Homeowners associations (HOAs) are organizations which deal with the upkeep of a neighborhood's common areas and establish standards of acceptable behavior for a community. While they all share a common purpose, the level of activity HOAs undertake and other characteristics vary somewhat from case to case, depending on state and local laws and traditions.

Our HOA is ran by a board, which is made up of volunteers elected by fellow neighbors / owners. Depending on the projects or activity our board may also organize committees. The board has directors, and some are appointed specific roles which are secretary, treasurer, president and vice president.

 HOA board meetings follow the formal rules and set agendas items which are established in the Association Bylaws. Some issues and decisions for association operation are handled by the board by vote, while other matters require a vote by all the HOA members to decide or approve. Detailed conditions for how the Board of the Association operates can be found in the associations bylaws in the documents section of the website.

Annual dues are collected from all homeowners in the association to finance the yearly budget and operations of the association. Specifically, Twin Lakes Estates has amenities such as street lights, our front entrances, and the carriage house bridge that must be maintained or require utilities.  The lakes and fountains also form "common areas" that are enjoyed and for the benefit of all the homeowners. Your annual assessment dues are collected at the beginning of the year to fund maintenance, operation, and if applicable replacement or repair of these amenities. The Owners Association itself is a non-profit organization and all Board members are volunteers. As such the organization has no employees and all Board members are unpaid.

You do!  Our Declarations Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (DCCRs) and Bylaws of the association require an annual meeting of the homeowners within the first 60 calendar days of a new year.  Before the the Annual Meeting the Board is responsible for providing all homeowners a draft budget for the year and any board elections  that will be held at the meeting.  In order for the budget to be passed, a majority of homeowners (in person or by their proxy) must approve the draft budget by vote at the annual meeting.  

Yes. The association has defined building / construction standards which are regulated by a committee called the Architecture Review Committee (ARC). As a general rule of thumb any changes to the exterior of your home or lot need to be approved by the ARC before you begin. Does this mean you have to get ARC approval to move a shrub at your home?  Absolutely not. Minor landscaping changes or changing the color of your house trim paint is up to you, however deciding to add an addition or wanting to put a 10 X 10 shed in your backyard is definitely something you'll want to contact and consult the ARC committee about. 

According to our Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions the Architecture Review Committee (ARC) is defined as, and serves the community as follows:
The Committee shall have the exclusive jurisdiction over all construction and landscaping, including all construction for improvements or modifications, on any portion of the Property.
No construction, which term shall include within its definition, staking, clearing, excavation, grading and other site work, and no landscaping or major removal of plants, trees, or shrubs shall take place except in strict compliance with this Article, until the requirements thereof have been fully met, and until the approval of the Committee has been obtained.
The Committee shall make these standards and procedures available to Owners and builders who seek to engage in development of, or construction upon, any or all portion of the Property and who shall conduct their operations strictly in accordance therewith.
The Committee is authorized to review any and all aspects of construction and or improvements, including location, quality and quantity of landscaping on the Property or any portion thereof, which may, in the reasonable opinion of the Committee, adversely affect the living enjoyment of one or more Owners or the general value of the Property.

Definitely!  We're always in need of assistance to keep our neighborhood in great shape.  Holiday lights, changing lightbulbs, monitoring the ponds, there's all kinds of things you can do to help us if you want to.