First, let’s review what a civilized association looks like. Board members, unit owners and residents cooperate. Meetings run smoothly with agenda items covered and decisions made. There is a current reserve study that provides an accurate analysis of the property’s physical status. The budget is balanced and adequate reserves exist to secure the future. A management company is in place that works in close partnership with the association to help make all of this happen.

F st,

First let’s rd me

s revie w at

Boar m mbers, unit owners and reside w th

end

provides an accura status. Th ex

e ist to sec re the futu is in pllac as

he bu e ur

hat

ssoci tioi n to hel Congrat lat on

c at C in ociatio on remi m nds yo

ns made. There is a cur ate analysis of ced

udget is ba

ew wh t a civillizi ed association loo s lik ents coo

oks

Meetings run smoothly wi h agen a items covere decision

u rent reserve stu ke.

opera e. r d and udy that

ate f the property’s physicali a

b lance and adequate reserves t re. A manage

a e tha worko ks in close partner hiersh p with e p make all of th

hisi happen.

atu atio s if you recognize your own association n this civilizized descriiption. But, it’s possible that your asso

cong ngenial human beings

The Parrots ake, for example,le

The Parrots Take, for example, parrots – blessed

parrots – blessed wi

w th colorful plumage but a

with colorful plumage but also a tendency t

also a tendency

to repeat everything they hear without discriiminating be

to repeat everything they hear without discriminating

between fact, fiction and do

Gossip can run rampant in a building. Since gossip tends to generate more gossip -- not productive action -- it can be a big time waster, in addition to creating an unpleasant environment. Whenever possible, parrot personalities should be discouraged from serving in leadership roles. Providing as much timely and accurate information as is practical to share among owners will go a long way to keep chattering parrots quiet – or at least get them chattering about real rather than distorted data.

etween fact, fiction and downright lies. Gossip to gen

ownright lies. p can run ram

e erat

Prov pr

be a big time w environm sh

ment. a rat

a e more gossip -- not productive action -- it can waster, in addition to creating an unp a ant n ver possible

mpant in a building. Since gossip tends pleas

t Whene

ract c l to share amo chattering abou

hould be discourage vidin tica

The Lions Lions may be kin of the jungle, but s interesting

The Lions

Lions may be king of the jungle, but it’s interesting to examine their behavioral habits.

ng behavioral habits.

You may be surprised or sleep 16-20 hours

each day

ou may be surprised to learn that l to learn that lions restions rest or sleep 16-20 hours each day. However,

when they’re active, they have the loudest roar of any other cat in the jungle, plus terrific night vision that allows them to dominate their prey species in the dark. In an association, lion types tend to rouse themselves only when their turf is disturbed. Beware the ones who laze around when tasks need to be done, but who roar loudly to intimidate others when their special interests are at stake.

when they’re active they have the loudest roar of any ut real a her than

ng as much time g parrots qui

ed from serving in lead ely and accurate inform

sto

e, parrot personalities a ership roles. matioi n as is

ong owners will go a long way to keep u et – or at least get them chattering n dis orted data.

g .

Congratulations if you recognize your own association in this civilized description. But, it’s possible that your association reminds you more of zoo animals than congenial human beings.

ou more of zoo animals than

ement company h the

The Snakes Ever since Eve was bushwhacked by the talking serpent, we’ve been wary of snakes; but most of them don’t take center stage like the one in the Bible. Instead, most snakes slithe

The Snakes Ever bush

ce

ta kalking serp be

a y of

b en war o snake hem

e sinc Eve was hwhacked by the pent, we’ve k s;

s

but most of th m don’t take center stage like

k

the one in the Bible. Inst

prey lea

animal or wiind neck, snak

a es are tead, most snakes

slither quietly through the grass and attack when their prey least expects it. Whether sinking their fangs into an animal or winding themselves around the poor beast’s neck, snakes are fast and lethal. They don’t even need to be threatened to strike; sometimes they just do it. In an association, beware those who don’t call much attention to themselves, but who attack without provocation.

er quietly through the grass and attack when their ast exp

be threatened to

association, beware those wh d n’t call much attention to thems

x ects it. Whether sinking their fangs into an n ing themselves around the poor beast’s r fast and lethal. They don’t even need o strike; sometimes they just do it ho do

t. In an m elves, but who attack without provocation.

The Panda Bears Pandas are adorable to watch and remind us of the historic détente between the United States and China. They’re also docile and have poor eyesight. In an association, panda bear types might be pleasant

The Panda Bears Pandas are adorable to wa

w tch and remi d us m nd

of the historic détente between the Uniti ed States and China

also docile and have poor eyesight

t. In an

association, panda bear types might be pleasant to chat with in the mail room, but mak pi

ke goo

The Driver Ants Driver ants are tiny, but they come in potentially harmful swarms that can react as a single massive entity. Step on even one driver ant while you’re out or a stroll and you may find your foot covered with 50 million vengeful

The Driver Ants Driver ants are tiny

they come in potentially harmful swarms that can react as a single massive entity. Step on even one driver ant while you’re out f for a stroll and you may find your foot covered with 50 million vengeful

insects. In an association, subgroups may form over specific single issues. Sometimes, a subgroup will operate like the driver ants, responding as an overwhelming unit if one of their members feels stepped on. The best defense against driver ant subgroups is to identify and diffuse issues before a group can be mobilized to attack.

insects. In an association, subgroups may form over specific single issues. Sometimes, a subgroup will operate

to chat with in the mail room, but they don’t necessarily make good board members. They may fail to see the larger picture of the association and they may be reclusive when involvement is needed to solve a problem.

p cture of the association n they ma involvement is need

ded to solve a pro

od board members. They may faili to see the larger n and

u they don’t necessarily m y be reclusiive when

r blem m.

n . They’re v

e to

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