How to Prepare for a Members Meeting in a Community Association

In the absence of such direction, state statutes will also help in noticing and running the meeting., Generally, a majority of the total voting interests is required to constitute a quorum at a Member's meeting., All associations are required to...

30 Steps 3 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: In the absence of such direction

    The following are generally the reasons for member's meetings: annual member's meetings, election meetings, amendment meetings, meetings to waive reserves, meetings to waive audit requirements, some special assessment meetings, recall of directors, some meetings which require special expenditures and for any other purpose whereby the membership is required to vote or ratify an action taken by the Board of Directors.

    In many instances, many of the above mentioned purposes of a members meeting may be incorporated into one single meeting.

    The requirement for separate meetings is unnecessary.
  2. Step 2: state statutes will also help in noticing and running the meeting.

    In a homeowners association, the quorum requirement was lowered by statute to 30% of the total voting interests, unless the By-Laws allow for a lesser amount.

    This was instituted in order to increase the possibility of achieving a quorum at a members meeting.

    In condominium and cooperative associations a majority of the total voting interests is required to have a quorum. , This meeting is usually the Annual Meeting for the association.

    The membership will elect the Directors for the coming year and address any other business that may be considered at this meeting.

    The annual meeting is usually a meeting at which the members will hear of the association's accomplishments for the past year and the anticipated challenges and projects for the coming year through officers and committee reports.

    It is a time and place whereby the members will be able to ask questions and participate in the meeting.

    In addition to the election of officers, the membership may also be considering amendments to the documents and other matters that require membership approval. , These are usually quarterly or semi annual meetings, which are generally used to keep the membership apprised of the operations and management of the association.

    Other member's meetings that may be called from to time would be: a special member's meeting to consider a special assessment, an amendment to the documents, to expend funds over a certain amount as required by the documents, or as prescribed by the documents and by the state statues.

    The By-Laws will indicate who may call the special meeting.

    In some cases, the membership may be able to call a special meeting of the membership by petitioning the membership and then presenting the petition to the Board of Directors, The Board of Directors will then be required to hold the meeting.

    The special members meeting may be for the purpose of reconsidering a budget, an amendment to the documents, a recall of a Board Member or for any other matter that may addressed in the documents.

    The documents may contain special procedures for the special meeting.

    The condominium and cooperative statutes provides for certain procedures to be followed, in order for the special meeting to be valid.

    In all cases, the special members meeting allows for the membership to be involved in the discussions and decision (voting) making process. , Also, the meeting notice, agenda and proxy form will all be for the same purpose.

    Any other purpose, business or motion that come before the membership would not be valid, as they were not for the stated purpose of that special meeting.

    The following is a suggested list of materials and supplies that would be required for an annual members meeting: ,,,,,,,,, Resolution Card ,,,, Also, meet with your association's attorney to review your agenda, notice and meeting procedures. , Begin to recruit volunteers to help with running the meeting now. ,
  3. Step 3: Generally

  4. Step 4: a majority of the total voting interests is required to constitute a quorum at a Member's meeting.

  5. Step 5: All associations are required to hold at least one members meeting annually.

  6. Step 6: Some association's By-Laws require additional members meetings to be held throughout the year.

  7. Step 7: These special members meetings usually have limited agendas

  8. Step 8: as their sole purpose is stated and announced in the purpose of the meeting.

  9. Step 9: Notice

  10. Step 10: Agenda

  11. Step 11: & Proof of Notice

  12. Step 12: Proxies

  13. Step 13: Ballots

  14. Step 14: Envelopes

  15. Step 15: Alpha Sign-In Sheet

  16. Step 16: Minutes of Last Meeting

  17. Step 17: Copy of Documents

  18. Step 18: Copy of Last Financial Statement

  19. Step 19: Law Procedures on elections

  20. Step 20: Ballot Box

  21. Step 21: Signature & Corp.

  22. Step 22: Report of Officers & Committees

  23. Step 23: Materials for Minutes and Sign-Ins

  24. Step 24: Extra pencils

  25. Step 25: batteries and tapes

  26. Step 26: In anticipation of a membership meeting

  27. Step 27: check your association's By-Laws

  28. Step 28: review the state statutes concerning membership meetings.

  29. Step 29: Any committee which will be participating and or helping to run the meeting should be formed and or informed of their specific duties.

  30. Step 30: Begin your preparation now in order to insure for a well run annual members meeting.

Detailed Guide

The following are generally the reasons for member's meetings: annual member's meetings, election meetings, amendment meetings, meetings to waive reserves, meetings to waive audit requirements, some special assessment meetings, recall of directors, some meetings which require special expenditures and for any other purpose whereby the membership is required to vote or ratify an action taken by the Board of Directors.

In many instances, many of the above mentioned purposes of a members meeting may be incorporated into one single meeting.

The requirement for separate meetings is unnecessary.

In a homeowners association, the quorum requirement was lowered by statute to 30% of the total voting interests, unless the By-Laws allow for a lesser amount.

This was instituted in order to increase the possibility of achieving a quorum at a members meeting.

In condominium and cooperative associations a majority of the total voting interests is required to have a quorum. , This meeting is usually the Annual Meeting for the association.

The membership will elect the Directors for the coming year and address any other business that may be considered at this meeting.

The annual meeting is usually a meeting at which the members will hear of the association's accomplishments for the past year and the anticipated challenges and projects for the coming year through officers and committee reports.

It is a time and place whereby the members will be able to ask questions and participate in the meeting.

In addition to the election of officers, the membership may also be considering amendments to the documents and other matters that require membership approval. , These are usually quarterly or semi annual meetings, which are generally used to keep the membership apprised of the operations and management of the association.

Other member's meetings that may be called from to time would be: a special member's meeting to consider a special assessment, an amendment to the documents, to expend funds over a certain amount as required by the documents, or as prescribed by the documents and by the state statues.

The By-Laws will indicate who may call the special meeting.

In some cases, the membership may be able to call a special meeting of the membership by petitioning the membership and then presenting the petition to the Board of Directors, The Board of Directors will then be required to hold the meeting.

The special members meeting may be for the purpose of reconsidering a budget, an amendment to the documents, a recall of a Board Member or for any other matter that may addressed in the documents.

The documents may contain special procedures for the special meeting.

The condominium and cooperative statutes provides for certain procedures to be followed, in order for the special meeting to be valid.

In all cases, the special members meeting allows for the membership to be involved in the discussions and decision (voting) making process. , Also, the meeting notice, agenda and proxy form will all be for the same purpose.

Any other purpose, business or motion that come before the membership would not be valid, as they were not for the stated purpose of that special meeting.

The following is a suggested list of materials and supplies that would be required for an annual members meeting: ,,,,,,,,, Resolution Card ,,,, Also, meet with your association's attorney to review your agenda, notice and meeting procedures. , Begin to recruit volunteers to help with running the meeting now. ,

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Janice Kennedy

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