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COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY – A BLESSING FOR ASSOCIATIONS IF
USED CORRECTLY?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
July 19, 2013
Computer
technology – used correctly – can be a huge help for
associations and owners.
I’m
not talking about the so-called “social websites” like
Facebook or Twitter – who cares who is going shopping when?
Actually only the bad guys do, they are very interested
in knowing when the home is empty so they can break in and steal
you blind!
I
am talking about association websites and e-mail communication
between board members, managers and owners.
Make
no mistake, CCFJ wouldn’t exist without the Internet. We
couldn’t keep people permanently informed about the latest
news, communicate with members and create much needed
legislative alerts during the legislative sessions. Just imagine
the cost for mailing all this info to our members and
subscribers. We would have to charge more than $100 a year,
instead of the $20 we charge since we created CCFJ in the year
2000.
I
will never understand why a lot of community associations still
don’t have their own website. Today’s technology makes it
relatively easy – and inexpensive – to create and maintain a
website. It maybe mainly a one-time expense, but it could
quickly stop the ever-present fight over record requests. A good
website – with all the goodies like password protected
subdomains etc. – costs no more than $100. Yes, it will cost
some money – if you don’t have knowledgeable volunteers –
to scan all the association documents and add them to the
website, but once that’s done, you save the hassle of getting
permanently hit by record requests, often ending in costly
litigation. We often hear board members complain about the
hassle and frustration caused by “over-eager” owners wanting
to inspect – and/or get copies – of the association records.
Remember,
we specifically added this provision into H
7119: “...
or, at the option of the association, by making the records
available to a parcel owner electronically via the Internet or
by allowing the records to be viewed in electronic format on a
computer screen and printed upon request.”
Owners
are often upset, claiming that the board members – or the
manager – are trying to hide documents, especially financial
statements, from them. They want “association government in
the sunshine.” And if you are honest: Is that too much to ask?
Always remember: It’s the owners who pay the bills!”
But
then you have as well the fights over the “unauthorized”
association websites, websites maintained by owners, who may not
be happy with the way the association board is going. As much as
I understand, that board members may not like to be criticized,
the lawsuits filed against these website owners are often more
than just frivolous. There is no law that says that every
website dealing with association business has to be authorized
by the board – and if these websites display public records of
the association – so what? They are called official – or
public records for a reason. I have seen my share of these
lawsuits, often based on “trademark infringements” or
similar imaginary accusations, demanding the website owner to
turn over the domain name to the association. Reading these
lawsuits I have often wondered if the attorneys filing such
lawsuits won their Bar license on the county fair. I can
understand libel and slander, but “running an unauthorized
website? Give me break!
And
it goes both ways: We see as well association websites
maintained by board members with contents that would make Adolf
or Joseph proud. These “propaganda” websites often demonize
owners who dared to oppose board members’ decisions or even
filed lawsuits against the association and board members.
Calling opponents “disgruntled” maybe the most polite
statement on these websites. And, funny enough, many of these
board members fell that they are totally within their rights
doing so and wonder why if they get hit with a libel lawsuit.
So
much said, is this Internet technology a curse or a blessing?
What say you?
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