4 minute read
Investing in Good for the HOA Community
REFLECTIONS BY ROLF CROCKER, AMS, CAMEx, CCAM
In 1964, there were 500 “homes associations” in the United States according to the Urban Land Institute Technical Bulletin No. 50. The bulletin was commissioned by the Federal Housing Administration to provide developers with a roadmap for a new housing solution in the United States. By 1970, there were more than 10,000 of these novel developments, now called Homeowners Associations (HOAs), across the country with a large percentage located in California.
Nearly ten years later, on June 12, 1973, the Executive Council of Home Owners (Echo) was formed. The first HOA association in the state of California, it was organized to provide education, advocacy, and networking exclusively for homeowners in HOAs.
Over the years, Echo worked diligently to guide California legislation and assure HOA homeowners had a voice in the capitol, especially when the landmark Davis Stirling Common Interest Development Act was enacted. The Act provided much needed sideboards around the governance, operations, and management of HOAs
Investing in Good... Continued from page 23 and was considered landmark legislation in the housing world.
With the Act, management and boards were held accountable to communities, professionals, and others. A certain set of enforceable rules were established to provide clarity and authority for boards, homeowners, and professionals. Echo saw the importance of helping its We don’t want you to miss out on all that Echo has to offer! It’s important that we have updated board member contact information to continue to provide you the best membership experience. Please take a moment and email us your current HOA board member names and email addresses.
HOA boards and homeowner members understand their legal and fiduciary responsibilities by providing forums, resource materials, two periodicals, and insight into best practices for a volunteer HOA leadership.
Without question, Echo has been there for HOA boards, engaged homeowners and communities. Because of its unique focus on the HOA community members, Echo has steadily expanded throughout the state and across the country. The influence is unmistakable as we have seen our website traffic and online Live Events receive a stable following from homeowners in southern California and as far off as North Carolina. As the industry matures and a certain structure and decorum is established, Echo also has adapted by focusing on building community within the construct of law.
An example: The “At Echo, We Care” campaign was launched out of a need to serve our communities without hesitation or expectation during the coronavirus pandemic. Echo’s members are struggling, and
Get the Most Out of Your Echo Membership. Update Your Board Contact Info Today!
“We Care” by offering free Zoom
Questions? Please email us at update@echo-ca.org.
board meetings, distributing management information for boards to deal with the COVID crisis, focused issues of Insight and the Journal helping communities in isolation and uncertainty, offering ongoing, socially responsibility education and forums via the internet. Echo continues to be a place to call for comfort and objective advice, focused on community for communities.
So, here is the ask: If you are a homeowner, board member or volunteer leader, become an Echo member. Be part of the community that includes 1 in every 4 Californians. Professional Service Providers invest in something good – an ally that works and cares about you, this industry, and acts in a positive and meaningful way.
With Echo you have a partner that will not just provide opportunities to market your services but will help you in your ongoing work making your experience, and theirs, more effective and fruitful. Now more than ever, we believe Echo is an important asset for homeowners and service providers to embrace, as we work to provide the most up-to-date information to help communities now and in the future.
Echo is here to serve, help, and be your partner in education and resources, so you can make a positive difference in your communities.
Please support and become a member of Echo today!
Rolf Crocker, AMS, CAMEx, CCAM is Principal and CEO of OMNI Community Management, LLC. He also serves on the Echo Board of
You’re a volunteer. You deserve some help.
If you are a homeowner, board member or volunteer leader, become an Echo member. Be part of the community that affects 1 in every 4 Californians. Professional Service Providers invest in something good – an industry association that works and cares about you, this industry, and acts in a positive and meaningful way.
In Echo, you have a partner that will not just provide opportunities to market your services but will help you in your ongoing work making your experience, and theirs, more effective and fruitful. Now more than ever, we believe Echo is an important asset for homeowners and business partners to embrace, as we work to provide the most up-to-date information to help communities now and in the future.
Echo is here to serve, help, and be your partner in education and resources, so you can make a positive difference in your community. Please support and become a member of Echo
today!
For more information on Echo membership visit www.echo-ca.org/membership or email jprice@echo-ca.org
