Community Associations Network Industry News

Robert M. Meisner and Meisner & Associates, P.C. are pleased to announce a significant victory for their condominium association client in a landmark court decision regarding the interpretation of the Michigan Condominium Act.

The Michigan Condominium Act requires that the first mortgage holder provide notice to a condominium association of an impending sheriff’s sale. In its first impression decision, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Fred M. Mester held that due to the first mortgagee’s failure to notify the association of the impending sheriff’s sale as required by the Michigan Condominium Act, the first mortgagee took title to the unit subject to the condominium association’s lien for non-payment of assessments, inclusive of interest, late charges and attorney fees. The Michigan Condominium Act does not state the specific remedy that is available to the association when the mortgagee fails to give notice. This decision clarifies that remedy. This case was argued on behalf of the condominium association by Jennifer Cordon Thor of Meisner & Associates, P.C., and the decision allowed for the association to secure its lien upon the unit as well as to preserve its claim for interest, costs and attorney fees incurred in the collection of unpaid assessments as they are secured by the lien.

Condominium associations should be aware of any and all units that are delinquent in not only association dues, but also mortgage payments as this may affect units that may be delinquent in the condominium assessments.

Posted by Joe at 10:21 AM | Permalink

Residents searching the public library for nuts-and-bolts approaches to community association living and management can find how-to-books on the subject, thanks to a $1,500 donation from the Orange County Chapter of the Community Associations Institute.

The editions are part of the Adopt a Library program sponsored by the Institute.

The vast collection of material covers every conceivable aspect of running and managing a community association, said Tim Mountain, adult services division manager for the Fullerton Public Library.

The Institute has 57 chapters throughout the nation, serving more than 26,000 members. Programs include professional community manager development, association board member education and interaction with local legislatures on issues affecting community.

The Main Library is at 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.; the Hunt Branch at 201 S. Basque Ave.

Information: 714-738-6325.

Posted by Joe at 10:20 AM | Permalink

BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Community Association Officers Forum (CAOF), an education and business partnership helping community association officers understand the issues they face as members of their associations' Boards of Directors, announced today the launch of its 2007-08 series of free seminars in Palm Beach County for board members of local condominium, co-op, homeowner and other community associations.

CAOF's "Best Practices for Board Members" series of monthly seminars will kick-off December 4 and run through early April at two convenient locations in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. These educational events are made possible by the sponsorship of Palm Beach Community College, Becker & Poliakoff, Commerce Bank, Kane & Company, P.A., Prime Management Group and Seitlin Insurance & Advisory Services.

Absolutely free of charge to community association board members, the "Best Practice for Board Members" seminar series will feature expert guest lecturers on key aspects of community association governance and management, including Budgeting & Fiscal Planning, Fiduciary & Legal Responsibilities, The Insurance Crisis and Disaster Planning.

"We're very pleased to team with Palm Beach Community College and these outstanding local professional firms to offer at no charge this comprehensive seminar series to condo, HOA and other community association board members throughout Palm Beach County," said Margaret Grisdela, Executive Director, CAOF. "Association boards face real challenges in running their communities and we hope board members will join us to stay abreast of the latest developments and learn 'best practices' on vital community management issues."

"Becker & Poliakoff and the other professional firms participating in the CAOF seminars work day-in and day-out with volunteer board members who face serious and complex issues that impact the quality of life and financial futures of property owners within their communities," said Kenneth S. Direktor, shareholder and director of the Community Association Law practice at Becker & Poliakoff, co-sponsor of the CAOF Palm Beach County series. "We're very excited to co-sponsor this series to help board members navigate the issues, deliver the benefits of sound association management and provide greater peace of mind to the satisfaction of all those who choose to live within their communities."

Each of the CAOF "Best Practices for Board Members" seminars will be held in two separate locations and community association board members wishing to attend may choose the date and place that is most convenient for them:

-- In Boca Raton, at the Embassy Suites, 661 NW 53rd Street (just west of I-95 and north of Yamato Road; and, -- In Boynton Beach, at the Westchester Country Club, 12250 Westchester Club Drive (jog between Lake Ida & Woolbright).

