New Legislation Allows North Carolina Condominium and Homeowners Association Residents to Conduct Virtual Meetings

For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Hawkes Repke, arepke@caionline.org, 703-970-9239

 Leslie Blum, Leslie.blum@cai-nc.org, 919-525-4993

New Legislation Allows North Carolina Condominium and Homeowners Association Residents to Conduct Virtual Meetings

Sept. 21, 2021—Falls Church, VA—Community Associations Institute (CAI) applauds Governor Cooper and the North Carolina General Assembly for the recent passage of HB 320 Modernize Remote Business Access, new legislation allowing community associations to conduct their association’s board and annual meetings virtually.

The legislation supports the 2.8 million North Carolina residents living in the state’s 14,000 community associations, commonly referred to as condominiums, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, community associations were required to host in-person meetings. Once the pandemic forced residents to shelter in place, CAI and the Institute’s North Carolina Legislative Action Committee began advocating for new laws to assist community associations officially conduct business. On Dec. 31, 2020, the state’s emergency executive orders authorized a board “in its sole discretion” to determine that all or any part of a membership meeting may be conducted by remote communication and remote balloting. Since December, North Carolina residents immediately voiced a preference to this type of meeting.

“Virtual meetings have increased the efficiency and resident participation of meetings resulting in more community engagement, as well as offering a cost-effective way to share information and documents,” says, Paul Mengert, CMCA, PCAM, chair and federal liaison of the CAI North Carolina Legislative Action Committee. “While compromise was needed by all parties to move this legislation forward, we are very pleased the legislature and Governor recognized the need to support virtual meetings in North Carolina communities.” added Mengert.

CAI-NC Offers Educational Webinar About HB 320 Oct. 5, 2021 – All are welcome! Info & Registration here.

Since March 2020, nearly half (47%) of associations say they’re now hosting virtual board meetings and 49% of associations report that virtual meetings have increased efficiency for association operations, according to CAI’s Virtual Meeting & Electronic Voting Survey results. According to CAI, the North Carolina Legislative Action Committee worked closely with lawmakers to help craft the legislation so that it is meaningful to homeowners living in community associations and their governing boards of directors. “The new legislation is a huge win for North Carolina community association residents,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE CAI’s chief executive officer. “We’ve witnessed the pandemic change the way companies conduct business and community associations are no exception. We believe that the best communities have highly engaged members and by creating new channels of communication, more residents have the opportunity to be heard—increasing homeowner participation and collaboration to make important decisions for the community.”

Today, 12 states have statutes that allow for remote or virtual meetings, six states initially enacted emergency powers that allow associations to meet virtually with both Connecticut and North Carolina passing and enacting state statutes since the start of the pandemic. For a full list, visit at www.caionline.org/virtualmeetings.

About Community Associations Institute
Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in the more than 355,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 42,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @CAISocial.

CAI-North Carolina Chapter is one of more than 60 Community Associations Institute chapters across the US and around the globe.

6 Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Fall Season

As the season begins to change, it's time to prep your home for falling leaves, cooler weather, and, eventually, winter storms. Tackling a few fall home maintenance tasks now can help ward off issues later in the season, so you can enjoy everything you love about autumn worry-free.

Clean your gutters

It’s good to clean out your gutters every season, but it is most important to do before fall hits because you don’t want them to get clogged. All of the leaves on your trees will fall and these can easily get stuck in your gutters and cause damage if the weight becomes too heavy.

Seal up air leaks

Feel for drafts around the edges of windows and doors. A good tip is to use a lighted candle and if the flame flickers, there’s most likely a draft. If necessary, replace seals and repair caulking around window and door frames. Consider buying heavier or insulated drapery for especially drafty windows

Inspect and Repair Your Roof

Give your roof a quick look-over and search for any signs that it is damaged and needs to be fixed. Start by looking for curled, broken, or missing shingles, moss growth, or rust. Notice any of the mentioned issues or have concerns? Consider having your roof professionally inspected as soon as possible.

Inspect your furnace

If you didn’t already do it last spring, consider getting your furnace professionally serviced in time for the cold season. At a minimum, visually inspect your furnace and replace the furnace filter before you start using it on a daily basis.

Sweep your chimney, and clean your fire place.

This is an extremely important check that you need to do before the start of the fall season. Creosote is a very high flammable substance that builds up inside the chimney as a result of burning wood and it needs to be cleaned out for your safety and energy efficiency. Before you get the fireplace up and running, your fireplace also needs a thorough cleaning. Make sure there are no nests from spiders, and clean out all the leaves that may have fallen into the fireplace area. You can also make a mixture of warm water and mild dish washing liquid to clean up the mess around the fire place.

Make sure that your humidifier is working.

A humidifier will not only keep the bone-dry air at bay, but it will also prevent wood from cracking. Check the pads or plates on your humidifier, and clean them using laundry detergent. Scrape off any mineral deposits using steel wool or a wire brush

Hopefully these tips will help you avoid costly repairs and problems in the future. By preparing your home for fall, you’ll be doing a lot of the prep for spring and summer as well!

Congratulations Will McPherson

Congratulations Will McPherson

Association Management Group (AMG) congratulates Will Mcpherson, the 2021 General Chairman of the Wyndham PGA Golf Tournament.

Will previously served as president of the Ridge Creek community association. He led the association in a transitional time with honor and distinction. He has remained active on the board, currently serving as secretary. Will has used the same set of leadership skills and discipline used in his community to facilitate a major PGA golf tournament.

AMG extends its thanks to Will and all community leaders for their community service!

Important Safety Tips for Children Returning to School

Going back to school is an exciting time for children as they look forward to entering the next grade level, seeing their friends and meeting new people. Yet it can also be a time of unforeseen dangers. By teaching children basic back-to-school rules and tips regarding their safety, they enter this exciting time with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe while enjoying this special time and throughout the school year.

Here are important tips that promote safety for children returning to school

Talk With Your Child About Safety

Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult, and how to call 911 for emergencies. Teach your kids to never talk to or accept rides from strangers. When approached by a stranger or dangerous situation children should always think “No, Go, Yell, Tell.”

School Bus Safety

The biggest risk regarding school buses is children approaching and exiting the bus. Often children do not remember to follow best safety practices, so it is up to the motorists in the community to keep safety in mind.

Get to know the other parents of children who go to school with your child or ride the same bus. This will help to ensure someone is looking out for your child in the event you are not around. It is also a good idea to get to know the school bus driver.

Walking Safety

Children should walk in a group if possible. This provides safety in two ways: a group of students may be more visible to a driver than a single student and it provides personal safety from someone who may wish to do harm to a student.

It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

Biking Safety

Have your child wear a helmet every time he or she rides a bike. Make sure the bike is the correct size for the child. A bike that’s too big makes injuries more likely.

Learning safety early can help ensure a lifetime of safe bicycle riding. Before your child starts riding, be sure to teach him or her the rules of riding.

These are a few of the many safety tips for children as they return to school. The more parents can do to implement ideas into their routine the safer their children will be.

The HOA or community association plays a big part in community safety. Volunteer for a safety committee at your local association.

Happy returning to school. Stay Safe!

2021 AMG Scholarship Winners Press Release

Association Management Group (AMG) - Carolinas Announces Winners in 2nd Annual Scholarship Program

HOA Management Company Servicing the Carolinas Awards Four College/University Scholarships to Community Members

(Greensboro, NC) July 22, 2021 – Association Management Group (AMG), a leading professional community association management company in the Carolinas, announced today the four college/university scholarships winners of $1,000 in its College/University Scholarship Program. AMG provides professional residential property management services to more than 30,000 homeowners across the Carolinas living in communities with homeowners or community associations.

AMG wholeheartedly believes in the preservation and enhancement of homeowner associations, emphasizing the value of community as it contributes to one’s overall quality of life. As a leading property management association, AMG works closely with dedicated community members, service providers and employees throughout the North and South Carolina regions.

This year’s scholarship prompt was based around just thatꟷ the importance of community. The essays were evaluated anonymously by a panel of eight judges, including representatives and staff from AMG, community board members from Greensboro, Charlotte and Greenville, as well as client community vendors. The program was open to residents and vendors from AMG properties, as well as AMG employees and family members from each respective category.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout from this year’s program. It is so encouraging to hear from the future leaders of our community, especially in how their own experiences have shaped them into thoughtful, community-conscious individuals. I think giving back to the community is incredibly rewarding and it is uplifting to see young people with that same spark,” said AMG Vice President May Gayle Mengert.

The AMG scholarship recipients are:

• Manuela Monjimbo, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was awarded the Corey Flynt Scholarship. Flynt, who died in a car accident in 2017, was the son of AMG’s President Dacy Cavicchia and brother to Charlotte Director of Operations, Danielle Rudisill and Special Projects Coordinator, Cassie Kutay.

• Sophia Bowers, also attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was awarded the Billie Butler Scholarship in honor of Butler’s 20+ years dedicated to serving AMG clients in the Charlotte area.

• Bethany Castro-Lucero, attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, was awarded the Ron Erickson Scholarship in honor of the late world-class financial planning professional and role model to all who knew him.

• Payton Egan, attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, was awarded the Tommy Badgett Scholarship in honor of long-term AMG employee and friend, who recently passed away this past January. His memory, in addition to the previously listed honorees, will be cherished forever.

