Running for the Board
We are now in that time of year that is required by statute and by your governing documents… your association’s annual meeting. If you are considering running for your association’s board of directors (and I hope you are), there are a few questions that you should ask yourself prior to making that decision. A board member’s duties should not be taken lightly and the commitment in time and effort can be considerable depending on the issues, community makeup and the overall structure of the board, management and committees. Ask yourself these questions to clarify your motivation for running for the board:
1. Do you have the time to devote to the board of directors? It is not fair to the other board members and to the community as a whole if you are not going to be engaged during your term. If not, let someone else be on the board.
2. What are your motivations for being a board member? Are they selfish and/or self-serving reasons or is it for the good of the entire association? Remember, you have a fiduciary responsibility to the entire association when you volunteer.
3. What are your talents and how can they enhance the association? Do you have financial experience? Do you have an administrative or business background? Do you lack board or business experience but have good common sense? These are the kind of questions you should be asking yourself prior to running for the board of directors.
4. Do I work well as a team? A board of directors is not a place for people who do not work well with others.
5. Do I know what the major issues are confronting the board and can I help solve those issues? Or am I expected to just go along with the president on what he wants?
6. Can I commit to seeing my term through? It takes a while for board members to get up to speed and to get a good understanding of the issues facing the association and how your board operates. It just is not fair to everyone if you cannot see it through and quit in the middle of your term.
7. Will I be expected to handle the bulk of the work? As is the case with a lot of associations that have seasonal residents, there is always someone who is there during the entire summer without the help and support of the other board members. This type of situation can be overwhelming. Find out first if this would be your situation.
Overall, being on the board can be very rewarding although it is a major personal commitment of time, but it is not something that is for everyone and it should be assessed at first, prior to jumping in. Good luck, either way.
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