President’s Message COMMUNITY
Dave Potter, CMCA, AMS Golden Rain Foundation – Seal Beach Chapter President
ASSOCIATION BANKING
Fall has arrived, and it’s hard to believe the year is already drawing to a close. As the holidays approach, Chapter events will begin to slow down, giving us all time to spend with our families and reflect on the year. It’s a time for looking back and leaning forward—more so than ever for me! But slowing down doesn’t mean stopping—there are still great opportunities coming up in the final months of 2025, and we’re already looking ahead to an exciting 2026.
November brings our final educational luncheon of the year on November 5: the always-popular Legislative Update. (I’ll have to miss it—I’ll be in the Wedding of the Millennium! Don’t be jealous!) On November 12, we’ll host the last HOA-U class of the year, which will focus on records requests.
In December, we’ll wrap things up with our final Managers’ Breakfast, featuring a timely discussion on AI in community associations. Of course, the year wouldn’t be complete without our annual Holiday Social on December 17. I hope to see everyone there!
Looking ahead to 2026 (you’re hearing it here first), we’ll kick things off with a CMCA Study Group on January 23 and Keynote Speaker Chris Sembroski at the January 29 luncheon. Then, we’ll celebrate at our annual Awards Gala, Excellence Meets Elegance, on February 7.
As I wrap up my term as Chapter president, I’d like to leave you with a leadership philosophy that has had a profound impact on me: the concept of positive intent.
Indra Nooyi, former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, once said:
“Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different... When you assume negative intent, you’re angry. If you take away that anger and assume positive intent, you will be amazed. Your emotional quotient goes up because you are no longer almost random in your response.”
When I first heard this idea, I wasn’t impressed. It seemed overly simplistic, especially in the high-volume, fast-paced world of portfolio community management. But over time, I realized how wrong I was. This mindset has been transformational, not just for leadership, but for everyday customer service.
Assuming positive intent helps eliminate your instinctive, defensive response and allows you to truly listen—to hear, rather than to react. It takes effort, but it’s worth it.
And just like that… my final President’s Message comes to a close. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve as your chapter president this past year. I know my colleague, Mike Perlof, will do a fantastic job leading us in 2026, and I can’t wait to see what the new year brings for all of us.
Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season,
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6 November | December 2025
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