One of the advantages of HOA living is the ability to join forces to achieve goals that individuals by themselves could not. HOAs can take advantage of volume discount opportunities like Cable TV bulk rate contracts that can save individuals up to 50% of what they’re already paying. And sharing the cost of a pool makes it affordable to members who otherwise could not. But there are many more untapped possibilities waiting to be discovered.

Take this real life example:

McNary Estates Homeowners of Keizer Oregon, a master planned community of 600 homes with a number of sub-associations, has run a community garage sale for the last four years. While many HOAs prohibit garage sales entirely, McNary has found a way to make them happen in a way that produces many benefits. Marvel at what they’ve done:

A steering committee organizes the event by choosing a date, gathering a list of homeowners that want to host a garage sale, recruiting Block Captains and other volunteers to assist. Each garage sale host pays a nominal fee for advertising that is run in both the McNary and Keizer newspapers starting several months in advance. McNary requires that each attendee must present either two cans of food or $2 to get in. Volunteers collect the donations at the gate and provide each car with a map of the community showing where the garage sales are. This year, in addition to McNary volunteers, the Keizer High School Golf Team and a local Church Youth Group assisted.

This year, over one thousand attendees lined up to take advantage of this Mother of All Garage Sales. Volunteers in golf carts scurried around directing traffic. The event was not without its glitches and naysayers, but besides ninety residents making some handy cash, 2914 pounds of canned food and $1345 was donated to the Keizer Food Bank, the biggest single donation ever. The Food Bank, Keizer newspaper and the Mayor loudly and publicly applauded McNary’s effort.

Talk about building the HOA's pride! Last year, a home was even sold because of this event when it attracted home buyers that might have otherwise overlooked it. The Sale provided a mechanism to promote dozens of McNary volunteers and hundreds of residents got to interact in a positive and profitable way. What a winner!

But it doesn’t end there. McNary Estates also has the Mother of All Newsletters. What is normally a one or two page quarterly for most HOAs for McNary is an anxiously awaited monthly of over thirty pages, all produced by volunteers. It includes Letters to the Editor, personal stories and travel experiences, upcoming events, financial and health advice and other special features. But where the newsletter excels is in advertising. There are dozens of paid advertisers. (The August 2002 edition had sixty seven). Some are integrated into the newsletter copy and others as inserts. All advertisers have a vested interest in doing business with McNary residents. Besides dozens of home improvement companies, there are real estate agents, restaurants, insurance agents, car repair, auto dealers and travel consultants. Even the local politicians campaign there. The advertising rates are very reasonable but all told, the revenue pays for all production costs and them some.

One of the most significant HOA building aspects of the McNary newsletter is that it makes a point of honoring volunteers. Articles profile volunteers and include personal background, pictures and, of course, the reason for recognition. This kind of recognition goes light years toward recruiting other volunteers. The proof of that recruitment success is plainly seen in the numerous folks that want to serve.

The McNary experience demonstrates that creativity and a can-do attitude can bring about memorable results. This is the kind of progressive thinking that binds neighbors together and produces “HOA-ability”.

For more on HOA Teamwork, see www.Regenesis.net.

Published: November 13, 2002

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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 .