“This scholarship program has been a great way to highlight the significance of community while honoring the memory of four individuals and their contributions to our community. I cannot think of a better way to continue honoring their legacies than by doing our part to help make a difference in the lives of others. The chosen essays reflect the diversity of our communities, and all have a common theme of appreciating cultures aside from our own,” added CEO Paul Mengert.

About AMG:

AMG is a professional community association management company dedicated to building effective community associations. AMG guides and assists executive boards to help protect the association’s interests, enhance the lives of community members and improve the property values in the community. With offices throughout the Carolinas, AMG is a knowledgeable partner in enforcing community governing documents with a proven set of processes and techniques and supporting communities with a broad range of services that can be tailored to individual community needs. Association Management Company, Inc., is a locally Accredited Business by the BBB and is a nationally Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) by the Community Associations Institute.

For more about AMG, visit AMGworld.com.

Solar Panel Restrictions: The Court Of Appeals Illuminates Panel Restrictions

A “hot” topic in HOAs is the extent of an HOA’s authority to regulate solar panels. The legislature enacted a statute in 2007 that makes deed restrictions (i.e. a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) void against public policy if they overly restrict an owner’s ability to install solar panels. The statute is N.C. General Statute § 22B-20 for those interested in reading it.

The courts have never shed light on the scope of the statute since its enactment until the N.C. Court of Appeals decided Belmont Association v. Farwig. The Farwigs installed solar panels on the front-facing roof of their home without prior architectural approval, and the association found them in violation of the declaration, which limits the type of improvements an owner can install without prior approval. Since the Belmont declaration did not explicitly refer to “solar panels,” the Farwigs argued that the general restriction against unauthorized improvements could not be enlarged to restrict the placement of solar panels.

Admittedly, the meaning of the statutes is clouded by unusual terminology and strange phraseology, and the court observed that certain parts of the statutes are ambiguous. The legislative history was convincing in the Court’s determination that the Belmont HOA had the authority to restrict the location of solar panels on the Farwig’s roof.

The Court determined that the legislature intended to prevent restrictions that “have the effect” of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors altogether, but not if the restrictions simply regulate their placement. As long as the declaration gives an HOA the ability to approve certain types of improvements (here, the Court determined that solar panels are the type of “improvements” that require architectural approval), then the HOA can limit where they can be placed.

The statute specifically says that it does not prohibit restrictions that disallow solar panels “on a roof surface that slopes downward toward” public access, such as a street. This was evidence that an HOA could prohibit the solar panels on the Farwig’s street-facing roof.

Relying on existing court decisions, the Court further held that restrictive covenants must be enforced reasonably and in good faith by an HOA. In short, an HOA’s declaration need not specifically use the words “solar panel”.

In a day of appellate opinions that shook the HOA, condominium and real estate world (see our other two blogs on these cases, which are more impactful than Farwig), the Court at least reaffirmed that owners bear responsibility for their own actions. The Farwig court’s parting message to the Farwigs was that “Defendants installed the solar panels first and sought approval later”, and therefore, their own decisions foreshadowed the outcome.

Used by permission of Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law

https://www.offitkurman.com/blog/2021/06/01/solar-panel-restrictions-the-court-of-appeals-illuminates-panel-restrictions/

North Carolina Appellate Court Rules That Restrictive Covenants More Than 30 Years Old May Be Extinguished

We first blogged about C Investments 2 v. Auger, a potentially impactful case for older communities, several months ago. The North Carolina Court of Appeals has now rendered its opinion, which is discussed below.

C Investments purchased seven lots in the Country Colony neighborhood in Mecklenburg County. As is typical with many subdivisions in Charlotte (and in many other cities and towns), the developer of Country Colony in 1952 recorded restrictive covenants to restrict lots to residential-only use, to place restrictions on the type of structures that could be built (“one detached single-family dwelling not to exceed two and one-half stories in height”), on the number of residences that can be placed on a lot, to require homes to meet a minimum square footage, and to require setbacks from property lines.

At issue is the effect of the Marketable Title Act, a law enacted almost 50 years ago to eliminate stale restrictions that impact title to real estate. Historically, real estate law said that any title defect, encumbrance, or restriction in an owner’s chain of title is binding on present and future owners. In part because of the costs required to search real estate titles back to the beginning of real estate recordkeeping, the North Carolina legislature in 1973 enacted the Marketable Title Act. Despite the MTA’s decades-old dictates, it had never been meaningfully interpreted by the courts.

To oversimplify, the MTA’s goal is to extinguish title restrictions and defects that are more than 30 years old, as long as the defect does not appear in an owner’s chain of title for the past 30 years.

