Cathy Henesey
NEW IDEAS and FRESH APPROACHES
30+ year Executive $100M Budget Accountability 10+ Years PRIOR HOA Officer
Cathy Henesey
NEW IDEAS and FRESH APPROACHES
IT is TIME FOR Transparency, new ideas and community inclusion
Priorities for Cathy Henesey for Stonebriar Village Hoa boa
Transparency
I believe our HOA should operate in the open, with nothing hidden and everything shared, so every neighbor knows exactly what’s happening and why. Here are a few examples that I would seek to enhance:
Historical Board Minutes - Not all things are recorded in the board minutes; I would like to see more transparency on Committee member and Chairperson selections, summaries of neighbors that come to speak at the board and what their issues are, and any discussion that results in a change in any approved prior board items.
Rules and Regulations - Prior committee and boards have done an awesome job updating rules and regulations, but it seems as there are rules that are operated as general practice but may not be documented in the actual rules. These should be identified and Rules should be amended appropriately so we operation consistently for all members.
Member Complaints documented for historical purposes - not all complaints are registered with the association office. Only those that are frequent or offer a rising concern get elevated to the board. I think all comments should be recorded for the board to review and understand ALL of the concerns of our homeowners. As a board member, knowing all of the concerns would make me more informed and able to consider all views for any votes that come to the board.
Safety and Security
I will push for a community where safety isn’t assumed but clearly communicated and assured—proactive, visible, and backed by real action. Do you know when the last break-in was? It happens and the HOA should be the first one to tell you about it.
Crime Reports - I think the Security Committee should review any reported crime in the neighborhood and report out findings in their Committee Report to the board. This doesn't mean we have to include addresses or names of the homeowners. We should just have a brief summary that an event occurred. Often times, a crime is recorded by a homeowner, but the event didn't actually happen in the neighborhood. These summaries would assure homeowners that a committee is researching these activities and making the homeowners more informed.
Fiscally Responsible Budgeting
Our Finance Committee and Treasurers over the last 8 years have done a tremendous job in preparing us for the long term. Keeping a reserve account for "the unexpected" is the key to ensuring we are prepared for natural disasters or aging infrastructure such as our private pipes, sidewalks, landscape, and streets. A well funded reserve can ensure we don't have unexpected assessments.
In my previous experience in other HOA Board leadership roles, I have inherited low or none existent reserves and when that unexpected emergency happens, it is a difficult situation to discuss with homeowners. As a board member, I will continue to ensure we are fiscally responsible and continue conservative approaches to maximize the best uses of YOUR HOA dues.
Communication for all Ages
Communication should meet people where they are, from social media to mailbox flyers, ensuring every resident—kids to seniors—stays informed and connected. Here are a few suggestions that we should consider:
Virtual Board Meetings - Inexpensive solutions exists now that make it easy to provide access to board meetings from the comfort of your home.
Digital Magazine - while Stroll offers a beautiful paper magazine, a digital magazine can also offer more real-time news and updates. Board meeting minutes and reports could all be located in a digitally enhanced version that is mobile friendly and centrally located.
Social Media Official Pages - it is my understanding the association legal department advises the board not to have official social media pages. I understand risk-adverse attorneys, but there is a safe way to host several sites that appeal to all ages. Instituting a safe social media policy that protects the homeowners can ensure privacy is protected. With no policy and no guardrails, then anyone can post anything. Owning official sites ensures an administration team can review posts for relevancy and appropriateness. Most importantly, it provides a great place for homeowners to ask questions and get quick answers or references where to find the answers. If I were elected, I would be happy to lead a social media policy and strategy initiative.
Community Activities for all Ages
I’m committed to creating fun, meaningful activities that energize our community and engage every generation. Here are a few suggestions that I would be happy to initiate whether I am elected or not:
Youth/Teen Advisory Board - one of the common suggestions I hear is that we don't offer activities for our teens. We have an amazing group of young teens and adults that would like to interact more with others in the neighborhood. Being in HR and Talent Acquisition for 30+ years, I know the key to a sustainable future is to invest in the talent of the future. Creating a youth/teen advisory board could be a great learning opportunity for not only them but our homeowners. Here are a few suggestions that we could enlist them to help and in turn provide them with career experience:
Liaison to Communication Committee - they could manage and administer our social media pages
Content Creators - one of the fastest growing careers today - they can cover events and create interactive videos for social media platforms and digital magazines
Liaison to SNC - they can plan an event or add activities to our current events that would attract them to participate
Mentorship Program - we can pair interested teens/college students with retired executives in careers that interest them so they have a person to talk to about their careers and offer advise on how to get started. We have an amazing group of experienced professionals with amazing careers who I am confident would volunteer their time to prepare the next generation.
Elder and/or Single Homeowners - Many of our homeowners live alone and they may not know many people. They may not also be comfortable attending an event by themselves. Many may not feel comfortable attending evening events due to driving concerns. It would be fantastic if we could identify those that would like to interact more but not sure how to get involved. Here are a few suggestions:
Holiday Home Tour Party Bus: It is fun to tour homes with a group of people instead of by yourself. What if we organized a small bus that can picks up these single homeowners and go from house to house? This would be so fun and it would get these individuals together.
Day Time Tea or Lunch at a home: many of our adult activities are in the evening and some may not want to drive. Day time events can be more casual and can offer speakers or educational sessions that can range from technology learnings to city officials to interesting people such as artists or authors.
Who do you know that would like to participate in any of above activities?
Your Priority
What is your priority? Contact me anytime by phone or email. I am here to listen and learn about all the issues that are important to you. Contact cathy@cathyhenesey.com 214-725-0720
Let's COnnect
Tell me about your priorities
I would love to hear about what is important to you in the neighborhood. What could we do more of, different, or better?
Cathy Henesey for Stonebriar Village HOA Board
