Rules are rules but this is sad | Arthritis Information

The people on this HOA board need a swift kick. If it was something tacky, an eyesore to the masses, I could understand. But a symbol of American pride? Get over yourselves!! And to think they went to a law firm! UGH!!!!

 

Let the Colonel have his beautiful flag pole and his daily ritual. He has more than earned the right! [QUOTE=babs10]the article I read said he was told he couldn't have a flag pole....... it has nothing to do w/ the flag....[/QUOTE]

I agree, it is over the Flag Pole....not the flag.

However,  I wonder if the solution might be that the association allows for a dedicated area..like the entrance to Fly our American Flag...and allow this Brave American to attend to the Flag...It is a shame that there is even an issue.

As far as the association going to an attorney...most associations have a attorney on "retainer"...or they have the attorney that views the by laws and make sure it is legal.

I hope this man gets to fly our Great American Flag...

Inflamed, that's a good idea about dedicating an area and having him tend it.  In fact they may already have a flag on the grounds.  I lived in a community right outside Washington, D.C. and our community building flew the flags.  It was a community with rules and regulations and a an association and I knew that when I moved there.   He can fly/display the flag but within the guidelines of the association.  He chose to move to an association controlled community and abide by the guidelines when he moved in.  I actually had to have approval to have my front door painted a different color.  That's when I decided to join the Association and was elected to the Board.  That's the only way to create change in some situations.  Lindy

Some rules are idiotic.....and this is one of them. LinB,

I agree, He chose to LIVE there. Very smart, joining your association and getting on the board. [QUOTE=babs10]the article I read said he was told he couldn't have a flag pole....... it has nothing to do w/ the flag....[/QUOTE] I would have thought he needed the pole to fly his flag [QUOTE=kalamazoo][QUOTE=babs10]the article I read said he was told he couldn't have a flag pole....... it has nothing to do w/ the flag....[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Mrs Pincushion]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579147,00.html I find this so sad. I know that certain places have rules about what can be erected in neighbourhoods but this gentleman was so proud to serve his country then was told he couldnt fly his flag. These associations have these rules for reasons. If you start letting one homeowner break the rules it will snowball. Next thing you know you'll have all sorts of tacky out buildings, cheap fences, cars up on blocks and purple houses in what other wise was a very tasteful, upscaled neighborhood. I don't think anyone is knocking his American Pride but what they are saying is that having a flag pole erected in your front yard is tacky. Fly a banner style flag and get over it! [QUOTE=Lovie]These associations have these rules for reasons. If you start letting one homeowner break the rules it will snowball. Next thing you know you'll have all sorts of tacky out buildings, cheap fences, cars up on blocks and purple houses in what other wise was a very tasteful, upscaled neighborhood. I don't think anyone is knocking his American Pride but what they are saying is that having a flag pole erected in your front yard is tacky. Fly a banner style flag and get over it! [/QUOTE] I doubt anyone thought this old man was cheap and tacky when he was out there fighting a war . I doubt if the old man ever told another soldier "get over it" when they were fighting the enemy . It's not about the flag; it's about the flag pole.

This whole thing reminds me of my mother and her dog.  Several years ago she moved into a senior citizen building that does not allow dogs.  There are several people in the building who cannot stand dogs and/or have allergies to them, and the no-dog rule was a big selling point.  Anyway, my mother (who has issues) decided that she needed to have a dog despite living in a no-dog building.  One of her lawyer friends informed her, that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, she could in fact have a dog if it was a "therapy dog" needed to help her deal with her mental issues.  So she got one of her psych friends to draw up paperwork saying she's severely depressed and anxious and needs a dog.  This is not a trained dog like a seeing-eye dog - it's just a dog that chews on things, barks incessantly and pees in the hallway.  But because my mother loudly proclaims she'll sue anyone who tries "discriminating" against her because she's old and mental, they leave her alone (so far).  Screw her neighbors that don't want to smell or listen to a dog.
I don't think anyone in this guys neighborhood means any disrespect to him by insisting that he follow the rules like the rest of them. Lovie2009-12-04 11:19:41[QUOTE=Lovie]These associations have these rules for reasons. If you start letting one homeowner break the rules it will snowball. Next thing you know you'll have all sorts of tacky out buildings, cheap fences, cars up on blocks and purple houses in what other wise was a very tasteful, upscaled neighborhood. I don't think anyone is knocking his American Pride but what they are saying is that having a flag pole erected in your front yard is tacky. Fly a banner style flag and get over it! [/QUOTE] I like said; I stated it a little too strongly. you said that so eloquently, Snow...... I think that when you move into a neighborhood with an association that has rules, you are agreeing to abide by those rules.  If you don't like the rules, don't move in. Or go to the meetings and try to change what you don't like.  But don't move in and than act they have offended you in some way.  What a beautiful description of patriotism, Snow!  It is about the many rather than the one and there are always ways to compromise with a little communication.  Our media likes the sensational and we have learned to feed on that... sad.  I love my country and my family has made the ultimate sacrifice, but it doesn't give me the right to tread on others.

[/QUOTE] hi all, how ridiculous!!! this man has served his country and won medals!! perhaps these other homeowners would prefer to have teenagers coming and vandalising their property as opposed to this amazing man fly the flag!!! [QUOTE=BarbieGirl]hi all, how ridiculous!!! this man has served his country and won medals!! perhaps these other homeowners would prefer to have teenagers coming and vandalising their property as opposed to this amazing man fly the flag!!! Update:  I hope this decorated veteran gets to fly his flag.  The homeowners association should be ashamed!!! This decorated vet needs to learn that rules are rules. We used to have some rental properties. 92 units in one and 54 units in the other. All tenants were read not just the lease agreement but also the rules and regulations and were made to sign their agreement. All tenants seemed to have at least one rule or regulation that they thought that they need not observe but were quick to complain about others that bent another rule that they felt needed to be enforced. Let me assure you that the fastest way to find yourself in littigation and losing 5 years worth of income just on lawyers fees is to make an exception to the rules or regulations. You are better off battling one tenant in court that signed his agreement to abide by the rules and regulations than you are having to fight a battle of tenants (past and present) that were not allowed the same exception going back to the last decade. There is one word in property management that will keep you out of court and that word is consistency. I am a military brat, have a Colonel, and 2 Captains (Navy) in my family.  Anybody who fights for our country deserves our respect and thanks.  But, I also have a flagpole right outside my classroom.  To say the clinking and clanking is disruptive would be an understatement.  I just wish that this could have been settled without the media attention.  This may have been mentioned, but are their silencers that could be attached to the clips?  I Live in an area w/ an HOA.... we're merely 27 homes and we are mostly friends..  with no disputes.   There aren't alot of "rules" to live here.. we constructed the HOA to maintain properties that we own together.  We have had to band together to fight a developer who wants to cut into our street for a dump off from his development.... To fight to lower our real estate taxes together.. So, there are not all bad things coming from HOA's. 

My township would require getting a permit to construct something 20 feet tall in my front yard.. not my HOA... This is to be sure that it's structurally sound and not a nuisance and follows the rules of the township's zoning and construction laws..  

That said......  no one is disputing this man's tremendous accomplishments.. and we all recognize his desire to honor this great nation.. but there are better ways to do that than fight against established rules ....  as Lev said... there are rules for a reason and it's easier to maintain large groups when these are established before issues arise.



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