elderly people (some with alzheimers). This is just the "highlights".

Admittedly, I knew the ONLY way that I would get elected would be IF I pretended I didn't know any of this. He believed he was "Prepping me" to be president to take over when he quit that year. His true intentions was that people had caught onto what he was doing by using the HOA money that his NOT being president would free him up for MORE money. He came up with a scam (which technically is legal) to have me violate people and then force the HOA to pay him to do the work. He couldn't do it as President.

I saw EXACTLY what was going on and did a 180 on him once I got elected. My goal was to expose him, get rid of his contract friends, and inspire the owners to stand up for themselves. Which is what I achieved. It was a balancing act the whole time I was President with protecting the members from this man and putting the HOA back to where it should have been.

Why do we continue to Volunteer?

I would still be volunteering but I had to sell my HOA property. To this day I still get phone calls and come here to give advice for what I learned. I've had to deal with the underhanded greedy people and the innoncent silent victims. It was difficult to keep that balance going. However, when you get involved with your HOA, you have to expect the worst and the best in people. If you can deal and understand that, then it's good you are involved in your HOA. Don't do it out of spite or anger. That goes away and you will have enough of that when you deal with the other people...

Honestly, I would consider doing it again if I lived in HOA...

Former HOA President

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

My attitude on serving was developed early in life as a boy scout.
I have served HOA's for 40 years; first as a Board member/Officer and now as DARCO management company.
Why? In the beginning I wanted to help improve the community. Today it is to help improve many communities.

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

Because someone has to.

Because if we don't, someone else will. And when I look around at my neighbors, and think "Do I really want them running the show?", the answer is always "I will volunteer".

Because it is cheaper to run the HOA with good volunteers than to let idiots run it (see above) or pay professionals to do so. Even if you pay, someone has to volunteer to watch the watchers.

Because I don't want someone else making decisions with my money, about my land and home, or that can legally impact my assets and property, without me being involved. And if I am going to be involved, i might as well do something.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Why did we first volunteer to serve?
Because everyone else is incompetent and cant even handle their personal finances, never mind the HOA's

Why do we continue to volunteer to serve?
Because I dont want to end up with a special assessment due to mismanaged money.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

I wanted to thank everyone who responded. As suspected, everyone became involved for different reasons but tend to stay involved for the similar reasons.

This was an interesting topic.

Tim

PjW (Virginia)
Posts: 71

Posted:

I first volunteered because someone asked and i thought it was a good way to be a part of my community.

I continue to serve cause I think I like banging my head against a wall. But really its cause I still like serving my community

AugustinD
Posts: 5,144

Posted:

I think this thread and the three others related to it are good reads. Thank you Tim for starting these.

In August 2010 my former HOA's Board and grounds, like many HOAs, were in a bad way. The 15 miles of medians were not being maintained; the monthly financials showed the HOA was in debt by a lot (while the checking account said otherwise, by a lot); the relatively new Board President had hired as the HOA attorney the attorney he had used to sue the HOA a few years ago, without disclosing this; the relatively new Board president was arguing against running the election that was required in October. I weighed whether to seek a court injunction for the election or seek appointment to the HOA Board. I had never been a party in a lawsuit and had never served on a board. I figured the best outcome was more likely if I sought appointment to the Board. I won appointment to the Board. The Board President was permanently gone within a month, through a series of inexpensive legal maneuvers and his own mis-steps. An entirely new Board was hastily appointed. One of the new Board appointees organized an enormous crew of volunteers (including all the directors) to clean the medians and do a take-it-to-the-dump day for the 1500 homes in the HOA. She also got the City and some businesses to help with dumpsters, volunteer T-shirts, and drinks. The Board, nearly all appointees, easily won election in October, 2010, unopposed.

PitA
Posts: 1,416

Posted:

self defense against the imbeciles who otherwise would do as they 'think' instead of what the Covenant actually says

PitA
Posts: 1,416

Posted:

Moron/Imbecile/Idiot:

The words moron, imbecile, and idiot mean different things. In psychology, an idiot has the least intelligence on the IQ scale (this now is equivalent to someone who is mentally retarded or the more politically correct “mentally challenged”); an imbecile is not quite as dumb as an idiot and is now considered equivalent to moderate retardation; a moron is then the highest level of intelligence for someone who is mentally retarded, thus considered as being mildly mentally retarded. Specifically, those who have an IQ between 0 and 25 are idiots; IQs between 26 and 50 are considered imbeciles; and those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons.

I stand by my choice of words regarding the typical senior volunteer Director

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

A different approach to the word idiot is that it's the opposite of "citizen." A US social scientist of the 1950s wrote that this version of "idiot" comes from the Greek language. I've never confirmed this because I like it. By citizen is meant someone actively engaged with others in improving one's large or small community.

In 2006, I'd lived in this then five y.o. HOA a little over a year and had served on a couple of ad hoc committees. In that process, I met some other newer owners. We all attended the monthly open board meetings, and for a few reasons had become concerned that there were construction defects in our urban 211-unit twin towers. We also felt certain that the Board was discussing items in secret in executive sessions that should have been in open meetings. A permanent seat on our Board is occupied by the Owner of the commercial unit who was & is our developer. He was hugely influential with the Board.

We formed what we cleverly called "a Small Group" of about 11 of us. One member was an architect, former construction supervisor, and, at this time, ran her family's property mgmt. company comprising small commercial "campuses." She taught us a lot.

Some of us studied our governing documents diligently, and CA Civil Code too. We more & more worried about possible defects and that the statutes of limitations would run out on certain components. The annual meeting was approaching and, at an open meeting attended by the developer-hired HOA attorney, the latter announced in reply to our questions: "There are no construction defects!" All directors vigorously nodded in agreement. Last Straw!

We fielded 3 candidates for the 3 openings on the board of 7, sent out a very factual, straightforward letter stating why we should be elected and 2 of us won. A 3rd member of the board sometimes voted with us, but we were a minority. Still we were able to get the meetings conducted properly by reminding our property mgr (PM) that our contract with her MC says she must obey CA laws & our own governing docs. We soon discovered likely defects, and an "inspection" of our HVAC system was conducted, but nothing was getting done. Tick, tick, tick... went the SOL clock.

A year after our election, we won a majority of the Board, immediately fired the developer's attorney and immediately interviewed defect firms and hired one. Within two months we'd stopped the statutes clock by filing certain documents with the courts.

I've now served over 9 years and have achieved a lot in areas that don't interest other directors much. Thought I'd "retire" next Oct., but have learned that two of the 7 members will not seek reelection. Neither have been very active citizens in the usage above, had their own tiny areas of interest, and I'm worried who might replace them. Two who'd perviously been defeated might run again! And what about the 3rd opening??

Like others above, I fear many of our gains would slip away and, like Tim (I think) new topics & issues emerge that interest me.

What I've learned is that the BEST (ad cheapest) way to get HOAs on the right & legal track is to inspire others to join together and become active citizens in their communities.

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