Has The Time Come For The SLLA Adopt A Policy For Residents To Watch And Participate In Online Meetings?

Recently there has been a-lot of Facebook chatter regarding the inability  to personally attend SLLA meetings and the need for an online attendance option for Seven Lakes residents.   

Many have stated and complained that only retirees attend the meetings because many residents can’t attend due to work schedules or other personal constraints.

This could all be solved through the HOA using software developed to address these problems.

HOA communication apps can help our board of directors to stay in touch with residents. One of the biggest frustrations for HOA members is that they think the board isn’t communicating clearly with them. Members do have some responsibility for being proactive when it comes to learning about community developments.

However, it falls squarely on the board’s shoulders to provide their HOA members with timely, relevant updates.

Communication is the heart and soul of any organization and HOAs are no exemption. Without properly conveying the right messages and doing so clearly and succinctly, there will likely be problems such as misunderstandings down the road.

A common situation is that the board makes an important decision, and only a handful of members are present at the meeting(s) where the issue is discussed.

One or more of those in attendance gets upset. Then they start riling up members on Facebook and other social media outlets who were not there, possibly communicating information that at worst is incorrect, and at best is only partly accurate.

Without clear communication from the HOA board, that situation has all the ingredients for a revolt. These situations can be avoided if members had easier access to board actions and the thought process behind them.

Certainly in a perfect world, HOA members regularly attend board meetings to get information straight from the board. But that typically doesn’t happen, due to conflicting schedules, no interest in agenda items, or general indifference.

A possible solution that we recommend is the App  “Neigbrs” by Vinteum priced at only $55 per month to our SLLA, a small price to pay for open communication to all residents. 

“Neigbrs” software designed for HOA’s is great because the app can be used on smartphones, and 85% of Americans now have smartphones. This makes them an ideal tool to communicate with our residents.

The software  sends notifications and board decisions directly to your phone, and can also trigger emails so HOA members can’t miss what you’re posting.

Neigbrs by Vinteum is an award-winning HOA communication tool. It was designed to improve communication between board members, and residents in HOAs.  Its purpose is to fix the chronic communication issues that HOAs face. In a recent survey, 86% of board members  throughout the country agreed that communication is an issue in their community association, showing how important it is to focus on communication.

Board members can send notices out which send a push notification, and an email to all residents. They can also post about events, manage service requests, and send messages Residents can book amenities, read documents, post on your social network, and attend virtual meetings all from their phones or computers.

Neigbrs is a secure HOA communication app, and the only people who can log in are residents & homeowners. It is available across North America and has been in business for almost a decade. 

Given the changes made to the NC Nonprofit Corporation Act, virtual meetings will likely become more prevalent.

This is a step in the right direction, as virtual meetings do have several benefits, including higher attendance rates.  HOA communication  can improve resident satisfaction, and make the board’s job easier.

The new changes in the law include:

55A-7-01 and 02

Nonprofit corporations, including homeowners associations, can now hold their annual, regular, and special meetings in person or “by means of remote communication.”

 55A-1-70

According to this change, associations may now conduct business using electronic means unless otherwise restricted by the association’s bylaws or articles of incorporation.

Associations must provide members with a choice to “opt-in” to communicate using electronic means and let them know how they can do so.   Essentially, members must agree to this by providing the association with their email addresses.

 55A-7-09 (a) and (b)

If the board permits, members may participate in meetings through remote communication. The board must fulfill some requirements, though, such as:

Verify that each participating person is a member of the association.

Provide remote members with a reasonable chance to participate and vote.

Maybe the time has come for the SLLA to consider all online options available to promote open communication with all interested residents.

By:  Victoria Levinger Publisher