Category Archives: Uncategorized

Special Report Explains HOA Leader Roles and Duties

We’re hearing from a growing number of association members who want more detail about their responsibilities—or who want an easy way to educate their newly elected fellow board members about what, exactly, board members do. What’s the president supposed to do? How about the vice president, secretary, and treasurer?

In this exclusive special report, we provide you with insight that will guide your board and officers in their day-to-day roles. We explain each officer’s duties and responsibilities, discuss where officers sometimes get confused about their roles, and provide guidance on how officers and directors can make sure they’re fulfilling their duties while not stepping on others’ toes.

As always, when it comes to issues of legal compliance for HOAs, it is important to remember that each state has its own rules, and you should consult with an attorney or other professional as to the appropriate steps for your specific situation.

Our goal for this report, as for all HOAleader.com information products, is to help make your association a better run organization and help make you a better leader for your community. I am confident that you will find concrete ideas you can put to work in your condo or homeowners association.

— Matt Humphrey, President/Founder

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  HOA Leadership Roles and Duties

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Kristen Rosenbeck Contributor Page Launched

We’re very pleased to announce that Kristen Rosenbeck’s HOAleader.com contributor page is now available, highlighting the articles (31 to date) to which she has generously added her expert insight.

Kristen  is a Partner with Mulcahy Law Firm, P.C. Kristen graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology where she actively supported her school as the Student Body President. Kristen graduated in the top third of her law class receiving her Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kristen is licensed to practice law in both the State of Wisconsin and the State of Arizona.

Kristen’s legal practice focuses on the representation of hundreds of residential community associations and office condominium associations throughout the State of Arizona.

You can view her full bio at the firm’s website.

Go to Kristen’s page and view the articles »

HOA Management Companies – Brand-New Special Report for HOA Boards

We’re proud to announce the release of the latest exclusive Special Report from HOAleader.com:

HOA Management Companies: A Practical Guide for Homeowners Association Boards

This report helps homeowners association boards make smart decisions when working with an HOA management company. Whether you’re hiring, firing or just trying to work well with an HOA manager, you’ll find practical tips and advice on best practices that will help make your job easier and your home owners association or condominium association more successful.

See the table of contents below.

Members (and trial members) of HOAleader.com can download it now for free.

Your HOA Board of Directors hasn’t signed up for membership yet? Maybe now’s the time to sign up for a trial membership.

 
  Table of Contents  
 
  HOA Governance: Making the Outside-Managed vs.
Self-Managed Decision
2  
 
  5 Rules to Live By for Self-Managed Homeowners Associations 4  
 
  Do You Need to Hire an On-site Manager for Your
Homeowners Association?
7  
 
  7 Tips for Choosing the Right HOA Management Company 10  
 
  5 Questions to Ask Your Manager about Your Homeowner
Association’s Finances
13  
 
  5 Must-Have Clauses in Your HOA Management Contract 15  
 
  HOA Management Contracts: 5 Cause-for-Pause Clauses 19  
 
  Best Practices for Working with Your HOA Management Company 23  
 
  4 Tips to Get Top Service from Your HOA Management Company 25  
 
  9 Responsibilities HOA Boards Shouldn’t Delegate to a Manager 27  
 
  Why Your HOA Board—Not Your Manager—Must Authorize Liens 30  
 
  Does Your Management Company Have Conflicts of Interest? 32  
 
  HOA Management Fees: Beware These Questionable Fees;
How Your Association Can Address Them
35  
 
  Should You Fire Your HOA Manager? 5 Tips on How to Decide
If It?s Time
38  
 

Download now »

Lisa Magill New Contributor Page

We’re very pleased to announce the new HOAleader.com contributor page for Lisa A. Magill.

Lisa has provided her excellent commentary to more than two dozen articles. She is a shareholder Becker & Poliakoff’s Community Association Law Practice Group in the Ft. Lauderdale office.

We’d also like to congratulate Lisa on being recognized as “Legal Elite” in 2005, 2006 and 2011 by Florida Trend. This award is bestowed upon less than 2% of the attorneys licensed to practice in Florida.

You can view Lisa’s full bio on the firm’s website.

HOAleader.com Website Server Maintenance

Today, (Sunday May 1, 2011),  the HOAleader.com site will be down while our host does some work on the server.

