Inside CAI Keystone: Membership Monday Takeover

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Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, Membership Monday Takeover.
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In this episode, we will be discussing all things membership with Community
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Associations Institute's Keystone Chapter.
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Today, I'm your host, Amanda Henderson, Member Development Manager at CAI's Keystone Chapter.
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This episode is about giving listeners insight into what it's like to be a member
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of the Keystone Chapter and ways you can make the most of your membership,
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no matter your member type, so there will be something for current and future members alike.
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Before we get into the topic today, here's a brief word from our generous sponsor, Hoffman Law, LLC.
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I'm Ed Hoffman with Hoffman Law LLC.
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Hoffman Law LLC is a recognized leader in community association law.
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We're known for our responsiveness, legal acumen, leadership in the association
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industry, and our unwavering focus and commitment to education.
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You can learn more about us at our website, hoffmanhoalaw.com.
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Hoffman Law LLC is proud to sponsor this episode of the Community Matters podcast.
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To discuss membership today, we will be going straight to the source and chatting
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with some of our wonderful members, spanning all of the membership categories.
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We have manager members, Laureen Young, CMCA AMS, and Fran Shoemaker,
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CMCA AMS, both with Camco Management Company.
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We have homeowner member Barbara Dolhansky from Arrowhead Lake Community Association
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and business partner member Jeff Bevavino with Macadam Company.
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So welcome all. Let's get into it. If you just want to tell us a bit about yourself
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and how long you've been a member of CAI Keystone.
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You want me to start, Amanda? Let's hear it. Yeah, go ahead, Jeff.
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Okay, so I started here at Macadam Company. We're an asphalt and concrete company. I started in 1994.
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It's amazing it's been this long. It's just crazy. But I think that we joined CAI in the late 90s.
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We felt we were growing. I think there was 10 of us when we first started.
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And there's 150 people now. So I actually handed to the leadership at CAI for
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that growth quite a bit of it.
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HOA works about 30% of our work. Amazing.
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Fran, how about you go next? I like to say that I joined during the last year,
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CAI, so back in 2020, you know, right in the middle of all the uncertainty and chaos.
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It was a perfect time, though, because everything was changing then.
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I was stepping into a completely new industry as well.
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I've been in property management for 23 years now, and the first 17 years were in multifamily.
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So transitioning from that to association management, CAI was just there for
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me to make that transition easy. Barbara?
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Hi. So I have been a member since 2017.
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I'm a homeowner leader, and I live in Arrowhead Lakes in the Poconos.
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I have served on the board here for six years, and I'm termed out now,
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so I'm not currently on my board.
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And before I got on the board, I wanted to learn as much as I could about the
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industry and about living in an HOA.
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Even though I lived in a condo association in Philly, it was much smaller and
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very different from this large-scale community that I live in up here.
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So I actually went to the expo as a guest in 2017.
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Our GM up here at the time was really amped up on CAI, as were a number of board members.
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And I really enjoyed it. I actually dragged my husband along.
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And lo and behold, in September of that year, I got elected to the boards.
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So I officially became a member in September of 2017, and I've been a member ever since.
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And so that's how I got here.
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Wow. So you got a little sneak preview before joining. I did. And it was really great.
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I mean, I learned a lot about the business partners and some of the education
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that was geared for homeowners that were going to be on boards was absolutely fabulous.
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So, yeah. Are you for the role? Yeah. Yeah. And then, Laureen,
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if you could tell us a bit about yourself.
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So, like Jeff, I've been in this industry for a long time. I started in this
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industry in 1997, and I think I've been a member since that point, so almost 30 years.
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Amazing. Yeah. So we've got some seasoned professionals here. Very experienced.
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So do you remember your original reason for joining? And does that still resonate with you today?
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You know, we needed to expand. So we were growing fast.
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And I worked with a few of you managers, maybe not Lorraine or Fran in the late 90s.
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I was still in the field somewhat. But I met a few managers,
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and they pointed me in the right direction of CAI because we were looking to expand.
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And they told me about CAI, and then we joined. And I think ultimately,
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we became a diamond sponsor for a few years. We actually backed off this past
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year, but I think that we're actually talking about doing it again next year.
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But that was our need, and it filled our need. And I've become to actually,
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I actually love the in-part CAI now. I really do.
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What makes you say that? The people. Yeah. Yeah, the people.
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Yeah. All right, I guess I'll jump in. So as I mentioned, the first 17 years
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of my career were in multifamily housing, which is just a whole different world.
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So during COVID, when I made the transition and joined CAMCO,
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that's what led me to CAI.
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My main goal was pretty straightforward. I needed to get up to speed quickly
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on what's the difference between multifamily and association management.
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I'm someone who really enjoys learning and staying current. I didn't want to
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just figure it out as I go, as many of us have to do.
