It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which we were electing a new President of the United States, and literally no one wanted the job; there’s always going to be a large number of folks who’re interested in the gig, and who are all too willing to campaign for it. That’s not always the case with the HOA Board of Directors, though; your HOA needs a full, healthy Board—comprised of volunteers—to keep the community running smoothly, yet many communities encounter situations in which there simply isn’t anyone who wants to be elected to service.
This is a prickly situation, but there are a few things you can do about it:
- First, go back through your governing documents to see how much you’re able to do without new Board members. Depending on how your governing documents are written, you may or may not be allowed to operate the Board with a few vacancies. What constitutes a quorum, and what kind of timeframe do you have to fill the void? Your governing documents will offer some answers.
- Another thing to look for: What’s the term limit for current Board members? Sometimes your governing documents will say that Board members serve until a successor is appointed—in which case you might simply ask some of these Board members to stay on for a while longer.
- If your bylaws allow you to appoint someone to Board service, don’t be hasty to fill the board with someone just for the sake of it; make sure you find someone who will actually be a constructive presence on the Board.
- Finally, do what you can to avoid this unpleasant situation before it begins: Make sure that you publicize upcoming HOA elections, and specifically ask people to consider volunteering. Make clear the responsibilities of Board service, and try to drum up enthusiasm well in advance.
Of course, if your community is faced with a lack of volunteerism, we do invite you to contact our management team for some solutions!