Being an HOA or condo association board member is a very peculiar occupation. Technically, you are a volunteer, but the idea of what a volunteer really is in this situation may feel distorted from how it’s normally interpreted.
Take the case of Reed Sandridge, who runs the blog YearofGiving.org. Sandridge participated in 52 volunteer opportunities last year, documenting the entire experience. Many of his opportunities were with soup kitchens, animal rescue centers, and an MS Society; traditional volunteer experiences.
But, interestingly enough, one of Sandrige’s chronicled volunteer efforts was with a condo association.
Seems far different than helping the hungry, no?
People would argue that being on a community association board is sometimes like a full-time job. It is not exactly a walk in the park, although it does have its benefits, and it can become a rewarding experience.
Making your community a better place, one step at a time.
Issuing rules for all community members and handling the finances is a way of improving the wellbeing of everyone in the community, including yourself. The time you spend working for your community association is in some sense also time you spend on improving your life. That is why being on the board is considered volunteering – helping yourself and the people around you. The feeling of achievement is often times the single motivation that keeps people working on the board for years. Think about it, you could truly influence and increase the value of your home by maintaining your community/neighborhood.
It certainly takes a lot of dedication to be able to cope with the constant pressure and responsibilities. In Sandridge’s blog post, he ended up stepping down from his position in condo association. Only people with a real passion could consider it volunteering, as it takes much more time and hard work than you would expect. Handling the finances, property upkeep and service contracts are just a few of the things HOA board members have to tackle regularly – and with no compensation for the invested time.
Being on the board should, above all, be satisfactory. If you do not get the feeling of achievement – perhaps it is not for you. It is only understandable that few people have the time and motivation to work hard for no salary at all.
Working as an HOA board member is very tiring as your hard work can sometimes go unappreciated. To help ensure your HOA/condo association board is running smoothly, you may need to actually hire a full-time Community Association Manager.
This article is provided by The Management Trust.