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You know, I wanted to find a solid foundation to start off with. So CAI delivered that.
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I started with the M100 course, which was just a game changer for me.
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It broke everything down in a way that made the transition feel manageable and
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honestly a lot less intimidating.
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And now has my reason evolved? Definitely.
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What started as a learning resource has just become so much more.
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It's not just about education anymore. It's about community,
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staying connected to what's happening in the industry and just continuing to grow professionally.
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Next, like Lorene, I originally joined for Education and really Connections
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to get up to speed really quickly about what it meant to be a homeowner,
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to be on the board and a homeowner leader.
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And, you know, I still, even though I'm not on the board, I still,
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well, at the time when I was on the board, it was really for day-to-day advice.
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I could lean on other homeowners that are in similar situations.
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It was about situational advice or advice, I should say, sample policies.
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Really learning about vendors, getting recommendations about vendors and really
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business partners who are our business partners and really getting that type
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of really practical advice to make serving on a board a lot easier.
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And, you know, it was interesting because, you know, in the end,
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you kind of figure out that we're all in the same boat.
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And whether you're a community manager or a homeowner leader on the board or
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on a committee, you don't have to be on the board.
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You know, everybody is facing the same kind of issues and problems and also
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opportunities out there and really good advice about different things in those areas.
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You know, even though I'm not on the board at my association anymore,
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I'm still staying up to date on industry trends.
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And every homeowner has a huge investment in their home. So it's really a good
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idea to understand what's going on in homeowner associations.
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So I also get occasionally tapped by the current board to get info and make
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connections to other communities.
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So at this point, it also helps you be a resource to your community's board. Yep. Yeah.
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Yeah. So as far as me, I joined originally for education, and that is probably
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still the primary reason that I'm involved or one of the reasons that I want to stay involved,
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too, because especially with this industry, everything is just constantly changing
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just to get the most up-to-date information from the legal side of it or even
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just something then going on with like engineering.
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Just any of those kind of things that you wouldn't think like,
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oh, wait, there's some kind of an update that we need to know about.
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It's the best way to get that information because it's kind of brought right
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to you versus trying to take the time and find that all out yourself.
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Yeah, it's an ever-evolving industry.
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There's lots changing in different areas of it.
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So, yeah, having that up-to-date information oftentimes really is crucial.
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Now, for the managers in the room, we've got Lorraine and Fran.
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You both mentioned education being primary reason.
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Now, can you speak a bit to the designations that you have, and whether you
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found that was easy to meet those requirements because you were just looking
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for education, or if it took some concerted effort to earn those?
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I mean, I would say you really have to put in the effort. You've got the classes, the tests.
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I think CAI does a great job of preparing us for it, though,
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just having the different options.
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Like, do you want to go there in person to take these classes?
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Do you want to do them online in a live session? Do you want to,
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you know, do the one you watch at your leisure?
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So it just was really convenient to have those different options for somebody
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that is running around like a maniac with four kids and working full time to squeeze that stuff in.
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So I just I really love how easy CAI made it for me.
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The information is very clear and, you know, gives you what you need to prepare yourself.
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Yeah, as far as the designations, Fran and I both have our CMCA and our AMS.
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I do not have my PCAM, which I probably should at this point.
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So I'm sorry, Amanda. It's on the radar, right?
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We're getting there. And I know that there's been people that have presented
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at the various education things saying that, you know, you should take the time to do that.
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And I agree, it is something that's important. I just know that I'd have to
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carve a big chunk of time out.
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So other than that, as far as taking other classes, it's not really difficult.
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Back in the day when I first became a member, it was a little more difficult
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because you didn't have to travel in person to classes.
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And, you know, that was really the only choice. So you had to wait till that
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class came around to the, you know, nearby area again for you to take that.
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Now it's so easy because, I mean, like Fran was saying, there's all the different
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options of how to take classes. So definitely people shouldn't think that they
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can't like take that time to take a class.
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You can just get right on your computer, you know, that you don't have to travel anywhere.
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Yeah, and some of the virtual ones, yeah, it's great, too, because you don't
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have to finish them all at once. So, you know, you can kind of get started.
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If something comes up, you know, you're busy with your day job,
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you can always revisit it and finish for the credits.
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Yeah, Barbara, go ahead. Yeah, I just also want to kind of tag along with the education.
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The board leadership development workshop is absolutely fabulous.
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When in that last year, I actually became president in 2020 of the association.
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And because we were all home and many of us were retired, I had asked the whole
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board to take the training and we did it online.
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Nine so eight of the nine of
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my board members took the development
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course it was over two days it was absolutely fabulous we
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all got certified and I can't say enough good things about it if you are a homeowner
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leader and want to get on a board or are on the board and just now there are
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options to do some of it online regionally we hosted one last year up in the
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Poconos actually at Arrowhead.
