Skip to main content

Wild Salmon and HOAs

"Diners Who Order 'Wild' Salmon Often Get Cheaper Substitute..." What does this CNBC story have to do with homeowner associations?

The story alleges deception. Winking and nodding. There's more of that all around, isn't there? In various businesses and organizations and even -- heaven forbid! -- in governments?

But this is more than just winking and nodding. It's about ignoring fundamentals. Let us repeat that...IGNORING FUNDAMENTALS!

Everyone -- homeowner and condo associations, included -- can be derailed basically by the same thing...ignoring fundamentals. That's what this is about.

For business firms, it's taking shortcuts that degrade quality and customer relations. What's more fundamental than quality? And ignoring fair, competitive pricing for products and services. What's more fundamental than fairness?

For HOAs and condo associations, it's ignoring governing documents. And getting sloppy with numbers -- a.k.a association finance. Prudently and thoughtfully managing the money homeowners pay into their association is a fundamentally important fundamental.

And with neighbor relations in mind, everyone communicating association information -- people serving on Boards and committees, and property managers -- needs to communicate thoughtfully and carefully.

With fundamentals in mind, the volunteers and professionals entrusted with leading associations might have the best shot at staying on track. And just as important...getting things right.


(At Least Some PR)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houston!! We have an issue!

Two dinosaur sculptures in the front yard of a home located in an HOA in the Houston area just made ABC 13 Eyewitness News. The homeowner said "she's been contacted (by the HOA) and asked what her plans were" for the dinosaurs, a T-Rex and a Velociraptor. The homeowner's "plans are directly tied to their plans," according to the TV-news story. "She says she is prepared to contest any request that they be removed. It's about creativity, not conformity." Here's the thing about media coverage of just about anything...of organizations like HOAs, business firms and all the rest. It's the question of whether or not -- to what extent -- media coverage might influence situations and outcomes. When organizations -- and their policies -- are in the news, will media coverage influence policy decisions? Keeping in mind, of course, the key role of governing documents in policies and procedures.
2 comments
Read more

What Homeowner Associations Can Teach Governments About Spending

by Harvey Radin People in government should take field trips to well-run homeowner associations. To experience fiscal responsibility first hand. To see how elected leaders in some homeowner associations -- HOAs -- are actually spending public money prudently and efficiently. Like governments, homeowner associations collect money to fund a host of community needs. Homeowners residing in HOAs pay dues to their association. This is similar in a way to government taxation. So, if there are roads in an HOA property that are not city-maintained streets, a portion of the money homeowners pay in dues may be set aside for the upkeep of these roads. Governments use tax dollars for public parks maintenance. Homeowner associations have what's known as common areas, landscaped parcels of HOA property that are often maintained by the homeowner association. Some HOAs assume responsibility for roof maintenance on homes, and painting maintenance. Some have recreational facilities that are mai...
Post a Comment
Read more

Better than blurting??

In several posts, we've been talking about prepared statements...how they might sometimes help HOA boards deal with tough questions from homeowners and even -- heaven forbid! -- tough questions from the news media. We're often asked if prepared statements are nothing but PR spin. People sometimes cringe at the mention of spin. Actually, a prepared statement is measured words in a measured response. What's preferable? Measured words or words blurted out in the heat of the moment?
1 comment
Read more