HOA Social Committee Ideas For Your Community

HOA social committee ideas may lie somewhere between mid to low priority in the things your HOA board needs to do. That does not mean that you can just neglect your HOA social committee responsibilities either – if you have one in the first place.

In this guide, we’ll look at useful tips on how to start an HOA social committee, and the social committee roles it occupies. Social committee guidelines also call for a social chairperson, too, so we’ll also go into the social chair responsibilities, especially when it comes to the hot topic of HOA social committees!

Neighborhood Social Committee Ideas to Boost Socialization In Your Community

You can likely relate to most HOA board members who struggle with finding an ideal work-life balance. It makes sense, then, that building community between those in your homeowners association may not be the top priority. However, there are ways in which homeowners associations can make it easier to build community and promote socialization outside of just the board meetings and on-the-fly interactions.

One of the most important ways to promote socialization in your community is to have people assigned just for that. In most HOAs, these people usually make up the social committee.

The Importance of Community Socialization

Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook make socializing without having to be face-to-face much easier. People are further encouraged to stick with the Internet for community interaction.

There are definitely some great benefits to technological socialization. However,  it’s hard to manage a community on a personal level when in-person connections are lacking.

It might not seem like a huge deal but think about the benefits of having neighbors getting to know one another and those on the Board. Developing meaningful relationships will increase happiness and decrease the chances of individuals getting frustrated with their neighbors or those running the community—which is you.

It will also give you a chance to know the different personalities and preferences of those in your community, which will help when making Board decisions or handling any problems that may arise. Therefore, board members will want to continue promoting personal camaraderie within their community.

Giving Your Neighborhood Socialization Some Structure

Promoting the creation of a social committee is an excellent way to get your HOA members to get along better. It also opens up the way to holding exciting events for your HOA, too. Before you go all out in planning your next social committee activity, it’s best to assign some responsibilities to your HOA committee members for these events.

What Are the Responsibilities of an HOA Social Committee?

Board members and homeowners who join the HOA social committee will take on certain responsibilities such as planning special events for the community, developing budgets for these events, creating revenue reports following the events, and publishing an events calendar for the residents.

A Board member, or an assigned volunteer homeowner, will act as the chairperson of the social committee. He or she will preside over committee meetings and ensure that the meeting agenda is followed. If the committee does not have Board members, any decisions made – especially financial decisions – must be submitted to the Board for approval.

For financial matters, the social committee might also collaborate with the finance committee if your HOA has one. The finance committee can provide technical knowledge about budgets and expenditures that the social committee members may not have.

Many associations dismiss social committees as non-essential, but they are key to facilitating a stronger sense of community in your neighborhood. If you don’t have one yet, it is one of the best HOA committee ideas to suggest at your next meeting.

Getting the HOA Board Onboard Your Social Committee Ideas

It’s very important to get your HOA board’s support for your social committee ideas. First, you’ll need to form a social committee and have a chair for it. If your HOA does not already have a social committee, it’s a good topic to raise during your annual meeting. This way, you can ask if someone is interested in chairing the social committee as you pitch the idea.

How Do I Start a Social Committee for My HOA?

When starting an HOA social committee, make sure to check if association bylaws allow you to have one in the first place. If there is a provision for a social committee, it will be much easier to utilize funding from the association’s funds.

Next, during a scheduled HOA meeting, a Board member or homeowner will propose the formation of the social committee. The Board may allot a certain time period for studying this proposal. They need to determine whether creating a social committee has merits and whether the annual budget can accommodate social committee events. The Board may also create guidelines and procedures for the social committee including quarterly reports, meeting minutes, and qualifications for committee members.

Once everything has been finalized, the HOA board can notify the community regarding the creation of the social committee. Interested homeowners can then volunteer to join the committee. Following HOA covenants and bylaws, you can now start turning social committee ideas into actual community events.

Different Kinds of HOA Social Committees

The social committee, as a subset of the HOA board, need not exist separate from the rest of the board itself. Depending on your HOA board composition, as well as the bylaws and culture of your association in general, you may have one of three different kinds of HOA social committees.

• Ad-hoc Social Committees – These are formed, often on the spot, just to oversee an event. Once the event is done, the ad-hoc social committee is broken up until the next social event. The committee then comes together again the next time the event comes around.
• Fixed / Standing Social Committees  – Fixed social committees are the opposite of ad-hoc ones. They are made up of regular members, and the committee is established and functional, whether there is an ongoing event or not. Standing HOA social committees are ideal for overseeing seasonal or yearly events that your community religiously observes. Fixed social committees are also mentioned in the HOA bylaws, and are usually established as an extension of the HOA board.
• Mandatory Social Committees – Mandatory committees are explicitly specified in the bylaws of an HOA or its other governing documents. So if your bylaw clearly states that an HOA social committee should be established for a certain event, then that social committee is also a mandatory committee or subcommittee. Your HOA needs to establish one for that specific purpose, as the bylaws or CC&Rs state. The Board cannot abolish these committees as well.

Engaging Residents in Your Community

The most efficient way to bring together neighbors is by scheduling social events periodically that residents will enjoy. Speaking of social media before, residents can also spread the word online to decrease the need for physical marketing of the events. It’s a good way to take advantage of technology. People may be more likely to see it on social media anyway.

Your HOA social committee can be responsible for setting up the events for the community. This way, they can also go and find out what residents would respond to best. For example, a good event idea could be a wine get-together. A different neighbor can even host it each time, too.

Or maybe your community would like an informal get-together every first Friday. Involve the kids with a craft night or dog parade! Events that are fun and fairly simple to plan are good ideas.

Community Event Ideas for HOA Social Events

Need HOA event ideas for your neighborhood? Apart from the usual holiday festivities, you can organize your HOA social committee to brainstorm on different types of events.

For instance, you can come up with specific HOA events for adults, children, or the entire community. Here are some HOA social committee ideas to start with:

• Neighborhood Garage Sales
• Ice Cream and BBQ Cookout Socials
• Card Tournament Game Nights
• Outdoor Movie Nights
• Community Pool Parties
• Fall Festivals
• Book and Trivia Clubs With Contests
• Beer & Wine Swap Meets and Sampling Events
• Walking Clubs
• Welcome Party for New Residents
• Aerobics, Yoga, and Fitness Classes
• Sports Tournaments
• Zoom or Livestream Parties
• Virtual Trivia Nights
• Online Seminars for Home Improvement Projects
• Video and Board Game Tournaments
• Community Gardens
• Neighborhood Karaoke Contests
• Bingo Nights
• Car Wash Fundraisers

No two associations are exactly alike, so events that may work for one community may not work for another. When considering fun community event ideas, it is important to take into account the demographics, location, and size of your HOA. Additionally, you should consider your budget and gauge resident interest. It will also help to solicit ideas for neighborhood social events from the homeowners themselves.

HOA Social Committee Ideas Keep a Community Together

Giving homeowners association members a chance to get to know one another on a deeper level is a perfect way to make a positive impact on Board governance and satisfaction from residents. Start planning today to get homeowners away from their computers and face-to-face with their neighbors.

Need help creating a social committee agenda for your community? Feel free to use HOA Management’s online directory to find the best HOA management companies and vendor services.

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