Habit #6 Build Capacity Among Residents

Why?

One common complaint heard from trustees everywhere is that no one else steps up to help run the association. They have a hard time getting neighbors to attend regular meetings, volunteer for activities, and run for election. Year after year the same people attend the same meetings, nothing other than the basic needs get done, and the same trustees run unopposed in annual elections. It gets very easy for trustees to get burnt out. One way to overcome this is to build a network of residents, a pool of people that the trustees can tap into to handle the myriad responsibilities and tasks that keep a subdivision thriving. While the previous habits all help trustees be more effective leaders, it is also vitally important to build that leadership from within, and pass those habits on to future subdivision leaders.

Residents are the lifeblood of any neighborhood. Without their active involvement, no trustee association, no matter how competent and professional, can expect to satisfy all of the needs of the subdivision. Residents need to maintain their properties, pay their assessments in a timely fashion to support the upkeep of common amenities, and they need to be active in their association. Being active in their association means, at a minimum, voting in annual and special elections, but it also means running for trustee positions, participating in any association committees, and volunteering for activities and events. The more residents get involved in any and all aspects of their subdivision, the easier the work becomes, the more entertaining and beneficial the projects can be, and the more enjoyable it is to live in the subdivision.

Key Points

Association Committees – One of the best ways for trustees to build a network of eyes and ears on the street is to create opportunities to engage residents, empower them to take responsibility for their subdivision, and to link them with the right tools and resources. The most effective way to do this is through formal committees that report to the trustee association. Committees are a great way to get residents involved in subdivision affairs that interest them, such as organizing activities and events, looking out for property maintenance issues, welcoming new residents to the subdivision, or creating a subdivision newsletter or website. Committees should have tangible projects that people can get involved in and regularly report to the trustees about their work. Committees are also a great place to find new trustees for annual elections.

The following are examples of the tasks and responsibilities of committees found on many subdivision trustee associations:

 Communications Committee responsible for collecting neighborhood information, writing articles and disseminating the information via a newsletter or website.

 Welcome Committee responsible for welcoming new residents to the subdivision and providing them with information on the rights and responsibilities of living in the subdivision, contact information on the trustees and any committees or block captains, as well as general information about how the business of the subdivision is run.

 Property Maintenance Committee responsible for ensuring that subdivision covenants and restrictions are being met, and coordinating with St. Louis County property maintenance inspectors when violations are suspected.

 Activities Committee responsible for organizing subdivision events, such as block parties or National Night Out.

Neighborhood Block Captains – Block Captains could be considered an extension of the board of trustees. They are often not explicitly spelled out in trust indentures, but should be identified in the subdivision by-laws. Block Captains would live on different blocks throughout the subdivision, and would help the trustees communicate with neighbors and bring any neighborhood issues to the trustees. Having a network of Block Captains is a great way to get neighbors involved in their subdivision without the added responsibility of trustee business, and is another great place to find new trustees to run for annual elections. One of the most common ways Block Captains are used is in Neighborhood Watch, where the Block Captains act as the link with the Neighborhood Policing Officer.

Self Assessment

Does your association have any standing committees? _____Yes _____No

If Yes, what are they or what function do they perform?

If No, what sort of tasks and responsibilities would you like to see performed by committees?

Does your subdivision have an active Neighborhood Watch? _____Yes _____No

Do the trustees coordinate regularly with the Neighborhood Watch members?

_____Yes _____No