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It was incredibly well-attended with over 60 members.
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I know we just did, I did one in Delaware, and it was a smashing success.
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And I can't just say enough about how much it teaches you from a legal perspective.
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A leadership perspective, a community-building perspective.
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And financials is fabulous.
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It's really just wonderful for homeowners that are either on the board or serving
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on a committee and are thinking about running for the board to take it.
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So education is, it's one of the strengths, I believe, of our chapter and of
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CAI nationally, it really is.
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It's really the foundation for what we do. I mean, that's, yeah,
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to just help everyone increase their knowledge around this industry because there's a lot.
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And yeah, I mean, as board members, especially being volunteers on your community
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association board, that can be incredibly overwhelming.
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So having, yeah, the board leadership workshop, that's an amazing resource.
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As you said, it did just get revamped. so you also access the materials online
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now so you can always reference those thanks for pointing that out barbara yeah
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i was gonna add so many people on the boards now they want to google everything
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and i say don't google go to cai here's the website get the right advice.
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That's an excellent point yeah i mean yeah i found this on google this must
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be right I'm like, well, each state's a little different.
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Yeah, CAI is Google for vetted information about community associations.
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You know that what you're getting here is a trustworthy source. That's a good point.
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Now, I'd like to move on. I'm very curious to hear this next answer.
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Is there any unexpected benefit to membership with CAI that you just didn't
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anticipate when you first signed up but have since come to love?
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I would say getting involved with the communication and content committee.
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That wasn't something I ever really planned on. It just kind of happened. And now I'm the chair.
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Yeah. But I really feel like being involved with that has been such a valuable part of my membership.
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And having that opportunity gave me insight into what's going on behind the
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scenes and watching CAI and the volunteers put together all these events.
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And my goodness, I don't know how you guys do it.
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Yeah, but like Jeff mentioned, I mean, I feel like that really,
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it's a really important way to build relationships too,
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you know, with other managers and business partners in the industry,
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working beside all these other professionals and seeing their engagement and
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how passionate they are about the industry and making those connections,
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I think really goes a long way.
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I was going to say that I did not think it would be fun.
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I thought it's all just education and, you know, just trying to learn things
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for my job and everything. But there's a lot of fun things, too,
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that happened and a lot of fun people.
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So I wasn't anticipating that. I love to hear that.
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We pride ourselves on trying to have a good time while learning.
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I'm gonna go off of that laurine the one thing that
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i never anticipated was making so many friends and i actually
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consider most of the people who i deal
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with friends and it's you know getting older here business friendships mean
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a hell of a lot right so that's that's been a great ride for me is making a
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lot a lot of new friends i spend too much time at work so that's these are the people who I,
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you know, confide in, talk to.
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Lorraine, you and I always have great conversations on the phone, right?
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About great, exciting, exciting asphalt items. But yeah, that's been great for me.
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Yeah, and I'm just going to follow what Jeff just said and what others have
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said is I think that the connections I've made have evolved into friendships.
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I am just blown away by the willingness of people to help.
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And I mean business partners, managers, homeowners, everyone,
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this VAI staff, just really willing to help.
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And then the biggest thing I never thought would happen is that I actually arrived
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and I was holding out on this, that I became a director on the chapter board.
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And that has been really fulfilling.
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And let me just, I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm going to say it,
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is that serving on the CAI board is a lot more fun than serving on a HOA board.
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I don't doubt that.
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But I will say that serving on an HOA board or a COA board to condo association
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board, because I have done that in the past as well, is really super rewarding
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because you're really giving back to your community and it's very meaningful.
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So that's probably the biggest unexpected outcome of becoming a CAI member for me.
00:17:33.388 --> 00:17:35.768
Amazing. Yeah. Happy to have you.
00:17:37.348 --> 00:17:42.628
Yeah, no, I think it's really cool how industry that is all about communities,
00:17:42.628 --> 00:17:46.468
we've really created our own community here. Oh, yeah.
00:17:47.128 --> 00:17:51.068
Yeah, so it's just cool to see how everyone comes together and brings their
00:17:51.068 --> 00:17:55.448
own perspective and different experiences to the table and serve each other.
00:17:56.388 --> 00:18:00.168
So how do you make the most of this membership? How do you feel that you get
00:18:00.168 --> 00:18:03.848
value? I mean, you're all here for similar reasons, education,
00:18:04.108 --> 00:18:08.748
but you also have your own reasons for joining and incentives as a different
00:18:08.748 --> 00:18:11.308
member type. So how do you feel that you get the most out of it?
00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:16.540
For me, I'd say it's a mix of staying engaged and staying curious.
00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:19.620
I try to attend events whenever I can.
00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:23.680
That's where you really get that face-to-face interaction and relationship building.
00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:27.520
I also make a point to keep up with the blogs and the magazines.
