Every time I visit New York, I try to walk, walk, walk everywhere. It’s my preferred way to navigate through the city. Sometimes, though, it’s necessary to take mass transit Now, I’m pretty familiar with the city, so rather than spending $8 on a cab ride whenever I wanted to travel, I just took the subway.

To a first-time subway-user, this map can be extremely confusing. New York is a unique city because it’s divided into five different boroughs, each with several unique neighborhoods. The subway is by far the most effective way to get around, but I’ve seen countless tourists staring at this map, bewildered.

However, it can be deciphered and understood, and people (tourists and locals alike) can travel between different neighborhoods and boroughs.

Imagine each neighborhood in Manhattan is a silo or department in your association. (I hope there aren’t that many, but bear with me.) Is there a clear road map for members, staffers and board members to help them navigate through it? How transparent is your association’s all-consuming “policy?” And how long does it take for people to digest and understand?

Sure, the Metro Transit Authority isn’t perfect (I used to accidentally end up on the wrong train occasionally, and some lines are mysteriously closed on the weekends), but it’s transparent and easy to understand. If your association’s map or policy is this intricate, is there a way to simplify it for those who may not be familiar?

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