HOA - Last Blast

Many of you know that I have served as president of an HOA for the past year. It has been quite a learning experience and a huge headache. Oddly enough I was looking forward to tonight's meeting because I was announcing my resignation. Unfortunately there were not enough homeowners present to make a quorum, which is needed to hold an official meeting. So our meeting was "unofficial". Despite the fact that we could not vote as an HOA, all three of us board members RESIGNED. It's a long story that I don't want to bore you with but hopefully it really has come to an end. It just is a little tricky because with no board does the HOA go back to the developer (who still retains a 75% voting right - so our votes essentially don't really matter because he can override anything we want)? Hopefully these questions get cleared up tomorrow.

I'm almost done with a year long headache! Just a few loose ends. Yeah! Let's have a party- your house or mine?

Frustrated

You can just skip this message if you don't want to listen to me vent. I am recording this more for me so when I read through my 2008 blog book (I planned on getting this year's posts published into a book) - I will remember this experience in the HOA. Just to keep it short - the directors of the HOA, especially me, are being bullied by the developer who was the previous person running this HOA before it was turned over to the homeowners. He had his attorney draft a three page document outlining everything we are currently doing wrong. There is a threat of legal action if we proceed with building the swimming pool among other things that they pointed out. The CC&R's state that he has a 75% vote until the last lot is sold- which could veto anything that we try to pass if he doesn't agree. I have totally disregarded this because I believed that the lots were considered sold - but it is so loosely written and undefined that it could be a potential legal trap. It is totally maddening after all the work I and the others have done to try and improve this neighborhood. It came with many problems and we are addressing them one by one. My role as a president has definitely shown me some of my weaknesses along with some of my strengths. Yes, there are a few situations where I wish I could have shown more self-control/discipline when I have been upset. It has weighed heavily on my mind as I have really tried to have every one's best interests in mind. I feel like I am working a job with no pay, no gratitude - but actually more problems. I know these things will take time to work through - (but am I willing to continue?) - especially as it does affect my overall happiness. Paul is able to leave work problems at work -that is definitely something that I need to do. I don't want any sympathy -I'm just venting to myself! This threatening letter is going to be directly addressed as we plan to copy and distribute it to all the homeowners before we have a big HOA meeting to discuss the future role of the HOA, especially if we can't make decisions of our own. This will be sure to create an uproar with the neighborhood. Interesting, huh?