The song “From Now On” from the movie The Greatest Showman is an uplifting anthem in which the narrator looks toward a brighter future after everything has fallen apart. Perhaps not
so dramatic as the circumstances in the movie, nevertheless, CAI is always in pursuit of a better tomorrow through legislative advocacy, even when things seem to be at their worst.
Every year we see more bills introduced in the Illinois General Assembly directly and indirectly affecting community associations and the community association industry. Some of these bills are increasingly antagonistic to the community association housing model, even when the sponsor of the bill is well meaning. It is now more important than ever for CAI to be involved in the legislative process in Springfield. There are two primary means for CAI to impact legislation: the Illinois Legislative Action Committee (“ILAC”); and the CAI Political Action Committee Illinois (“PAC IL”).
Illinois Legislative Action Committee
ILAC is a diverse group of volunteers who come from different backgrounds and positions within the community association industry here in Illinois. Over the years, ILAC members have included individual homeowners, association board members, community association managers, bankers, insurance professionals, and attorneys. The associations managed by those community association managers range from Chicago high-rises to suburban mid and low-rises to sprawling single-family home HOAs to townhome style associations to associations with private lakes. Each member brings a different set of skills and experience to the table, which proves invaluable to the success of ILAC. That diversity means that ILAC approaches each piece of legislation from all perspectives to ensure that CAI supported legislation brings positive change to the industry.
How does ILAC go about achieving positive change? In the broadest sense, it does so by supporting good bills and stopping bad bills. However, it is so much more than just that. For example, ILAC works hard to establish and foster relationships with legislators, their staff, and lobbyists of other stakeholders who have an interest in legislation affecting our industry. For many years now, ILAC has worked with its lobbyist, Jeff Dixon. Jeff’s knowledge of the legislative process, experience working in Springfield, and affable personality have been a significant factor in ILAC’s success. Additionally, the willingness of ILAC members to meet with legislators, their staff, and other interested parties to talk through the pros and cons of a bill have established ILAC as the go-to for legislators who are contacted by their constituents about issues involving a community association. In other words, we have solidified CAI as the experts in the minds of many legislators.
In addition to working on individual bills, ILAC organizes an annual day trip to Springfield where members of ILAC meet in-person with numerous legislators and their staff.
Sometimes those meetings are to discuss specific bills, and other times they are to meet with and get to know legislators who are new or at least new to CAI. ILAC also works to provide educational information about pending legislation through the Illinois Chapter weekly newsletter, blog, and CAI Annual Conference and Expo. When necessary, ILAC works with CAI national to send out a call to action on specific bills, which may include Illinois Chapter members contacting their state representative or senator, or sometimes filing witness slips when a bill is being called at a committee level hearing.
It is certainly the people who spend countless hours of their time that make ILAC successful, most of whom are volunteers. However, financial support is also a crucial ingredient to that receipt for success. Although there are specific fundraising events during the year to raise financial support for ILAC, you can donate at any time in any amount. We are so very thankful when you do.
Please support the efforts of ILAC and donate to help pay for our lobbyist who builds relationships for us and allows us to have a voice with the legislators in Springfield. Donations can be made at:
https://advocacy.caionline.org/ lac-donation-form/
CAI PAC Illinois PAC IL is a group of volunteers who are members of the Illinois community association industry. They work hard to raise funds that can be used to support those representatives and senators in Springfield who are friends of the community association industry. In doing so, PAC IL further builds and maintains important relationships with legislators. Although PAC IL does not get involved in the nitty gritty of the legislative process like ILAC, PAC IL remains an essential ingredient to CAI’s receipt for success in Springfield.
Please support the efforts of PAC IL. PAC IL is an important component of CAI’s advocacy and presence in the legislative process. Donations can be made at:
https://www.cai-illinois. org/ilac/cai-pac-illinois/
www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 17
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