Home owner associations are unique entities, and the boards that lead them fill unique roles.

• Home owner association boards consist of officials elected to represent and protect the best interests of the commu­nity as a whole.
• Home owner associations are corporate entities whose board members must maintain the value of a jointly owned asset.
• Home owner associations are social entities—neighborhoods of people who expect the board to preserve, if not improve, their quality of life.

Ultimately, the role of the board is to protect and increase property value. This is accomplished by operating the as­sociation, maintaining the common property, and enforcing the governing documents.

The role of the board is as much about building the social and civic well-being of the community as it is about maintaining common areas or enforcing rules. To do this, a board must:

• Provide leadership and inspiration, not merely administration.
• Instill a sense of caring, civic pride, and shared responsibility in all residents.
• Position the association as a wellspring of resident volunteer­ism in community-related activities, both inside and outside the association’s boundaries.
• Transform housing units into vibrant neighborhoods and communities.

By placing an emphasis on community, boards transcend the legalistic nature of their governing documents. Thus, efforts to build a sense of community tend to reduce the number of administrative issues such as rules violations and delinquent assessments.

For The Meadows At Shawnee we, as your board, strive to: