Do you
really need a Social Committee? The answer is YES, YES, YES!
The power of a strong social committee is easily
overlooked in communities. When reviewing the annual budget, the social event
line item is often dismissed as an unnecessary expense. Apathy amongst community
members is a common frustration of community association leaders. The
dictionary defines apathy as the lack of concern or interest. How do you combat
apathy? You generate interest! How do you generate interest in the community?
–You act. Action cures fear—and apathy. The first step is finding one or more
members who are willing to plan a social event.
Social events help to build relationships among
community members. As owners begin to
forge relationships with one another it will increase their level of commitment
to the community. The events do not have to be extravagant in order to be
meaningful; but they do need to be well planned, so members will want to come
to the next event. Some of the common social events that are easy to implement
are as follows:
- Ice Cream Social
- Movie Night
- Pizza Party
- Cupcake Social
- Holiday Celebration
Social events promote owner involvement. As owners
begin to develop a positive rapport with one another they begin to engage in
more conversations about the community. Positive dialogue leads to progress and
ultimately an enhanced quality of life for everyone. Ideally, others will want
to become a part of a committee or serve on the Board as a result of being
present at community functions.
Ultimately, strong communities are built on strong
relationships. The true essence of a community is togetherness. Actions that
break down a community are social cliques, apathy, and secrecy. Actions that
build community include social events, owner involvement, and communication.
Knowing this, we should move to increase the funding of community social
events. Failed functions in the past should not dictate future efforts to plan
an event. Some owners are pleased with knowing that there are people who simply
care enough to make an event available for them to attend - even if they are
unable to attend an event. The impact of a social event for a community is
often intangible but it’s also invaluable. The action you take today determines
the quality of life for your community tomorrow. Cheers!
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