As an HOA board member, part of your job is to make sure there are sufficient reserves to pay for any large scale capital improvements. Sometimes that's difficult to do when some residents complain about high levels of capital reserve funds. Some will demand a reduction in dues. It's difficult to make home/condo owners understand the need for keeping adequate levels in the reserve funds. I usually told people that having to pass a large special assessment will lower the value of their property.
As a board member (and an HOA member), it's also your job to make sure repairs and maintenance are done on a timely basis and that preventive work is done. The longer you wait to fix something, the more it's going to cost. It's all common sense, JMO, but a lot of homeowners don't see it that way. It's even more difficult with absentee homeowners.