The MTA does have some exceptions. One of these exceptions is “covenants applicable to a general or uniform scheme of development which restrict the property to residential use only, provided said covenants are otherwise enforceable.” Such restrictions are not extinguished by the MTA, even if they do not appear in an owner’s chain of title for more than 30 years.

C Investments argued that the only part of the 30+ year old exceptions that survive the MTA are those pertaining to residential use. The owners in Country Colony argued that if a declaration contains a residential use restriction, all covenants in the declaration survive.

The Court sided with C Investments, holding that the plain language of the statute compelled the Court to determine that the MTA extinguishes all covenants other than the residential use-only restriction. The Court emphasized that it was not the court’s position to divine what the legislature meant when the language in the statute is plain on its face.

Of particular concern for planned communities is whether the MTA, after Auger, extinguishes covenants recorded more than 30 years ago. That said, the subdivision at issue in the Auger case is not subject to the Planned Community Act (Chapter 47F), so this court opinion does not address the interplay between the Planned Community Act and the Marketable Title Act. The PCA has language that says, if it conflicts with other statutes, the PCA controls, and this part of the PCA may protect planned communities formed under the PCA from the record-cleaning mechanism of the Marketable Title Act. (As of the present, this issue has not been addressed by the North Carolina Courts.) In addition, if a community has covenants that were recorded less than 30 years ago, then the MTA has a provision allowing them to be renewed before the 30-year expiration date. Communities need to quickly take stock of their situation and decide if they need to act. Because the mechanics of applying the MTA to restrictions older than 30 years can vary, each situation must be evaluated independently.

There was a dissenting opinion in Auger, which means that the North Carolina Supreme Court can more easily consider the case if one of the parties appeals.

Used by permission of Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law

https://www.offitkurman.com/blog/2021/05/26/north-carolina-appellate-court-rules-that-restrictive-covenants-more-than-30-years-old-may-be-extinguished/

Older Condominiums Thrown A Curve Ball By North Carolina Court Of Appeals

The North Carolina Court of Appeals has issued a “published” opinion (meaning the case is binding authority for similar cases), effectively eliminating an important and effective tool for the collection of delinquent assessments for older condominiums: the “power of sale” foreclosure (“POSF”). Also known as “non-judicial foreclosure,” the POSF essentially utilizes the same legal process as mortgage foreclosures, where a neutral third-party trustee oversees the foreclosure from the commencement of the foreclosure through the sale of the property. This process is more efficient, less expensive, and faster than lawsuits, and unlike traditional lawsuits, the issues that can be raised are limited.

Condominiums formed on or after October 1, 1986, are governed by the North Carolina Condominium Act, Chapter 47C of the General Statutes. The Act details the procedures for POSFs, and has provisions that expressly make POSFs available as a remedy for condominiums formed prior to 1986 – which are otherwise governed by older law, the Unit Ownership Act (Chapter 47A), which is silent on the issue of POSFs.

The case, Executive Office Park of Durham Association, Inc. v Rock, involved a pre-1986 office condominium in Durham. The owner of several units fell behind in payment of his assessments (a fact which he disputed); the Association filed a Claim of Lien and later commenced a POSF. The Clerk of Court hearing the case granted the Association’s petition to move forward with a foreclosure sale. Mr. Rock appealed to the Superior Court, which upheld the foreclosure order. Mr. Rock appealed to the N.C. Court of Appeals.

The Court properly noted that the neither the 1982 Declaration for the condominium nor the statutory provisions governing pre-1986 condominiums (the Unit Ownership Act) provided for POSF. The only foreclosure procedure available to the Association, according to the court’s opinion, was a “judicial foreclosure,” which is a “traditional” lawsuit without the streamlined oversight of a trustee in a POSF. The Court reversed the prior rulings of the Clerk of Court and Superior Court, thereby voiding the right to pursue POSF for this and some similarly situated pre-1986 condominiums.

Inexplicably, the Court did not even mention in its very short (7-page) opinion, much less acknowledge, the unambiguous provisions in the Condominium Act that make POSF available to pre-1986 condominiums – despite the fact that the Association’s counsel specifically raised this argument in the appellate brief filed by the Association. For that reason, it is our opinion that this case was wrongly decided, and should be and will be reversed either by a requested rehearing of the case before the Court of Appeals, or on appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.

What does this case mean for pre-1986 condominiums? Unless and until this decision is reversed on a rehearing or appeal to the Superior Court, those associations will need to have their attorney review their declaration to determine if POSF is an available option. If not, the Association can (i) file a Claim of Lien and wait for the ruling to be reversed by the courts; (ii) pursue a judicial foreclosure, or (iii) pursue a small claims court lawsuit in the magistrate’s court.

