HOA Strategic

There's bickering galore on reality shows and among politicians. Can HOAs be bickering-free zones? "It just takes a little LU...a little listening and understanding," according to the HOA edition of At Least Some PR . If you feel your jaw tightening and your teeth gritting, take a calming breath, stay cool and collected. Listen. Try to understand what's causing angst. ( At Least Some PR is available through Amazon Books.)

How about this New Year's resolution for HOA boards: We'll remember to press that 'pause' button in our noggins before we blurt out words that will get us in a mess. Hit 'pause' "when there's a barrage of homeowners' questions and commentary during a board meeting," according to the booklet, At Least Some PR . "Even PR professionals in pressure cooker moments of TV, radio and print media interviews are okay with an occasional pause -- a little dead air time -- to be sure they aren't releasing words head of thoughts." (At Least Some PR available at Amazon Books)

The media in December ran maybe 24 or so negative stories about homeowner and condo associations. That sounds like a lot of bad news. But then again, there are more than 300,000 HOAs and condo associations throughout the country. So, 24 out of more than 300,000...not bad, not bad at all.