On the Commons Site Syndication http://onthecommons.us Thu, 23 May 2013 19:33:36 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://onthecommons.us/images/M_images/rss20.gif http://onthecommons.us On the Commons Site Syndication http://onthecommons.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=1 On The Commons is a weekly radio show, dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory membership common ownership developments. It is broadcast live from WEBR, Fairfax, Virginia and available on this web site. Join us as we explore the world of common ownership developments, which is the fastest growing form of residential development in America today. This housing concept includes condominiums, cooperatives, and both attached and detached single-family homes that are part of a mandatory homeowners association. Unfortunately this type of housing is not as Utopian as its advocates would have us believe. Living in a mandatory homeowners’ association means giving up a part of the American dream. It means giving up Constitutional rights and control over one’s most valuable asset - one’s home. *Other On the Commons Web Sites: On the Commons Podcast Site (http://onthecommons.net)On the Commons Weblog (http://blog.onthecommons.us) The Current Show Terry Bartholomew http://onthecommons.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=299&Itemid=67 Does a homeowners’ association board have a duty to know and understand the authority they are granted by the laws and governing documents and the duties they have to the association and its members? When a board exceeds its authority and starts enforcing rules they never had the ability to adopt in the first place, the members of the association end up having to pay the price. And some homeowners in particular pay an even bigger price. Joining us On The Commons this week is Jean Winters. Jean is an attorney in Florida who appears to follow the letter of the law and represents homeowners. In a recent court case win she managed to unearth a number of wrongs that had been ongoing for almost a quarter of a century. Join us to find out about the particulars of the case, the laws in Florida and the sad story about one of the victims of a board who strayed outside the lines of their authority. Listen to Jean Winters Terry Bartholomew http://onthecommons.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300&Itemid=67 It is common knowledge that stress affects our health adversely. It is an equally well known fact that we react differently to situations when we are under stress than we would otherwise. So it is not such a great stretch to realize that stress can be used to undermine someone in an adversarial situation. Is there anything that can be done to mitigate the damage caused by these dirty tactics? Joining us On The Commons this week we have Dr. Karen Huffer. Dr. Huffer is an author, associate professor, researcher, speaker and consultant. We will talk about the effects of stress not only in our daily lives but how stress can affect us in specific situations, including tactics used in court to dehumanize individuals. She will share some tricks on how to handle those specific situations. She has devoted her career to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to services. Her website with information about her books and webinars can be found at Listen to Dr. Huffer (http://media.podcastingmanager.com/79121-82159/Media/20130511huffer.mp3) http://media.podcastingmanager.com/79121-82159/Media/20130511huffer.mp3 Terry Bartholomew http://onthecommons.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=301&Itemid=67 HOA and Condo horror stories have been around as long as HOAs and condos have been part of the American housing scene. Every great once in awhile some brave reporter has dared to venture onto the battlefields to report on the goulash events but those stories have been few and far between and have represented just the tip of the iceberg. Under cover of darkness, the abuses continued. But the internet made The Fifth Estate possible and citizen reporters have taken matters in their own hands. Joining us On The Commons this week is Ward Lucas. Ward is an award winning TV News anchorman and investigative journalist who experienced the horrors of HOA living firsthand. He wrote a book called Neighbors at War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association. He also maintains a blog at http://neighborsatwar.com We'll talk about the world of beige and the limitless possibilities of the Fifth Estate. Listen to Ward Lucas (http://media.podcastingmanager.com/79121-82159/Media/20130518lucas.mp3) Terry Bartholomew