Tech Tools:
Social Media Help Without The Headache
By Caitlin Traub, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
How many emails go back and forth before your board can agree on their next meeting date? With a slogan like, “It shouldn’t take 30 emails to schedule a 30-minute meeting”, Doodle seems made for helping board members simplify this task. Allowing the user to enter in suggested dates and makes it easy for board members to indicate their availability and to schedule meetings or events based off of that. At this time, Doodle offers paid membership levels, tiered by features.
Wanting to send out a newsletter, event invitation, or reports but struggling for inspiration or time? Canva, which is available both in website and app form easily allows the user access to more than 8,000 free templates, 100 design types, and endless graphics. Canva also allows the user to create a “team,” making collaborative projects amongst boards easier to complete. At this time, Canva offers both free and paid membership levels.
Described as a note taking app, this platform offers so much more. Evernote is designed to allow users to take notes within the app, scan in documents, search uploaded handwritten notes, and easily save anything from the web this app. This makes it easy to share those handwritten notes or minutes with the board or association manager right from your phone at the end of every meeting. Evernote also allows boards to create a “team” which collects and organizes shared information, and displays new and important information at the forefront, much like a virtual bulletin board. At this time, Evernote offers both free and paid membership levels.
28 Community Associations Journal | May 2020
I
f you live in a community association or serve as a board member, chances are you have dealt with some form of
online social media. Many communities started using these tools with hopes of sharing information with owners or providing a place to build community.
Unfortunately, many of us have also heard, or even shared in this publication, stories of personal attacks, constant complaints, and distribution of false information; forcing associations to adopt
If you feel like Nextdoor is the new Facebook for your community and will not utilize their other features but are intrigued by their “Help Map”, your board, committees, or community may want to consider Lotsa Helping Hands, a website and app- based platform, which allows communities to coordinate help, meals, and other needed services within their group. At this time, Lotsa Helping Hands offers free membership.
While older associations may be included in already establishedNextdoor neighborhoods, new neighborhoods can establish their boundaries in a way that excludes homes outside of the association. Nextdoor’s platform has provided a way to connect with your neighbors, local businesses, and government services. Recently, additional features like a “Help Map” let users volunteer to advertise ways that they are available to help their neighbors with various services. At this time, Nextdoor offers free membership.
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