Condo Media - December 2011 - 45

by Paul D. Grucza, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

HOA“Mojo”
Overcoming Community Apathy
’m sure you are familiar with ABC’s “Modern Family.” Each time I watch this program, I wonder, Are there really people out there like those depicted? Do they really do the things they do? And worse, do they live in homeowner associations (HOA)? You might wonder why I ask. My reason is the realization that, as we move through this interesting industry, the last 10 years in particular have changed the face of association management and engagement within the community, and have created new challenges for all of us to think of ways to energize, engage and otherwise create some new mojo. Frankly, the type of folks akin to the families shown on “Modern Family” can make it difficult to procure good, solid volunteers for board or committee service within their communities. And the result is apathy. It seems to be increasing in many communities today because of those modern family qualities impacting many of our owners—“too much to do and too little time to do it”—is lessening the quality of life. The “I’ll let someone else worry about it” syndrome is now the norm. If we take a hard look at our American society today, we find the dynamic of today’s times taking its toll. Changes in employment, or lack thereof, are forcing many HOA members to focus on either obtaining new jobs in their current market or having to seek employment elsewhere. Where incomes have been reduced, soaring delinquencies follow. People retreat home and stop venturing out. In turn, this translates into folks not participating and, in

some cases, just walking from their homes and communities. These are all real situations being experienced by very real people who, as would be the case, need to take care of themselves before they are going to extend a hand of volunteerism within their communities.

Motivating Volunteers
I often get calls from managers asking how in the world can they get people to volunteer and run for a board or help on a committee when being engaged in the community is just flat-out becoming tougher and tougher to accomplish. One looks at the group dynamic and the apathy that can be prevalent, and it creates a big task to overcome. In order to triumph over this apathy and develop some of that great mojo, we need to first look at what causes apathy in groups. Research has demonstrated that there are similar causes both in HOAs and across the world as well. Among them: • Lack of knowledge—in this case, lack of knowledge about the operation of their community or the need to participate to help maintain the community. • Lack of concern—the “I pay my assessments, so leave me alone” syndrome. We all have experienced that at one time or another. • Belief in the “untruths”—we all know of at least one community where the gossip spread is stronger than the truth itself. Those untruths can drive those who wish

CONDO MEDIA • DECEMBER 2011

Condo Media - December 2011

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