Ten Ways to help your Community Association

1. Give yourself some credit! You have a lifetime of experiences, skills and a network of friends and acquaintances. Everyone has what it takes to make a positive contribution, no matter how much or how little time you can give. Everyone has different interests and different skills – find a way to help your association in a way that matches your interests and skills and time.

2. Attend the meetings and be on time. (For Executive Committee members, attendance is not optional – this is the minimum of what you agreed to do when you agreed to serve on the Executive Committee.)

3. Stay informed on Association matters. Sign up for your community email network and have a look at the community web site from time to time.

4. Ask questions. If there are things that are being discussed that you do not understand, ask for clarification. There is no such thing as a stupid question.

5. Respond. When you receive an email asking the group what it thinks or if it approves a certain action, respond. Even if your only response is “I agree”, say so. Your silence leaves the writer unsure as to how you feel, or even if you received the message.

6. State your opinions. Your Community Association is trying to represent the views of the community. The Executive Committee needs to know what your views are. If you won’t share your views, don’t complain later about positions put forward by the Association.

7. Think of the group. If everyone adopts a “What’s in it for me?” attitude, chances are there will be many unsatisfied persons. Remember: the group will not always support your view. Accept the reality that from time to time, the majority view will differ.

8. Volunteer your time and skills. The Association is only as strong as its volunteers. With few volunteers, the Association will not accomplish much. Don’t criticize others for not getting things done, get involved to help get things done.

9. Support the efforts of other volunteers. If someone volunteers to take on a project, support them or at least don’t discourage them. Everyone has different interests and skills and time – some volunteers might feel motivated to make a contribution on a project that is different from the one you think is important. Don’t tell them that their project is not important and they should spend their time on some other project. Also, when there is a group of people who regularly get involved to support the Association, don’t complain that they are a clique, join them! If you feel left out, say so.

10. Stay positive. This is your community, your Community Association and your neighbours. It serves no one to criticize others for what they are or are not doing for the Association. Community organizations go in cycles, and sometimes there are fewer volunteers than you would like. Still, it is a great community, with great neighbours and great volunteers. The purpose of the Association is to make things even better.

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Revised: June 26, 2007