Users will experience an interruption for several hours. Everything should return to normal by Monday morning.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

– Matt

———————————

Matt Humphrey
Founder/President
Plain-English Media, LLC
Publisher of HOAleader.com

eHealthcare Strategy & Trends

eHealthcare Strategy & Trends: 2010 Index of Articles

eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, January – December 2010

Awards

  • 2010 eHealthcare Leadership Award Winners, 12/10

Customer Service

  • Medical Center Takes Consumer-Centric Approach to Communicating Quality, 2/10

E-Business

  • Midwest Provider Tests Online Diagnosis as a Mobile App, 8/10
  • ED Wait Times Transmitted Via Billboard, Text Message, 9/10
  • Virtual Online Assistants Represent Opportunities for Hospitals, 10/10
  • Booking ER Appointments Online Beats Waiting in Line, 11/10

Innovation

  • Video Game Technology in Healthcare: New Tools for Consumers and Healthcare Professionals Change the e-Health Landscape, 1/10
  • Key Takeaways from Recent Mobile Strategy Conference, 4/10

Management and Organization

  • The Right Web Team Structure—Finally—Leads to Successful Web Site Launch, 4/10
  • Academic Medical Center Improves Usability by Bringing a Decentralized Web Site Back to Centralized Control, 6/10
  • Ask the Expert: Is a Dedicated Hospital Web Team a Luxury … or a Necessity? 11/10

Marketing/Communications

  • How to Rally Support for Hospital Funding with a Minuscule Advertising Budget, 3/10
  • Ask the Expert: Should You Weave Widgets into the Marketing Mix? 3/10
  • Study: Adults Online Are Active on Top Social Networking Sites, But Personal e-Mail Usage Remains Strong, 3/10
  • Integrated Marketing Approach—Especially the Addition of Digital Media—Helps Drive Cost Efficiency and Lifts Results for Two Healthcare Organizations, 5/10
  • Health System Adopts New Communications Model That Uses Video as Centerpiece, 5/10
  • Extension of Care Guidelines from Web Site to Mobile App Proves a Winner for a Children’s Hospital, 5/10
  • Innovative Use of Texting Benefits Brain Tumor Support Initiative, 6/10
  • Ask the Expert: Should My Organization Consider Mobile Barcodes to Reach Customers? 6/10
  • Simple, Fun ‘Healthy Is’ Campaign Builds Web Site Traffic, 8/10
  • ED Wait Times Transmitted Via Billboard, Text Message, 9/10
  • What an e-Mail Open Rate Is and Isn’t—and How to Improve Yours, 10/10
  • Mobile Advertising: The Next Generation of Brand Awareness, 12/10
  • E-Mail Newsletter Featuring Videos Drives Nurse Recruiting at Midwest Health System, 12/10

Search Engine Strategies

  • Use of Social Media Improves Paid and Organic Search Results, 1/10

Social Media

  • Scott & White Turns to Twitter During Fort Hood Tragedy, 1/10
  • Something to Chat About: Regence Masters Social Media, 2/10
  • How to Improve and Expand Your Use of Twitter, 3/10
  • ‘9:00 a.m. Less Than a 15-Minute Wait in the ER,’ 4/10
  • Integration of Social Media and e-Mail Offers Many Benefits, 6/10
  • BJC HealthCare Leverages the Power of Community to Tell Its Story, Improve Healthcare, 7/10
  • Social Media and Defamation: Are You at Risk? 7/10
  • Common Social Media Terms and Other Important Information That Every Healthcare C-Suite Executive Needs to Know, 8/10
  • Blue Shield of California Takes Social Media to the Next Level, 9/10
  • Social Bookmarking Can Pay Big Benefits with Little Effort, 9/10
  • Physician Practices Recognize the Power of Social Media, 10/10
  • CME for Docs Who Want to Learn About Social Media, 11/10
  • The Important Role of Social Media in Preparing for and Handling a Crisis, 11/10
  • Bellin Run: Something to Tweet About, 12/10

Strategic Web Initiatives

  • Hospital Subsites Take Another Step in Consumer Engagement, 1/10
  • Mission Blends Seamlessly with Social Media at St. Anthony, 4/10
  • Ask the Expert: Should You Use a Branded Microsite to Promote One of Your Services? 9/10

