I just had the privilege of attending a CAI Seminar ( http://www.caimdches.org/education.aspx ) on Alternative Board Meetings in the Digital Age.
I must admit – the possibility of having Board Meetings via web conferencing is VERY appealing. This is where you should be picturing me – in pajamas from the waist down with comfy slippers – as I “professionally attend” a meeting from the waist up.
However, there are some issues:
- The Law requires open meetings – to allow all owners an opportunity to attend.
- Not every owner or every Board Member has access to the technology required to participate in Web Conferencing.
- There is a legal liability of creating a permanent record of the web conference “meeting” that will live in cyber space until some owner finds it – and sues.
So – where does this leave us? My take away from the seminar is that there is a lot of potential for web conferencing in our industry but not as a means to replace the Board Meetings. Board Meetings should still be scheduled, announced and held in a physical location with a quorum of the Board present in person. However, if a Board Member or two want to attend but cannot be there in person due to deployment, family emergency, travel requirements, etc. web conferencing is a great way to allow them to participate remotely.