HOA Homefront: You got a board hearing notice. Now what?

A notice of a disciplinary hearing is not the best kind of mail to open, but in common interest communities, this is how associations compel owners to be good neighbors. How one responds to a hearing notice can greatly affect the outcome. Consider the following pointers toward a more productive presentation at the hearing, and to help avoid wasting the valuable opportunity the hearing provides.
After receiving the notice, read the documents. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not read the covenan