Association Management Group Halloween Staff Luncheon

Association Management Group celebrates Halloween with a Staff luncheon.  Paul and May Gayle Mengert paid a visit in costume. 

Paul And May Gayle Mengert Host A Reception For Congresswoman Alma Adams

 

On October 30, Paul and May Gayle Mengert hosted a reception for Congresswoman Alma Adams, a distinguished retired professor from Bennett College and an alumnus of North Carolina A&T and Ohio State universities.

The Congresswoman served more than 20 years in the North Carolina legislature before being elected to the U.S. Congress. 

Congresswoman Adams serves on the Subcommittee on Nutrition and in 2015 founded the Adams Hunger Initiative to address and combat food insecurity and hunger.

Her focus closely parallels the Mengerts' work with the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Carolina and Greensboro Urban Ministry to raise funds to feed the needy.

The Mengerts salute Congresswoman Adams for her work promoting quality education, which creates a path for underprivileged children to the middle class. She has fought tirelessly throughout her career to improve our public schools and protect women¹s rights from the extremists in the legislature. The Congresswoman also led the effort to increase the minimum wage in North Carolina, earning her statewide recognition as a champion for the middle class.

Your HOA And Proper Lighting In Your Community

Proper lighting in community common areas and on streets  need to have adequate lighting for the safety and well being of the residents who live in the community.  When daylight savings time arrives it is even more important. Neighborhoods need to be adequately illuminated.

 In some cases the HOA or property manager is responsible for lighting installed by them, and in other instances the municipality or power company may have responsibility for maintaining the lighting. Either way the HOA or property manager should report lighting problems to the proper person. 

Below are three important reasons adequate lighting needs to be maintained. 

Halloween - Holiday Safety

Halloween can be a fun time for children.  However, there are dangers that every HOA must be aware of.  Proper lighting will protect the children from being injured from a fall on the property.  Also, this lighting will discourage criminals from taking advantage of this holiday to prey on children. During this holiday there are added risks due to decorations on the lawns or buried that can be stepped on or fallen over. This risk is not just for children, but for adults accompanying trick-or-treaters.  

Residents that like to decorate for the holidays may have holiday lights, black lights, fog machines, smoke machines, mechanical moving objects and other props that can diminish visibility if it is dark. It is a good idea to have your Neighborhood Watch volunteers on call for Halloween to help with safety issues.

Proper Street Lighting Reduces HOA Liabilities

Inadequate outdoor lighting can lead to a pedestrian being injured on the property even if it is not Halloween. All types of scenarios come into play when it is dark. Residents drive through the neighborhood at night may not see people walking and someone may get hit.  Bicycles, toys or other objects may be left near the community street and not seen by drivers. Sprinkler heads, hoses, sprinklers, yard signs and other objects may not be visible in the dark.

In your rules and regulations HOAs require residents to keep the common areas free from personal obstacles and belongings that may be a risk to others. Community common areas should be well lit, and such lighting installation, and maintenance is part of what HOA fees pay for.

Your HOA regulations are in place so keep residents safe and common areas safe.  It is the HOA's responsibility to have proper visible signage around amenity areas such as pools, playgrounds etc... to help prevent  accidents.

It is the responsibility of the resident or homeowner to obey all signs, rules and regulations, and to help care for the equipment or amenities installed by the HOA.

Proper Street Lighting Reduces Crime

Proper street lighting will discourage criminals from entering HOA property.  Criminal activity rarely happens in the daylight. Good lighting is one of the most effective and cost responsible enhancements to natural surveillance that one can take. It makes it harder for intruders to hide from law enforcement, building residents, passers-by and cameras.

Finally, as a caveat, keep in mind that there is a difference between lighting in general and good security illumination. Mood lighting may be nice for lovers but security illumination makes it uncomfortable for evildoers.

 If you see street lights that are out you should report them to your property manager or HOA so they can notify the proper municipalities for repairs. If you, as a resident, have any concerns or questions concerning safety issues in your community, you should call your  HOA board or send a concern in writing.

Professional Community Manager Association Management Group Recommends NC/SC HOAs Ready for Hurricane Matthew

Association Management Group President Paul Mengert advises HOAs across North Carolina and South Carolina to prepare for Hurricane Matthew.

      As Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 to 156 mph, tracks north to the Carolinas, Association Management Group, one of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowner association managers, advises HOA members across North Carolina and South Carolina to prepare their homes and neighborhoods for impact. “As professional HOA managers, an important part of our job is to help protect neighborhoods and residents,” said AMG Founder and President Paul Mengert.  “We help communities succeed in times of trouble such as hurricanes by providing them with the tools and resources, the advice and support they need to be safe and protect their homes.”

            According to Mengert, while the storm track is unpredictable, there is enough of a threat to make preparedness important: Make a plan, practice your plan, prepare an emergency kit, stay in the know.

Tips for Preparing for a Hurricane

*Have non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person for up to a week.

*Put copies of insurance and identification in a watertight plastic bag.

*Stock your first aid kid, including prescription drugs.

*Gather sleeping bags or blankets.

*Pack clothing and hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and deodorant.

*Be sure to have cash or a checkbook.

*Fill the car gas tank.

*Remember your furry friends and assemble pet supplies, including food, water, medicines, leashes and vaccination records.

*If evacuated, go.

*Stay tuned to the latest news, and include a battery-operated radio in the family emergency kit.

Readying Your Home for a Hurricane

*Move items in danger of wind damage, such as bikes, bird feeders and patio furniture.

*Switch the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and keep them closed as much as possible to keep food cool and safe if a power outage occurs.

*Use flashlights in the dark, not candles.

*Know your area’s emergency plan, including the location of the nearest shelter. Plan several routes to the shelter in case of downed trees, and always steer clear of flooded roads.

*Check your insurance policies for coverage in the event of accidental damage and natural disasters. Remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.

After the Hurricane...

*Be ready for more rain.

*If evacuated, go home only when officials say it’s safe. 

*Never enter a building surrounded by water.

*Drive only if absolutely necessary.

*Beware of loose and dangling power lines. Don’t touch or try to move them. Instead, alert the power company.

*Assess home damage, taking pictures of both the structure and furnishings, to submit to your insurance company.

*Stay tuned to weather updates.

For details about hurricane preparedness, visit http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.

For communities in South Carolina, see http://www.scemd.org/files/Public%20Information/Publications/Hurricane_Guide/Hurricane_Guide_2015.pdf

For communities in North Carolina, go to https://www2.ncdps.gov/div/pao/HurrGuideFront08.pdf

For insurance information, visit floodsmart.gov.

About AMG:  AMG is a professional community association management company dedicated to building effective community associations. AMG guides and assists executive boards to help protect the association's interests, enhance the lives of community members and improve the property values in the community. With offices throughout the Carolinas in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC, AMG is a knowledgeable partner in enforcing community governing documents with a proven set of processes and techniques, and supporting communities with a broad range of services which can be tailored to individual community needs. Association Management Group, Inc. is a locally Accredited Business by the BBB and is a nationally Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) by the Community Associations Institute. For more about AMG, visit www.amgworld.com.