Welcome to A Boardside View—a blog dedicated to the real-world challenges, triumphs, and sometimes eyebrow-raising moments of board-led organizations. Whether you’re navigating condo board politics, tackling nonprofit governance, or just trying to figure out who does what, you’ll find practical advice, personal stories, and a few laughs along the way.
Written by Pat Crosscombe, past condo board president and founder of BoardSpace, this blog offers a fresh perspective on board life—always professional, never stuffy.
Welcome to another edition of The Sidelight. Today I’m here with a very special guest: Bonnie Oaks Charron, Governance Specialist (FGOV) / Information Professional (MLIS), a colleague, friend, co-editor of The Elevator Insiders, and a governance practitioner. Here is...
Meeting minutes have an image problem, and it’s time to fix it. If you’ve ever groaned at the thought of writing them — or worse, finding them — you’re not alone. But better meeting minutes aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential. They help boards stay...
Finding the right board directors is a cornerstone of effective governance for not-for-profit organizations. However, the process can often be challenging due to various factors, including a lack of interest, diversity, or specific skills. This blog post explores...
This blog post explores effective strategies to increase engagement among condo owners and not-for-profit supporters. Shared challenges, shared solutions. Engagement issues persist across both condo boards and not-for-profit organizations. Owner indifference is a...
Planning and oversight key to positive outcomes for condo projects. Given how much corporations are likely to invest in renovation projects, it’s important to set them up for success. Here’s advice to help directors do just that. The reserve fund study Before even...
What are the best condo managers really like (hint: They're World-Class)? I need to know because I only want World-Class Condo Managers (WCCM) to manage my condo. After working with many managers over the past ten years, I know first-hand that WCMs make my job as a...
Are your board meetings frustrating because the minutes are never ready on time? You’re not alone. Directors typically meet once a month, whereas condo or HOA managers and administrators attend far more. And yet, no matter how often we meet, one issue always crops up:...
Making decisions as a condo director is part of the job. Financial decisions, especially those involving special assessments or fee increases, are tough. Making tough decisions about money will never be easy, but making the right tough decisions gets easier if...
Finance and condos is a top-of-mind topic for every condo. Keeping track of the condo's money is hard to manage without good policies and procedures. This blog fills the gap on establishing good financial practices for the board of directors. Conduct a Monthly...
Congratulations on getting elected to the condo board! Now the fun begins. For first-time directors, there is an overwhelming amount of new information to digest. While it may seem like everything has to be learned at once, it may be more realistic to take a gradual...