We are all aware of the need for an election process that is flawlessly error-proof. The types of voting allowed at Holliday Park, in congruence with our By-Laws, are by mail ballot, by walk-in ballot, or by proxy. Each year there is an election for Board Members who normally serve two-year terms. In the odd years, like 2009, three Board Members need to be elected or re-elected; in the even-numbered years, four of the seven Board Members need to be elected or re-elected.

Here at Holliday Park, there is a small group of people that is called up every spring to oversee the annual Board Member election. Even before the actual work is considered, the persons who make up the group are newly-chosen or chosen from past experience. Those are invited who have the ability to withstand the time-frame required to participate, and who have the qualities of character that give confidence to the members in casting their vote.

Preparatory meetings help the group members to focus on the task in a unified way, with agreement among the group as to procedure and manner. Ten to fifteen people are able to now accomplish in one day, the election event and the process of counting votes. First of all, the mail ballots are counted. The group then recesses. While staying confined to the Clubhouse, they then attend the Annual Meeting of which the in-person election is a part. During the election itself, each group-member carries out a certain role, for which he/she has prepared. Two challengers, previously instructed as to the parameters of their roles, are allowed. The election itself is usually completed within two hours. All the procedural work is honorably performed with a realization that strict confidentiality is required which prohibits disclosure of anything that occurred during the election or in the counting room. Understanding the role of confidentiality is the most necessary quality for any election worker or challenger.

The whole election process has been examined and discussed by members who have the well-being of Holliday Park at heart. The legally-established By-Laws, which served this well-functioning cooperative for many years, are strictly followed. An accompanying procedure is followed with the same exactitude.

Within a couple hours after the event of the election, the walk-in ballots are counted and totaled along with the previously counted mail ballots. The results are then announced to the membership re-assembled in the Clubhouse, and posted on the Holliday Park marquee.

Each time the work-group accomplishes this task, they experience the satisfaction of a job well-done, and honorably executed. New or remaining Board Members then set out to plan organizational meetings and get on with the business of the Cooperative.

A Property Manager is responsible for “EVERYTHING” pertaining to the efficient day-to-day management and operation of the Co-op. The duties of the Property Manager are to be performed, so as not to violate or usurp any written policy and guidelines as set forth by the volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors, and by various state and governmental agencies.

Because of the amount of knowledge that a Property Manager must have, as the Job Description clearly says — “EVERYTHING,” most Co-ops and Condo Associations usually hire a Management Company to fulfill this responsible position.

Here at Holliday Park, we started using Management Companies, but soon discovered that one day a week did not provide sufficient time to carefully handle our Co-op, as they represent many other Associations. Therefore, the Board decided to hire a Property Manager to report directly to the duly elected, volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors.

The Board decided that any competent Property Manager must have “hands on” knowledge of the maintenance aspects which comprise most of the problems of any cooperative. Maintenance expenses make up most of the Annual Budget of our Co-op. The Board discovered such a unique personality in one of our maintenance staff.

The first thing the Board did was to promote an intelligent, energetic maintenance worker to the role of Maintenance Property Manager. At the same time, we hired a temporary Administrative Property Manager for the Office. The Maintenance Property Manager not only developed his maintenance supervision skills, but also his administrative skills; thus, qualifying him for promotion to full Property Manager, a job which he has held for 27 years.

Our Property Manager:
1. Develops the software for the Holliday Park computer system. Realizing the importance of having the detail and history on each of the 694 units in Holliday Park, in the maintenance area, he is responsible to keep a detailed database current.

2. On any given day, our Property Manager can produce for the Board of Directors, all data on individual appliances, water heaters, furnaces, roofs, garbage disposals, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, etc., detailing the age, the type, and other any pertinent information on maintenance; besides the normal administrative data.

3. Oversees the accounting, the maintenance, the purchasing, and the contracted services; as well as special projects, the resale of units, the pool, and informational technology that is always changing with the times.

4. Analyzes Financial Reserves necessary for our aging Co-op. His expertise enables Holliday Park to avoid special assessments for future needed projects.

5. Researches all governmental housing laws that are forever changing, such as the Boca Code and Legal Opinions; and composes Policies as directed by the Holliday Park Board of Directors, for the Board’s review and approval.

6. Is self motivating, and upgrades his skills by taking new courses in various matters needed for the efficient operation of our Co-op. His courses led him to become a Certified Property Manager.

