Often the legal documents for a given association detail the various committees required to assist the Board of Directors in the management of the association. Important to remember are the following:

The committee chairperson is usually appointed by the Board of Directors. Committee members generally serve for a one-year term unless otherwise specified or outlined by the Association's legal documents. Each committee reports directly to the Board of Directors through management and all are subject to the Board's direction and approval of activities. Each committee member must be appointed to the committee and formally adopted by a resolution of the Board of Directors. In this manner, each appointed committee member is covered under the Directors and Officers policy of the Association. It is therefore, essential for committee members to recognize that they must function as a group for the betterment of the entire community, as opposed to individuals working on behalf of self-interest. The Board of Directors and Officers insurance supports actions made by a consensus of a committee within their fiduciary responsibilities and not those of individual members functioning independently. The Board, through their authorities, vested through the governing documents, California Civil Code and Corporations Code may remove a member from a committee without cause. Each committee member will be required to sign a committee member code of conduct and professional ethics.

The Association manager is responsible for working with the Board of Directors in establishing the structure and function of the various committees. To assist the Association manager in this function, a few sample committee structure guidelines have been included. Please review and familiarize yourself with these guidelines, goals and objectives. Associations may give assorted titles to these committees, but the function of each committee is basically the same as outlined in the following pages.

Please remember that the committees may only recommend policies and action for adoption by the Board and do not have the power or authority to establish policies or take action without the Board's authorization. To this end, the Board may expand or diminish the power and authorities of the committees at will and without cause.