If you’re like me, you want to live in an HOA community surrounded by pleasant neighbors, people you call friends, and a community association board and management company you can trust. So… how do you achieve this? I would like to share my experience with (CAI) Community Associations Institute and how becoming a member can help you accomplish this and transform the associations you serve into thriving communities.
Today we live in an increasingly virtual world where interactions can be cold and distant. People working together to help other people is how CAI makes a difference in our HOA industry.
We need to remember there’s a person on the other side, to treat them with respect and work together in unity and harmony.
CAI helps turn our “Owners” into “Neighbors” through its unparallelled education that works! What I like best is that when you become a member of CAI you join a family- oriented organization that is committed to making a positive difference in our communities by embracing diversity, unity and harmony for safer communities!
HOA Communities face many Challenges. Here are some of the common ones we face today and how to overcome them.
• Lack of board member education and homeowner engagement
• Delinquent assessments and inadequately funded reserves
• Capital improvement projects and special assessments • Increasing insurance costs and security concerns • Compliance and enforcement of rules and regulations
• Ineffective communication/ acceptance of differing views
Many boards have no idea on how to manage their communities, or are familiar with governing documents, fiduciary duties or aware of applicative federal and state laws. It’s important to read financial reports, to follow up on reserve studies, to properly select management companies and service providers and to be able to run fair elections and successful meetings. Many are not aware that CAI education is in their governing documents or how easy it is to add an amendment to include education in their annual budgets. This lack of education can lead to diminished trust in HOA communities, mismanagement of funds, unchecked personal agendas, misconduct, corruption, disputes and misunderstandings.
So… how can you manage these challenges? I have great news! By becoming a member of CAI! If you’re a Homeowner or Board Member, like me, who wants to contribute and protect your investment and community’s well-being, or a Business Partner/Service Provider who wants to expand their network, or a Community Manager and Management Company who wants to show their dedication and commitment to their clients. CAI helps you manage today’s challenges, build unity, trust and stronger relationships within the communities you serve.
My first impression of the Illinois Chapter was they have an amazing staff and volunteers, led by Cheryl Murphy. Everyone is so nice and always available to help, guide and support you! I was also impressed with CAI’s member benefits! Some of my favorites are; free homeowner education and access to the latest news, state and federal laws, and issues affecting community associations in this rapidly changing industry. You’ll strengthen your network with access to over 30,000 industry colleagues and networking opportunities on CAI’s member-only community platform “Exchange”. I was also excited to learn that CAI represents 64 chapters, nearly 45,000, homeowners & community associations around the world and are the leading provider of resources and information in more than 358,000 associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the US.
What makes a community? It’s about doing something together that makes belonging to the community matter! Running for a position on my board is something I did for my community. My slogan was “Stronger Together”. My community was divided and unhappy and wanted to bring them together in unity and create a happy environment. I brought my business skills, energy and passion to my position on the board but quickly realized that wasn’t enough. I found myself constantly searching for answers. So, I did something again for my community and found CAI. Becoming a member of CAI, after serving on my board for 5 years, was a bright light for me and was the best decision I made for myself and my community. My only wish is I had found them when I first became a board member.
CAI taught me many valuable lessons. I learned how important a CAI education is to help govern your community. I learned the success of a community association relies not only on our homeowners but everyone in the HOA industry working together in unity. I learned that building positive relationships, having good rapports and always working in the best interest of our homeowners are the cornerstones of a thriving community. The best community managers and management companies have their CAI designations, work together as a team with their boards, are honest, educated, have strong emotional intelligence, offer full transparency, have passion for the communities they serve, treat everyone with respect, and are wholly prepared to lead and guide their communities to a successful future. I realized that earning my (DCAL) and National board leader certificates, becoming a member of CAI and an ambassador on the membership committee, has culminated in being one of the most fun, exciting and rewarding experiences of my life! I have met so many wonderful people and have walked away with a wealth of knowledge. And most importantly, I learned that my slogan when I first ran for my board was true.
When we all work together in unity and harmony, we are “Stronger Together!”
www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 23
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