Strategy/Planning/Site Development

  • Ask the Expert: What Are the Four Most Important Web Site Best Practices? 1/10
  • Ask the Expert: When and How Should You Prepare for Redesigning Your Web Site? 2/10
  • Ask the Expert: How Do I Start a Patient Portal without Breaking the Bank? 4/10
  • Do Mobile Web Sites Have to Comply with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act? 4/10
  • Tight Alignment of Marketing and IT—Plus Balance of Fads and Fundamentals—Leads to Strong Web Initiatives, 6/10
  • Children’s Hospital Finds It Can Super-Size Its Web Site, But Not Its Staff or Budget, 7/10
  • Consumer Satisfaction with Web Sites Varies Widely by Industry and within Some Industries, 7/10
  • Ask the Expert: You’ve Left Healthcare for the Financial World, But Could
    You Answer Some Questions We Have? 7/10
  • Study: Effective Web Site Intercept Surveys, 8/10
  • The Benefits of Personas in Web Site Development, 9/10
  • Ask the Expert: Why Is It Vital to Incorporate User Research During a Web Site Redesign? 10/10
  • The Impact of Research on Patient Portal Design, 10/10

Technology

  • Webcam Use Spans the Age Spectrum, 2/10
  • Midwest Provider Tests Online Diagnosis as a Mobile App, 8/10
  • Ask the Expert: Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records—An Obligation or an Opportunity? 8/10
  • Virtual Online Assistants Represent Opportunities for Hospitals, 10/10

Trends, Developments, Online Demographics

  • Significant Changes to HIPAA Take Effect, 3/10
  • Ask the Expert: What Role Does Quality Play in Healthcare Marketing Today—and What Can I Expect in the Next Few Years? 5/10
  • Ask the Expert: How Would You Characterize Today’s Level of e-Healthcare Development? Part One, 12/10

Web Site Reviews

  • Siteman Cancer Center—myCompass, St. Luke’s, Marietta Memorial Hospital, 1/10
  • St. Helena Hospital, Southern Regional Health System, Diabetes Daily, 2/10
  • Seattle Children’s, Celebration Chain, Penn Center for Executive Health, 3/10
  • ProHealth Care, That Guy, USC Hospitals, 4/10
  • The Christ Hospital, The Mayo Clinic Diet Fan Page on Facebook, Methodist Health System, Women’s Health Foundation, 5/10
  • Intermountain Healthcare, Meridian At Home, AstraZeneca’s Symbicort My Measures for Success, 6/10
  • The Methodist Hospital System, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System—Financial Help, Regence BlueCross BlueShield—What’s the Real Cost, American Cancer Society—Choose You, 7/10
  • Phoenix Children’s Hospital –Virtual Tour, Athens Regional Medical Center—Interactive Map, Virtua Health, Memorial Hospital of South Bend—What’s Really Going on Inside? 8/10
  • The Children’s Hospital—Denver, Sherman Health, Quincy Medical Group, 9/10
  • Main Line Health, Ogden Clinic, Halifax Health Hospice, 10/10
  • Jefferson University Hospitals, Bayhealth Medical Center, UnitedHealthcare—Health Care Lane, 11/10
  • Seattle Children’s Construction Blog, Broward Health Cardiac Care, 12/10

Help for your entire HOA board

Right now, you have a special opportunity to improve your board’s understanding of HOA management best practices. That’s because for a limited time, all members of HOAleader.com can take advantage of a complimentary upgrade to group membership.

With a group membership, the rest of your HOA or condo board–up to 9 additional members–will get their own member accounts.

Each board member gets his or her own log in, providing access to every aspect of HOAleader.com, including:

  • expert advice about smart HOA management practices
  • discussion forum with access to other HOA board members across the country and members of our expert community who understand the challenges you face
  • tips for protecting your association (and yourself) from risk
  • tactics for making your job as an HOA leader easier and more rewarding
  • and much more

Yes, you can add up to 9 additional members of your board for no additional cost. It’s a no-brainer!

Make your job easier. Help the rest of your board get up to speed on HOA management best practices by adding them to your HOAleader.com membership today for no cost.

Already a member? Create complimentary accounts for the other members of your HOA board now.

Not a member yet? Sign up now with our low individual rates and then add your fellow board members for no additional cost.

