You need to know HOA member is someone like you...

They are elected by all the owners, and if you want, you can compaign to be elected as one.  It's a payless time consuming service.  The management company is hired by the HOA to mangage day-to-day business and they have rules that could be stupid, or unreasonable, but they are rules, untill they are changed, by someone like you, every owner, including the HOA members, have to go by.