7. Writes specs for major contracts when going out for bids on major projects, rather than having an engineering service do this for a fee. Among the latest projects, was the new energy efficient, vinyl siding contract that was completed in 2008. He is now planning for the new energy efficient, furnace replacement program for 2009.

8. Knows the ins and outs of all aspects of Holliday Park, to include the infrastructure of the Holliday Park underground plumbing, water, and electric.

9. He is responsible to hire and manage all other employees of Holliday Park; while the Property Manager, himself, works for the Board of Directors. In this regard, he is the “front man” for enforcing all Board Policies, which can sometimes put him in an unpopular position, even though he is just enforcing Board Policy.

10. Our Property Manager is a private person, who possesses an inner confidence which is needed for this position. He rightfully takes great pride in his work and his accomplishments.

Holliday Park is very, very fortunate to have such an able-bodied, unique, and knowledgeable Property Manager. He has been a great asset in the success of Holliday Park. We know of no Management Company that would spend the time, have the interest, and provide the personal service as our Property Manager does for its Board of Directors, and in the best interest of the membership.

Come and join us as a member of Holliday Park; and you will get to know and appreciate the qualifications and loyalty of our Property Manager.

There was a time when I was away from my home, Holliday Park, for many hours a day. I had no idea what occurred there while I was at work or asleep. I knew that I lived in a well-kept complex that was usually peaceful, quiet, and very, very economical. I was also aware that this lifestyle was an unmerited blessing in my life.

One day I made a decision to become as supportive as my time and energy would allow. I became a volunteer, like many before me and alongside of me, had done. I then learned how economically dependent Holliday Park is on its volunteers. Think of paying an employee to do the work that our volunteers do, and imagine the rent/carrying charges that would have to be raised to meet a larger payroll, when instead, our own volunteers charge nothing at all.

Everyday, including weekends, volunteers work to maintain safety, good citizenship, cleanliness and order at Holliday Park.

• At certain times of the year, when the Status Quo needs to be published (quarterly,) or when elections are held; or during the summer months when the Grounds Committee and Pool Group, work to make the Co-op beautiful and to give every member their pool and guest passes that are requested, the weekly volunteer hours skyrocket.

• Monday after Monday, “breakfast-preparers” faithfully take responsibility for a nice social gathering that others can regularly attend and enjoy.

• The Night Patrols work every evening, all year long. This Neighborhood Watch Program is kept going by teams of volunteers who forego a few hours of sleep three or four times a year, to keep our complex one of the safest places in Westland.

• The Membership Committee meets for ongoing business to approve new applicants; and attend to membership requests, census form updates, and other necessary clerical tasks, often several times a month.

• Always on call, the Improvement Committee authorizes member-updates to their units.

• Valiant Bin Workers do a basic and often unappreciated task that keeps Holliday Park clean.

• Many responsibilities are handled all year long by the Building and Grounds Committee, who help keep Holliday Park looking its best.

• The Traffic & Safety Committee does a great job in all 27 lots, to find solutions to any and all Parking Lot issues.

• There are also Social Clubs which are run by volunteers to add so much spirit to our community. These include the following clubs: Movie, Golf, Koffee Klutch, a variety of Card Games, Bowling, Tennis, Dominoes, Bunco, Book Club and Travel.

• A small group of volunteers prepare the clubhouse for the Annual Volunteer Dinner, which grows larger, and takes more preparation every year.

• The Welcome Group coordinates the greeting of every new neighbor by assigning a designee to each Parking Lot, and alerting them when someone is about to join us.

• Other members serve on adhoc Work Groups whenever a special need for help arises, and the Board has a special task that needs some extra assistance.

Who are our Volunteers? They are people like you. Maybe YOU are a volunteer where you live. As volunteers we do the best we can, sometimes blundering just a little bit, or having to seek directions from others; but always working for the good of all of us in this special community of caring people. The mutual respect that has been gained by all of our volunteers, is earned and appreciated; and, because we are an “all for one” neighborhood, special warmth of spirit is always present as we interact.

Our volunteers prove their value to the cooperative each time they give service or express interest in the needs and activities that are taking place. The one qualification required for these jobs is an optimistic attitude. In the act of volunteering, you, the giver are enriched as much as the receiver. Everyone’s day has exactly the same number of hours; yet volunteers seem to find extra time. ACTIONS speak louder than words – or dollars!!

We hope that YOU will be a volunteer when you become a member of our cooperative.