Changing of the Guard - A Survival Guide for New Board Members
A homeowner succumbs to relentless pressure from his neighbors and steps up to become a board member of his condominium or homeowner association. Alternatively, he attends an annual meeting and after nodding off as the landscape committee chair gives her report on rhododendron reclamation efforts, an outgoing board member nominates him to run for directorship; he awakes just in time to hear the outgoing president offer congratulations for obtaining sufficient votes, notwithstanding that he ran unopposed. Or perhaps, when the homeowner fills out an entry form in the clubhouse for a free week-long timeshare in Hawaii, he fails to see the fine print stating that the card also served as a nomination form for a board director position at the next annual meeting. However he got there . . . to read more of this article from Dan Zimberoff, Barker Martin P.S. click here.
Dubai - From the Sand to the Sky
Last October, I had the privelege to travel to Dubai, the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with my esteemed colleague and friend Mike Packard, CPM, PCAM, CCM, to embark on a journey of teaching the M-100 to 35 managers of community asociations there. Interestingly enough, all of our students had either just started managing communities, or were getting their first glimpse of basic concepts and ideas related to the community management industry, and our trip turned into as much a learning experience . . . to read more of this article from Rob Felix, The Felix Reserve Group click here.
Happenings: WSCAI’s Annual Meeting and “That 70s Party” Wrap up
As they tend to say about great occasions, if it is a good story and if it is a true story, then it is a story that should be told. The story in question is the WSCAI Annual Meeting that took place on November 13, 2008 at the Lake Union Café in Seattle. This was more then just the Annual Meeting – it was the 30th birthday of the founding of the Washington State Chapter of Community Associations Institute. The program for the event presented a better understanding of . . . to read more of this article from Larry Crandall click here.
Legally Speaking - Transition from Declarant/Developer to HOA
Condominium declarations and other residential community declarations typically provide for a period of declarant control that permits the declarant/developer to appoint or remove the association's board of directors and officers and authorizes the declarant to approve or veto the board or association's actions. At a certain point, the declarant must turn over control of the board and the association to the unit owner's. The timing of this transition . . . to read more of this article from David C. Martin, Rafel Law Group PLLC click here.
Legislative Update - Most of 2009 Legislative Session Will Focus on Budget Issues
The 2009 Legislature, plagued with a $5.1 billion shortfall, will undoubtedly be primarily focused on budget cuts and cost savings. At this time there are no major efforts to amend state laws that effect homeowner or condominium associations. However, the likelihood of changes is high, especially with foreclosure issues on the rise and the defeat of legislation in the 2008 session to amend the Homeowners Association Act. WSCAI will continue to . . . to read more of this article from Kathryn Hedrick, Lobbyist WSCAI click here.
Roles Change for Community Association Managers
Ask Shelley Murray, CMCA, AMS, an experienced Community Association Manager in Kent, what a typical workday is like and she laughs ruefully and declares, "triage." "I spend more than 50% of my time now on collections and that's true even at the end of the year when collecting assessments should be concluded. The changing economy has really impacted the way we do business." Murray and other community association managers interviewed report that 2008 has brought three primary changes in their duties and roles. First, managers are . . . to read more of this article from Margo Keller click here.
The Power to Change
We all have within us the power to change. As the world around us appears to be spinning out of control, it is important for each of us to look within ourselves and our communities and focus on what is of importance and what is of value. Change is inevitable in our lives, so we have a choice to go with it or to fight it. The selfish side of us doesn't want change - especially when it comes in the form of a receding economy. But we have to remember to focus on the things we can change and let go of the things we cannot. The things we can change are from within. We can choose how we react and how we interact every day. We can choose . . . to read more of this article from Linda Larsen, CIRMS, Brent Ward State Farm Insurance click here.
Uncertainty Sparks Changes in the Banking Industry and Consumer Behavior
Change! The word that drives most employees crazy and heightens stress levels in the office to dizzying proportions, but yet gets a relatively unknown Senator from Illinois elected President of the United States. Change is necessary and is always good. If you are not about Change, you are standing still and if you are standing still, you are going nowhere! Change creates the opportunity to build character and it also inspires creativity to move business, governments and society forward. Over the past 18 months the credit market and those providing financial services have experienced tremendous change. The combination of consistently low interest rates . . . to read more of this article from Harve Menkens, Foundation Bank click here. | 
