Frequently Asked Questions
This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is a work in progress and will continue to be expanded as additional questions arise and more information becomes available. The purpose of this page is to provide Pinnacle Estates Association property owners with a centralized location for answers to common questions regarding Association communications, governing documents, records, meetings, voting procedures, land use restrictions, and other governance-related matters.
Where possible, answers are based on the Pinnacle Estates Association governing documents, recorded instruments, applicable Michigan law, and documents obtained through records requests. As additional records are located, reviewed, and made available, questions and answers may be updated to reflect new information.
Can a Facebook group be the primary method of communication for the Pinnacle Estates Association?
No. Important Association communications should be communicated to the entire membership, not only to those who participate in a Facebook group.
For example, a recent statement regarding Association business and governance was issued by the President of the Pinnacle Estates Association and posted within the Association’s Facebook group. Communications of that nature are relevant to all property owners and should be distributed in a manner that reaches the entire membership, not just those with access to a particular social media platform.
A Facebook group may serve as a supplemental communication tool, but it should not be relied upon as the primary means of communicating important Association business.
Is the Pinnacle Estates Rifle River Facebook group an official Association website?
No. The Pinnacle Estates Rifle River Facebook group was created by Mark Van Haaren on December 30, 2016.
While the group has been used to share Association-related information and facilitate discussion among property owners, no known Association authority has been identified designating the Facebook group as the Association’s official anything.
An official Association website serves as a centralized source of information available to the entire membership. A Facebook group is a social media platform that requires membership, is subject to moderation, and may not be accessible to all property owners.
Is Facebook Messenger an accepted method of communication within the Pinnacle Estates Association community?
No provision has been identified in the Pinnacle Estates Association Bylaws establishing approved methods of communication between members and the Board of Directors.
However, Association officers have used Facebook Messenger to communicate with members regarding Association matters and to transmit Association documents.
As a result, Facebook Messenger has functioned as a method of communication between members and Association officers within the Association community.
How should Association communications be handled?
Important Association communications should be communicated in a manner that is reasonably accessible to the entire membership. This includes meeting notices, elections, governance matters, rule changes, financial information, and other matters affecting the rights and interests of property owners.
A dedicated Association website or member portal, such as RunHOA, can provide a centralized location for notices, governing documents, records, announcements, Board member contact information, and other important Association resources. Social media platforms may serve as a useful supplemental communication tool, but they should not be relied upon as the sole means of communicating important Association business.
Important Association communications should be communicated in a manner that is reasonably accessible to the entire membership. This includes meeting notices, elections, governance matters, rule changes, financial information, and other matters affecting the rights and interests of property owners.
A dedicated Association website or member portal, such as RunHOA, can provide a centralized location for notices, governing documents, records, announcements, Board member contact information, and other important Association resources. Social media platforms may serve as a useful supplemental communication tool, but they should not be relied upon as the sole means of communicating important Association business.
The Association should also maintain a formal communication policy identifying approved communication channels, how official communications are distributed, how records are preserved, and how members may communicate with the Board of Directors. Clear communication and record-retention procedures help promote transparency, consistency, continuity between boards, and preservation of Association records.
Providing members with clear contact information and a centralized repository for Association information helps improve communication, transparency, and access to important Association resources.
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Is Michigan a one-party consent state for recording conversations?
Yes. Michigan is a one-party consent state.
This means that a person who is participating in a conversation may record that conversation without obtaining the consent of the other participants. See MCL 750.539c.
Do the Pinnacle Estates Association Bylaws or Michigan statutes prohibit the broadcast of the annual membership meeting?
No provision prohibiting the broadcast of the annual membership meeting has been identified in the Pinnacle Estates Association Bylaws reviewed to date.
Likewise, no Michigan statute prohibiting the broadcast of an annual membership meeting has been identified.
The Association has been asked to identify any bylaw, rule, restriction, or legal authority that would prohibit the broadcast of the annual membership meeting and, to date, no such authority has been provided.
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Is PinnacleEstatesMichigan.com the official website of the Pinnacle Estates Association?
No. PinnacleEstatesMichigan.com is an independent informational website and is not the official website of the Pinnacle Estates Association. The website was created to provide property owners, prospective purchasers, real estate professionals, title companies, and other interested parties with access to governing documents, recorded instruments, statutes, historical records, and information relating to Association governance and operations.
Prior to the creation of this website, much of the information regarding the Association was not readily available to individuals outside of the community. By providing a centralized source of information, the website helps improve transparency and allows property owners and prospective purchasers to better understand the Association, its governing documents, and applicable restrictions before purchasing property.
Making this information publicly available works to prevent future situations in which purchasers acquire property without being aware of important Association documents, restrictions, or requirements.