With the rise in popularity of Airbnb, and the controversy surrounding it, Greensboro’s city council has approved an ordinance that lays out guidelines for short-term rentals. Do you agree with the guidelines put into place? How do you feel about Airbnb?
June officially ushers in the season of summer. Children are out of school, summer vacations are planned, and everyone loves summer activities. In an HOA community, planning summer activities for residents is a great way to bring people out to meet each other and have fun. If they enjoy the activities, you may even get a few volunteers for your HOA.
Here are a few summer holidays an HOA can celebrate in the community.
Father’s Day
Every year, Father’s Day is celebrated by families all around the world who plan activities to celebrate the special men in their lives. Father’s Day 2023 will occur on Sunday, June 18. Your community can plan a Father’s Day brunch, picnic, or other celebrations to honor Dads.
Summer Solstice
This year, the June solstice occurs on Wednesday, June 21, marking the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice is celebrated by many cultures around the world.
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. If your pool is not open, plan a pool opening party, a summer kick-off barbecue with games that the whole family can enjoy. Your HOA board should plan for these activities and make sure the lawn and maintenance upkeep are done, the pool is clean and ready to open, the pool restrooms are all prepared for guests, and any other needed maintenance routines should be completed.
Flag Day
Both President Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as National Flag Day. But it wasn't until August 3, 1949, that Congress approved the national observance, and President Harry Truman signed it into law.
Flag Day does not necessarily require an activity; however, your community can be patriotic and recognize this day. Your HOA could have small flags for community members to pick up to display on flag day.
Independence Day
The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades, and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
July 4th is a big holiday and is a great time for your HOA to plan an activity to bring all community members out. Your board will need to plan this early for it to be successful.
Some ideas are a barbecue, a picnic, and swimming. Most families visit local fireworks displays in their city. If your city has a large event, then hosting a fireworks display may not be a good idea. Make sure to be prior to July 4th. All rules and regulations regarding fireworks are communicated to members.
Labor Day
The Labor Day holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America's strength, prosperity, and well-being.
Labor Day unofficially ends the summer season. Again, a Labor Day picnic would be a great idea. If it is not within your HOA budget to host an event like this, members could be asked to bring a picnic basket for their own family or bring a cover dish to share. Having members provide food will help cut the cost of the event for your association.
Providing regular activities in your HOA will keep residents interested and create a sense of community. The key to successful events is to plan early and promote the events to the community.
Studies show that over 50% of managers are currently experiencing burnout, a problem that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Front-line managers, in particular, are feeling the strain of leading their teams through challenging times, resulting in exhaustion, cynicism, and a perceived lack of professional achievement. As a manager of managers, it is essential to address this issue.
One effective approach is to connect their work to a greater sense of purpose. Encourage managers to reflect on their values and motivators and find ways to align their work with them. This can give them a renewed sense of purpose and drive.
Another strategy is to focus on learning and development. Provide managers with new, exciting challenges that align with their skills and interests, and have open conversations about the skills and resources needed to achieve their goals. Creating transparent career paths can also help alleviate feelings of burnout.
Flexible work arrangements can also be beneficial. Empowering managers to have more control over their schedules can help reduce feelings of exhaustion and lack of autonomy.
Finally, it is crucial to create a psychologically safe environment where managers can speak up about their burnout and feel comfortable seeking self-care, if needed. Encourage them to take any steps that can help them recover.
Managing burnout requires effort and commitment. By providing a sense of purpose, focusing on learning and development, enacting flexible work arrangements, and creating a psychologically safe environment, managers can be better supported and equipped to find success in their jobs and working with clients and colleagues.
Press Release From The from the Piedmont Triad International Airport
For Immediate Release Contact: Sherry Sechrest
May 23, 2023 Piedmont Triad Airport Authority
336-665-5602 SechrestS@gsoair.org
United Airlines to start non-stop service to Denver from PTI
Piedmont Triad – United Airlines today announced it will begin daily non-stop service from the Piedmont Triad International Airport to Denver, Colorado beginning September 29, 2023.
United will be the only carrier to fly nonstop to Denver from Piedmont Triat International Airport and will operate on an Embraer 175 aircraft.
“With the launch of the United Denver nonstop service, United Airlines is providing not only nonstop service to a new destination but also an important new gateway to other points in the west, and international flights to Asia”, said Kevin Baker, Executive Director, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
PTI Board Chairman Paul Mengert added, 'We are excited to announce the addition of nonstop service from PTI to Denver, which will connect our community to over 150 destinations this summer.’ As Chairman of the Airport Authority, I am frequently asked when we will get more flights, and I am pleased to say that this new United Airlines service is a great step in the right direction. I encourage the community to support this new United Airlines service and help us continue to grow our offerings at PTI."
The addition is a result of United’s ambitious United Next plan and part of a larger United announcement of 35 new flights, a dozen new gates and three new clubs in Denver.
“Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and as the Mile High City’s most flown airline, it’s essential that we maintain the most modern infrastructure and fleet to support our local employees and customers and deliver a great experience,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Our expansion in Denver will further enable us to connect our customers to destinations across the globe and revitalize our presence at the airport with modern, customer friendly offerings.”
Flights will operate daily and follow the initial schedule below but may fluctuate month to month:
DEN to PTI: Departs DEN at 5:30 p.m. and arrives at PTI at 10:47 p.m.
PTI to DEN Departs PTI at 8:30 a.m. and arrives at DEN at 10:26 a.m.
Tickets are available for purchase now at https://www.united.com/en/us
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Community associations, including condominium and homeowner associations, should prioritize Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance coverage, according to Paul Mengert, President of Association Management Group (AMG). AMG is one of the leading community association management companies in the Carolinas.
“Some mature associations have full insurance programs that do not include D&O insurance coverage,” said Mengert. “This omission is an unacceptable risk. Board members should not be exposed to personal liability for decisions made in a volunteer role.” Mengert also noted that D&O insurance policies are not created equal, and community associations should carefully review what is covered and what is not covered in certain policies.
Mengert pointed out that one of the most common types of claims (lawsuits) filed against community associations is discrimination-related claims / suits. Therefore, he said, community associations should pay particular attention to discrimination coverages in D&O policies.
The Community Associations Institute (CAI) has highlighted the increasing number of lawsuits against community associations in recent years. Mengert echoed CAI's concerns, stating that without D&O insurance coverage, board members may face personal liabilities, leading to financial ruin. This absence of insurance coverage may also have a chilling effect on volunteerism in community associations, leading to decisions that are not in the best interest of the community.
Mengert urged community association leaders to consult their licensed insurance advisors to make sure they have D&O and that the coverage meets their needs.
Paul K. Mengert, CEO
Association Management Group, Inc.
CEO of Association Management Group Carolinas Challenges Assertion on Fed Will Cover All Deposits
Greensboro, NC — In response to an economist making statements at a recent NC-CAI conference that the Federal Reserve has now effectively agreed to cover all deposits, Paul Mengert, the CEO of Association Management Group Carolinas, disagrees. Mengert states, “Claims that the Federal Reserve would be required to cover all deposits are possible but very questionable.” He reminds everyone of the $250,000 limit that remains in place. Mengert argues that even though the current political climate may support the Fed covering all deposits, unwritten policies can change suddenly, and political realities may vary based on different situations.
Market trends seem to support Mengert's opinion. Since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, the gap between interest rates on bonds issued by money center banks and large regional banks has significantly widened. The gap was only about 15 basis points (bps) before the failure, but it has now increased to approximately 135 bps.
Investors are demanding higher interest rates from smaller banks. Mengert says, “This is due to concerns that the government may allow smaller banks to fail, resulting in a loss of investment.”
Mengert advises those responsible for investments in community associations to follow their governing documents and take all reasonable actions to protect deposits.
It is evident that Mengert's experience and knowledge, including his observations related to the banking industry, is a credible perspective on the matter. While those who assert all deposits will be covered may sound plausible to some, Mengert's skepticism is a reminder that we should be careful about accepting claims that seem too good to be true without doing proper research.
