With the winter season behind us, many associations are now turning their attention to the summer season and annual member meetings.  However, as usual, many of the owners have headed for the flatlands and are no where to be seen.  The question for the board is how to best permit absentee owners t Read More...

Let’s say you’re presiding over a hotly contested election, where two (or more) “sides” don’t trust each other.  How can you ensure that, once the election is over it’s really over?  In other words, what’s the best way to avoid fights over the validity of the vote count? Parliamenta Read More...

It’s your annual meeting.  You’ve called the meeting to order, officer reports have been given, and now you’re about to hold the election.  All of a sudden a homeowner stands up and says, “I don’t think we have a quorum.”  As the meeting chair, what should you do now?Parliamentary Tip Read More...

As we all know, Colorado requires all board meetings to be open to attendance by owners within the community, unless the board goes into executive session.  We get a lot of questions from boards and managers about whether specific topics are appropriate for executive session.  Colorado law (C.R.S. Read More...

One of the most unpleasant things that can happen during an annual homeowner meeting is an argument between two or more passionate and unhappy owners.  When owners start arguing with each other, particularly when they start making unpleasant personal statements about each other, a meeting can quick Read More...

One of the things presidents fear most about chairing their annual meetings is when emotional homeowners raise a subject that is not part of the agenda.  This action could, if not properly handled, start the spiral that sends a meeting out of control.  As the meeting chair, how should you handle t Read More...

Does your association have an important vote coming up?  Are you considering conducting that vote by mail?  Voting by mail can be a very effective way to encourage owner participation and to increase the chance of having enough voter response to get the business of the association accomplished.  Read More...

The annual meeting – the most important meeting of the year – is approaching.  Often the annual meeting is one of the only times the community gathers.  As president of your community association, what can you do to get the most out of the annual meeting, make it positive for the community and Read More...

Do you hate board meetings? If your answer is yes, have you ever asked yourself why? Is it because everyone in attendance is not engaged or maybe you simply do you not care for the discussion topic? Maybe you find yourself spending more time wondering what everyone else is thinking and how that tran Read More...

Proxies or ballots?  What’s the difference?  And what happens at a meeting where people bring proxies? It’s simple: a proxy is a document that gives the person holding it the right to vote on behalf of a member at one or more meetings.  It’s a limited power of attorney for the purpose of vo Read More...