QUESTION: Is it illegal for a contractor, e.g., landscaper, roofer, etc. to take board members on trips to the wine country, Las Vegas, etc. and pay their way?

ANSWER: The act of giving or receiving a gift is not illegal. However, it becomes a problem if the gift influences a director's judgment when contracts are awarded. If directors approve contracts based on the gifts they receive, the gifts become bribes. That's why most organizations adopt ethics rules setting strict limits on gifts. (See House Ethics Manual for the U.S. Congress concerning gifts.) Your association should adopt its own ethics rules so board members will know where the ethical boundaries are located.