Christmas Gifts for Your Condo and Your Association

We frequently spend a lot of time, effort and (far too much) money on gifts for friends, family, and loved ones. And that's a wonderful thing.

But all too often, we forget about those right next to us in our community association. The littlest effort can warm even the coldest day, and you won't even have to travel far.

A lot of people have jobs, such as nurses and law enforcement officers, that require them to work on Christmas. Send them a note that you appreciate them giving up some time on the Holiday to help others. Slip in a gift card so they can get a cup of coffee or two on their way into work.

A lot of people are alone. That should never happen at a community association. Notice who has a single car in their allowed parking spaces who has not left all day and has had no company. Go on over with a plate of leftovers or a dessert as the sun sets. The smile they will likely give you will easily overcome your nervousness at visiting a neighbor with food uninvited.

Invite a neighbor who you know spend the day alone to come over for a meal or an evening movie and a hot chocolate.

And let's not forget about the power of a community in helping another community. Think about asking your Board to create a Food Pantry Committee. Send an email around to Owners asking them to bring canned goods and other items (call your local food pantry - they are sure to tell you what they most need) to board meetings, and then deliver them monthly or quarterly to the local food pantry/shelter. Use the power of the masses in your community, especially around the holidays, to help others. (For the crass, think of this as being a way to help boost the value of Units. If the Association becomes known as the provider of goods to the local food pantry shelter, only good can come of such a reputation when it comes time to sell.)

Take a minute (or an hour) and get (or bake) something for your Board members. Those who have been on a board know all about the time commitments, the emails and phone calls (and house visits) at odd hours. The language spoken to and about board members who, by a wide margin, are on the board not to feed an ego, but to do what they believe is best for the Assn. Gets one other Unit owners; chip in a dollar or two and get the Board a nice gift certificate to a local restaurant so they can get out of the Assn and share some friendship.

Make a nice, framed certificate of appreciation for each member. You may disagree with their decisions, but remember it is a community, and that means, like families,

Send a nice email or leave a nice phone message for your property manger. You're not the one who gets up a 2 on a cold February morning because someone's water has frozen, or lightening has struck.

And remember, no one calls or emails with anything nice to say to a management company. Think about a job where literally every call/email is a complaint. Be the first in your association to be different. Call and say thank you. Thank you for making sur there is in surname on the Association; making sure the landscaper does what the landscaper is doing, making sure the snow removal company shows up when it's supposed to, making sure all of your money is being spent proplery. Think. Just think, of all of the things you don't have to do around the Association to make it look nice because the board and management company are doing that.

Merry Christmas.