E-Newsletters
Talk to Me
Today, there are more ways to communicate than one cares to think about. If we used one of every type of communication tools available, we could probably sit here all day just doing that. I'm talking about specific communication, the kind of communication that actually conveys useful...
The Future... Coming to Your Community?
Ok, I have to admit it, I love science fiction. But this is real and it may be coming to your community. One or more of your neighbors may bring home an electric car in the not too distant future. It's good for the planet right? It saves gas, making us less dependent...
What are Reserves? And Why Do We Need Them?
No matter what type of community you live in, whether it is a small homeowners association, a townhome community, a condominium or a co-op, there are probably components of your common area that will require more than maintenance at some point. These components may include entry monuments,...
Homeowner Satisfaction
In the best of times, you as Board members and we as community professionals, tend to see and hear fewer complaints about what the Association is doing and how it is being done. In difficult times, the complaints sometimes reach a crescendo with owners wanting to make sure their hard earned...
Association Board Of Directors: How Am I Responsible?
We received an inquiry recently from a newly elected board member as to the duties and responsibilities of a board member and an officer of the Association. It is excellent timing as many associations are starting out the New Year with newly elected members serving as the board and officers....
Sentry Gave Families Something to Smile About This Holiday
This past holiday season marked Sentry Management's fifth anniversary of our Smiles (Sentry Management Inc. lifting everyone's spirits) program. This program was created to help families living in Sentry managed communities that have either sick or terminally ill children or in financial...
Sentry’s Free Association Website Offers View of Homeowner’s Account
We'd like to extend a Welcome to new Board Members who have come on board in the last few months as a result of elections in your communities. This year, Sentry has made some great improvements in making more information available more easily to more people than ever before. Throughout...
What is a Board Member's Fiduciary Responsibility and What Does it Mean?
At this time of year, many Boards are reforming through elections. You may think that you are simply fulfilling a community service by volunteering to be on the Board, but it is much more than that. You have now taken on a role involving a fiduciary relationship with the members of the...
Insurance Q & A
Insurance is always a difficult and timely topic. We have covered a number of different types of insurance that the association should have and why they should have them. Because most of us are not experts in the field, we have received many questions from owners and board members alike...
Pets or Service Animals?
Last week I attended a law seminar hosted by a very prestigious university's law school. One of the areas of discussion was recent case law and arbitration cases with final orders. It was amazing to me to find that a large percentage of the cases had to do with pets, especially dogs, being retained...
