5 Ways to Educate New HOA Board Members

Serving on the HOA Board is a major honor, and a big responsibility. It can also be a little daunting; if you’ve never served in an HOA Board capacity before, you’ll naturally have plenty of questions about what you’re supposed to be doing.

The HOA Board itself should do its part in educating new members, helping them start strong. A formalized approach to new Board member education is critical—and there are five specific steps you can take to put it in place.

Educating New HOA Board Members

  1. Create a handbook. Having a Board member handbook doesn’t just help get newcomers up to speed—it can be a handy reference for experienced Board members, as well. Include basic information about Board member duties and hierarchies; the schedule of meetings and events; contact information for the property management company; and any other general facts or data points about the HOA.
  2. Host an orientation event. Each year, as you welcome new Board members, host an event where old and new members alike can meet each other and get on the same page, covering some of the fundamentals of HOA life and the goals for the coming years. This can be a great way to facilitate mentorship between seasoned Board members and novices.
  3. Emphasize enforcement. Make it clear from the beginning that fair, consistent rules enforcement is critical. Board members don’t need to go overboard or become dictators, but they do need to know what the regulations are and to take them seriously.
  4. Spend time with the governing documents. Again, this is something that can help new and old Board members alike: Once or twice a year, schedule some time to sit down with the entire Board to simply review the Association’s governing documents. It’s helpful for everyone to have these routine refreshes.
  5. Ask your manager about educational opportunities. Here at Kuester Management Group, we’re big on education, and we have a lot of great resources and opportunities for getting new Board members up to speed. If you’re curious about some of these possibilities, reach out to your Kuester property manager today.

Working in service of the HOA is a big deal—and it’s something that requires a basic level of knowledge. Education is the answer for that. To learn more about new Board member education, reach out to Kuester Management Group today.

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Bryan Kuester

Bryan Kuester

Bryan is the CEO of Kuester Management Group. He has over 15 years of managing community associations throughout North and South Carolina.

His specialties include Community Association Management - maintenance, budgeting for operational and reserve funding, long-range planning, covenant enforcement, amenity management, onsite management, large scale management.

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