The Property Manager's Value-Add: Training Your Client Associations' Rookie Board Members

Training in some circles is a four-letter word beginning with "S" and rhyming with wit. Yet, all too often, homeowners elect people to the community association's Board of Directors who are severely lacking in training and possess little to no experience necessary to perform their prescribed duties.

As a value-added service to their client associations, property management companies can provide specific board training in areas such as: financial records management and documentation, parliamentary procedure, facilities maintenance, or conflict resolution. Granted, property management companies exist to aide in these functions, but let's face it -- a knowledgeable client is better than an ignorant one. Less liability and all of that.

A sample training session could include a review of financial records for the association, the duties required of a board member, deed restriction covenants, and other beneficial community information. Surprisingly, many newly-elected board members have never even read the deed restrictions by which they are bound to serve and uphold its provisions. These training sessions could be held at the conclusion of every annual meeting whereby new members might be assuming their directorship positions for the first time. As a followup, quarterly "refresher" training sessions could be scheduled based on specific topics of interest that have arisen during the term. Also, open these training sessions to the community at-large -- allowing a glimpse into the duties and intricacies of running a community association could convert cynics into sympathetic homeowners (and perhaps fuel a spirited election campaign for the next year's board membership!)