HOA Sample Policies Special Report — Brand-New

We are excited to announce the release of our latest special report, HOA Policies: 17 Sample Policies Every Homeowners Association Board of Directors Should Consider.

HOA Policies is another special report that is free to members of HOAleader.com.

Below you can read the table of contents. Each section in this 50+ page report includes an explanation of why the policy is important and aspects of the policy HOA boards should consider.

We lay the groundwork for your board to draft policies and procedures governing a broad scope of association life by providing you with 17 sample policies released exclusively to you by HOAleader.com’s expert contributors. Governing documents and state laws vary, but these samples can serve as a baseline for you to work with your attorney to craft policies that comply with your governing documents and state laws.

Members can download the report here.

(Not a member yet? Sign up for a trial membership.)


Table of Contents

Financial Oversight Policies
1. Assessment Collection Policies   2
     a. Sample 1: Late Fees and Collection Policy   3
     b. Sample 2: Assessment Collection Policy   4
2. Insurance Deductible Policy   9
3. Rentals: Background Check Certification   10
4. Rentals: Hardship Exception to a Ban on Rentals   13
5. Violation And Fine Policies   15
     a. Sample 1: Violation and Fine Policy   15
     b. Sample 2: Enforcement And Due Process Policy   21
 
Governance Policies
1. Architectural Control Policy   25
2. Standards and Procedures for Committees   28
3. Document Retention Policy   30
4. Email Policy   33
5. Model Code of Conduct for Board Members   34
6. Model Code of Conduct for Homeowners   37
7. Pet Policy   40
8. Resolution Regarding Executive Session   44
9. Rules for Recording Meetings   47
10. Towing Policy   50
Strategic Health Care Marketing Logo

Strategic Health Care Marketing: 2010 Index of Articles

Strategic Health Care Marketing, January – December 2010

Accountability

  • Marketing Measurement and Accountability to Take Center Stage, 7/10
  • It’s Time for a ‘New and Improved’ Chief Marketing Officer, 10/10

Advertising/Communications

  • In This David and Goliath Tale, David Loads His Slingshot with Flowers, Interactive Ads, Clever Media Buys, and Direct Mail, 1/10
  • Three Lessons from Swedish Covenant Hospital’s Campaign, 1/10
  • So Retro It’s New: Hospital Ads Employ Photography Reminiscent of Life Magazine to Seize Eyeballs and Build Awareness, 2/10
  • Four Points to Consider from This Case History [of NYU Langone Medical Center Campaign], 2/10
  • Embracing What You Have: A 97-Bed Hospital Builds Patient Traffic by Celebrating Its ‘True Strength,’ 4/10
  • Three Points to Consider for Your Own Hospital’s Advertising Strategy, 4/10
  • One Hospital Achieves a Differentiating Breakthrough—with Animated Drawings, 6/10
  • Four Useful Pointers, Mined During Interviews for This Story [on Animated Drawings], 6/10
  • Intermountain Healthcare Battles Childhood Obesity with Multimillion-Dollar Public Service Campaign, 7/10
  • South Carolina Hospital Counters High-Tech Stance of Competitors with Emotional Advertising Targeting Women of All Ages, 7/10
  • Three Useful Ideas Gleaned in Interviews [for the South Carolina Hospital Campaign], 7/10
  • Micro Campaigns Help Health Care Organizations Break Though Clutter, 10/10

Book Reviews

  • Workplace Clinics and Employer Managed Healthcare: A Catalyst for Cost Savings and Improved Productivity, 3/10

Brand Management

  • Storytellers Boost the Brand—Finding and Activating Brand Ambassadors, 4/10
  • From ‘The Home’ to ‘Health Systems,’ Miami Jewish Masterfully Orchestrates a Name Change, 4/10
  • Will Clarian Health’s New Name Be a Brand Slam? 6/10
  • How to Align Human Resources and the Health Care Brand—Organization-Wide Consistency Is the Goal, 7/10
  • Unlocking Your Brand’s Potential—Five Proven Techniques for Moving Beyond Internal Branding to True Employee Brand Engagement, 9/10
  • The Power of Taglines in Hospital Branding Campaigns—The Internal Focus, 10/10

