Community Associations Network Industry News

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

Homeowners with questions on how their HOA should be managed can find answers at Chapin Memorial Library.

The library received a $1,500 set of reference books on managing homeowner and condo associations. The set includes 60 books and one audiotape covering a homeowners association's role.

Library staff say it's very needed.

"Our staff receives a surprising number of questions about homeowners associations and how they operate," said Cathy Wiggins, director of Chapin Memorial Library, in a news release.

The gift was donated by Gold Crown Management Inc. of Myrtle Beach and the nonprofit Foundation for Community Association Research. The texts cover budgets, legal issues and resolving disputes.

Posted by Joe at 10:21 AM | Permalink

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is unveiling a series of guidelines to help association boards identify and meet basic benchmarks of responsible governance—the cornerstone of any successful common-interest community.

CAI's Community Association Governance Guidelines address a dozen of the most potentially contentious components of association management and governance—annual meetings, assessments, association records, communications, conflicts of interest, elections, financial transparency, foreclosure, governance and the law, grievances and appeals, reserve funding and rules.

The guidelines were developed under the auspices of the Center for Community Association Volunteers, CAI's specialized member group for homeowners, board members and other community leaders.

"There are a number of communities, especially new and struggling associations, that can benefit from these guidelines," says CAI President Ronald L. Perl, Esq. "We know there are some community association boards that need to be reminded that there are reasonable expectations that should be met."

Even though every community has unique circumstances and challenges, the guidelines can be applied in almost any association. "What works in one association may not work in another, but the basic attributes of good, conscientious governance are universal," says Jack McGrath, chair of CAI's Community Association Volunteers Committee. "We believe these guidelines can enlighten boards, prompt constructive community dialogue and lead to more responsible, responsive and transparent governance."

Most community associations function without major upheaval. In fact, national research conducted by Zogby International in 2005 showed that close to nine out of every 10 community association residents believe their board members strive to serve the best interests of the community. The Zogby research belies any suggestion that most board members aren’t doing a good job.

Still, not all boards govern as responsibly as they should. That can and does lead to homeowner frustration, factional conflict and, in the most egregious cases, lawsuits. These situations also perpetuate the negative and largely unwarranted perceptions of associations, board members and the professionals who support them.

There are an estimated 300,000 homeowners associations, condominium communities and cooperatives in the United States. If only 2 in 100 boards are underperforming, at least 6,000 associations are not reaching their full potential.

"We believe homeowner and condominium associations can and should exceed the expectations of their residents," adds Perl. "The Governance Guidelines can help communities achieve that goal, increasing harmony, reducing conflict and building successful communities in the process. That's our vision at CAI, a vision we believe every association board should share."

Learn more and download the guidelines here. Single copies of the printed brochure can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to: Governance Guidelines, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Communities that want to move beyond these guidelines should consider adopting Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities, 42 specific practices and principles developed by CAI for associations, boards and homeowners. Visit www.caionline.org/rightsandresponsibilities to learn more.

CAI is a national membership organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, competent, harmonious common-interest communities. Founded in 1973, CAI and its 58 chapters provide education, tools and resources to the volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. CAI’s 28,500-plus members include community association volunteer leaders (homeowners), managers, management firms and other professionals who provide products and services to community associations.

For members and general inquiries, contact the CAI Direct customer service team:
Community Associations Institute
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-548-8600
Fax: 703-684-1581
Email: CAIdirect@caionline.org

Posted by Joe at 8:59 AM | Permalink

RISMEDIA, July 18, 2007—There is an estimated 250,000 Homeowner Associations (HOAs) in the United States according to the Community Association Institute. Since HOAs govern property usage, these groups have increased their power over the desirability of neighborhood of the last decade. An understanding of the rules and regulations add relevance to the service that the real estate professional provides. This is but one more added skill attained when agents take the new Certified Neighborhood Specialist (CNS) program designed to help agents become true “Neighborhood Experts.”

