So true. At my last HOA meeting, out of 280 able bodied adults, 2 showed up. They really don't care until you are spending their money.

 

Wow, I can't believe I missed this one for so long.

Polarbear... It's time to fire up the lights, paint, and flags. Put speakers in the windows and blast patriotic music the whole time. It's time to get on the news. I'd say a $500 budget isn't too out of line. Tell the kids to eat light for a few months.

Ryan

 

You make the point that people don't attend these meetings... in this case that may be true. I've been in many situations where that doesn't necesssarily apply. Showing up with a majority and many well thought out points doesn't make what any person has to say worth a thing if a governing council chooses to ignore it and do what they want. This even happens at the highest government levels.

I've been to many meetings, not HOAs mind you, but public forums definitely. If a group of people wants something bad enough, the majority doesn't necessarily get a say... even when it comes to voting. You just redraw the lines to suit you. Ask how Spokane and eastern Washington feels about the Seahawks stadium in Seattle? A statewide vote allowed Seattle's taxes to go up.

I live in an area that's getting a much needed transportation upgrade, but how the state went about getting it and paying for it is crap... and more than one group has requested to stop the project with attorney intervention after the public opinion was ignored at all of the meetings. The state merely rewrote the law and voting boundaries to cover themselves... how's that for a group of elected officials doing what the majority wants. Don't tell me that simply going to a meeting with a majority makes changes happen. The changes only happen if the elected or appointed councils want them to.

-Kerry

 

What has America come to when housing developments are banning flag flying? I wonder if you just can't fly it as a part of 'seasonal decorations' or if they could ban it year round? Those rules that they have in housing developments seem really obnoxious and mostly worthless. I couldn't deal with all of that business. Some people just seem like they don't have anything important to think about so they have to nit-pick over pidly stuff.

 

I would try to find a compromise of making it very noticeable yet not too much at the same time.

It's not that you shouldn't go overboard to counteract their rediculous rules, you should. At the same time you don't want to go so overboard that it causes your own HOA to inact someting similar. If that isn't an issue, or if you just don't care (I'm not sure I would), then go ALL out.

 

I live in an HOA in communistifornia. Our HOA does have rules regarding yard displays and decorations. They even restrict the fllying of "decorative" flags like flags with butterflys on them or whatever. They do not restrict the flying of the American Flag.

I did not think that ANYBODY had the authority to restrict the flying of the American Flag although I have not found a law in my research to back up that point.

Here is a link to the United States Flag Code:
http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#285b

It is interesting reading.


As a side note I fly the American Flag on my house 24/7 365 days a year. At the onset of ANY problem; fading, ripping etc I replace it. I replace it about every 3 months.
May God have mercy on the soul of anybody that tries to make me take it down.

 

As an update- we're evidentally not the only one to have this issue. This bill just passed the House of Representatives this week:

109th U.S. Congress (2005-2006)
H.R. 42: Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005

"A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use."

the Bill is now headed to the US Senate.

Linky

 

Good Find PB



Cool Link
http://unkarock.addr.com/unkarock/flag.htm

 

Hoorah! Way to go! Now let's see by how much it'll pass...

 

If I read you right, you belong to a different HOA. If that's true, write on your roof in Christmas Lights "My HOA > Your HOA!!"

Play:
God Bless America
Anchors Aweigh
Air Force Hymn
Halls of Montezuma
The Caisons go Rolling Along
The Merchant Marines Hymn
The US National Anthem

and any other patriotic music at full blast.
Set off sparkler bombs
http://www.dansdata.com/personal/Bombs.html

or 16,000 firecrackers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leR1EAdls4Y

 

"My HOA > Your HOA!!"

I'm thinking I could really run with that one.

 

I have another.

" Take That.....You HOA !"

 

How about "My Independence > Your HOA" ?

 

Do I hear 40ft. flag pole coming in the front yard? lol. Let them try to take it down. We'll just tie Bigfoot to the pole and call it good!!

Next time they have a meeting like that, I'm gonna go there in a ford truck (DUH!!) and a flag pole in the back and have my brother come with me... in uniform.

OH!!!! Do I also here a HUGE 4th party coming?? Maybe some really loud fireworks??


And On Christmas!! I house so bright you can see it from the space shuttle??

I think I do!! It's calling us!! lol. I'm so gonna enjoy making my neighborhood miserable

 

OH!! ands the greatest thing is!! the neighborhood that made that dumb rule... there "curfew" the one that you cant disturb the neighbors after 9pm. OURS is at 10pm.