The Association, the Board, and Civics

Civics, Civility & Fostering Community

Forest Glen Condo Association is a 28-unit democracy. But what does that mean? For the association's concept of democracy to work in real life, at Forest Glen, that means:

• • Each owner has the right to stay informed about association business; and each owner also has the responsibility to participate in the association as described in the Association's Governing Documents & Rules:

    • This includes meeting the association's financial obligations consistent with "generally accepted best practices" per the association's governing documents;

    • and understanding that Fair Housing Opportunity and non-discrimination are human rights.

• The Board

• • The Forest Glen Condo Association Board is made up of volunteers who bring to the board a commitment to balancing the needs of the community with their personal needs and opinions.

    • The board is guided by the association's Governing Documents, the advice of the Property Manager, and the general counsel provided by the Association's lawyer.

    • The Board seeks to preserve human dignity while ensuring the safety of the community.

      • Haa Tóoch Lichéesh (formerly known as the Juneau Violence Prevention Coalition), through the First Alaskans Institute, has free resources available to support constructive conversations about community safety and equity.

  • As association board volunteers, we actively balance our personal preferences, opinions, and personalities in order to work together towards mutually agreeable solutions to ensure the association meets our legal obligation to maintain our building and property.

• • • What does "working together" mean?

      • • Please see:

          • Community Association Institute's "Listen. Talk. Respect.: Civility Pledge"

          • University of Alaska Southeast Juneau's "What is civility? How do you do it? Does it matter?"

      • The association's volunteer board seeks to respect the diversity of experiences and opinions each of us posses.

      • We seek to understand facts and understand the consequences of action (or inaction), and together with the association's property management team, legal counsel, subject matter experts, and association members, the board addresses the challenges we face as an association.

      • This does not mean that as a board, nor as an association, we must tolerate harmful behavior exhibited by an owner; nor of their renters, guests or pets...

      • What it means is that as a board we seek to understand the facts of a situation, and the consequences of action or inaction in that situation, in order to demonstrate "good faith" and "due care" in our work as a board.

• Community Associations Institute Resources:

• • "Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities Principles for Homeowners and Community Leaders" (v 11.24.2020)

  • "Introduction to Community Living" (v 11.24.2020)

• From NeighborhoodWorks:

  • "Building community, because we’re stronger together. “Home” is not just the building where we live, but also the community that surrounds and supports us. Neighbors who care, businesses that serve and amenities that nourish are what each of us seek when we choose where to live and work. The keys to success? Combining national and local expertise and resources with residents’ energy, ingenuity and commitment."

• If participation in self-governance and representative democracy is new to you, here are a few references to help orient you to the challenges and opportunities:

  • Local government:

    • Central Council of Tlingit & Haida's Tribal Government webpage;

    • City and Borough of Juneau's Assembly webpage; and local ordinances.

  • State government:

    • The Alaska State Legislature's webpage; and state laws.

  • Federal government:

    • America's Founding Documents (NARA.gov) and Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities (DHS.gov);

    • Code of Federal Regulations (GPO.gov);

    • U.S. Code; and Public Laws (both .gov).

  • Democracy relies on voter participation, the rule of law, and trustworthy information about the voting process:

    • Forest Glen owners: Please ensure the property management has your current mailing address so that association voting information reaches you in a timely manner.

    • Please register to vote in city, state, and federal elections if you are eligible to do so;

    • Alaskan residents: See State of Alaska's voting information webpage for details.

Meetings and Conducting Association Business

• Our meetings and due care follow best practice at Community Associations Institute.

  • • Owners are welcome at, and encouraged to participate in, board meetings and keep informed through reading products shared by the Board, like this website and the annual Owner's Packet.

    • Owners are welcome to offer feedback, support, constructive criticism, including offering dissenting views, that might help inform and shape the Board's understanding of an owner's point of view.

    • Read up, speak up! Mutual respect and diversity of opinions are important to healthy communities.

    • The board's goal is to find common ground, thorough mutual understanding, and meet our legal obligation to maintain our building and grounds in accordance with applicable law and our governing documents.

• • The Association board and owner meetings generally take place at Juneau Public Library meeting rooms (the pandemic has delayed meetings).

    • The City & Borough of Juneau has published police-enforceable "Rules of Conduct" (v. 11/2012) governing behavior at city libraries.

    • The rules of conduct for public, shared, spaces exist to allow each --and all-- individuals the opportunity to have their needs met without sacrificing the needs of other individuals.

Additional References (Note: The Juneau Public Library has Wi-Fi, e-books, and print books available (including during COVID-19)).

• • Community Associations Institute (Ed.). An Introduction to Community Association Living. Alexandria, VA: Community Associations Institute. 2006.

    • This reference is available on line as a free pdf at the CAI website (as of 11/24/2020).

  • Divided Communities Project. Divided Communities Toolkit. Website (content accessed February 25, 2021)

  • Dunbar, Marc W. The Homeowners Association Manual. 5th Ed. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 2004.

  • First Alaskans Institute. Advancing Native Dialogues on Racial Equity. Website (content accessed November 9, 2019)

  • Kyle, Robert C. Property Management. 7th Ed. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc., 2005.

  • Levine, Keith. The Owner’s and Manager's Guide to Condominium Management. Revised Ed. Chicago, IL: Institute of Real Estate Management of the National Association of Realtors, 1984.

  • Inman, Matthew. You're Not Going to Believe What I'm About to Tell You (clean version). The Oatmeal Website (content accessed November 24, 2020)

  • "On Being" Editors. Better Conversations Guide. Website (content accessed November 9, 2019)

  • Trigiani, Lucia Anna. Reinventing the Rules: a Step-by-Step Guide for Being Reasonable. Alexandria, VA: Community Associations Institute. 2002.

  • USGS Editors. Structured Decision Making.Website (content accessed November 9, 2019)

  • Weave: The Social Fabric Project. Tools for Weavers: Guides to Productive Conversations. Website (content accessed February 25, 2021)

Content validated: 11/24/2020