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
Author Archives: Jim Slaughter
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
The Four Governing Documents That Shape Every HOA and Condo
How They Work Together and When They Need Updating Every community association–whether a homeowners association (HOA) or condominium–operates under a set of governing documents. Together, these documents define how the community functions, what owners may or may not do, and how decisions are made. Although most owners are familiar with the “rules,” few realize how those rules fit into a hierarchy of authority or how and when those documents should be updated. Declaration of Covenants The Declaration (sometimes called the “Covenants,” “CCRs,” or “Restrictions”) is the document filed with the county that created the community association. It is a contract … Continue reading
Plugging In: How Community Associations Can Prepare for Electric Vehicle Charging
Electric cars have become a more common sight in driveways and parking lots across the country. As drivers have switched to electric vehicles (EVs), many homeowners and condo associations are being asked about installing electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). The idea sounds simple—just plug in and charge. But there’s more to it. Associations have to think about safety, cost, and how charging stations fit within their community rules. With good planning and clear policies, boards can meet residents’ needs while keeping things fair for everyone. Understanding Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations There are three main kinds of electric vehicles: Charging … Continue reading
Dealing with Difficult Members at Meetings
Every board, committee, or membership meeting eventually faces “problem members.” They may be disruptive by design or simply enthusiastic to a fault. Fortunately, presiding officers have proven tools—parliamentary and interpersonal—for steering meetings back on track. The Over-Participator Some members feel compelled to speak on every issue, often multiple times. If your parliamentary authority is Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised or The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, rules can help balance participation: In smaller boards or informal settings, the chair can still enforce balance by inviting comments from those who haven’t spoken. If necessary, the chair should act as a … Continue reading
Ranked Choice Voting & Robert’s Rules of Order
Ranked Choice Voting in the News Ranked-choice voting (RCV) has received growing attention in recent elections. Just last month it was used in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, where voters could rank up to five candidates in order of preference. If no candidate received more than 50 percent of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes was eliminated in successive rounds, with those votes redistributed to the next choice on each ballot. That process continued until Zohran Mamdani secured a majority vote and was declared the Democratic nominee on July 1. Why the growing interest in … Continue reading
It’s Time to Reconsider the Motion “to Reconsider Everything”
If you haven’t been involved with the National Education Association (NEA) or a state affiliate, the title of this article might seem odd. But for decades, there’s been a practice where delegates at the national Representative Assembly or state conventions move to “reconsider all new business items” or “reconsider all items voted on until now.” This motion doesn’t actually intend to reopen every past decision. Instead, it takes advantage of a feature of the motion to Reconsider in Robert’s Rules of Order (12th Edition). That motion allows an assembly to revisit a single motion if someone believes a mistake was … Continue reading
NC Community Association Legislative Update – June 12, 2025
There’s a well-known quote that says, “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” It’s credited to Otto von Bismarck and means that the legislative process can be messy and confusing. That idea came to life this week in the North Carolina Senate. As a reminder, Senate Bill 378 (“HOA Revisions”) was passed by the NC Senate in May. It is now being looked at by the North Carolina House. The bill includes too many provisions to list here and would be the most radical change to the NC Planned Community Act and NC Condominium Act … Continue reading
Board Codes of Conduct & The Consequence of Violations
As attorneys and professional parliamentarians, Carole Albright and I advise many associations across the country, including some of the largest and most complex. Our work frequently involves helping with governance documents, meetings, and disciplinary matters. In the past decade, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in questions related to board “codes of conduct” (or “codes of ethics”) which tend to fall into two categories: Without turning this into a Parliamentary Law 301 course, we have some general observations. But because no single article can address every type of association, under all state laws, whether incorporated or not, across all industries, these … Continue reading
Know Before You Go to the Mic: Using Points and Requests Correctly
Each year, Carole Albright—also an attorney and Professional Registered Parliamentarian—and I attend numerous conventions, annual meetings, and representative assemblies. Lately, we’ve noticed two major changes in these gatherings: members are more engaged at these meetings than ever, and there seems to have been a generational shift in who’s attending. Since the pandemic, many seasoned delegates familiar with parliamentary procedure are no longer present. In their place are newer, often younger members—enthusiastic, but sometimes unfamiliar with the more formal meeting rules necessary in larger groups following Robert’s Rules of Order (or some version of “Sturgis” or the AIP Standard Code). This … Continue reading
Senate Bill 378 Could Devastate North Carolina’s Community Associations—And Burden Responsible Homeowners
Senate Bill 378, recently passed by the North Carolina Senate, contains a provision that could unintentionally cause enormous financial harm to North Carolina’s 15,000+ homeowner and condominium associations. If left uncorrected, this language would punish the homeowners who pay their dues on time—while giving a free pass to those who don’t. A Well-Intentioned Bill With a Deep Flaw SB 378 was introduced to address concerns about associations overreaching—particularly when it comes to violations of rules and covenants. That’s a fair issue to explore. Many agree that when disputes arise over governing document violations—where facts may be unclear or subjective—a judge … Continue reading
NC Community Association Legislative Update – May 7, 2025
SB 378 Passes Senate Senate Bill 378 (“HOA Revisions”) passed its third reading in the North Carolina Senate today. However, this does not mean its provisions are now law. For any bill to become law, it must be approved by both the Senate and the House in identical form. SB 378 now moves to the North Carolina House for further consideration. Here’s a summary of key provisions: The full bill can be found at Senate Bill 378.
Proper Use of “Friendly Amendments” During Meetings
At meetings conducted under parliamentary procedure, you may hear references to a “friendly amendment.” Despite how common the term has become, Robert’s Rules of Order barely addresses the concept—and did not mention “friendly amendments” at all until the 10th Edition, published in 2000. The current Robert’s describes a friendly amendment as “an amendment offered by someone who is in sympathy with the purposes of the main motion, in the belief that the amendment will either improve the statement or effect of the main motion, presumably to the satisfaction of its maker, or will increase the chances of the main motion’s … Continue reading
NC Community Association Legislative Update – April 14, 2025
BILL FILING DEADLINE PASSED LAST WEEK Spring is officially here—longer days, blooming flowers, and a flurry of legislative activity! Last week marked an important milestone for anyone keeping an eye on North Carolina laws that impact community associations (homeowner and condominium associations). As part of the two-year 2025–2026 session, lawmakers just hit a key deadline: the general cutoff for filing bills in both the NC Senate and House was last Thursday. There are always exceptions, of course, but for the most part, what’s been filed is what we’ve got—for now. So, this is a good time to take stock of … Continue reading
Associations Gone Wild: Tackling Today’s Bad Behavior
It’s everywhere these days—disruptive behavior. From member meetings to board discussions to homeowner demands, civility often takes a back seat. That’s why my law partners, Harmony Taylor and Steve Black, will be presenting at two NC-CAI Spring Education & Networking Events next week on the timely topic “Lower the Boom on Bad Behaviors: Tools & Tips” Join us for one of these dynamic programs featuring Melissa Ramsey, CAI’s 2025 National President: Each program will explore practical tools and real-world strategies, including: Don’t miss these informative and interactive sessions. For more details or to register, visit:Raleigh, Wednesday, April 2 at Jiddi Space & Courtyard Greensboro – … Continue reading