The Board President: Roles and Responsibilities in Community Associations 

Introduction 

A community association president’s actions shape the character of the community and the lifestyle of community residents. For this reason, the president must understand the role and responsibilities of the position as well as the tools of effective leadership and management.

This guide will help association presidents—as leaders and managers—through unique challenges and frustrations. While it cannot prescribe a standard set of actions to initiate in every situation, it does offer suggestions that may help the president to run the association smoothly.

Key Points

• The association is both a community and a business. The president should work to enhance the lifestyle of residents and protect the value of the asset.
  
• The president works closely with the board, manager, and residents to establish the overall goals of the association.
  
• The president must be knowledgeable of all association governing documents, and ensure that the association operates accordingly.
  
• The president is responsible for the association’s fiscal well being, including directing the budget process, collecting assessments, ensuring that reserves are adequately funded, and that insurance coverage is sufficient to protect the association.
  
• The president presides at board and other meetings, prepares meeting agendas, and ensures that valid voting procedures are used.
  
• The president identifies and trains potential association leaders.
  
• The president works closely with professional managers and other association professionals to ensure the successful operation of the association.
  
• As spokesperson for the community, the president must be an effective communicator.