Community Communication Corner
by Bob Gourley, MyEZCondo Founder, Member of CAI CT Board of Directors

Resolve to Make 2008 the Year of Communication

Few things are as rewarding as a second chance. As you open the first page of the calendar for the New Year, this is a great time to make a resolution to do a better job of communicating with your community members in the upcoming year. My business slogan is “Better Communities Through Better Communication”. I hope that thought can inspire your communication efforts for the upcoming year.

Resolution Number 1. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes.
Take a look at your efforts to communicate with your members this past year. Was your message professional, informative and consistent? Is it time to spruce up the letterhead, change the look of your newsletter, and reinforce the image of the association and the way in which you deliver your message? Is it time to start a community website or update the existing one? Resolve to put forth your best effort in conveying information to your community members by issuing excellent communications.

Resolution Number 2. Tell the stories that your audience needs to hear.
Take a look at the calendar for the year ahead. Has the Board of Directors already authorized funds for a major improvement project that will impact residents’ lives this upcoming year? Are there major changes in the annual budget due to fuel or insurance costs rising so rapidly? Do you see an assessment in the upcoming year? Are you keeping community members aware of legislative issues that may affect them soon? Resolve to start telling these stories well and often during the upcoming year to avoid fear, panic, and rumors.

Resolution Number 3. Ask for volunteer involvement from community members.
Take a look at who is doing what within your community right now. Is there a healthy crop of new volunteers coming forward to serve on committees and fill vacant Board seats? Volunteerism is the key to vibrant communities but sometimes we forget to ask people to get involved. Resolve to ask community members to get involved in their community and make it easy for them to do so.

Resolution Number 4. Heap praise onto your community members.
Take a look at last year’s communications and see how many times the phrase “Thank you” appears. Does it appear often or was it overlooked? Since there is no pay involved in community volunteer work, good communications require lots of pats on the back for those members who volunteered their time and efforts to get the business of the community done. This includes Board members, Committee members, Event volunteers, and more. Resolve to communicate an abundance of thanks to those community members who gave of themselves to make their community a better place.

Resolution Number 5. Remember the Golden Rule.
Did you remember the Golden Rule? Do Unto Others as You Would Have Done Unto Yourself.
Take a look at all correspondence from the association to members from last year. Did you observe this rule when reminding members about parking rules, pet noise or waste regulations, or any other reminder about following the rules of the association? Resolve to follow the Golden Rule in all of your communication this year and see if others don’t start behaving in better fashion.

I wish you all a safe, healthy, and harmonious year filled with “Better Communities Through Better Communication”.

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