The annual homeowner meeting convenes. The president of the homeowner association announces that the floor is open for nominations. A fellow homeowner say to you, "You know, you would make a good board member."

Before you have a chance to reply, some body movement indicates that you are willing, ready and able to serve. "The nominations are closed," a vote is taken, and suddenly YOU ARE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. You ask yourself, "What does being on the board mean and who is going to teach me?" Here are some basic guidelines on how to become a successful board member and enjoy it at the same time ... a lesson in HOA responsibilities and practices.

What does it mean to be on the board? You have made a commitment that you will serve the community interests to the best of your ability, be fair on matters that come before the board, will do your best to preserve and enhance the values of the HOA member property and spend HOA funds in a prudent manner. Being a director also means that you have fiduciary duties which require making reasonable investigation into matters dealt with and acting in a businesslike, prudent manner when making decisions.

Who is going to teach you? Hopefully, you have several veterans on the board who will help you. Ideally, you will have a property manager who works closely with the board and is willing to offer guidance. Ask questions. How have similar issues been handled in the past?. Current boards should carefully consider plans laid by previous boards and not change them impulsively. Take time to become familiar with the HOA grounds and facilities. Review the governing documents, the rules and regulations, and any other board policies to develop a familiarity with them. Keep a set handy for when specific questions arise.

Make a commitment to attend all board meetings and prepare in advance by studying the agenda and related material. There generally aren't all that many meetings and each deals with critical issues. Give them your full attention.

Serving on the Budget Committee offers an opportunity to help build a sound financial future for the community. The two basic parts of the budget are Operating (deals with routine maintenance and day to day expenses) and Reserves (long range, major repairs and replacements). As a member of the Budget Committee, you will be asked to anticipate future financial needs by using both past budget history and new information accumulated for future repairs.

While the board job is unpaid, there are many personal rewards to be had for a job well done. Dealing with people requires patience and flexibility. Remember that while disagreement is not always avoidable, you were elected to make decisions. Consider carefully those decisions put before you and do your best. If you serve as a committed member, it will be one of the more rewarding experiences that you will have.

For more innovative homeowner association management strategies, see Regenesis.net.

Published: September 3, 2008

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .