The benefits to a homeowner association of having a well thought out website are many. They include the ability of the members to talk with each other via E-mail. The members can view the most current version of the governing documents and the rules and download any section of them whenever they need them, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No more excuses for not knowing the rules. Members can view the status of their accounts. Board actions can be posted along with the dates, times and locations of meetings.

Maintenance and information requests can all be done online. The associations' newsletters could be sent to each member via E-mail and posted online drastically reducing the copying, postage and handling costs. This aspect alone will pay the maintenance cost of the website development and maintenance.

The association can post documents relating to litigation the association may be involved with. And soon, online transmission of the association meetings will be possible, just like the larger cities have for their city council meetings. Assessment payments can be made over the Internet with secure credit card or checks.

A new Internet company, iBallot.Com, provides an efficient method for Internet voting and polling that increases member participation absent from physical meetings. Issues and election candidates can be posted on the website along with graphs, pictures, points and counterpoints. Issues can be easily polled to assist the board with decision making. Within a few short years, popularity of Internet voting will doubtless surpass voting "at the poll". Why set up special polling stations when a better way is at hand?

Don’t shy away from these new technologies. Become web-wise. Like the horseless carriage, this is absolutely a better way to travel. It will bring your community closer together, improve communication and make every member a better neighbor and promote harmony.

For more on this subject, see www.regenesis.net.

Thanks for Scott Flood of iBallot.com

Published: May 31, 2000

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .