The holidays are here, and it’s time to break out the holiday cheer within the community and get everyone excited for the season.
One of the easiest ways to please a crowd is through its stomach.
Potlucks are a great way to get your homeowner’s association (HOA) members involved in local events and build a sense of community (while enjoying a fabulous spread of dishes).
However, if you’ve ever been tasked with planning one of these HOA events, you know that they can sometimes be more work than they’re worth. From ensuring everyone brings a dish to dealing with dietary restrictions, a lot goes into ensuring a potluck runs smoothly.
But don’t worry, at Goodwin & Company, we’ve been around our fair share of HOA-sponsored potlucks and have your Board and planning committees covered.
Keep reading for our top tips on how to plan the perfect HOA-sponsored potluck.
Start Spreading the Word
The first step in any successful potluck is making sure everyone knows about it. After all, if you don’t properly spread the word about your potluck, no one will show up and those who do will stay pretty famished.
Have an HOA board member send out an email blast or post about the HOA event in your community’s online portal.
Also, when announcing your HOA event, be sure to give people plenty of time to plan ahead to create the perfect dish for your potluck. A week or two ahead of the big day should be sufficient.
Menu Planning
Once you have a list of attendees, it’s time to start thinking about what everyone will bring. Encourage people to sign up for specific dishes so you don’t end up with eight green salads, ten bags of chips, and no main course.
If you have any vegetarians or people with food allergies in your community, be sure to assign them dishes that accommodate their needs. And speaking of food allergies…
Food Safety
This one is important! Potlucks can be a breeding ground for food-borne illnesses, so it’s essential that everyone plays it safe. Remind chefs to prepare their food safely and keep all raw meats away from fresh ingredients. This is one of the easiest ways to spread illness during these types of HOA events.
Encourage attendees to keep hot dishes hot and cold dishes cold by bringing appropriate serving ware (i.e., crackpots, Dutch ovens, or ice chests).
Remind people that if they’re unsure whether something is safe to eat, err on the side of caution and throw it out. Better safe than sorry!
The Big Day
On the day of the potluck, set up tables in a central location so people can easily deposit their dishes. Assign someone on your committee to be in charge of keeping things organized. They and their team can ensure that items like utensils, cups, and napkins remain in stock and available.
And most importantly, remember it’s the holiday season and have fun! Take some time away from the food plates to enjoy games, watch a holiday favorite, or share stories of winter’s seasons past.
Enjoy getting to know your neighbors and savor all the delicious food.
Host An HOA Event With Goodwin & Company
Planning a potluck may seem daunting, but we promise it’s worth it! And who knows—with any luck, you might even end up with a few new potluck recipes to add to your repertoire.
If you are part of a Board that needs help with its association beyond potluck planning, Goodwin & Company has you covered. From back-end financial planning to helping you recover unpaid dues, our property management experts are here to make your HOA the best it can be.
Contact us today to learn more about our HOA management services.
