teleconference board meetings

We have problems with getting people to volunteer to be on the board of directors. I believe this is mostly due to distance issues. We are all parcel owners of a large ranch that was split and sold in 40 acre parcels. Many of the property owners are from out of town and out of state. There are over 1000 property owners but very few that live on their parcels.

I thought that teleconferencing would be a solution. I know of 2 people that would serve if they could teleconference. The present board (of 4) is not going to like this. Electronic meetings have been brought up and shoved under the doormat in the past. The result is that rural, inexperienced people, run the board and volunteers who want to improve things work hard for a while and then burn out.

It is relatively inexpensive to do teleconferencing. It almost seems like it should be unlawful for the board to NOT approve this type of meeting. It is excluding most of the property owners from serving and contributing to the community as a whole.

As most - we have the legacy of Developer's CC&Rs to contend with as well as corporation & real estate statutes.

Suggestions? Comments?

Thanks

IrmaG,

You may want to review your governing documents perhaps they allow such. In Georgia the board (BOD) can teleconference as it states so in our documents.

Beside what could possible be wrong with that, perhaps the ONLY resolution! I would present it to the board just that way. “Either you allow teleconferences or the association abolishes the HOA completely, which would be a HUGE problem in itself. IMO,I think they will reconsider once the BOD realize the options.

Best of luck
Chuck W.

Hi Susan,
Thanks for your answer. I think you are right, Committees will take the burden off, but participation has to be elicited first. Change has to happen a little at a time.
I just became involved and this board has been struggling for several years now with no support. They are not savvy in HOW to get the administrative end done, so they spin their wheels, doing their best, getting discouraged and giving up (quitting).
Thanks

Hi CharlesW1

Meetings by AZ statutes ARE mandated to be open (title 33 - real estate)
Meetings in AZ statutes allow for "any means" that the directors "can hear each other" (title 10 - non-profit corp & associations) which includes telephonic transmissions.
Meetings at our Association allow for "any means" that the directors "can hear each other" and "telephonic meetings" (added to bylaws 2005)

Why this was not implemented I do not know and am in the process of trying to find out. When I posted initially, I did not even know that had been added.

I've done the either/or to be brought forth at the next meeting. More like
Since the law and bylaws allow it
Is there not a legal and ethical responsibility for the board to implement it in order to ALLOW participation of all property owners?
(since there is lack of participation and owners presently due to logistics)

I think talking about dismantling the POA was done in the past and the consensus was that the people wanted to POA. Our POA has limited functions. Problem is the property involved is HUGE and not enough money or bodies to manage all these roads, wells, improvements, etc.

Regards and thanks.

We maintain 2 huge wells that serve 1700 property owners. Luckily, they are not all living there (that will be a future problem as more people develop their parcels).

We maintain ALL our roads, culverts, gates as well as the 2 wells. I believe there were 3 wells initially. I'm not sure what happened to the 1 yet.

There is not a chance the county will take over anything in my lifetime, so that is not a worry or issue.

Yes, that is why the teleconferencing. We have interested and qualified people who would be board members IF they could teleconference. Both have been or are board members for non-profits before, one a president for 12 years. These are valuable assets as are the "hands on" board members that are ON the property. I don't think it would hurt our Association to have 3-4 teleconference board members and 3-4 "in house". I think that would be a 'step' in the right direction for looking to the future and it's challenges:
money
bodies (to do the work)

Regards