I had the luxury of having my grandparents live with me during my younger childhood years. One of our requirements as a kid back in the day was to assist my Grandma in going to the grocery store to help her shop and then carry the groceries back home (we actually walked to/from the store). One of my Grandma’s special qualities was her scientific and studious approach to picking out great-tasting fruit. Grandma made very few mistakes when selecting from a mound of whatever fruit was in front of her, as I was never disappointed when indulging in her “picks of the day.” Grandma’s favorite was a Georgia peach, sweet and delicate. Selecting a good peach is an art, because when transported from the farm to the grocer, peaches will often bruise and become soft in parts. In her infinite wisdom, Grandma would always say, “Even a bruised peach has great qualities.”

As a kid,

So you are probably wondering, how does this relate to associations? Well, many associations are sort of like a bruised peach: a few soft spots, some visible damage, but possessing inherently good qualities within. To stick with the “bruised peach” theme, the question raised is, How can we prevent more associations from bruising? It starts with the board of directors because, after all, the board is voted in by the membership to steer the association in the right direction with every decision they make. To help champion the board’s efforts, let’s not forget the other part of the team: the management company. In essence, a great board of directors working in tandem with management, where both parties view each other as advocates, bears the best fruit. So, when picking a place to live, as one would pick out a great piece of fruit, what qualities would you want as a prospective homeowner in your new community?

AN EDUCATED BOARD:

Starting with board members who understand the declarations, bylaws, rules and regulations, reserve study, and state laws that apply to their association are an absolute must. These documents form the framework and legal requirements to establish the parameters by which board members must act, decide, budget, and appropriate funds. It is incumbent upon each board member to read, understand, and constantly reference these documents in most every decision and issue they face over time. Deferring to these documents helps build consistency from a historical perspective of the association as decided by board members, past and present.

UNDERSTAND FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS:

Board members who understand that they must make decisions that may seem unfavorable for the sake of maintaining the association’s property to the very best of their ability tend to maintain the property better in the long run. Board members who make tough decisions for the sake of preserving the community and maintaining the condition and aesthetics of the association tend to build communities that not only have great curb appeal, but also are communities where “people want to live.” It’s not difficult to drive through a complex and “get a feel” for who really cares, who is really taking care of their property,

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who is spending money prudently, who is truly following a prescribed plan, and who has demonstrated the most consistency in their efforts to maintain quality where they live.

A RESPECTFUL BOARD:

The decorum and professionalism of our elders is lacking in today’s world. Just think back to the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s when words and phrases such as “please,” “yes sir,” “yes ma’am,” “pardon me,” and “thank you” were the fabric of everyday speech no matter the age of the speaker. Children always addressed adults as “Mr.” or “Mrs.” whereas today, children are introduced to adults on a first- name basis. Children had a reverence for their elders, and respect and decorum was commonplace. In today’s world, board members who respect each other, respect the fact that each have been elected by the membership, respect the dignity of the office they serve, and are preconceived to understanding that differences of opinions exist, tend to yield a more cohesive board. Let’s “agree to disagree” in a respectful way without personal affronts or attacks and understand that people’s opinion may differ. It’s not personal!

WHY AM I HERE:

If you think in terms of why am I serving, what is my purpose, who am I serving with, and how can I work better with everyone, it will make the job of being a board

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