The full court opinion can be found here: https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=2&pdf=40202

Used by permission of Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law

https://www.offitkurman.com/blog/2021/05/20/older-condominiums-thrown-a-curve-ball-by-north-carolina-court-of-appeals/

ANNOUNCING FOUR ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT GROUP (AMG) COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

May 22, 2021
Subject: ANNOUNCING FOUR ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT GROUP (AMG) COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Dear Community Members,

As an association management company, AMG understands the importance of community and the value of education.

Community is not just a set of buildings; it also includes closely held relationships. Throughout the last three decades, AMG has had the opportunity to work with dedicated community members, service providers and employees throughout the community whom we consider AMG family. Together, we have built strong communities where families and individuals can grow and thrive.

Scholarships to Honor Community Members

To help share our ideas of community to the next generation, AMG is proud to announce a set of scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each, beginning with the 2021/2022 school year. These scholarships honor the memory of four individuals who made a difference in the lives of others: 

• Billie Butler Scholarship – Billie joined our AMG Charlotte office in 1994. For more than 20 years, Billie used her nurturing skills to assist AMG staff members and provide exemplary customer service to AMG community members. She was a kind soul that was loved and respected by all.

• Ron Erickson Scholarship – Ron was a financial planning professional, a big-hearted mentor, and a true friend to many. Ron's dedication to public service and helping others was world class. He was a role model to all who knew him.

• Corey Flynt Scholarship – Corey was the son of AMG's President, Dacy Cavicchia. Corey tragically passed away in an automobile accident in 2017. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, was loved by many, and cared passionately for his family.

• Tommy Badgett Scholarship – Tommy passed away in January 2021 and began working for AMG in 1994 as a repairman. Over the years, his role expanded to include being a certified pool operator before retiring in 2015. He was not only a long-time employee of AMG but a kindhearted and one-of-a-kind friend. He is deeply missed, and his memory will be cherished forever.

You are eligible to apply for these annually awarded scholarships if you are:

• An employee of AMG or their child or grandchild.

• A resident of a community managed by AMG or their child or grandchild.

• A vendor of an AMG managed community or their child or grandchild.

These scholarships can be used towards any public college/university in North or South Carolina. (This includes vocational programs and community colleges. Nonpublic or non-Carolina institutions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, so others are still encouraged to apply.) The selection of the recipients will be based on a 300-word essay about the meaning of community.

Please visit our website: www.AMGworld.com/scholarships or email Stacey Speight at sspeight@amgworld.com for more information.

Sincerely,
May Gayle Mengert, AMS
Vice President

How to spot and correctly identify North Carolina’s six venomous snakes

Original Article Source:https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article250722774.html

Article by BY BROOKE CAIN

APRIL 16, 2021 06:18 PM, UPDATED APRIL 19, 2021 03:36 PM

Excerpt (non-edited)

“For many, the sight of any snake will cause the heart to race. But of the 38 species of snakes in North Carolina, the majority are nonvenomous and not aggressive toward people unless threatened.”

5 Ways For Your HOA to Prepare For Summer

With summer coming upon us, the time draws near for HOA communities to prepare for the season. Here are 5 tips that will make the transition into summer easier:

Prepare Amenities for Use

Prepare your outdoor amenities, so they are ready to be used by the residents in your community. This means ensuring grills have gas and are in working order, the decks are scrubbed/dry/safe for use, all the chairs/umbrellas in common areas are in good repair, etc. Doing all of this in the months leading up to the equipment and facilities being the most heavily used helps avoid headaches for the HOA from complaints that equipment was not ready for use.

Prepare to open the community pool.

Schedule an initial inspection with your pool vendor to ensure the facility passes city inspection if required. Cities can get busy the closer it is to summer, so be sure you are not delayed in scheduling an inspection. Also, be sure any repairs are made before the inspection. Barring city inspection, be sure to test emergency phone lines, test fences, and gates, update pool rules that are posted, update pool hours, and inspect any pool furniture.

Hire a professional landscaping company. 

It is a good idea to look for winter damage in your HOA community, but when it comes to the dos and don’ts of landscaping for the summer, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. This option gives you top experience and unrivaled knowledge of flowers, trees, grass, and climate. It is also a cost-efficient alternative to manual labor and a huge benefit to your residents and potential buyers and renters.

Making sure common areas are safe.

After a long winter, your community’s playgrounds should be inspected before summer takes full effect. Ensure all children’s playground equipment is free of potential hazards and replace bolts and other structural pieces as needed. Watch out for any other hazards such as glass or insect infestations to remove as well. Post children at play signs near playground amenities to prevent accidents along roads.

