well thought out are often not as good as they could have been had time been taken to prepare in ad-        you leave it on the counter just long enough to get to room tem- perature before you cook it, and chicken boiled before you throw it on the barbeque is perfectly juicy with just the right crunch of sauce on the outside.


P


     - teers and management profession- als in preparing for the upcoming year, and yes, it’s already time to get started. As a seasoned industry professional I can confidently say that by following this simple sum- mer recipe, you’ll be prepared for a 


It’s already mid-year so you’ve like- ly started on your draft budget. Be realistic with your numbers; fact is, with the increase in minimum wages many of your service pro- viders will have contract increases through no fault of their own, and that equates to increases in your costs and likely assessments. Bud- get wisely, be creative, and com- municate well. It’s not too soon to communicate to owners that assessments will likely increase in the upcoming year, and why. Hold townhall meetings to discuss the budget process and above all, be transparent. By the time you ap- prove your budget it should be a piece of cake.


Also, make sure you budget for       Board members are the fiduciary for (usually) multi-million-dollar


reparation is the key to any good meal. As an am- ateur chef I can tell you that meals that are not


corporations, and while it is not a Board’s responsibility to be experts (please rely on industry profession- als), knowing the basics of the laws that govern community associa- tions will keep you out of a heap of trouble. Boards should meet with a management professional and le- gal counsel for Board training and education at least annually, but   - ful educational luncheons locally several times a year and a North- - tember which create not only great educational opportunities, but the opportunity to meet other industry experts and like-minded commu- nity volunteers. Board education is a must in your budget, and as  quipped, “an ounce of prevention is 


 


 27


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