HOLIDAY TIPPING, P.2

"It's really inappropriate," says one peeved shareholder. "Everyone has to walk by it all day and feel pressured to drop an envelope in with everyone watching."

But if that's naughty, here's nice: At a 15-unit Brooklyn condo, board president Michele Israel initiated a holiday collection for the building's part-time porter.

"Prior to that, he'd just been getting a candy basket, so he was really surprised and grateful," she says. Israel made the contributions voluntary but set the suggested amount at $50. "I know a lot of boards don't feel comfortable asking for a certain amount, but in our case, it really worked out nicely since it took away the uncertainty," she says. How does she knows?

Because almost every shareholder contributed at least that or more! Merrrrrry Christmas!

From the December 2011 issue of Habitat magazine. For print-magazine articles back to 2002, join our Archive >>