Plan community events for the summer

Summer months are the perfect time to plan events that encourage residents to get out of their houses and mingle with neighbors. Potlucks, outdoor movie screenings, community talent shows, and dances are all memorable bonding experiences. If you are a board member, use these opportunities to introduce yourselves to residents and answer questions. 

From the classic cookout to a pool party or a family fun day, the options of what type of event is appropriate are endless. When deciding what, exactly, is an appropriate event for your community association will largely be determined based on the lifestyle the people in your specific community choose to live. 

Tips For A Stress Free Thanksgiving

Make a Plan
Get out a notebook, your calendar, and a pen and brainstorm Thanksgiving. Start thinking about a menu, figure out when you need to go shopping and contemplate what prep can be done on what days.

Enlist Guests to Help By Bringing Something
Everyone loves to taste new items. This will give a variety and more food to go around. Another option is to delegate an entire course to a guest, like appetizers, drinks, or dessert.

Make Your Menu
Now that you know what the guests are bringing, you can begin planning your own shopping, prep, and cooking.

Stick With What You Know
If you're hosting Thanksgiving, you know your guests expect to see, like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pie. If you want a little variety here are a few sides that might be a hit.

    Brussels Sprouts Gratin
    Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Pomegranate
    Cranberry  Dip

Make a Grocery List
Organize your shopping list the way the store is laid out: produce, meat, dairy, canned goods, grains, baking, and snacks.

Get Your Serving Dishes Ready
Pull out all of the necessary serving dishes and utensils, too, and make sure they are ready to go.

Schedule Food Prep
Tasks like chopping vegetables and baking pies can be done a day or two ahead of time. Whatever you can do ahead without sacrificing quality, do it. It'll save you time, effort, and stress on meal day.

Tableware Inventory
Inventory place settings, linens, the room around the table, and chairs. Do you have enough for the number of guests you're expecting? Double-check your serving dishes too.

Beverage Station
Are you going to set up a separate area for soda, water, and wine? Since you'll be busy on Thanksgiving day, it might make sense to let your guests help themselves. It makes sense to set up a beverage station.

Plan Decorations
There's no need to go overboard. Plan your table decor, flowers, candles, and mini gourds.

Make a Thanksgiving Day Timeline
Include, at a minimum, the following elements: breakfast, appetizers, sit-down dinner, and dessert.
Chances are it will not be as perfect as you have planned. With a few early organization tips, you will feel more at ease and in control.

Happy Thanksgiving.

How To Enjoy The Holidays WIth Family During Social Distancing

Sadly, this year may inhibit family and friends from gathering in large gatherings due to the pandemic. Most states are wearing masks and still practicing social distancing. 

In the past, a family would drive across the country to get to a family member's home for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and celebrations.  This year may look slightly different. Will families be toasting their glass up to the computer screen on a Zoom or Skype virtual gathering? What will family holiday gatherings look like during a pandemic?

Here are a few ideas for families to feel close and enjoy the holidays during a pandemic.

1. Make the most of the traditions you can safely continue. You can still decorate your home inside and out for Halloween and carve pumpkins. You can bake pumpkin pies and desserts as you have done in the past. You can enjoy your favorite bags of candy and plan indoor activities with the kids to win candy. You can cook up your great-grandmother’s cornbread stuffing for Thanksgiving and use the Halloween candy to decorate a Gingerbread house.

2. You can gather the family to create homemade holiday cards and send sweet treats to family members by mail or shipping.

3. You can still safely decorate your home inside and out for Christmas. You can get a tree and celebrate as you would in holidays past. And you can definitely drive around town and look at everyone else’s holiday decorations. The best part is the traditional hot chocolate.

4. Keep a festive holiday spirit in your home.  Play music, read stories, watch holiday movies, and keep your home bustling with sights and sounds of the holiday season.

5. Make a list of all the things you can do safely and sit down as a family and make your holiday plans.

6. Go virtual. Post images on social media so other family members can see, comment, and share.

7. Take selfies and start a group text and share holiday moments through text messages.

8. Take a picture lighting the Menorah and cook your family's great Hanukkah foods

Association Management Group (AMG) Unveils College Scholarship Program

Association Management Group (AMG) Unveils College Scholarship Program

School May Be on Disrupted, But Planning for the Future Doesn’t Have to Be

Application Deadline May 15, 2020

Senior year in high school this year is unlike any in recent memory. Schools are closed. Students are participating in “distance-learning,” and missing all the fun things of their final year. Although students may be “stuck at home,” they are likely still thinking of the future and the opportunities of college.

“As an association management company, all of us at AMG recognize that the term community is not just a group of buildings. It is also closely held relationships,” says Paul Mengert, AMG president. “The importance of community and the value of education go hand in hand. To help share our ideas of community with the next generation, we are proud to announce the following new scholarships, which will be available for use in the 2020/2021 school year,” he adds.

