How to Become a Board Member of Your Community Association
How to Become a Board Member of Your Community Association
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Everybody wants to make their community a better place to live.
One of the most effective things you can do to improve your community is to serve on the board of your community association.
You can become a board member by campaigning and winning an election for an open seat. But many people wonder what qualifications and requirements you need to serve on your association's board.
Every community is different, so we won’t be able to give you specific answers for your community, but there are a few general rules that you should be aware of before you run for a board position.
This post will go over some of the requirements you need to be elected to your association’s board, and how you can look into your board’s specific requirements to ensure you are a good fit for the role.
General Requirements for a Role on Your Association’s Board
If you want to run for your community association’s board, understand that no two communities are the same, and your association may have specific requirements that you need to meet.
That said, here are the general rules regarding board membership in the state of Ohio.
The most prominent rule is that a board member must own property in the association that they serve. This is a very common rule, however, when the owner is not an individual, a principal, member of a limited liability company, partner, director, officer, or employee of the titled owner may be elected to the board.
Association’s governing documents often contain a “good standing” rule. This means to serve on the board, an owner must not be delinquent in payments of any kind, and they must not owe any other type of payment to the association.
This also means that an owner cannot be involved in any litigation as an adverse party against the association, its board, or any of its members. A good standing amendment also means an owner would not be able to serve on the board if they had a felony conviction within the last ten years.
However, some associations do not have this “good standing” clause, so any owners are free to run for an open spot on the board.
Other than these two general rules, other rules are left up to the specific association.
Next, let’s look at some ideal requirements for board members.
Ideal Requirements for Association Board Members
It is one thing to run for a spot on your association’s board, to win you may need more specific experiences.
Here are some of the experiences which can help a member thrive on their association’s board.
- Strong educational background, such as a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- Prior experience with management
- Experience with accounting and bookkeeping
- Strong communication skills
- Computer and software experience
Many skills can contribute to success on your association's board. Take a serious look at your board’s strengths and weaknesses and evaluate whether you will be a good fit before you run for a position.
Read more about HOA board requirements here.
Community Management Made Easy with Management Plus
Managing a community association is no easy task. Finding board members who have the time and talents to make your community excel can be even harder.
If your community could use help taking its next step forward, then it is time to reach out to the association management pros at Management Plus.
At Management Plus, our team is well-equipped to help communities of all sizes take the next step in their development.
If you are ready for association management that puts your community first, then it is time to reach out to Management Plus today!