So, against my better judgment and my husband’s chagrin with being dragged to yet another Annual General Meeting, I decided to get personally involved with my condo corporation when it came time to elect a new board.

Perhaps I can thank the scourge of apathy (yes, scourge) among my fellow residents and condo owners. Despite ample written notice, both in a printed newsletter and then again with a package of printed material including minutes from last year’s AGM, a budget and agenda for this year’s meeting appearing in mailboxes well in advance, the showing for the event couldn’t even aspire to be pathetic. With 140 units that have to mean at least 200 residents and co-owners if not more residing in the complex, it’s nothing short of abysmal that attendance barely made the double digits and could scarcely range into the dozens.

There may have been 25 people tops (and some of those were couples who would only account for a single suite). It became apparent why, when the bylaws changed, they included an addendum to allow AGMs to proceed without the required 25 per cent owner turnout. Even less than has seemed to get done around the place would ever be passed with the number of absentee and otherwise ambivalent condo owners.

Needless to say when I shot up my hand (OK, more like gently elevated a half-open palm) to toss my hat in the ring, there was no argument. Within seconds I was nominated, seconded and a shiny new member of the board, along with three other newcomers.

While any of us is yet to attend a meeting, it seems we will have our work cut out for us over the next year or so, and I have gotten a glimpse ahead to the coming months with several e-mails already in my inbox about light fixtures, building repairs and people violating the bylaws by erecting what-ever type of exterior door they see fit. And that’s just this morning’s list.

I never would have predicted that first day looking at the place back in March of 2005 that I’d give two shakes about maps of when all the exterior light bulbs were replaced or how many visitor parking stalls are in the complex.

Now’s my chance to see why laws take so long to get passed and why, at least to the outsider, democratic governments can’t seem to get anything done.

It’s likely the nearest to a politico I will ever be.

So in light of my new position I decided to consult some of local experts on how to best serve my fellow owners and make the most of my time as a member of the board of directors.

Phyllis Fyckes, president of Condo Diagnostics, who herself has experience governing condo corporations both as a board member and a property manager, says while being one of the people making decisions for a condo can be a thankless job, it’s worth making the effort. “At least you know what’s going on,” says Fyckes, who, as it turns out, managed my complex about a decade ago.

She advises new board members bear in mind it’s not just their own agendas being served (there goes my motion to outlaw ugly curtains), but also the interests of the greater good. Patience is also something new boards have to learn, notes Fyckes, especially when it comes to expecting work to happen over-night. “I see a lot of boards thinking work gets done immediately, but especially now with the limited number of contractors avail-able it can take months just to get a quote.”

To that end, one thing proactive boards can do to is help management companies find reputable contractors, which can immensely speed up the process, she says.

One thing our previous board of directors may just have done right is creating a news-letter to let owners know what’s going on around the complex between annual general meetings, which often translates to work being done or where money is going. My only suggestion, and one I plan to make, would be to make it a paperless version residents can access online.

And in terms of a time commitment, independent of research to get prepared for a meeting, boards usually are required to meet about once a month for a couple of hours to discuss the regular business of a condominium, perhaps slightly more if important decisions need to be made and less in summer. Now that we have the Internet, we can always be in touch via e-mail rather than meeting in person over every light bulb needing changing or door contra to code, which certainly appeals to me with my busy schedule.

It seems I have some homework, as Fyckes stresses the need for boards of directors to be well-versed, or at least versed, in the Condominium Act as well as have a detailed knowledge of their corporations, own bylaws and special rules. She suggests getting access to past meeting minutes, both board and AGMs, and familiarizing myself with what maintenance and work has been done around my complex.

Looks like I have a little reading to do this weekend before my first official meeting.  CL