I know that every one of the more than 50 million homeowners living in community associations wants their community to be successful, harmonious, and peaceful all the time, whether they are a CAI member or not. Okay, maybe I am being a little sarcastic for effect, but the truth is that it is hard work to make an organization successful and it is very easy to help make it dysfunctional.
Following are 10 ways that any organization, including your association, can be harmed by the behavior of its members - intentionally or inadvertently.
A. Stay away from meetings. Show up at meetings only if you have a problem or complaint.
B. Decline office or appointment to any committee. Then, get angry if you are not nominated.
C. Insist on describing the association in negative terms only.
D. Never prepare an agenda, never plan the details of an event, and never coordinate with affiliates.
E. Don't do any association work if you can avoid it. Then, when the old reliables pitch in and get the job done, accuse them of being a clique.
F. If you do come to a meeting, don't speak until the meeting is finished. Then, criticize and say how things should have been handled.
G. Oppose all new programs as being a waste of the membership's money.
H. When nothing new happens, complain that the officers lack imagination.
I. Read your bulletins infrequently. Then, complain that you don't know what is going on.
J. Never introduce yourself to new members or visitors - make them come to you.
By John E. Matheson, Board Briefs May/June 1992
I am sure that you have a couple of items that you can add to this list. Feel free to do so in the comments section.
