Homeowner apathy in common interest communities

I am a new board member in the homeowner association I've lived in for 33 years, an Illinois Common Interest Community. I served on the board for about 15 years in the past, at diffent times, not consecutively. During my past tenures most of the homeowners took an active interest in the affairs of the association. Many of them have since moved and the greater majoriity of the newer homeowners, ten years or less, take no interest in the association, whatsoever.
Perhaps people have busier lives now,but a house is the biggest investment most people have in their lives, so its difficult for me to accept the apathy that now exists.. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to get the 26 homeowners here, the number of homeowners excluding board members, interested and involved in the affairs of the association.
Thank you.

Marie:

My suggestion work around them. Waiting for most folks to take an interest is like waiting for a train that left the station. Concentrate on doing what needs to be done your efforts to draw people in well that's a up hill battle.

YES more than likely this is their biggest investment. Does that matter to most?
NO.

Rather than common sense and acting to protect your home, investemnt, and property most folks have no sense and that in the end causes some of the abuses and sad stories when the people you don't want running your property end up running your property into the ground.

I have lived on my property for about 25 years serving on the Board for most of that time. And while many on other properties work endlessly to include everyone in every decision made I work with the eight members of our Board and our MC and try to get things done.

Some push for open meetings so everyone can play a role. IMO most people don't want a role. And in CT in the name of fairness, openess, and making everyone "feel" good they who know nothing about the day to day oprations of this sort of property pass a law that the meeting must be open and all three owners who attend has now accomplished something positive.

I consider myself lucky here in NY the local politicians haven't gotten around to imposing their wisdom and sense of what is needed on the condo/HOA world.

Reading these forums the states with the most regulations and requirements seem to have more difficulties and horror stories. Florida and California to name a few.

Work with those willing to do something. Work with those who have common sense and appreciate and reward THEIR efforts. Rather than chase after those willing to make no effort.

Just because you see the importance doesn't mean the rest will now or ever will.

That's the real world IMO.

If you move into a house in a HOA and move out 5 or 10 years later, why should you care about the HOA?

That's one big problem, in my opinion. Common Areas take 25 years to fall apart. So, if you are only staying for 5 to 10 years, the Common Areas will probably still be in pretty good condition or will be the same total disaster area as when you bought. And, once you sell, YOU ARE GONE.

I disagree that people do not care. If it is your first experience with HOA or Condo, you may not have any idea why they should be involved or if they have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a bad association they may be jaded. (my very first meeting as a 25 year old woman a man jumped across the table and hit an 80 year old woman..I never went to another one)

Hit the streets and engage them one on one like any good politician.

I want to thanks all of you who responed to my post.I know this is a problem with all HOA's but thought there may have been just a slight possibility someone had found an answer on how to solve this. But apparently there are no answers.
Again, thank you.
MarieL

Marie,

We have talked about including questions in a neighborhood survey that would give the Board information about the expertise of community members. If the Board is looking for people to serve on an architecture committee and there are engineers, builders, architects, etc. in the community, they could be personally asked to be of service. Also, it has been suggested that when the Board discusses a topic that a community member has knowledge about, the member be invited to join the Board discussion. We have found that people are more willing to get involved if asked and valued for their service. You won't get 100% participation, but you may get more than what you currently have.

Deborah