Q:One of your readers from Lakeland wrote to you about the community association'sboard of directors being in shambles and that homeowners were reluctant to get involved. May I offer a bit of advice?

When I became president of our association, we had a dysfunctional board. Repeated appeals in our newsletter for people to join the board went unheeded, so I started recruiting. I picked people who had something to offer and soon had myself surrounded by doers, not debaters. If someone came up with an idea, it was discussed and I then gave the project to the one who suggested it, and supported him to the fullest. The project remained an open item on the agenda until it was completed, and a progress report was requested at each meeting. This resulted in getting a lot done my first two years. Those who did not produce soon found a reason to get off the board and their resignation was quickly accepted.

The key is to recruit good people, who are more apt to be compatible with you and each other. But people have to be asked, as they just do not volunteer much any more.

J.P., Tampa

A: Thank you for the useful remarks. I often comment in my column that you need to knock on doors and invite people to join the activities. I also recommend that meetings be informative, less combative and short. If the board attempts to communicate with the members, it tweaks the members' interest.

It is also important to serve cookies. Sweet treats can go a long way to have members volunteer.

Q: We live in a homeowner's association adult community. When anyone buys in, he has to show his driver's license, which we copy for our files, showing the age. Are we still required to do a census every two years?

J.W., St. Petersburg

A: The federal law requires a census ever two years. That census requires one person from each home to sign an affidavit that he is 55 or older and present proof of age. In addition, the Florida Commission on Human Relations requires that the association register with the state every two years. For information, you can go to the web page: http://fchr.state.fl.us.

Q:This year a new board of directors took over. The new directors send letters and post flyers blaming the past board members by name for the rough times the community is going through.

I have approached the director on this matter. He claims that since these individuals' names are on record as past board members he has every right to blame them in print. I belive he should simply say ''the past board of directors.'' He said he would continue to name names.

Is it legal to badmouth past boards? This in my mind will cause animosity within the community and bad blood between the boards.

R.B., North Miami

A: Unless the letters and flyers list incorrect information, there is nothing illegal about posting the truth. If the past boards did such a bad job, they should be sued if it can be proved that they abused the assets of the association and members. Otherwise the energy and time spent in producing negative communications would be better spent on producing positive results on the progress of the new board.

Write to Condo Line, Home, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132, or e-mail Richard@talkwithcam.com. Include name and city.

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