Meeting of the Minds

If the treasurer of my condo association board is calling and Publishers Clearinghouse is littering the mailbox, then it must be January. Treasurer and President S are of the opinion that it is time for a meeting. Oh Gee, really? It’s only been a year since the last meeting. It is January, the season for the near annual exercise in pretending that the other owners give a crap about the property.

This small association of 9 owners has struggled over these past 5 years to maintain the property, due in part, to direction ranging from ineffective to non-existent exhibited by most of the board and a lack of interest in lifting a finger to sweep a floor, change a bulb, rake a leaf by all but 2 owners.

Over the last two years the board has met 3 times. Each of those meetings was attended by 4 owners. The 3 board members and one other owner. Each time, a different (other) owner. Each of the previous meetings included agenda items that are on the current agenda.

During each of the previous meetings the owners discuss and set a course of action. Each owner accepts a task, towards addressing each of the issues outlined in the agenda. Days later I turn in the report for the project I’d agreed to research. In the meantime, I sweep and mop common areas, change bulbs and work to beautify the yard. Another owner vacuums and steam cleans rugs. The other owners (including two other board members) do nothing. A phone call or two, an email or two to them little reply and no action.

Until January. Meeting time.

The Publishers Clearinghouse will be trashed, as usual. And while the agenda remains the same, this will be a different meeting. Because I am different. Something must be done to combat the inaction typically employed by the other board members and owners. I’m not quite sure what that something will be–but I will find it. I must.

Update: we had the meeting. No coup, but thanks gf for the offer of support. Elections aren't for several weeks yet, so no changing of the guard, yet. The four of us, yes, a different owner-the newest, talked about much. Some issues pressing, some not so..as usual.

Where I thought the three owners directly affected by blackened halls were just not changing bulbs, turns out the fixtures are broken. Those landings have been dark for a few weeks folks. Weeks! Two of the owners have children. Up and down the stairs in the dark (unless they have flashlights-highly unlikely) for weeks. The darkened staircases are above me, my family and I are not directly affected, yet, I am flabbergasted that these families would be so casual about this potential hazard. Do we really need to wait, to call a meeting to discuss contacting an electrician to repair/replace broken fixtures. Do we? NO! This should be resolved yesterday, people.

I did lay down the gauntlet. My ears got very warm. I was either angry, nervous or amorous-as my head wasn't itching or my palms sweating, I'd go with angry. I told them that I intend to be even more active, more visible and much more vocal. I'm holding their collective feet to the fire. I will hold each one (not just the board-but I'll start there--the board should develop plans to entice the other owners into action) accountable. Appeal, like Maxine said, to their sense of pride, property values and all that.

In the meantime, I'll be trying to get as much done to my unit (I need some handy folks-but that's another issue for another time)-as my time there is clocking down.

The next meeting is 2/13/07-but which time three of the items on the must do now list should very well be accomplished. The fourth item should be well beyond planning and just needing a go-ahead to move forward. I'll be checking in with those folks who accepted specific assignments before the 13th. If you hear a rumble--it might not be thunder.