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IT IS A BALANCING ACT FOR BOARD MEMBERS
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 24, 2021
Having a
dual role as neighbors and board members can be difficult to balance
and even more difficult to manage any unit owners' misperceptions.
As neighbors living in the same community, there will be a natural
engagement with neighbors, and these may also be fellow board
members. Whether the community is a Condo or HOA, it should be clear
that the statutes say that any gathering of a quorum of board
members where association business is discussed is, in fact, a
meeting. If the said meeting were not properly noticed, the board
could find itself in violation of the statute. It may also run the
risk of losing the trust of its association members.
Today
technology has made it easier to collaborate, communicate, and be
more productive with many great tools. However, this same technology
could be emailed, video/phone conferencing, project/task planners
etc.… are raising important questions about the quorum topic. If the
board somehow collaborates about association business in these
technology platforms, is it considered an improper meeting?
There are
a few things at the heart of this question:
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Technology clearly moves MUCH quicker than the laws/rules that
govern the order of our society and industry. The government
needs to catch up with technology and adapt to the ongoing pace
of development.
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Transparency with the association members is at the heart of the
statutory requirements to host open meetings as the only
platform for discussing association matters. With that said,
technology can also be used to improve communication and
transparency with the association members. Simple solutions like
a website where records can be accessed, commonly asked
questions, operational information, service hours, staff
information, etc. AND most importantly, an active update/news
feed on key items the association is dealing with.
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As the Co-Founder and CEO
of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to
redefine excellence. They serve community associations
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and effectively with
dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive
spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management
Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and
excitement when providing expert advice to its board
members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running
a community association.
Since 2007, Rafael has
developed a work culture that values responsive and
high-quality services. He has led his team by following
a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach
Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each
association. Today, Affinity Management Services
maintains its success and benefits as a result of the
foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by
providing educational seminars, continuing education
classes for association managers and board members
alike.
Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’
associations save money and improve their communities.
His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps
him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael
is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out
for the best interests of his clients and communities,
and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role
requires coordination and communication, as such he
takes logical and intelligent steps to approach
challenges head-on.
As a graduate of Florida International University’s
electrical engineering program and a licensed community
association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip
him with unique insights to tackle complex problems
through critical thinking. He understands how each
component within a system works together in order to
effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and
conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple
challenges of running a community association management
company, he understands how each property is its own
unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure
that all their needs are met.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity
Management Services please visit
www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279
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Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33166
Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300
Plantation, FL 33324
O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053
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