Boards receive financial reports all the time. At most meetings, there is some version of the same information: account balances, income and expenses, current financial position, etc. The question is not whether boards should see that information. They should. The real issue is what the board does with it. Many boards take the extra step of voting to “approve” or “adopt” these routine financial reports. Sometimes that happens as a motion to “adopt” or “accept” the financial report. Sometimes it is included in a consent agenda. Either way, the result is the same. The board is taking formal action on … Continue reading
Author Archives: Jim Slaughter
Institutional Investors and Rental Restrictions: Congress Steps In
In a prior article, HOA and Condo Rental Restrictions and Institutional Investors, I discussed the increasing role of institutional investors in the single-family housing market and the steps many community associations are taking, including rental caps and leasing restrictions, to address large-scale investor ownership within their communities. That discussion focused on what associations can do through their governing documents. A recent development suggests that this issue may now be moving beyond governing document amendments and into federal action. A recent report from CNN highlights proposed federal legislation, often referred to as the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” that would … Continue reading
You Don’t Have a Current Will? What Are You Thinking?
I was talking recently with my law partner, Andrew Brower, who spends most of his time on estate planning. At some point the conversation turned to how many people either do not have a will at all or have one that has been sitting in a drawer for years. The percentage is . . . higher than you would expect. Studies suggest somewhere between about 55% and 75% of Americans do not have a will. And even among those who do, many have not looked at it in a long time. Life may have changed, but their documents have not. … Continue reading
“Security” Cameras? Associations Should Be Careful What They Promise
Cameras can help associations understand what happened after an incident, but they don’t provide “security.” Using the wrong language or policies can create liability. Here’s what boards should know before installing or adopting a camera system. Continue reading
When Should a Board Bring in a Parliamentarian? Practical Considerations
Boards often ask whether they need a parliamentarian. The better question is when it makes sense to bring one in. This article walks through practical factors to consider, including board size, complexity of issues, and meeting dynamics. Continue reading
What Does “Ex Officio” Really Mean and What Rights Come With It?
Can I vote as an ex officio member? Can we ask ex officio members to leave? I hear such questions often. And almost every time, the issue is not the rules. It is a misunderstanding of what “ex officio” actually means. Ex officio simply means “by virtue of an office.” A person is on a board or committee because they hold a certain position. When they leave that position, the next person in the position automatically takes their place. Many people think “ex officio” means a person cannot vote. As I note in Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track (p. … Continue reading
What the Resolutions Process Is and Is Not
Several national clients have asked me recently for advice on “modernizing” their resolutions processes. That has involved looking at what they do, why they do it, and what improvements might make the process more efficient or easier for members to understand. From those conversations comes this article, which discusses the general process. There are as many resolutions processes as there are associations. That’s because each organization is governed by language in its bylaws (sometimes “constitution”) or board policy. If the procedure appears in the bylaws, the process tends to be fixed, since bylaws can be difficult to amend. On the … Continue reading
150 Years of Robert’s Rules of Order
This Thursday, February 19, 2026, we mark the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Robert’s Rules of Order in 1876. For 150 years, this book has helped groups hold fair, organized, and effective meetings. That is an extraordinary legacy for a book written by an Army engineer. Who Was General Robert? Henry Martyn Robert was a general in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He was not trained as a lawyer or politician. He became interested in meeting procedure after being asked to preside over a church meeting that quickly became confusing and disorderly. As I discussed in … Continue reading
Running Better, More Legal, Virtual Meetings
In May 2022, my law partner, Harmony Taylor, and I presented a program at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Conference on running better, more legal virtual meetings for community associations. By that point, most boards and managers had already experienced electronic meetings out of necessity. What remained unsettled was not whether meetings could be held online, but whether they were being conducted in a way that was legal, defensible, and effective. The questions we heard were consistent. Can we meet virtually at all? Does it matter whether the meeting is for the board, the members, or a committee? What … Continue reading
Involved With HOAs or Condominium Associations? Make Sure You Have the Correct Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order
For homeowner and condominium associations, membership and board meetings are not routine gatherings. Membership meetings tend to be where directors are elected and governing documents amended. Boards govern the association throughout the year, exercising authority that directly affects owners’ property rights and financial obligations. Because of that, how meetings are conducted matters, both legally and practically. In many states, and in many association governing documents, meetings are required to be conducted in accordance with the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (sometimes described as the “current” or “latest” edition). When that is the case, having the correct and … Continue reading
Why I Write Parliamentary Books: Reflections from an Author Chat with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers
This article is adapted from remarks I delivered during an “Author Chat” with the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers on February 7, 2023. It reflects an edited written version of that presentation, focusing on why I write parliamentary books, how my books differ, and trends I see in modern meetings and parliamentary practice. Why I Write About Parliamentary Procedure Anyone who wants to write about parliamentary procedure should keep their day job. That is not why we write. We write because we find this subject genuinely interesting, because we enjoy teaching it, and because we were taught by others to … Continue reading
