August 2023

Unlocking the Door to COMMUNITY

A Guide on How to Get Involvement in Your HOA By Patrick Alexander, Taylor Management Company, AAMC, AMO

H ave you ever asked yourself, “Why do people move into a HOA?” For some, their condo or townhome is an investment. For others, it’s a home where residents can escape the burden of main taining a structure and landscape. Each individual will have their own motivations, but access to amenities in a neighborhood that fosters community is a unique draw for many of our residents. But anyone who has tried to cultivate a sense of community within your HOA knows, build it and they will come, is not a viable strategy. This is commonly the job of your community’s lifestyle director but can be done by a social committee or any strong group of volunteers you have. Here we will explore the multifaceted approaches necessary to engage your community, and some common pitfalls and challenges.

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Constructing Your Communication Infrastructure So, you found yourself a lifestyle director or formed a new social committee and have given them the directive of maintaining that elusive sense of community. Now what? You can pull a myriad of different events and activities from a Google search, and while that isn’t a bad place to start, Google cannot tell you what your residents want. Your first goal is to empower your resi dents. When members feel vested and involved in the decision-making process, they are more likely to take an active role. You should maintain a two-lane pathway of communication that allows you to advertise and promote your community’s events but also enables residents with the ability to express what types of activities they wish to see from you. You can ask them to answer a poll or

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AUGUST 2023