Is your HOA board looking to improve its communication with residents? If so, then resolve to rededicate your efforts in creating and distributing a quality community newsletter over the coming months. Whether the newsletter is quarterly or monthly, it can prove an invaluable tool in facilitating dialogue between the board and the residents of the community.
And as for whether you make it monthly or quarterly, that is really a decision that individual boards must make. It really comes down to the resources the community has for assembling these newsletters; generally, monthly is preferable, if only because it keeps the news from growing too dated.
Another decisions your HOA will face is that of sending the newsletter electronically or via “snail mail.” Here is a suggestion: Why not do both? Sending via snail mail will ensure that the newsletter does not get caught up in inbox spam filters, and it allows you to communicate with older residents who may not have e-mail access. By also sending it electronically, though, you ensure that you are able to get the newsletter to people as promptly as possible.
All that remains, then, is for your HOA board to think about the content of the newsletter—and where this is concerned, there are plenty of possibilities:
- Reminders of the rules concerning seasonal decorations (whether Christmas lights or Independence Day flags)
- Safety reminders (perfect for pool season or trick-or-treating season)
- Updates and guidelines about preparing for certain kinds of weather (winterization tips, for example)
- Announcements of any important decisions made by the board
- Reminders of the CC&R stipulations
- Tips for homeowners (whether about lawncare or how to obtain the meeting minutes of the HOA)
The bottom line is that maintaining open lines of communication is key—and a good community newsletter will help your community do precisely that.