In the end, Mengert's advice to follow community governing documents and protect owner deposits is essential. Community associations should be vigilant in their investments and ensure that they are following best practices to safeguard the interests of their members.
Paul K. Mengert, CEO
Association Management Group, Inc.
(ROCK HILL, SC) Volunteers from Association Management Group (AMG), one of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowner association managers representing more than 30,000 property owners, constructed a custom backyard playset on May 6 for four-year-old Antonio Culp of Rock Hill, SC, a pediatric cancer patient in treatment for ependymoma, a tumor that starts in the brain or spine. Culp is the recipient of the free playset thanks to AMG and Roc Solid Foundation (RSF), a Virginia-based nonprofit that works with hospitals, organizations, and volunteers to Play It Forward and build hope for children and families fighting pediatric cancer. The team of 20 AMG staff worked from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with tools, instruction, and guidance from an RSF project leader to create the playscape, which featured swings, a tree house, a slide, and a climbing area. “I just want to thank all of you for everything,” said Printiss Crosby, Antonio’s mother. “Antonio’s always wanted a swing set, so it’s just a blessing that you came out and did this for him. Even though he’s battling this (cancer), he’s just a happy boy. I’m amazed.”
It takes a team effort to restore hope to young cancer patients, according to Roc Solid Foundation founder and chief play officer Eric Newman. “We are so grateful for the support of groups like AMG who partner with us to bring play to kids fighting cancer. We truly believe that play defeats cancer, because cancer will be the last thing on this family’s mind when they see their playset. In that moment, play has won.”
It was a warm May day of lifting and laughter, hammers and hugs, screwdrivers and smiles. But the best part was the expression on Antonio’s face when he saw his new playscape, complete with signed best wishes from each member of the AMG construction team, said Paul Mengert, AMG founder and CEO. “In our industry of managing community homeowner and condominium associations, helping one’s neighbor–‘walking each other home’–is an important and uplifting responsibility. It’s satisfying and meaningful to help restore fun and play to the life of Antonio, a little boy going through cancer. We hope it brings him happiness, joy, and God’s blessing.” AMG President Dacy Cavicchia agreed. “Caring for our community is a key core value for us. We have a decades-old culture of giving back to the greater Charlotte area, both financially and as volunteers. According to Roc Solid foundation, sixteen thousand US children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Of course, therapy is important, but so is experiencing a happy, normal life. It was inspiring to spend the day creating a wonderful playspace this family can enjoy for years to come.”
For details on Roc Solid Foundation or to learn how you can Play It Forward for pediatric cancer patients, visit rocsolidfoundation.org.
To learn about AMG, visit amgworld.com.
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 in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC, 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 which can be tailored to individual community needs. Association Management Group, 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 www.amgworld.com.
When a Key Colony HOA thought they were making a payment to their master association after receiving emailed instructions from them, they were surprised to find that they had been scammed of over 100k. Read more to find out how they solved this issue.
AMG has volunteered to construct a custom backyard playset for four-year-old Antonio Culp, a pediatric cancer patient in treatment for ependymoma, a tumor that starts in the brain or spine. Antonio loves tacos, the Buffalo Bills NFL team, Just Wanna Rock, basketball, and his five older siblings. He is the recipient of this free playset thanks to Roc Solid Foundation, a Virginia-based nonprofit that works with organizations and volunteers like AMG to Play It Forward and build hope for children and families fighting pediatric cancer.
It’s hard transitioning from child to pediatric cancer patient. The comforting everyday routine of school, play, and family activities are replaced with medical appointments, treatments, fatigue, and worry. Roc Solid Foundation is dedicated to returning a little bit of normal life to kids facing cancer by providing custom backyard playscapes. But they can’t do it without good neighbors willing to volunteer in the building process.
AMG specializes in supporting safe and happy neighborhoods. In the business of managing communities, helping one’s neighbor is an important responsibility. With a decades-old culture of giving back to the greater Charlotte community–both with money and volunteer hours–AMG is hosting a team-building day of as many as 25 employees at the Culp home to assemble Antonio’s free playset, which will include a tree/playhouse, swing, slide, climbing structure, and more.
