Community Services: Why Strong Neighborhoods Depend on Homeowner Involvement

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Community Services Why Strong Neighborhoods
Depend on Homeowner Involvement
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Community Services

• Getting involved with community services in a
  homeowners association (HOA) can be very
  rewarding.
• Its not only personally gratifying, but builds
  stronger neighborhoods.
• When neighbors come together for a common goal,
  they can accomplishment just about anything.
• Examples of community services run the gamut from
  volunteering on aesthetics projects, neighborhood
  watches, events, communications, HOA management,
  and a host of other opportunities.
• The first step to getting involved is
  familiarization with the HOAs governing
  documents.
• Its important to become well versed in the rules
  and regulations of the association so they can be
  followed when volunteering for community services.

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Community Services

• Helping the Board of Directors
•  
• Every homeowner should be supporting the HOA
  Board.
• After all, the Board is working in the best
  interest of the community.
• Their number one priority is to protect property
  values.
• They also preserve and enhance the common assets
  and manage the financial well being of the HOA.
• But many HOA Boards have a tough time getting
  homeowners to actively participate in community
  services.

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Community Services

• Helping the Board of Directors
•  
• Some basic things HOA members can do to help the
  Board include
•  
• Following the rules and regulations in all HOA
  governing documents.
• Attending and participating in Board of Director
  and annual meetings.
• When HOA violations are noted, reporting them to
  the Board.
• Communicating with the Board and/or management
  company in writing and through the established
  processes.
• Appreciating the work the Board does on behalf of
  the HOA and recognizing the common goals.

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Community Services

• Volunteering for Community Services Committees
•  
• One of the worst things that can happen in a
  homeowners association is to let a small group of
  people shoulder the burden of responsibility.
• A strong neighborhood depends on the involvement
  of all its members.
• Serving on a community services committee is a
  great way to make a meaningful contribution and
  support the efforts of the HOA Board.
• The Board and management company cant possibly
  conduct every aspect of neighborhood business.
• It must rely on committees made up of member
  volunteers.
• The number of committees at any one time will
  depend on the existing projects.

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Community Services

• Participating in Other Opportunities
•  
• Involvement in community services isnt limited
  to supporting the Board and joining a committee.
  
• Numerous opportunities exist for homeowners to
  volunteer their services, including
•  
• Attending meetings.
• Participating in community meetings is one of the
  best ways to learn whats going on in the
  neighborhood.
• It also allows homeowners to meet other members
  and join upcoming activities.
• Attendees can also find out about new tools the
  HOA may have available for getting involved in
  community services.

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Community Services

• Participating in Other Opportunities
•  
• Organizing events.
• Members can take on a project as small or large
  as they want.
• From a simple coffee get-together to a block
  party, whatever meets their comfort zone is
  perfectly fine.
• Its the involvement that counts rather than the
  size of event.
•  
• Maintaining common areas.
• If the HOA needs help with common areas that
  arent maintained by a service provider, this
  could be a perfect area for homeowners to
  volunteer their help.

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Community Services

• Participating in Other Opportunities
•  
• Producing and delivering the newsletter.
• Many HOAs produce a regular newsletter either in
  electronic and/or print form.
• However, they provide an excellent opportunity
  for volunteers to get to know the community and
  its residents.
•  
• Forming a Neighborhood Watch.
• If a Neighborhood Watch already exists in the
  community, new volunteers are always needed. If
  one doesnt exist, forming one can be a huge
  benefit to the HOA.
• As one of the oldest and most effective crime
  prevention programs in the U.S., Neighborhood
  Watch helps bring citizens together to make
  communities safer.

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Community Services

• HOAs require homeowner involvement to succeed.
• When neighbors work together to provide
  exceptional community services, the HOA can reach
  its full potential and help create a comfortable
  lifestyle for all homeowners.
• AAM works with many of the largest homebuilding
  and community development companies in the United
  States such as Del Webb/Pulte, Shea Homes and
  Meritage Homes.
• Founded in 1990, AAM employs 370 people and
  manages over 400 communities in the United
  States.  
• AAM is dedicated to delivering total peace of
  mind to the Boards of Directors and homeowners in
  the communities it manages.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jason Tucker is VP of AAM Edge Sales, a dynamic
and exciting new online community from Associated
Asset Management that delivers trusted and
relevant information to homeowners. Learn more
about Community Services by visiting
http//www.HomeownerResources.com.