Most new developments are being created with a Homeowners Association attached; oftentimes, this is required by the city council prior to building the neighborhood. But regardless if an agent specializes in a new or an established neighborhood with a Home Owners Associations, he or she must know all the details. Theses details are more than just the basics such as the dues and when they are accessed.

As a “Neighborhood Specialist,” agents must understand the rules and regulations that can impact future homebuyers. According to the Community Association Institute, this could include many aspects, such as pets, solar panels, roofing, maintenance, home businesses, gardens, clotheslines and exterior decorations.

Knowing the details of your neighborhood association and asking qualifying questions to potential purchasers can save vast amounts of time. Save time by enabling your buyers to avoid making offers on homes that would only be voided once the buyer found out about restrictions that they would not be able to live with. Gain credibility by knowing the facts of any association and passing this information to your client.

Additionally, a true neighborhood expert should have a good understanding of their finances…more than just the dues, but assessments, cash flow, delinquencies, etc. During a normal process of closing, a typical buyer has less than two days to read covenants and/or community rules of a homeowners association, not nearly enough time to make an informed decision. By having the necessary understanding of your neighborhood association agents will be empowered to ensure that their clients are purchasing the right home.

Become a “Neighborhood Specialist” and learn more homeowners associations and all the 101 other aspects that impact neighborhoods across the country by becoming CNS certified.

For more information visit www.CertifiedNeighborhoodSpecialist.com.

Posted by Joe at 8:27 AM | Permalink

The big news this month is Neighborhoods Arizona! 2007 "Creating Neighborhood Resourses" May 19 at the Chandler Center for the Arts:

1. We have an expert in community asset mapping--Beth Tucker, with the University of Arizona, to instruct us on how to use this process in assessing what we have in our communities and how to use that information to take action.

2. A panel of HOA attorneys--Scott Carpenter (Carpenter Hazlewood Delgado & Wood), Curtis Ekmark (Ekmark & Ekmark), and Augustus Shaw (Shaw & Lines)--will update us on new legislation for HOAs.

3. Fidelis Garcia, the Director for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, will help us learn how to get what we paid for.

4. A Best Practises panel will talk about connecting to the resources we need to create great neighborhoods and communities.

Hope you can join us!

Attached to this email is information and a registration form.

"Recent events have highlighted the need for homeowner associations to take a closer look at their insurance coverage. Specifically, a HOA should evaluate the amount and types of insurance coverage it has in place for matters involving employee dishonesty or fidelity. It is advisable that an association have employee dishonesty and fidelity coverage that covers directors, officers, agents and managers for the community."

Augustus H. Shaw IV
Shaw & Lines, LLC

Thank you for your interest in creating quality neighborhoods!

The Leadership Centre

Posted by Joe at 8:43 AM | Permalink

1. Thursday, April 19, 2007 , we are offering "Selecting a Management Company & Other Vendors"— This class teaches the steps in selection a management company and other important vendors who work for the association (landscape companies, pool maintenance, etc.), how to determine specifications, request bids, review and analyze bids and make the final selections.. The class will be held in L101 (please note that this is a new room number) at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. For a map of the campus go to: http://www.cgc.edu/maps/pecos.shtml

This class will be instructed by Les Presmyk, Councilmember Town of Gilbert, and Stephanie Fee, VP Capital Consultants Management Corporation.

Class registration is $25. A light dinner is provided. For more information and to register please contact The Leadership Centre at http://www.theleadershipcentre.org or by phone at 480-732-7174.

This is the final class in our 2006-2007 series. Our 2007-2008 class and event schedule will be posted on our website in July. Stay tuned!

2. Solve-It! Community Mediation is offering the 40 - hour basic mediation course May 26 - June 2. For information call 480-732-7296

3. Neighborhoods Arizona! 2007 "Creating Neighborhood Resourses" will be held May 19 at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Attached to this email is information and a registration form.

Posted by Joe at 10:51 AM | Permalink