Business Development

  • Rapid Recovery Joint Replacement’ Gains Popularity Among Providers, Consumers, 2/10
  • Wound Care Centers Struggle to Keep Up with Demand—Outcomes, Information Sharing with Referring Physicians Drive Success, 6/10
  • Access to Executive Health Care Grows, 7/10
  • Personalized Medicine Gains Traction, 9/10
  • Provider, Insurer Partner to Create Environmental Cancer Program, 10/10

Consumerism/Customer Relations and Service

  • Discount Programs Add Value to Employee Benefits, 2/10
  • Arkansas Hospital Adopts Disney Formula and Sees Rapid Improve-ment in Patient Satisfaction, 9/10
  • Virtual Greeter Improves Wayfinding at Lake Health, 11/10

Innovation

  • Empathetic Organizations Innovate and Grow—Hanging Out with Customers and More, 10/10

Internet & Social Media

  • Reporters on Twitter—Who Are You Following? 1/10
  • A Carefully Planned Social Media Policy Manages Risk and Leverages Opportunities, 3/10
  • Ten Key Elements of a Good Social Media Policy, 3/10
  • Social Media Use Should Be a Strategy, Not a Bunch of Disparate Tactics, 5/10
  • Additional [Social Media] Avenues, 5/10

Market Research

  • Customer Advisory Groups Can Offer Powerful Insights for the Price of a Meal, 3/10
  • Community Hospital Takes Shot at Online Research with Social Media Aspects to Help Develop Breast Cancer Center, 11/10
  • When Online Bulletin Board Focus Groups Shine and When They Shouldn’t Be Used, 11/10
  • Targets Count Big When Choosing Research Tactics, 12/10

Physician Relations/Operations

  • Growth from Targeted Efforts Aimed at Physician Splitters, 5/10
  • BayCare Ambulatory Services: The Sales Model, 5/10
  • It’s a Match: Speed-Dating Model Pairs Patients and Docs, 5/10
  • Employed Physicians: ‘A Service Line of Very High Priority,’ 11/10
  • Hospitals Mostly Ignore Physician-Rating Web Sites—But Facilities Should Prod Doctors to Monitor Their Online Reputation and Counter Negativity, 12/10

Planning

  • The Value of Second Opinions for Credence Goods, 3/10
  • Are You Ready to Assess and Address Your Community’s Needs? 11/10

Pricing

  • Wuesthoff Plays Cost Card to Position Itself with Employers, Consumers—EOB Statements Tell a Story, 1/10
  • Need for Strategic Pricing Grows as More Consumers Shop for Health Care, 8/10

Public Relations/Advocacy

  • Family Pet Visitation Programs Unleash Best in Patients, Hospitals, 4/10
  • Ten Excellent Ways to Defeat Your Own PR Efforts, 8/10
  • Are You Inadvertently Hurting Your Chances for Positive Media Coverage? 10/10

Quality and Outcomes

  • Geisinger’s ProvenCare Has Many Admirers, But Apparently Not Among Insurers, 3/10
  • Warming Gowns: A Cool Idea Hospitals Are Embracing, 4/10
  • Should All Hospitals Become Accountable Care Organizations? 6/10

Sales and Promotion

  • Brand and Business Benefit from Sports Celebrity Partnerships, 1/10
  • The High-Altitude View: Some Consultants Speak Out [About Sports Partnerships], 1/10
  • Consumers Declare ER Preference with ‘Take Me There’ Card, 3/10
  • Events with Traction Attract, Engage, and Move Audiences to Action, 5/10
  • Hospitals Score Big with School Athletic Trainer Programs, 6/10
  • The New Normal in Women’s Health—Three Health Systems Share How They Engage Women Outside the Labor and Delivery Suite, 8/10
  • Bigger, Simpler Pays Off for Educational Medical Displays, 9/10
  • The Changing Face of Health Care Directories—From Print to Mobile Apps, 11/10

Strategic Issues/Trends

  • Accountable Care: Which Way Forward? 12/10
  • HMO Springboard Approach, 12/10
  • Standardized Medical Records, 12/10

Wellness/Prevention/Access

  • Obesity-Prevention Programs Yield Community Partnerships, Referrals, and ROI, 2/10
  • Faith Community Nursing Introduced in Phoenix Area—Improve Quality of Life, Aid Healing, Save Money, 8/10