For details on Roc Solid Foundation, visit rocsolidfoundation.org.
To learn about AMG, visit amgworld.com.
As a board member, what do you know about reducing legal risk? When should a board or an individual member seek legal counsel? As a board member, do you know what your scope of authority is? When does appropriate, ‘doing my board member duty’ become inappropriate, unwise, ‘practicing law’? These are all great questions that you can find out the answers to – tune in today!
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Monthly financial reports – friend or foe? Do the words balance sheet, income, profit and loss statement, change in fund balances, disbursements, and delinquencies make your head spin? Do you know what to look for on a financial statement? Do you know how often to review these statements? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this podcast is for you! Listen to learn more.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Vendor contracts - are you prepared or not? What should a community look for when first contracting with a new vendor? What should a community look for when renewing a vendor contract? Is there common language used in contracts? Who is the best person to seek advice from when starting a new endeavor in your community? Listen to find out the answers to these questions and more.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Solar panels – to be or not to be? As a resident wanting to install solar panels, do you know the guidelines and procedures of your community? As a board member, do you know and understand the guidelines of your association, and even your state? Understanding the rules and processes of solar panels can be a daunting endeavor. Listen today to find out how to navigate this area and help protect all parties that are involved.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
What are some ways to increase homeowner satisfaction without breaking the HOA budget? What small and subtle changes can have a high impact in a community? What are some changes that won’t break the bank? How can a community best showcase its beauty to prospective home buyers? If you are interested in learning more about this topic or want answers to these questions, this podcast is for you.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
How much do you and your Board know about Fair Housing Act issues involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation? How do you approach these issues? And more importantly, how do you overcome these issues? What steps can be taken to protect the HOA Board members and community members alike? Listen to find out the answers to these questions and more.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Collections – a very important topic for Homeowners’ Associations. Collections - a topic that can be tricky when dealing with neighbors and friends. What is the correct process? How do you avoid uncomfortable situations and possible lawsuits? Listen today to find out more about the correct way to handle collections in your Homeowners Association.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Calling all homeowners, board members, and community managers! Have you ever had to deal with an angry homeowner? Have you ever had to diffuse a situation or ‘talk someone down’? What are the important things to remember in these situations? Listen today to find out the best way to handle a frustrated or angry person.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
Do community associations need cyber security or cyber security insurance? What types of insurance are available and what types are needed? Do you know who is held accountable if there is a cyber information breach? What steps need to be taken and who needs to be called if there is such a breach? Listen to find out the answer to these questions and more on cyber security.
To view our AMG Community Leaders Material from this episode visit hoacommunityleaders.com.
To answer the question: Are HOAs worth it? The staff at Todays Homeowner researched geographical trends in the U.S for cost, home value, and popularity by state. Do you believe homeowners association are necessary?
Two pending NC bills regarding HOA’s are concerning associations. These two bills enforce rules on collection action for late payments, and landlord-tenant issues. Read more and let us know what you think about these pending bills.
At Association Management Group (AMG), customer satisfaction is our #1 priority. Our professional community association management company is dedicated to providing superior service and cutting-edge solutions, supporting condominiums and homeowners association (HOA) communities with a broad range of services that can be tailored to individual community needs.
We’ve got the Carolinas covered. With physical offices in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC
Greensboro
614 West Friendly Ave
Greensboro, NC 27401
Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill
2530 Meridian Pkwy Suite 301
Durham, NC 27713
Charlotte
301 McCullough Dr Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28262
Winston - Salem
250 W 1st St Suite 144
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Charlotte Metro
2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd Suite 202
Charlotte, NC 28273
Aiken Metro
640 Old Airport Rd
Aiken, SC 29801
Greenville - Spartanburg
3104 Grandview Dr
Simpsonville, SC 29680
Columbia Metro
1320 Main St Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
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North Carolina community association members may request mediation under NCGS §7A-38.3F. to try to resolve a dispute with their association. Community members may contact the community’s manager or attorney for further details.
