I was sitting with a board member—let’s call her Sarah—last Wednesday at our coffee session. She was tired. She’s balancing a career, a home, and the heavy responsibility of serving as a condominium association president.
She was sharing a struggle with a roof repair project. She had spent her lunch break trying to coordinate with a vendor, but only reached voicemail. When she tried to follow up later, the office was closed.
“I feel like I’m constantly chasing people,” she said. “I work all day, then I spend my evenings trying to manage the building. But I can’t reach anyone when I’m actually free.”
It’s a story I hear often. The people she needs to talk to—vendors and management—are unavailable during the hours she has available. They work a standard schedule. Sarah’s work happens entirely in the evenings and on weekends.
We spent the rest of our coffee talking about how to handle this. Sarah wasn’t looking for a magic fix. She just needed to know she wasn’t the only one feeling this friction.
Another board member, David, shared how he handles it. He stopped making phone calls during his own busy workday. Instead, he keeps a simple list of every question or maintenance item that comes up during his evening and weekend work on board responsibilities.
He sends one clear, detailed email to his vendors or management team in the evening. By sending an email then, he knows the email is waiting for them first thing the next morning. He also started asking his vendors directly if they have a specific person who can handle questions in the late afternoon.
It doesn’t solve every issue. But it changed his process. He isn’t spending his lunch breaks chasing people. He keeps his communication organized, and he gets a response without the stress of playing phone tag.
That is why we started these sessions. We don’t have all the answers, but we have a space to talk. It’s about realizing you aren’t the only one struggling with these hours. We share the simple adjustments that have worked for others and slowly find vendors who are a better fit for the way we actually live and lead.
If you are a board member who does your best work in the evening or on the weekend, join the network. We’re just here to talk through what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can make this role a little easier to manage.