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REMINDER
The
Board of Trustees wants to remind everyone that there is a policy
regarding additions to common areas and that a “Request for Alteration”
form must be filled out and submitted to the Management Office prior to
any changes to common areas.
This
request is then forwarded to the Design Review Committee for their
recommendation and verification that the contractor has workman’s
compensation insurance. It is then processed as a Resolution to the
Board as a legal document to be voted on by the Board and then a letter
of approval or denial is sent to the owner. No work can proceed until
the owner is sent a letter of approval.
Please keep this in mind before
you decide to take on any projects in the common area of your unit.
When projects are undertaken
without approval you will then be asked to remove it.
Why and Why Not
Volunteer?
Self-Interest - Volunteerism isn’t selfless commitment. All
volunteers have some self-interest behind their efforts, and that’s
mutually beneficial. The most common self-interest in community
associations is probably the desire to protect property values or
maintain the quality of life in the community.
Self Interest - Oddly enough, the number one reason many people get
involved in their community association is that they’re unhappy about
something. A Resident may seek a board nomination because he/she
believes deteriorating common elements are the result of neglect by the
current board.
Social Benefits - Some people enjoy interacting with others or they
just want to meet their neighbors.
Idealism and Altruism - Some people volunteer for idealistic
reasons-reasons of social conscience or commitment. They’re
cause-oriented and committed to improving society. They have a strong
sense of community duty.
Giving Back - At some point in our lives, all of us benefit from
someone else’s volunteer efforts. Some people volunteer to repay what
has been done for them.
Career Advancement - For some people, volunteering is tied to their
careers. The career conundrum “no one will hire a person who has no
experience, and no one can get experience without a job” is often solved
through volunteerism.
Education - Some people volunteer to do a job or be involved in an
activity to learn how it’s done.
Personal Expression - Volunteering can be a source of personal
expression.
Recognition - Some people need a little attention or validation, and
they’ll volunteer for the recognition of their neighbors. Some people
seek election to the board in the mistaken belief that board members
hold positions of status.
Fear of Responsibility - Some people understand that service on the
board of a community association is a serious responsibility, and that
makes them uncomfortable.
Complacency - Some residents think the community is in fine shape -
they’re satisfied with the job the board and committees are doing and
they have no problems or issues.
A
Negative Environment - Volunteers need to feel safe, free of
criticism, and appreciated.
Time Commitments - Probably the most common response from residents
who have been asked to volunteer is “I don’t have time.” Unfortunately,
board members who micromanage projects or become too involved in the
day-to-day operation of the association convey the impression that
volunteering for the community is overly time consuming.
Poor Role Models - Residents get their ideas about what it takes to
be an association leader from the people they see on the board and
committees.
It
isn’t Fun - All of us like to have fun, and for some people,
volunteering is fun. It’s a change of pace that lightens life’s load.
Even reliable volunteers will become scarce if they aren’t enjoying
themselves. This doesn’t mean that every association activity has to be
a carnival, but do what you can to avoid events - including meetings -
that are dull, laborious, or overly structured. Make volunteering fun.
(Excerpts of the above were taken from a
CAI booklet on “How to Recruit Volunteers.”) |