April is National Volunteer Month, an excellent time to celebrate the volunteers that help community associations thrive. Fiduciary duty is a critical component of successful volunteer leadership. It governs every decision and every action a board takes.
The Green Hill Condominium Association has spent the last couple of years developing a comprehensive community garden that is reinvigorating the Wynnewood, Pa., community. The garden is enhancing community spirit, volunteerism, and helping the community go green.
These days, “green” means tapping into renewable energy and protecting the environment. Community association managers can help guide board members and residents through applications for evaluating, approving, and implementing the installation of green technologies such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, rain barrels, wind generators, and heat pumps.
Over the past week, the stock market has suffered major losses that make even the most confident Wall Street trader stressed. Many community association board members also have been wondering: What should we be doing with our reserve funds right now? By grounding your community’s reserve strategy in timing, needs, and structure, you can reduce anxiety and increase confidence even in the face of market uncertainty.
Things have stabilized at the Hammocks Community Association near Miami more than three years after local prosecutors began filing criminal charges against previous board members for allegedly defrauding owners of more than $2 million in a financial fraud scheme. Every instance of financial fraud serves as a reminder, professionals say, of the importance of owner vigilance and the need for safeguards and controls.
