Failure

We failed to reach quorum for our annual meeting last night. This means we could not elect the HOA board for next year. So what?

Here's the problem:

If we can't elect a new board, the HOA goes into receivership and we pay lawyers lots of money to do what fellow owners currently do for free.

This could mean that either money the outgoing board budgeted for community improvements goes to lawyers instead or that HOA fees have to rise to pay this unaccounted for expense.

No one in the community has any control over this if we forfeit our right to run our own HOA.

We are going to try again December 6. That means the HOA must spend several hundred dollars to print and mail the annual meeting notices again. It also costs us money to rent the room at the church where we meet.

If you sent in your proxy form, that is good for 90 days from the date of the first meeting, November 8, so you don't need to send it in again. If you still have the first form, you do NOT have to wait for the next one to come. You can fill out and send in the one you have.

Sending in the proxy form means you count toward the quorum (the minimum number of people we need for the meeting to be official). However, sending in the form does not take away your right to attend the meeting and vote. You just show up and you nullify your proxy.

Yes, it costs 44 cents. Yes, it requires taking the envelope to the mailbox and putting it into the slot. But it's a lot cheaper than a lawyer's hourly fee would be to run our community's business.

We also need five candidates to run for the board. One member moved away and another has announced his intention to step down to spend more time with his family. The three remaining are willing to run again.

That leaves two spots that need filling. Two spots for people who care enough about where they live to volunteer some time to help make it better.