In keeping with AMG’s emphasis on community, these three scholarships honor the memory of three individuals who demonstrated community by making a difference in the lives of others.  You can learn more about them at amgworld.com/scholarships.

To apply and learn more about AMG’s new scholarships, please visit https://www.amgworld.com/scholarship-application.

In addition to completing the application, applicants can select to apply for one or more the scholarships. The final component of the application is a 300-word essay on one of three topics about community.

Striking the Right Balance

When May Gayle and I founded AMG back in 1985, we did so to help clients preserve, protect and enhance their communities.

Over the last 35 years, we have been extremely blessed to build a team of professionals who have joined us in helping community Associations across North and South Carolina administer their responsibilities. Much of our work has centered around balancing of members’ rights.

This month, we find ourselves facing unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 outbreak, trying to help our clients balance member rights. On the one hand, we want to be sympathetic and helpful to individuals in the community. On the other, we have a duty to help our clients fulfill their fiduciary duties of looking out for the rights and interests of all members.

This is most evident in enforcing covenant provisions and violations. There is a natural reaction under the current crisis to delay taking any enforcement actions. However, doing so may interfere with the rights of other members who are perhaps being damaged or inconvenienced by a violation. 

Similarly, delaying fee collection from those who are experiencing financial hardship sounds like a reasonable thing to do. However, many Associations need essentially all member payments to meet the obligations of the community. If some members don’t pay, it is likely that other members may be forced to pay more. Again, this is a balancing of rights. 

So, what have we learned over the last 35 years? 

1.     Be kind - Even when we disagree, don’t be angry.

2.     Follow Governing Documents - Do what the documents state and avoid making decisions that are already made in the governing documents or by law. 

3.     Avoid delays - As strange as it sounds, not acting promptly seems to make things worse.  Yet, if a member needs additional time to address a covenant violation, our recommendation is and always has been to be reasonable and try to work things out.  Typically, an extra couple of weeks is not a big problem in the overall scheme of things, and as long as an agreement is in place to resolve the situation then the HOA has fulfilled its’ responsibility. 

During this crisis, similar to past challenges we have faced (such as hurricanes and 9/11), AMG recommends being nice, following the governing documents and laws and acting promptly. It is easier to address problems sooner rather than later. 

Please feel free to call on any member of the AMG team for assistance and know that our prayers for everyone are strong.

Paul K. Mengert, Chairman and CEO

Association Management Group, Inc.                 

The Coronavirus, Flu, and HOA/Condo Association Meetings

This is one of three articles on dealing with the Coronavirus and its impact. This blog looks at how associations (particularly boards) transact business outside of in-person meetings. See also Coronavirus: What Should Homeowner and Condominium Associations Do? and “Let’s Have Our Meeting or Convention Online!”

Read the full story here: http://lawfirmcarolinas.com/blog/the-coronavirus-flu-and-hoa-condo-association-meetings/

Security Cameras

If you're considering installing security cameras in your HOA or condo association,. CAI has the tips to get you started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Wpxx73ctwvs&feature=emb_logo

Preparing Your Home for the Colder Months

Now that the warm summer months are behind us, it’s time to prepare for winter. Regardless of whether you expect to see sub-zero temperatures this season or you live in one of the warmer climates, preparing your home for colder weather can save you money and hassle this winter.

So, before you dig out your fall sweaters, take a weekend and prepare your home for the cold weather to come.

Save Energy- Fall is a great time to seal drafts in the home which can suck energy out. Check around doors and windows and replace worn weather stripping and caulking.

If you use your fireplace for warmth during winter, this is the right time to have the chimney cleaned and checked for safety. Arrange a furnace tune up complete with replacing the filter and vacuuming the vents to make sure you are warming your home efficiently.

Outdoor Tasks - Before the chill turns to freezing, head to the yard to winterize the exterior of your home.

Check gutters for clogged leaves and other debris and examine the roof and siding for any repairs which could create leaks or drafts in the cold.

If the gardening season is at its end, drain water from outdoor faucets and garden hoses. Make sure the sprinkler system is off and reinforce any exposed pipes which could burst with the cold.

Home Window Door Test- Check doors and windows for air leaks. Seal around windows and doors to keep warm air in and cold air out.

Fall is here. Along with the smell of baking and falling leaves, you can ensure your home is ready for winter by taking a few steps now to prepare. Save energy and the hassle of an unexpected repair by getting some routine maintenance done before the cold months come.

3 Tips for Effective communication with your HOA members

It is essential for the HOA board to have good communication skills when working as a governing board. If the board does not communicate well from within, they won’t effectively communicate with the residents in the community.

