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March 20, 2007
Apathy, Apathy, Apathy ...............Elections, Elections, Elections
I still get the calls - every day in fact - "What do we do when no one is interested in serving on the board? ...... or "What do we do when we can't get enough people to vote?" or "How do we cope with the new complicated elections laws?"
I have written many times in this blog about apathy and about the new election laws. So now its time to get serious and offer some real suggestions for getting to the core of the problem. Check out http://www.californiacondoguru.com for a recently posted (or very soon to be posted) article on "Apathy". While you are there, check for recent articles on elections as well - two in fact - one about whether the K.I.S.S. principle can be applied and one on the "What Ifs" that have come across my desk ("What if this happens?", "What if that happened ...?" etc.). The Apathy article is generic to the world of HOAs for the most part and is posted for informational purposes. The other two articles are California specific and are also posted for informational purposes. Neither is intended for legal advice to act upon in your association, without the blessing of your own legal counsel. Keep in mind that professionals still do not agree on all aspects of the Elections Law. Maybe in a year or two we will all be closer to consistent, once we have been through tried and true (or tried an failed - which may be the better) lessons.
My motto: For every problem there is a solution. We just have to try to find it working together. You let me know what problems you are having and I search for solutions. You let me know what things are working and I let others know about them. Its a circular thing.
The legislators are not going to stop legislating. I have just been in Sacramento for a few days teaching a class and brainstorming with the Community Associations Institute - California Legislative Action Committee (aka CAI-CLAC) learning about the new laws, what they mean, and what messages should be carried to the legislators about the harm/good the proposed bills carry with their potential impact. There are a bunch of new laws that will affect HOAs and their ability to operate successfully.
The question is, "Can we keep our heads above water with the host of new laws regulating HOAs that have already been, and are yet to be, approved by the lawmakers without any sense of the practical aspects of operating and managing an HOA?
We'll just have to see..................
Posted by Beth Grimm at March 20, 2007 1:05 PM