Board Basics: The Roles of HOA Board Members

Evenly distributing responsibility is one of the most important principles in strategic leadership. Maybe you’ve served on a board for years and have noticed that, recently, board meetings are uncharacteristically inefficient. Or, maybe you’re a brand-new board member, and you’re wondering what, exactly, your new job entails.

The purpose of today’s article is to shed light on board member roles. We’ll go over the positions you will typically see serving on a board and the main duties of each role.

There are five main HOA board officer positions: president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and member-at-large. The main purpose of serving on an HOA’s board of directors is to govern the HOA and enforce its governing documents. Each of these positions comes with different responsibilities designed to help board members serve their community in the most efficient way possible.

President

A board’s president is responsible for making sure proper meeting procedures are followed and that meetings stay on task. The specific duties of the position include possessing an in-depth knowledge of the community’s CC&Rs and other governing documents, knowing how to run an effective meeting, making sure all other board members’ voices are heard, and being the “face” of the organization, which may mean signing important legal documents.

Vice President

The vice president shares many of the same duties as the president. It’s important that they, too, possess an in-depth knowledge of the CC&Rs and governing documents. A vice president also takes over the president’s duties if the president is unavailable.

Treasurer

The treasurer aims to be an expert in the association’s finances. Treasurers usually oversee billing and collections and manage the operating and reserve funds.

Secretary

A secretary’s main job is to organize all the association documents that are not financial records. Secretaries also make sure the legal filing deadlines for meeting notices are met, keep the meeting minutes and other official records, and help develop meeting agendas.

Member-at-Large

Member-at-large is a unique position that not all associations will have. The role can be incredibly diverse, as its main duties can vary widely from association to association, but basically, a member-at-large serves as the intermediary between the board and the homeowners. Members-at-large attend all board meetings, provide input and feedback, and act as spokespersons for all parties involved. Additionally, they may often be assigned specific projects, including positions on committees, that don’t fit neatly within the roles of other board members. In this function, members at large help ensure the board’s goals are met.

If you have a management company, chances are most of the duties board members have, such as billing and managing finances, are delegated to that company by the board. However, even if you have a management company to help run the day-to-day business of the association, you are still playing a vital role in your community as a board member.

By attending meetings and making decisions on behalf of your membership, you safeguard the future and success of your association. Thank you for making your community a better place to live!

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