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A problem. Two BMs have their apts for sale and won't be running for reelection. One BM who's moving in July and subletting his apt won't run, and another BM just had a 3rd child and is too busy to stay on the board.
That leaves one BM - me. We talked to other shareholders but they can't or don't want to be on the board. We have 60 shareholders and naturally there are some we wouldn't want on the board or who are far from qualified.
Our annual meeting is in June. What do we do if we can't find more board candidates? Our coop attorney is a designated ass't secretary but we can't function with just me and him.
Anonymous - I appreciate your advice on how to get more help when my 4 fellow BMs leave the board in June and I'm the only BM left. Committees -no. Everyone has an excuse - busy with career, social life, family...not interested...don't know a thing about running a coop and don't want to. We couldn't get SHs to be on committees if we paid them!
A few times, someone propped the front door open for a move/delivery, etc. and didn't close it when done. I've watched our lobby on our security video. I can't tell you how many residents go in or out and don't even think about closing the door as a security measure. Our super keeps the bldg very clean, but if a rag was on the elevator floor, it could be there for weeks. No one would pick it up.
We happen to have a very communicative board, good mgmt, very few complaints from residents, but getting cooperation when it comes to helping out is like trying to climb a mountain backwards.
Also, we can't afford to pay outsiders to do work (other than legal, accounting, etc.) The kind of help we need is what BMs should be doing - liaison with mgmt, writng flyers/notices, SH relations. I can't even get a board sec'y to type board meeting minutes. The last one kept forgetting to do it. The current one writes them like editorials.
I talked to a few SHs last week who may consider running for the board. But they're all new to the bldg and new to the coop concept. None of them could be board president yet. I'd be on the board but I didn't want to be president again. There would be a long learning curve, but warm willing bodies would be better than any alternatives.
Any more ideas would be weelcome.
If people are willing and they have some semblance of corporate experience, It's all a matter of training. For the secretary with editorial type minutes, show him/her the style you expect to see minute and also instruct why it's better to be terse and without much detail rather than editorializing.
Finally, if you have to be a Pres. for one more year until the new blood get the gist of the position, then do it. Also, encourage members to attend courses provided by CNYC so that they know what it is expected of them. Finally, if the courses are too costly, then have prior board members provide the training.
AdC
If shareholders are in good standing and they wish to run, don't eliminate them because you think they are far from qualified. Sometimes, you need to accept the given and show that you have a representative Board.
As you well know, your attorney is a designated assistant secretary for the purpose of signing documents (i.e., stock certificates if he/she is the transfer agent and for purposes of legal actions). The attorney is not a Board member and should never be a board member, just as you will not have the manager as your board member.
AdC
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I feel for you, as an overworked president who has done other board members' work. What I have done, and what you can do, is to create shareholder committees. Identify work that should really be done by board members, and delegate it to committee members -- such as finance, for double checking that the management company has actually paid the coop's bills. From these committees, you can recruit the next board members. They will naturally get interested in building issues by being on the committee. If people do not even want to be on committees, identify how much it will cost to pay outside professionals to do this work, circulate a memo, and say that if they do not want their maintenance to go up then they will volunteer for these committees. Remind people that the coop does not run by itself. And do not let yourself be stuck doing all the work because everyone else refuses to do it. They have gotten away with this so far because they know you will do it. Scope out for them how much it will cost them to supply professionals to do the additional work that you are no longer willing or able to do, and I think you will get volunteers, both for committees and for being on the board. Good luck!
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