You Need the Correct Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order
In most associations, significant decisions are made at board, committee, and membership meetings. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Budgets are adopted. Directors are elected. Governing document amendments and policies are approved. When an organization says it follows Robert’s Rules of Order, it is committing to run its meetings under a recognized, structured system designed to promote fairness, order, and clear decision making. Because of that, how meetings are conducted matters, both legally and practically. Many association governing documents require that meetings be conducted in accordance with the “current edition” of Robert’s Rules of Order. When that is the case, … Continue reading
A New HOA Warranty Option for North Carolina Buyers
A new product has recently become available to some North Carolina purchasers buying homes or condos in community associations. Known as “HOA Warranty,” this is a private, optional product offered at closing and is not governmental or legislative in any way. Because it is new to the North Carolina market, we want to make readers aware that it exists, not to recommend for or against its use. You can learn more about the product directly from the provider at HOA Warranty: Special Assessment Protection. What the Product Is Intended to Do The general purpose of the HOA Warranty product is … Continue reading
Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least
This article is adapted from a presentation I gave to the Virtual Parliamentarians Toastmasters Club on December 21, 2025. The session focused on several parliamentary tools that are frequently used but often misunderstood, including Questions of Privilege, Parliamentary Inquiry, Requests for Information, and Points of Order. While these motions rarely get much attention, they play an outsized role in how meetings actually function. What follows is a edited written version of that presentation. Points and Requests: The Parliamentary Tools We Use the Most and Understand the Least It humbles me, especially during the week of Christmas, that people would take … Continue reading
Community Associations in 2025: Bigger, Busier, and Still Strongly Supported
As we wrap up 2025, it’s clear that community associations continue to play a major role in how Americans live. It is also true that not every association gets everything right. There can be disagreements over rules, budgets, and decisions, and some communities face serious challenges. Even so, the most recent statistics nationally and in North Carolina show that the association model remains very popular. Most owners who live in homeowner or condominium associations say they see real value in the system and believe their communities help protect their homes and home values. I recently saw the latest data on … Continue reading
Winter Is Here: Test Your Knowledge on Winterizing Your HOA or Condominium
Winter is here, and many HOAs and condominiums are already dealing with cold weather problems. Yesterday I spoke at the NC Community Associations Institute’s “Holiday Trivia Event” about legal concerns when associations prepare for winter. As a follow-up that talk, here’s a short quiz to see how ready your association is. Only one answer is correct for each question. Now that you have seen the questions, here’s why the correct answers matter. #1 = B. The board must approve winter service contracts at a properly noticed meeting. Boards should not automatically choose the lowest bid. Their job is to choose … Continue reading
Harmony Taylor Elected to National Board of Community Association Lawyers
While I don’t know how the national elections will go today, here’s one I can call— Congratulations to Law Firm Carolinas partner Harmony Taylor, who has been elected to the Board of Governors for CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL)! Given that there are only seven members of the CCAL Board nationwide, Harmony’s election signifies the respect in which she is held by community association attorneys across the country. The College, established in 1994, recognizes excellence in the practice of community association law. Of the thousands of attorneys who work with homeowner and condominium associations in the United States, … Continue reading
Is Your Dislike of Another Board Member a Breach of Your Fiduciary Duty?
These are trying times. Whether because of the political climate, social media, or the stresses of modern life, poor conduct at meetings has become common. As attorneys and experienced professional parliamentarians, Carole Albright and I assist with many meetings of every size each year. Members, and even directors, seem shorter and snappier than ever. We increasingly hear directors say things like: “I can’t work with that board member.” “I won’t be in the same room as that director.” “Can’t we handle everything by email?” The answer to that last one is no, but the real issue runs deeper. Directors don’t … Continue reading
The Legal Side of Parliamentary Procedure
In May 2023, I had the opportunity to speak at the American Institute of Parliamentarians East Coast Practicum on a topic that comes up repeatedly in real-world meetings but is often misunderstood: the legal side of parliamentary procedure. What follows is an adapted version of those remarks, revised slightly for a reading audience but retaining the substance, examples, and perspective of the original presentation. When people think about parliamentary procedure, they often treat it as a technical skill set, separate from the law. In my experience, that separation rarely holds up in the real world. Parliamentary procedure and legal requirements … Continue reading
HUD Shifts Fair Housing Enforcement Priorities
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released two new documents that signal a major change in how the agency will enforce the Fair Housing Act. The memoranda (“Fair Housing Act Enforcement and Prioritization of Resources” and “Notice of the Withdrawal of FHEO Guidance Documents”) withdraw several earlier HUD guidance statements and outline a narrower, case-by-case approach to investigations. Under the new policy, HUD will focus its resources on intentional and systemic discrimination rather than on broad theories of “disparate impact.” The agency has also rescinded prior guidance on issues such as criminal background checks, limited English … Continue reading