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Is recruiting new HOA board members seeming harder than ever?  Learn in this podcast some practical tools to engage volunteers, reduce burnout, and build a stronger community pipeline! 

✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Volunteer Interest Form: http://www.reservestudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Ep137-Volunteer_Interest_Form.pdf

Struggling to recruit new HOA board members? You’re not alone. In this episode, Robert and guest Cathleen Dunn reveal practical strategies for outreach, engagement, volunteer progression, and preventing toxic candidates from taking over your board. Learn how to build community spirit, create a volunteer pipeline, reduce dissident behavior, and all while inspiring homeowners to step into leadership with confidence! 

Chapters:

00:00 Why does homeowner connection matter for recruiting board members?
00:44 What sparked this episode and why are boards struggling to fill seats?
03:41 Why is volunteerism down across HOAs of all sizes?
06:02 How has post-pandemic homebody culture affected HOA involvement?
07:35 Why is recruitment a process of engagement, not just announcements?
08:28 How do recruitment challenges differ in small vs. large associations?
09:43 Why does community spirit matter for volunteer turnout?
10:45 How can branding and volunteer shirts help generate engagement?
11:56 Why is volunteer progression critical before joining the board?
13:15 How do you ease homeowners into small volunteer roles first?
15:55 How does slow, long-term nurturing create strong future board members?
17:33 How do kindness and acknowledgement inspire reluctant volunteers?
18:53 What simple community activities help build a volunteer pipeline?
21:02 How can local business connections strengthen board recruitment?
22:23 Ad Break - Our FiPho 
22:53 How do you screen for good candidates and avoid toxic ones?
24:35 How can education and transparency calm upset or misinformed owners?
27:40 How do you avoid letting dissidents gain control of the board?
29:51 How can transparency and open financial review reduce conflict?
32:10 How do you encourage

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