ArmstrongConnect

Board Members,

What exactly is ArmstrongConnect that was announced in a letter I received today from the Armstrong Management Services? It's suppose to have a community calendar, community news, association events, ongoing board projects, association documents, assessment history, etc. Did I miss an announcement about this in an HOA newsletter? Will we now have to check here and the ArmstrongConnect for HOA information?

GCyr

 

This is something we've been wanting to bring online for a while. ArmstrongConnect will have a link off the HOA website so you can bookmark the HOA homepage, then click on the link to ArmstrongConnect.

This new feature allows you, to access information about your HOA account and eventually, access information on any modification request history, and status of requests online, as well as access to the latest updates to official HOA documents.

It will also allow the HOA staff to post updated to the HOA calendar in real-time, as well as post urgent notices to the HOA.

This also gives the HOA staff additional capabilities to send out notices via phone to all homeowners concerning emergencies, Amber Alerts and so on.

It also enhances the staffs ability to track Covenant violations, as it provides them a more automated way of tracking and creating notices to homeowners.

It also provides the Board of Directors with tools to track projects, budgets, and other internal actions.

All in all, something we hope will enhance our current system.

Here's a thread I started about this originally on how to get started: http://hoa.broadlands.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2631

Sign up and look around.






Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Neil,

Thanks for the information. I was somewhat hesitant to logon since I missed any advance notification about this.

HOA members will have to wait for their letters and access code before they can log on. Hint: Don't throw the envelope away until you've captured the access code.

 

Nice picture on there of what our community stone entry wall used to look like before it was denuded.

 

Gcyr-
You're right!! I had to dig my envelope out of the trash!!
The HOA didn't announce this in advance because we didn't want to send out the information prior to the system being up and running.
Also, it may take some time to get all of the documents and files transferred from hard copy to online.
Kudos to NeilZ who spent a lot of time working with Wes and Armstrong to get this thing up and running and going through the laundry list of possible things this system could support.

 

HOw can we get our info - I already tossed envelope. Also can we now pay bills online using the Armstrong site?

 

I'd say, the easiest way to do this is go dig for the envelope. However, if you really can't find that envelope, send an email to connect@armstrong.net and they will probably send you another mailing. (don't quote me on that, they may have another way to verify you).

As far on online pay, lets not start that again. They have not yet found a way to provide an online payment system that does not cost the HOA part of the fee its trying to collect.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Who's brilliant idea was it to send the code on the envelope label. All of the mailings I've received from creditors, banks, and other companies have always include the special code in the letter itself or in a separate mailing. I threw our envelope out last night and it's long gone now. I'm guessing that most of the community will have thrown out the envelope and will need to get the code from Armstrong.

 

Actually, if you think about it, it saved some time stuffing over 2000 envelopes as they didn't have to try to sync up an enclosure with an address label.

Since trash day is not until tomorrow, I'd say the envelope is still available in the trash. That said, the enclosure specifically listed that the registration code was listed on the outside of the envelope.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Neil,

Someone needs to explain this new Armstrong/HOA "management tool" a whole lot better than has been explained thus far.

For example, I know how to contact myself, so what purpose does the contact info serve? Who gets to view it, use it, and for what purpose? Doesn't the HOA already have a listing of its members, addresses, and possibly phone numbers?

And,what purpose does the "unit info" serve? Why would anyone want to fill out the number of bedrooms, sq. footage, elevator (?) etc. on their home. What purpose does it serve and who gets to view that info? Yes, I know it's available on County tax assessment web page, so again, why would I want to fill it out here.

Is there a privacy policy for all this owner information?

GCyr

 

I have sent the following email to Armstrong:

Hi Jim-
When you get a chance, please go to our HOA Forums page, under "Broadlands Community Issues" and read the thread on Armstrong Connect. There's a lot of questions being asked.
Also, putting the code on the envelope probably wasn't the wisest thing to do. A lot of people, including myself, throw out envelopes before reading the letters.
If you could watch that thread and maybe provide some input on it, it wouild be appreciated. Also, a thorough letter describing the uses/services of Armstrong Connect that we could put in our newsletter would be helpful.
If you aren't the point of contact for this, please forward this message along to whoever is.
Thanks,
Cliff

 

I agree .. Cliff handled that one.

Yes, we do, but how well updated is it ?? We have alot of homeowners who's phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts, etc all have changed since they filled out the info when they bought their house. The only constant ... the house number.

Now, instead of calling the HOA and Armstrong to update info, you can update it in one place, and both the HOA and Armstrong will have access to it. Not to mention, in the case of an emegency (select favorite one here: flood, tornado, earthquake, hurricane, Screaming Yellow Meanies) the HOA would have an idea of who to contact just in case there was a need.

This tool is used for many different properties, some are condominiums, and that information would be kept there. As is mentioned in the 'Welcome News' post I wrote, many of the tabs and info links have nothing to do with an SFH and TH community. I also mentioned there that there will be growing pains, and eventually the system will be tweaked to eliminate those areas. As to who sees it, only you, the homeowner, as well as Armstrong Management and the HOA Staff & Board. Basically the people who have access to it now in paper form.

I suspect its covered by the initial privacy policy you recieved when you signed all your paperwork at signing. However, there is a privacy policy link at the bottom of the home page, and can be reached here: http://www.armstrongconnect.net/_v2common/policy.asp

Hope this helps.




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Here's the response from Armstrong:



Good Morning Mr. Keirce:

Thank you for your e-mail. I did get a chance to take a look at the Forum regarding ArmstrongConnect. I thank the community as a whole for sharing their comments/concerns, this information is of great help to us in understanding the needs and concerns of the community.

I do wish to thank Mr. Zampella's for the responses to the postings.

In regards to the registration code being posted on the labels, indeed, we felt there was a chance for error to match up the flyer that contains unit specific information to the appropriate envelope for +/- 2000 units. I personally would rather respond to a bunch of e-mails requesting registration codes instead of someone potential getting someone else code and having access to their personal information. I do understand this may be a fustration to some of the owners, however in the long run I believe the owners will appreaciate that we are thinking of their security.

I will certainly talk with Wes to see how I can assist in providing additional information to the community regarding ArmstrongConnect.

I believe that you will find ArmstrongConnect to be a very useful tool as a resident and Board Member. We are certain that the staff are finding this to be a valuable tool in their daily operation of The Broadlands and look forward to assisting them as they learn all of the wonderful and timesaving features ArmstrongConnect has to offer.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have, I look forward to being of assistance to you and the entire Broadlands community.

regards,
Sandra

 

Sandra's response was so enlightening. [}]

If they were so worried about compromising the registration code, why did they include them on the address label, outside the envelope, for everyone to see? That really makes sense! That would be like Adelphia providing your password on the address label because they were afraid someone would receive the wrong letter and password.

 

Normally I would agree, but the label did not give any sort of hint of what that code was being used for. Someone would have to access your mailbox, remove the letter and open it in order to know what it was for.

And that's a federal crime .. mail tampering!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

So I was one who'd thrown out the envelope. I then contacted the people listed on Feb's HOA newsletter to try & get my ID/PIN for the website. I'm still waiting. Did anyone who threw their envelope away get on the site & whom did you contact to get this done?

Thanks!

 

I would contact them once more, and send an email to the HOA office to let them know you're having a problem. Prods from you and the HOA may help.

 

Send your address to me at mburns@broadlandshoa.com with a note requesting an armstrong connect pin and I'll try to locate it for you.

Maureen Burns
Assistant Prop. Manager
Broadlands Association, Inc