So it is that time of year again.

We are going to have our condo annual meeting. This year we have no business to conduct and the only thing we are required to do is

1. have a meeting;
2. Present a report on the management of the condo.
3. Present a report on the finances of the condo.

The papers don't say at all what these reports must state. So I am of the opinion that we could say four sentences and then say "bye".

There is a tradition of an open forum at the meeting but this year we cancelled that because of the abuse and screaming match we got last year. So we decided to go with a "limited open forum" where questions would be submitted in writing prior to the meeting. And no questions would be taken from the floor.

We got:
1. The same 5 harassing residents asking about their maintenance requests.
2. Most of the "questions" were not questions... they were statements about what we are doing wrong.
3. One Unit Owner said that we should feel "shame".
4. Some questions were legitimate but we could just respond in writing.

We have an empty seat on the Board and no one has applied to be on the board.

Honestly, I don't think I can go without telling each and everyone of my neighbors off. Each and every one of them should feel shame. There are mechanisms they can use if they don't like the job we are doing. They can

1. Run and get on the board.
2. Recall Board members which only requires 50% of the Unit Owners. (but they will never be able to do that because most unit owners are happy with our performance)

Each of the people on the board now do not get paid and each of put in at least 50 hours per year of work. While these residents refuse to do so much as lift a finger.

Some of the maintenance requests that are submitted are laughable. Such as one unit has a poor patch of grass outside it. Um... seriously? This is in the back of the condo and also, to be technical ... it isn't really in her condo area. But if she wants that grass done, she has a simple solution... get on the board. The only reason I am on the board is because I know I won't get my maintenance requests unless I am on the board (and even then it is pretty hard). But for her to insist that a patch of grass that she wants done get precedence over more important things... is selfish and shameful.

I am not happy with the board I am on either and I am annoyed that I feel i have to defend them but these unit owners are way out of line and I am sick of it.

Look I would LOVE to be able to not be on the board and get any maintenance request I want done. I would love to have a board full of reasonable females for a condo that is 85% female. I would love to never hear a patronizing line from a property manager again. I think it is disgusting that we have a condo with 85% single women and yet, the board is made up and controlled by men. But no one in this condo wants to be on the board and without reasonable females who want these things it won't happen.

So I am not going to take their abuse when they don't do jack to make these things happen?

We are having short meeting Monday night to prepare for the annual meeting that is the next week. I truly feel that we should cancel the open forum and just give a 15 minute meeting with the reports. If that doesn't happen... I honestly refuse to take the abuse. I will simply be "sick".

[Skeezyks]

OMG this all sounds SO familiar, except that our Board is all women. And ours also has one seat that's not filled since no one wants to volunteer. (Hey isn't it a lot more fun to sit back in the weeds & complain?) I guess all HSA boards are basically the same. I don't attend our annual meeting. For some odd reason I seem to manage to be "sick" every year on annual meeting day.

Thanks all.
I just had to rant.

I can't decide how to handle it. I think I am just going to go and let the rest of them defend themselves.

After this meeting the Board will be made up of me and a guy and that is it. So it should be much easier to get things done.

I have worked hard over two years to make sure that minutes of the meeting are posted. But people still keep complaining of "lack of communication" so I think that is it. I think I will show them what lack fo communication is.

[Mopey]

Every now and then I wish we could downsize from our house to a condo. Your post has convinced me I'm better off enduring the endless pain of maintaining a house.

So it was tonight and things went terribly.

1. We instituted a no follow up questions policy and people did that anyway. I couldn't control myself and yelled at them. One of the reasons we did that is I am getting sick and tired of people advocating for their plan but now having to deal with the consequences or allowing people to pick them apart.
2. I was soo stunned by the bratty behavior. One resident wants grass... grass and says she doesn't have to run for the board to get your maintenance requests done. Um.. yes yes, actually you do. But with an attitude like that I don't see why we should do that request. It isn't a danger to life liberty or property and you can't even see it from the front.
3. I really can't decide if I should end posting the minutes of the meeting., the agendas, and the financials going forward.
On the one hand, it is unfair that some people are ruining it for everyone but on the other, I am tried of giving abusive elements the ammo they wish and they will never do that for me in the future.

[WpgMom]

I have been on many volunteer boards those complainers always exist. I always respond the same way. As soon as they "express themselves" to me I say "I am so glad you are volunteering to join the board and help us out". Works every time.

Originally Posted by WpgMom

I have been on many volunteer boards those complainers always exist. I always respond the same way. As soon as they "express themselves" to me I say "I am so glad you are volunteering to join the board and help us out". Works every time.

Last night I got a "I don't need to join the board to get my request done." um... yeh yeh you do.

The complainers talked about the lack of respect we have for them... um why do we need to have respect for them again? We are on the board doing the job your sitting on your sofa complaining?

It was stunning. I really think they are spoiled brats.

[WpgMom]

Originally Posted by Emily Fox Seaton

Last night I got a "I don't need to join the board to get my request done." um... yeh yeh you do.

The complainers talked about the lack of respect we have for them... um why do we need to have respect for them again? We are on the board doing the job your sitting on your sofa complaining?

It was stunning. I really think they are spoiled brats.

I am right there with you! I totally get it. Just stick with the good ones, and try to ignore the complainers. I know it's hard but it's all we have :-)

There all out in the courtyard today gossiping. I swear to god. I feel like I have gone back to high school. It just really bothers me that they feel it is ok to lie and exaggerate like that and not come over and ask me about it. Anyway, when they are on the board... they can do it their way.

One of the people were I live is so weird. She literally does her gardening every day in short shorts and a skin tight tank top. Last night one of the people at the meeting I could see right up her too short skirt and she was like 65+ I would ask the others if they could see it too but that would be weird.

I would very much now like to start fining some people... don't know if that would blow things up. But I feel like certain types of people in this world hate you as a person if you don't agree with them and so now that they know I don't agree with them they will hate me anyway so might as well.