no volunteers for elections

[Guest MarylandQuestion]

What happens is there are no volunteers to run for officers of the association? The governing documents give the BOD the right to fill vacant officer positions but does not address no candidates for election.

[Guest Edgar]

What happens is there are no volunteers to run for officers of the association?

If no one is willing to serve, it may be time to dissolve the association.

Note that any mid-term vacancy-filling provisions (e.g. by the board) do not apply to incomplete elections. And, in any case, if someone was willing to be appointed, they'd presumably also be willing to be elected.

[Guest Guest]

Can't disolve the association: it's a homeowners association and under state law must remain in effect.

[Guest Edgar]

Can't disolve the association: it's a homeowners association and under state law must remain in effect.

Then you'll need to address the issue of why no one is willing to serve. Someone will be along (within 24 hours) to post some "boilerplate" considerations. Stay tuned.

[Guest Guest]

We know why no one is willing to run. There a number if disgruntled members who will go against anything the BOD suggests or tries to implement. Small but vocal faction.

[JohnR]

You'll just have to limp along, then. Perhaps you can double up on offices, like having the same person serve as President and Treasurer, and another serving as Vice President and Secretary. And if your bylaws don't say officers must be association members, you could appoint people from the outside and maybe even pay them.

[David A Foulkes]

We know why no one is willing to run. There a number if disgruntled members who will go against anything the BOD suggests or tries to implement. Small but vocal faction.

How small? Less than half of the membership? If a majority of members (however your HOA defines membership) want something to be done, and they're willing to show up at meetings and vote accordingly, very little will stand in their way.

There's nothing wrong with a vocal faction of any size, as long as 1) they obey the rules of decorum during meetings, and 2) those of a differing opinion don't spinelessly cower in the shadows of this vocal faction when it comes time to vote. Otherwise, it is bully tactics being given undue authority, and those that allow it get what they have coming, then.

Get the membership (those who want to move the HOA forward) together, and take back your meetings and your Board. Get hands on Robert's Rules in Brief and on The Book so you know the rules, and your rights. Stop the bullying, now.

[Gary Novosielski]

We know why no one is willing to run. There a number if disgruntled members who will go against anything the BOD suggests or tries to implement. Small but vocal faction.

If they are, in fact a small faction, your salvation may well be RONR itself.

If the rules in RONR are followed, a small but vocal faction cannot ultimately get its way, unless its vocalizations convince a majority to agree with them. Members, within well-defined limits, may have to give them their say before voting them down, but ultimately a small minority, no matter how vocal, is not a majority.

That's one of the main reasons RONR exists.

As for the election, pass out blank ballots, and have people write in names. Vote until someone achieves a majority. Often, if someone is actually elected they will agree to serve, if called upon in this way.