The CAOF "Best Practices for Board Members" seminar topics, dates for both locations and guest lecturers will include:

Budgeting & Fiscal Planning: Managing your Community's Funds Boca Raton, Tues. Dec. 4th / Boynton Beach, Tues. Dec. 11th -- Welcoming remarks by Gwen M. Nicholson, Program Manager, Palm Beach Community College -- Kenneth Direktor, Esq., and Robert Rubinstein, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff -- Joseph Ercolino, VP, and Christina Siconolfi, VP, Cash Management Services, Commerce Bank -- Jeffrey L. Ducker, CPA, Kane & Company 2008 Outlook: What's New, What's Coming? Boca Raton, Tues. Jan. 8th / Boynton Beach, Tues. Jan. 15th -- Robert Rubinstein, Esq., and Kenneth Direktor, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff -- Frank Spinosa, Regional Vice President, Commerce Bank -- Monte Kane, CPA, Managing Director, Kane & Company -- Charles D. ("Chip") Sollins, Chief Executive Officer, Prime Management Group -- Ed Whipple, Property and Casualty, Seitlin Insurance & Advisory Services The Insurance Crisis: What Board Members Need to Know Boca Raton, Tues. Feb. 5th / Boynton Beach, Tues. Feb. 12th -- Moderated by Ed Whipple, Property and Casualty, Seitlin Insurance & Advisory Services -- Kenneth Direktor, Esq., and Robert Rubinstein, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff -- Jeffrey L. Ducker, CPA, Kane & Company -- Bryan E. Feuerberg, Assistant Vice President, Commerce Bank -- Charles D. ("Chip") Sollins, Chief Executive Officer, Prime Management Group Fiduciary and Legal Responsibilities of Board Members Boca Raton, Tues. Mar. 4th / Boynton Beach, Tues. Mar. 11th -- Robert Rubinstein, Esq., and Kenneth Direktor, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff -- Monte Kane, CPA, Managing Director, Kane & Company Disaster Planning: Is Your Association Ready? Boca Raton, Tues. April 1st / Boynton Beach, Tues. April 8th -- Moderated by Charles D. ("Chip") Sollins, Chief Executive Officer, Prime Management Group -- Kenneth Direktor, Esq., and Robert Rubinstein, Esq., Becker & Poliakoff -- Todd Mutschler, Vice President, Consumer Lending, Commerce Bank -- Jeffrey L. Ducker, CPA, Kane & Company -- Ed Whipple, Property and Casualty, Seitlin Insurance & Advisory Services

On-site registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., followed by the seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Association Board Members from condos, co-ops, homeowner and other community associations located in Palm Beach County may register in advance online at www.CAOFonline.com or via telephone at 561-266-0100.

About the Community Association Officers Forum

The Community Association Officers Forum (CAOF) was established to provide a series of free educational seminars to condo association officers to help them understand the issues that they face as members of their community associations' Boards of Directors. Patterned after a Southwest Florida seminar series launched in 1999 by Edison College's Office of Continuing Education, Guardian Property Management Co., Becker & Poliakoff and others, the annual CAOF "Best Practices for Board Members Series" is sponsored by Palm Beach Community College, Becker & Poliakoff, Commerce Bank, Kane & Company, P.A., Prime Management Group and Seitlin Insurance & Advisory Services.

SOURCE Community Association Officers Forum

CONTACT: Michael Tangeman or Jennifer Welding of Pen Group Communications, +1-305-529-1944, michael@thepengroup.com, for Community Association Officers Forum

Posted by Joe at 3:17 PM | Permalink

Markham, ON (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 -- NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS, provider of Maestro Enterprise Property Management hotel software and reservation software solutions for hospitality, announced that it successfully implemented the industry's first online Condo and Timeshare Owner Management system as part of its Web Connection package of online modules to drive greater revenue & productivity for users. The new online Condo and Timeshare Owner Management + Web module is fully operational at the 257-unit Prince Resort at Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina and at the 360-unit Jay Peak resort in North Troy, Vermont.

"Our resort installed Maestro's Online Condo and Timeshare Ownership + Web system because it provides owners with the convenience of remote Web access that has never been possible before from any vendor," said Ed Prince, owner of Prince Resort at Cherry Grove Pier. "Today's condo and timeshare owners want to monitor and manage their units online, and Maestro delivered what our owners are requesting." Prince noted that his clients want to track their unit's activity via the Internet to check availability to plan vacations when their unit is free so they are not losing revenue by occupying it in a high demand period. "With full online access to their unit's availability, owners do not have to wait to call our offices to get unit information. It is solid technology that improves service."

Maestro is only vendor with online condo-timeshare ownership management
The 360-unit Jay Peak Resort also recently installed Maestro's Online Condo and Timeshare Management + Web system. "We installed Maestro's Web-enabled Condo and Timeshare system because our owners have requested online access to their unit's availability for a long time, and only NORTHWIND provides it," said Buffy Ardine, reservation manager for Jay Peak Resort. "Our owners value the ability to check their current and historical unit information online. The system is exactly what Jay Peak Resort wanted."

