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June 29, 2007
Possible Model for Other Areas of the Country
A while back I ran across an organization out in Arizona that dealt with HOA's. Now usually when I see "Arizona - HOA - group" it means people who are mad at their association or associations in general. However, this one was different. In their own words "The Leadership Centre began because of one citizen's frustration and the need for assistance for her homeowner's association. Realization of this need for direct assistance for neighborhoods, HOA's and community associations led to collaboration and partnering with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Family Community Leadership program, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Community Associations Institute and the Town of Gilbert".
I'm now on their mailing list and I thought they deserved a plug for their efforts. Here's a list of the upcoming sessions:
Legal Aspects of HOA’s—Designed to provide participants with a practical foundation of the legal components of homeowner associations. This includes creation and enforcement of codes, covenants and restrictions (C, C & R’s), legal jurisdictions and obligations of homeowner associations, and rights of homeowners. As the laws are continually changing with respect to HOA’s, legislative updates are included. This class in facilitated by attorneys specializing in community association law.
Budgets, Financial Statements and Reserve Studies—As a business, your HOA’s success depends in part on the fiscal management of the HOA’s assets. Fiduciary responsibilities, reserve amounts, budgets and audits are covered by specialists in the homeowner association industry.
Advanced Community Association Finance—This class will help participants learn to read financial statements, understand what the elements of a successful audit entail, and how to make a budget become a tool for a successful community association.
Transition From Developer to Homeowner Control—One of the most critical phases of the HOA is this shift in control. This class will help participants learn a process whereby the transfer of asset ownership and responsibility can take place in an effective, smooth manner facilitated by attorneys specializing in the field of HOA’s.
HOA 101—This class is an overview of the responsibilities and challenges associated with running a neighborhood or homeowner association. Discussion includes the organization and structure of the HOA and obligations of the board of directors.
C, C & R Compliance—Codes, Covenants, and Restrictions are an area where many HOA’s face challenges. What is good policy? Can they be changed? How do you enforce C, C & R’s with fairness and the best interest of the community? The importance of community building is also discussed.
How to Conduct Successful and Peaceful Meetings—Topics include: Using Robert”s Rules of Order, how to address security issues (from calming techniques to when to call the police), creating an agenda that will work for you, ground rules, ice breakers, conducting regular board meetings and annual meetings, and keeping minutes.
Selecting a Management Company and Other Vendors—This class teaches the steps in selection a management company and other important vendors who work for the association (landscape companies, pool maintenance, etc.), how to determine specifications, request bids, review and analyze bids and make the final selections.
East Valley HOA Summit—This event provides an opportunity for HOA board members, committee members, residents, and professionals to network and address HOA issues.
Neighborhoods Arizona!—This annual state-wide conference brings together those who live in and work with neighborhoods to network and learn about neighborhood issues.
Application classes—are activity based designed to practice prior class information.
They'll even bring one of the classes to your association for $250 and some munchies.
For those of you looking for ways to help make associations better places to live, this collaborative model might be a way that could work. Visit their web site at:
http://www.theleadershipcentre.org/
Posted by joewest at June 29, 2007 10:02 AM