DanaB1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 319
Posts: 319
Posted:
A President (Jack)in a HOA down the street started a multiple association consortium last year with the 4 condo asociations in town joining. He just called each President and asked if they were intereseted and voila, here we are a group of five.
Jack and I were/are members of CAI already so we knew the value of education (in the running of associations). None of the other three belong yet. Jack did host a big CAI event at his club house which was very well received.
I do know that our new management company, along with our other vendors, are quite interested in the fact that we have this consortium.
One funny thing is that two associations not only have the same management company but same manager. At one complex the board loves her and the association happens to be in great shape physically, financially and mentally. They feel she does a very good job. THe second complex down the street dislike her, the owners feel she never returns their calls, certain vendors don't like working with her (same reason). This second association just had an annual meeting which was rather vocal, with two long term members not being re-elected.
At this point we get together 4 times per year and I enjoy it immensely. We started with only President's and one other member invited but now it's opened to whatever board members want to come.
To be honest, a couple of the associations are in denial as to their fee rates, they are now 20+ years old and have no funds for Capital Improvements. They are getting quite the education from our group meetings.
At the end of our first meeting at the clubhouse I asked Jack if our board could hold our monthly meetings there and now we do. It sure beats meeting at the YMCA and sitting in youth chairs with a jazzercise class going on in the next room. :-)
Jack and I confer on many topics by email and phone. I do confer with another President as his association is just about as old as ours but they are the epitomy of the perfectly run association.
Nothing but good comes from the alliance, it might be humbling to some boards that find they're not as smart as they thought in regards to running their associations but, "Hey, that's life".
Gobble, gobble to all;
Dana
Jack and I were/are members of CAI already so we knew the value of education (in the running of associations). None of the other three belong yet. Jack did host a big CAI event at his club house which was very well received.
I do know that our new management company, along with our other vendors, are quite interested in the fact that we have this consortium.
One funny thing is that two associations not only have the same management company but same manager. At one complex the board loves her and the association happens to be in great shape physically, financially and mentally. They feel she does a very good job. THe second complex down the street dislike her, the owners feel she never returns their calls, certain vendors don't like working with her (same reason). This second association just had an annual meeting which was rather vocal, with two long term members not being re-elected.
At this point we get together 4 times per year and I enjoy it immensely. We started with only President's and one other member invited but now it's opened to whatever board members want to come.
To be honest, a couple of the associations are in denial as to their fee rates, they are now 20+ years old and have no funds for Capital Improvements. They are getting quite the education from our group meetings.
At the end of our first meeting at the clubhouse I asked Jack if our board could hold our monthly meetings there and now we do. It sure beats meeting at the YMCA and sitting in youth chairs with a jazzercise class going on in the next room. :-)
Jack and I confer on many topics by email and phone. I do confer with another President as his association is just about as old as ours but they are the epitomy of the perfectly run association.
Nothing but good comes from the alliance, it might be humbling to some boards that find they're not as smart as they thought in regards to running their associations but, "Hey, that's life".
Gobble, gobble to all;
Dana