Becoming a high impact board member in your home owners association

Today, it is estimated that over 60 million people are living in one of the 300,000 community associations in America. Of those residents, nearly 2 million serve in HOA boards to manage their association, according to the Community Associations Institute (CAI).

Every Fall season, Home Owners Associations (HOA) around Virginia hold an annual meeting to summarize the year in review along with the election of new board members. There will always be openings on any HOA board as volunteers are rotating out of their assigned commitments. The HOA appreciates those who consider being a volunteer for the community.

There are many benefits to volunteering in a HOA. The benefits can truly be helpful to you, your family and the community. The right match can reduce tension, provide opportunity to meet like-minded people, familiarize yourself with the local community and learn a new skill mix. Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It is understood that volunteering can be a time-consuming endeavor. The role of the HOA board member is often a thankless one, but that’s not to say it does not have any rewards. Over time, volunteers learn that they will benefit from service equal to or greater than the recipients.

There often are health benefits to volunteering in general. Volunteering and helping others can assist in reducing stress, combating depression, providing mental stimulation and promoting a sense of purpose. As a board member in a HOA, you will acquire working knowledge about how the Board does business within the community. Whether it’s designing newsletters or coming up with creative solutions, there’s always a way you can flex your creativity when you volunteer for your HOA. Remember, volunteering does not have to involve a long-term commitment or become a full-time job.

Another benefit of serving as an HOA volunteer is the ability to protect your investment. One of the top priorities for all home owners is to protect the value of their home. As a HOA board member, you are in a better position to make and implement rules in the community. Some of these regulations will directly affect property value or determine the HOA budget or routine maintenance.

Everyone needs to have a sense of belonging and volunteering often meets that purpose. An HOA meeting is the best place to engage with other motivated people. It gives you a chance to socialize and make associations with others living in your neighborhood. Depending on what position you accept, you could have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of HOA members and community organizations.

If you don’t have the luxury of time to become a board member but still want to serve in some capacity, then consider joining a committee to make the lives of the board members easier by sharing some of the work. Test your creativity with decorations and designing e-invitations or flyers for HOA events throughout the year. Plan an entire event or join the event planning team. Events give homeowners a chance to contribute to the HOA and bring people together at the same time.

Perhaps the biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community. Service to others produces value and fulfillment in our lives in a way that wealth, power, possessions and self-indulgent behavior can never equal. In the process of serving, you will be served. Your heart will be lifted as you know you’ve made a difference in the people’s lives in your community.