Condo Media - January 2018 - 30

CONDOMEDIA

These Strategies May Help

Looking for Volunteers?
30

Philosophers say, "There is nothing
new under the sun." That's not entirely true, of course. Technology has
fundamentally changed the way we
communicate and interact, and there
is reason to hope we'll see cures for
cancer and many other diseases in
our lifetime. The prospects for curing
the apathy of condominium owners
appear less hopeful.
Condominium professionals have
been talking about the near impossibility of attracting volunteers for
decades. If there is a magic bullet
out there, they haven't found it-
nor have we. However, we have
identified some strategies that have
worked for some communities and
may prove helpful in yours.
These ideas won't bring dozens
of interested, engaged owners to
board meetings, and they won't ensure a ready supply of willing volunteers for every association task. But
they may make it somewhat easier
to fill vacant board positions, and
for most communities, that would
be both a huge improvement and
a huge relief.
ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO
ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS.
This is the best way for them to learn
about association governance and
to understand the value and importance of what board members do.
What owners see at these meetings
is crucial, however, according to Julie
Adamen, a condominium consultant.
If the board is perceived as effective and respected and if board
members appear to be enjoying
their role, others will want to join.
But the reverse is also true. If the
board is dysfunctional, known more
for the length and decibel level of
its debates than for the quality of
its decisions, it will be hard to find
others willing to fill vacant seats or
even to challenge unpopular board
members.
"Board members have to put their
best foot forward," Adamen says.

"They have to demonstrate competence and concern for the needs
of the community." Meetings must
be run efficiently, discussions must
be civil, decision-making must be
reasoned and unemotional and the
board must operate professionally.
"It's not a bad idea for boards to
adopt [and adhere to] a code of conduct," Adamen suggests. "That can
be effective for some communities."
CREATE BOARD COMMITTEES.
Committees can be the equivalent of
a farm team that cultivates and trains
future board members. Owners who
discover that they can contribute
and make a difference on committees may be willing to step up and
run for the board.
MAKE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
SPECIFIC, MEANINGFUL,
ACHIEVABLE AND ENJOYABLE.
Try to find assignments for volunteers that match their interests and
their skills. Give committees the
resources and support they need,
acknowledge their efforts, and thank
volunteers frequently and publicly
for their contributions. If one committee experience is enjoyable and
satisfying, owners may volunteer for
another one. If not, they may never
volunteer again. It is easier to recruit
volunteers for a single-purpose committee with a limited time frame than
for a standing committee with ongoing responsibilities, Robert Keegan,
CMCA, AMS, PCAM, vice president
of residential management at Dirigo
Management Company, suggests.
"If people can see a beginning and
an end, they are more likely to get
involved," he notes.
If you find owners willing to
volunteer, don't overwhelm or overburden them. It's tempting to call on
the people who always say "yes,"
but that risks burning out the "old
faithfuls" and overlooking the "new
blood" associations need.

Condo Media - January 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2018