A lack of communication in any area can cause problems within a community. The board should make every effort to work together professionally and work for the good of the community.

There are many creative ways an HOA board can communicate and build a positive relationship with the members.

Let’s take a look at 3 tips for effective communication with your HOA members.

1. Newsletters

   Newsletters are a convenient way to get information to a large group. In this digital age many associations use a digital newsletter for communications. There are some associations that mail newsletters via USPS.

   The HOA board should include events, security information, updates on policies or regulations, reminders, notices of community maintenance dates or any information that would affect the residents or community.

   Newsletters can be sent quarterly if there is not enough information for a monthly publication.

2. EMAIL

   Email communication is very efficient and fast. It is very simple to get a message to the masses with one click. There are over 3.9 billion email users worldwide. This year, the number of email users reached the 3.9 billion mark, which means that over 50% of the world's population is now using email.

   When new members or residents move into the community and complete paperwork their email address is one of the vital pieces of information collected. You can be sure every member has an email address.

3. WEBSITE

   If your HOA has a website this can be a great tool for effective communication. All members will know your website and can visit it for conducting all business and communication with the office.

   A good website should host all news and community updates, maintenance updates and a place to request maintenance. The Association website should also have a place for members to pay dues, submit questions or concerns, download forms, review meeting minutes and see newsletter archives. A great association website is a primary tool when running a smooth HOA.

Ways Your HOA Prepares For the Summer

Summer is a very busy time of year. There is a of home maintenance that is routinely required by both the HOA and residents. While homeowners are busy mowing, mulching, painting their homes and cleaning the garage, your HOA is busy, too.

Behind the scenes here are 5 things your HOA is doing to keep the community amenities running smoothly for your enjoyment.

1. Community Pool: Your HOA board or community association manager will have the swimming pool inspected, cleaned and serviced to ensure the pool is cleaned and safely maintained for the summer swimming season.

Loose debris, such as leaves, dirt, wrappers, plastic and more will find its way into your swimming pool. Though this debris floats on the surface for a while, it eventually breaks down and sinks to the bottom of your pool. This, in turn, can lead to an algae build-up and stain the plastering of your pool. This is why regular skimming during the summer months is a must.

Chemical levels are arguably one of the most important facets of pool maintenance. Improperly balanced water looks murky, irritates skin and eyes, and can cause your pool to become a breeding ground for bacteria. As a general rule-of-thumb, a swimming pool’s chemistry must be checked twice a week, most especially during the summer.

2. Landscaping: There will be a lot of cleanup going on after the effects of winter on the outdoor community lawn area. Your HOA will call the landscape service and have the lawn mowed and ready for summer. Your association management may need to replant fresh plants and lay a fresh layer of mulch in community landscaped areas.

There will be times throughout the day that are useless when it comes to watering the community lawn because the water will evaporate before it reaches the roots. The best time to water is in the early morning, while temperatures are lower and plants can make better use of the hydration— your roots will thank you. Additionally, during the hotter parts of the day, many plants go dormant. This means that water consumption is neither adequate nor efficient.

In addition, never allow weeds to grow, especially if you're trying to get a garden underway. Dandelions, for example, though enjoyed thoroughly by children, can be invasive and problematic, detracting overall appeal from the yard. Consider spraying pre-emergent herbicide within all garden beds to save time and trouble.

3. Update contracts with vendor: If your HOA and community have any contracts with outside companies, be sure to ensure that those contracts are up-to-date before the spring/summer begins and the services are utilized the most.

4. Prepare Amenities For Use: Your HOA will prepare communities outdoor amenities for summer use. This means ensuring playground areas, picnic areas and community leisure activity areas are safe and ready for use. Making sure grills have gas and are in working order.

One of the most requested amenities for HOAS is a gym. Maintaining this amenity is important, as it’s a hot spot for germs. According to Fitness Magazine, free weights (dumbbells, weight plates, kettlebells), weight machines, and exercise balls are the biggest culprits of cold bugs and viruses. Other germy areas include yoga/exercise mats, gym towels, water bottles, and cardio machines (treadmills, elliptical machines, spinning bikes).

The HOA community clubhouse is often rentable for holiday parties and other get-togethers. Restock bathroom paper towels and toilet paper. Clean bathroom mirrors, all windows, and glass doors with glass cleaner. Wipe down sinks, faucets, tables, doorknobs, and door handles daily with disinfectant. Sweep debris from entryway. Vacuum carpet or sweep hardwood floors. Report broken furniture to the homeowners association for replacement or repair. Organize storage room. Double-check the first aid kit and fire extinguisher for expiration dates, and replace as necessary.

5. Contact the members: It's a great time for the HOA to send a summer notice or email about safety reminders and summer news.