While holidays are a busy time for everyone, it can be worth arranging a community holiday celebration to bring residents together before the chaos of Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. really begins. Event organizers need to pick which holiday is being celebrated well before the actual day. Organizers need time to plan, and homeowners should have enough notice to plan their attendance. Make sure to keep the scope of the party at a manageable level and stay within the agreed budget. If these parties are managed well and a conscious effort to include residents is made, you’re sure to have an excited and involved community.
Host a Holiday Party in your Association
With fall in the air and holiday festivities on the horizon, it is time to start planning! One of the best ways to bring a community together is to organize parties in the neighborhood. But what we’ve found is that most communities don’t do this because the HOA is already too busy, and parties can be a lot of work. But don’t let that thought process bog you down or stop you from organizing a community celebration to bring neighbors together.
Take a look at these helpful tricks to get your community parties going stress free.
- Pick your holiday. Decide what holiday you want to celebrate with your community and keep in mind the closer you get to December the busier people get. We encourage your board to pick a holiday like Halloween or Thanksgiving since most people have more open schedules. You could host a trunk-or-treat on or just before Halloween, or a Friends-giving party for Thanksgiving.
- Plan ahead! The more notice residents have, the better your turn out will be. Also, plan food and decorations well in advance to avoid emergencies right before the event. The more prepared you are beforehand, the smoother the event will go.
- Keep it simple. Don’t bite off more than your board can chew. Keep things fun, simple and within budget and you’ll eliminate stress before it can even start! Also, make sure your board delegates to community volunteers when possible. That helps distribute workload and gets more creative juices flowing!
- Be conscious. Be aware of the varying views and contexts of your community when planning a party like this. Avoid picking a party name or theme that will inadvertently make some feel excluded. This can mean calling it a winter festival instead of a Christmas party. There are no laws regarding this, but it is important to consider it when trying to encourage attendance.
- Budget accordingly! Depending on varying state laws, your HOA may or may not be able to foot the bill. Check with your legal counsel and your CC&Rs for guidance on this. If your state doesn’t regulate who pays the bill, make sure your HOA has the funds to pay for a party. If your budget allows for decorations and pizzas, but not drinks and appetizers, ask residents to bring their own drinks and an appetizer to share. Most people are happy to meet the board halfway!
Planning a party may feel insignificant next to all the “important” work, but the most important job of an HOA board is to foster goodwill in the community. And what is better at doing that than a nice holiday party! A community that plays together will have better relationships and work well together. Take the time to plan at least one or two community parties a year to encourage community comradery. So, get your party planning hats on and have some fun with your neighbors!
For questions about HOA Management Services or to learn more about how to ease the stress of your HOA board, contact Spectrum Association Management today!