Online owner management - essential for business
"The condo - timeshare ownership trend is growing in many markets," said Warren Dehan, NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS' president of North American Operations. "Providing owners with Internet access to their units is essential for operators who want to attract more business. NORTHWIND is leading the industry with its 'Web Connection' technology and we are delighted with the two newest installations of Condo and Timeshare Owner Management + Web." NORTHWIND developed the industry's first comprehensive online Condo Owner Management system by teaming with large ownership property operators and delivering the revenue enhancing functionality they asked for.

The new Maestro Condo and Timeshare Owner Management + Web solution enables owners to use the Internet any time to

Easily view their unit information and performance online;
Check their unit's availability any time;
Reserve their unit for their own use;
View their owner statements online.

To see this and other Property Management System solution technologies offered by NORTHWIND, please visit booth #3038 at the IH/M&RS November 11-13, 2007, Jacob Javitz Center in New York, NY. NORTHWIND-Maestro will also be at the Historic Hotels of America 18th Annual Meeting November 27-29, 2007 in St. Petersburg Beach, FL. Please contact or visit us to request a demo and find out what our service can do for yours!

About NORTHWIND - Maestro PMS
We know how important it is that you provide your guests a consistent level of service and repeat recognition, while maintaining a 360 degree guest view at every point of contact. NORTHWIND is empowering over 6500 users worldwide by delivering the industry's most complete property management solution suite with over 20 robust Maestro applications sharing one single-image database. The Maestro Property Management Suite may be deployed via Windows, UNIX, Linux, Terminal Services, ASP and Web platforms.

NORTHWIND, is recognized in the hospitality industry for its "standard setting" Support & Services and state-of-the-art Maestro technology. The company is respected for being a partner that understands how to help you boost productivity and strengthen management control for your hotel, resort, conference center or multi-property group by providing flexible solutions that increase productivity and maximize ROI. With a network of dealers and offices worldwide, NORTHWIND is a leading supplier of software for all types of hospitality operations including hotels, resorts, timeshares, condominiums, retreats, state parks and clubs. Maestro applications are engineered for operators who need to manage their enterprise in a real time environment for the utmost operational control and profitability.

Maestro Property Management Suite
The Maestro Suite is comprised of over 20 integrated modules including Front Office (PMS), Accounts Receivable, Analytics and Business Intelligence Tools, Sales and Catering, Multi-Property Management, Condo Owner Management with Owner Web Functionality, Timeshare Owner Management with Owner Web Functionality, Spa and Activities Management, Club Membership Management, Yield Management, Golf Course Management, CRM, Central Reservation Office, Corporate Enterprise Management, GDS Two-Way Integration, ResEze Web Booking Engine, Work Order Maintenance, Fine Dining and Retail POS, Table Reservations with Web Booking, Concierge and Guest Experience Management.

Contact:
NORTHWIND - Maestro PMS, North America
Audrey MacRae - Director, Sales & Marketing
P: 905.940.1923
1-888-667-8488
http://www.maestropms.com/HOL?campaign=PRWebCondoOnlineNov92007

Maestro PMS Ltd., United Kingdom & Ireland
David Warren - Director of Services and Sales
P: +44 (0) 1293 883918
http://www.maestropms.co.uk?campaign=PRWebCondoOnlineNov92007

Posted by Joe at 3:44 PM | Permalink

Parker Finch Management, a Phoenix-based community management firm with franchises in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and northern Florida will hold an information session for those interested in franchising HOA management services in the Houston area.

James Small, Chief Executive Officer of Parker Finch, will speak about the business development opportunity in the marketplace and answer any questions from potential franchise candidates.

Who: The event is open to the general public, but is especially geared those looking to work for themselves

When/WHere: Marriott Houston Airport
18700 John F Kennedy Blvd.
Houston, TX 77032
Tuesday, November 6th at 6:00pm

Why: Community Associations Institute (CAI), the national organization for homeowner associations, estimates that there are as many as 100 new homeowner associations coming online in the United States every day. With the industry growing at a record pace, Parker Finch has uncovered a fantastic opportunity to marry its successful business model with local expertise in communities across the Southwest.

Additional Information:
Parker Finch Management provides a comprehensive suite of services to homeowners associations and developers including clients such as Premier Properties, Equity Residential, Elliott Homes, Stratland Homes, Richmond American Homes and several other homebuilders. The firm's expertise, professionalism, and commitment to quality service are second to none. Associations that partner with Parker Finch Management have found a way to experience a better community. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Dave Shaw at Parker Finch Management, (602) 889-8999 x105.

Posted by Joe at 3:32 PM | Permalink