The Care & Feeding Of Community Association Volunteers


By Karen Bonaudi C


ommunity association board members know the value of volunteers. Many of them have had volunteer experience themselves—as indeed in their role as board members, they are 


recruitment and nurturing of volunteers involves. Herein is some advice on what we’ve discovered at Molasses Creek condominiums in Renton, Washington.





Owner interaction with board members and each other can generate greater knowledge


and acceptance of board actions, just as greater feedback from residents yields better informed board decisions. Board members should acknowledge volunteer  woven into their lives as stewards of the property and its residents. For a start, walking the property—grounds or  


Activities


While committees have their place, I don’t suggest trying to form a bunch of them as


  conjures up the idea of just another meeting or ongoing commitment. One suggestion is to operate on an ad hoc,   day, or wipe down the pool furniture the weekend before


opening (scratch that for 2020), or create and post the monthly activity and community awareness posters, etc.


When people volunteer for something or even show up to board meetings, keep a running list of their names so you  can contact them for advice, feedback and task support when necessary.


We have had a Parking Committee that no one has wanted  and other engagers to act as “spotters” of vehicles that don’t have parking decals, haven’t been moved in days,   management company directly with the license plates.


Anyone who has participated in fundraisers knows that even successful events might take several years to hit a goal. And events that are popular one year, like a garage sale, can  thing a board can do is have other people manage them. If you are lobbied for a potluck or book club, let the wishers


26 Community Associations Journal | September 2020


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