In the News

Community association in W.Va. to receive USDA grant
The Jackson Memorial Community Association in West Virginia's Lewis County will receive a Communities Facilities Grant from USDA Rural Development. The grant, totaling $3,325, will be used to bring the Jane Lew Community Center building into compliance with the state's fire-safety code. WBOY-TV (Clarksburg, W.Va.) (3/21)

Volunteer security could become major pitfall for HOAs
After the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch member in Florida, experts are warning homeowners associations of the possible detriments of volunteer security patrols. Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (3/22)

HOAs can cut off facilities, but not utilities, to delinquent owners
Homeowners associations cannot turn off utilities to a delinquent owner's home, even if the utilities are self-contained in the community, lawyer Joe Adams writes. Instead, HOAs can cut off the member from common-facility use or other association property to encourage the member to pay their bill. The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.) (tiered subscription model) (3/24)

Leadership Strategies and Organizational Management

Learning about leadership from Canada geese
The teamwork that Canada geese use to fly back to their northern homes in the spring can teach business leaders a thing or two about organizational leadership techniques, Tanveer Naseer writes. In order to be a successful leader, you need to encourage employees to develop their skills, effectively communicate your vision so everyone is on the same page and learn to put your team ahead of yourself, Naseer writes. TanveerNaseer.com (3/20)

How to help make good luck happen
A study by LinkedIn finds that 84% of professionals believe in career luck, but is there a way to cultivate luck to help you become successful? Some believe you can, and this article rounds up six rules to making luck happen -- such as having a humble heart, a strong work ethic and a go-with-your-gut mentality. Inc. online (free registration) (3/16)

Doing Good in the Community

Upkeep on foreclosed homes gets a helping hand from neighbors
HOA presidents such as Sammie Sias of the Sandridge Community Association in Augusta, Ga., are picking up the slack when foreclosed homes become vacant and quickly turn into eyesores in his neighborhood. Sias cleans up trash and cuts the lawn of homes that banks have taken over, and he's not alone. A report forecasts that the number of foreclosed homes is set to rise 25% this year, indicating more neighbors will need to pitch in to keep up unoccupied properties. The Augusta Chronicle (Ga.) (3/23)

SmartQuote

Email: nbccam@smartbrief.com
Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004
Legal and Privacy information at http://www.smartbrief.com/legal.jsp
Unsubscribe