Volunteerism – A Great Community Resource
Just like you nurture plants and flowers so they become a vibrant, vigorous enhancement to your home, community managers and board members are wise to nurture community members so they become vibrant, vigorous community volunteers. You’ll be pleased with the enhancement to the community.
The strength of a community is in its members. There’s no better way to create a sense of community than for the members to be actively involved as volunteers in committees. The way to do this in a new community is to have the Board establish committees and clubs.
by Donna Cawthorne
AMS®, LSM®, PCAM®
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Building Neighborhoods…
Do you live “on” a street or “in” a neighborhood? It’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. It’s what makes a house a home and a subdivision a neighborhood. Neighbors talking in front yards, children playing ball, families taking a walk, people walking their pet, people waving to their neighbors, and the sound of laughter. Many people today are focused on the governance and financial aspects of the community and totally forget the social aspect. The “feel” of the neighborhood plays a big role in a person’s decision, or desire, to purchase a home. So, look around, are people smiling? Do you have committees composed of eager volunteers? Do you have a social calendar? Do you have a program to welcome new neighbors?
by Judy Rose
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
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Burger King or Ruth’s Chris?
In an economic time such as the one we are in now, we are conscious of where every dollar goes and how well it is put to use. We clip coupons for the grocery store and if we go out to eat at a restaurant where there are specials for $7.99 - three course meals with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. When all else fails there's a dollar menu at every local fast food chain and store brand paper products. So why, in these economic times, is it reasonable to spend hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars a year on a community association and/or a community association management company?
by Aly L. Long
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
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Real Money Saving Ideas for Real Community Associations
Everyone is talking about saving money and cutting expenses in these hard economic times. But what does that really mean to you and your association? How does an association cut expenses? I don’t know very many associations that have extra money to spend; most struggle just to pay the basic operating expenses. With assessment income down and operating expenses up, many associations are finding it hard to pay vendors and continue services.
Here are a few real, inexpensive ways to save a little – and perhaps a lot of - money.
by Carolyn Cummins
CMCA®, PCAM®
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Communication is the Key
According to Merriam-Webster, communication is “sending, giving, or exchanging information and ideas”. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) defines persons who are good communicators as having the “knowledge and experience to produce positive relationships, to help create a pleasant social environment and to establish a firm basis for problem solving”.
Effective communication may be the single most important tool available to the board of directors and the manager to promote a positive and cooperative spirit in the association.
by Linda Bartel
PCAM®
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