February 2024

Winter Activities at Your HOA By Andrew Marc Newman, CMCA, AMS, Taylor Management Company, AAMC, AMO

T he winter months, particularly at New Jersey’s 55 and better communities, can be less active than the spring, summer, and fall. The residents who do not flee south for the winter look for great opportunities to connect and enjoy their time in the great garden state. While enjoying the outdoors and pool may not be as appealing when mixed with windy and cold weather, plenty of wonderful ways to engage your residents remain. From a November and December filled with holiday parties, New Year’s events, brunches, and music acts to a January filled with movie nights, casino events, and even a magic show, the sky is the limit on how to keep residents engaged. Comedians, game show nights, and even a sports game watch party can help get residents to spend a cold day or night enjoying the warmth of the clubhouse. Community Managers, Lifestyle Directors, and Social Committees all over the state are faced with the question every winter — do they stop filling their calendars with events during the winter when as much as 50% of their

residents disappear, or do they continue planning activities for their remaining residents? This is not the question for these individuals and groups to ask. Instead, they should ask what they can plan to help residents enjoy the cold and possibly snowy time of year, continue loving their communi ties, and help keep the winter blues away. When planning events for the wintertime in communities, the fundamental question is what is the community willing to do? Every community has a different budget, space limitation, and attendance concerns. Feel free to find what works for your residents. If space is an issue, consider organizing an offsite trip to a local restaurant for an organized group dinner, a local trip to a theater to see a show or even an organized Zoom karaoke night. Don’t let a lack of clubhouse room stop your residents from spending time together. If the budget keeps activities from evolving, consider a ‘bring your own’ happy hour or a watch party in the club house. Never be afraid to ask your residents for a modest

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FEBRUARY 2024