A 'March Madness' of a Different Kind

Ok, so I'm not talking about the upcoming basketball tournament, but rather, a "madness" (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) of a different sort -- that time honored tradition of volunteering for your homeowners association. Why do I mention this now? Well, since many Associations will be holding their annual meetings in the coming months, we need to be reminded why people volunteer in the first place, and to use those motivations to the Community's advantage so that participation levels in much-needed neighborhood projects maintain sustainable levels. Spend a few moments at your Association's meeting to remind the membership why their efforts are vital to the success of the organization as a whole.

The following are just some of the reasons that people volunteer:

(1) Discontent. People tend to get upset when they encounter something that jostles their status quo. Or from a perceived injustice or malady that can be corrected by participation on the Board or in other committee work.

(2) Self-Interest. Volunteering is mostly altruistic, but not an altogether selfless act. Everyone has intrinsic motivations that power their resolve. These motivations can be a desire to protect property values (their own) or maintain a quality of life within the community.

(3) Social Benefits. As crazy as it sounds, some people actually enjoy interacting with others. Volunteering is a great way to meet neighbors, make friends, and exchange ideas. Besides, isolation and loneliness are highly overrated.

(4) Idealism. Or "Ye Ol' Social Conscience." Yes, it still exists because these folks are committed to social improvement and community duty. What better way to satisfy the need to contribute than by volunteering for the benefit of your fellow residents?

(5) Pay It Forward. One good turn deserves another and all of us have benefited from the kind acts of others at some point in our lives. Some people volunteer to "repay" that debt to society.

(6) Education, Personal Expression, Recognition. Some people might volunteer because they want to learn how an activity is performed, or to fulfill a desire for creative expression through community beautification, or just to receive plain-old validation and an "attaboy" for a job well done.

While the aforementioned motivators represent the more common reasons that people might seek volunteer opportunities, this list is by no means exclusive. Communicate with your fellow homeowners (at the next annual meeting or event, as soon as possible really) and seek to discover the hidden motivations of your homeowners and reap the rewards of their volunteering efforts.

*thanks to the Community Associations Institute, Editor Debra Lewin, "Volunteers: How Community Associations Thrive" for excerpts used in the body of this article