00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.800
I feel like there's always something new, whether it's a legislative update,
00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:36.020
a best practice, or just a fresh perspective on something that we deal with every day.
00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:41.100
So just trying to stay involved with all that and keeping on top of what's going on.
00:18:42.702 --> 00:18:46.702
Yeah, I mean, I also stay involved. I think I get the most out of my membership
00:18:46.702 --> 00:18:52.982
now by attending events because it is the connections or the networking opportunities.
00:18:53.702 --> 00:18:57.002
But I, too, I love the magazines. I love the communications.
00:18:57.302 --> 00:19:01.522
Fran, you're doing a great job as chair. We have an awesome team. It's not me.
00:19:01.962 --> 00:19:05.262
Well, that's true. It's always teamwork. Yeah.
00:19:05.882 --> 00:19:10.542
And I also, the interesting thing, too, that I think that many members forget
00:19:10.542 --> 00:19:14.422
is there's also the AI National that has a lot of good content.
00:19:14.502 --> 00:19:17.882
And they also host a kind of conversation.
00:19:18.022 --> 00:19:23.342
Homeowner, it's geared toward homeowners, community conversations on it.
00:19:23.502 --> 00:19:26.302
I'm not quite sure the frequency, but it seems very frequent.
00:19:26.302 --> 00:19:32.102
So I only not only do the chapter stuff and the events, but I also attend some
00:19:32.102 --> 00:19:35.922
of the online webinars given by National, which is great, too.
00:19:36.202 --> 00:19:40.522
Yeah, they also have the online forum, the exchange, which is great.
00:19:40.722 --> 00:19:44.202
It's like any forum. You can post your experience, questions,
00:19:44.262 --> 00:19:49.282
what's going on in your community, and then hear from people all over the country. Yeah.
00:19:50.082 --> 00:19:56.142
My answer is pretty similar to Fran and Barbara. I try to attend different things
00:19:56.142 --> 00:19:59.582
in person. It's nice to be able to connect with people face-to-face.
00:19:59.782 --> 00:20:05.402
I do also try to do some things online, both through local and national.
00:20:05.762 --> 00:20:10.402
And I also am, like Fran, I'm on a committee right now.
00:20:10.642 --> 00:20:15.162
I had been on one in the past, but I hadn't been on one for a few years.
00:20:15.302 --> 00:20:19.242
So I thought I better get back on and just carve out that time.
00:20:19.482 --> 00:20:20.922
And it's been great so far.
00:20:21.781 --> 00:20:25.461
For me, it's really being like an asphalt painting company.
00:20:25.961 --> 00:20:30.481
Springtime is our busiest time. So the CAI shows usually in the spring,
00:20:30.481 --> 00:20:34.801
and that's when I get to see everybody. And there's so much RFPs to come out.
00:20:35.561 --> 00:20:39.581
That one event for us is so huge that I get to talk to everybody.
00:20:39.961 --> 00:20:45.621
And then I just feel like from there, it just goes and goes all year from that
00:20:45.621 --> 00:20:47.621
event, from that one event for us.
00:20:47.701 --> 00:20:50.301
I mean, that really does it for us. I mean, that's a huge deal.
00:20:50.801 --> 00:20:54.001
Yeah. Yeah, so that event, the expo that we hold every year,
00:20:54.581 --> 00:20:58.721
that typically brings around 250 manager and homeowner attendees.
00:20:58.721 --> 00:21:01.481
And we usually have around 150 vendors as well.
00:21:01.721 --> 00:21:06.701
So that definitely impacts the house with people of all member types.
00:21:07.401 --> 00:21:10.481
Definitely one of my favorite events of the year, too. Yeah,
00:21:10.781 --> 00:21:13.141
so fun. And this past one was carnival themed.
00:21:13.441 --> 00:21:20.841
So it's stilt walker, always puppies, always got to bring puppies, ice cream, very fun.
00:21:21.381 --> 00:21:25.801
So speaking of events, yeah, is that your favorite, Fran? I'd like to hear everyone's
00:21:25.801 --> 00:21:27.501
favorite annual event of ours.
00:21:28.443 --> 00:21:31.523
Well, I don't think anything beats the gala last year, though.
00:21:31.743 --> 00:21:37.783
I mean, the location, being at the Franklin Institute, it was just beautiful and such a great event.
00:21:37.823 --> 00:21:42.743
So it's a toss-up between that and the CAI Expo each year, I would say.
00:21:44.563 --> 00:21:49.043
I actually missed the gala last year. I was so bummed. Where is it this year,
00:21:49.283 --> 00:21:51.503
Amanda? It's going to be at Green Valley Country Club.
00:21:52.083 --> 00:21:53.803
Okay, a little closer. Okay.
00:21:55.043 --> 00:22:01.463
Better parking. Better parking. We will not be having dinner with Benjamin Franklin.
00:22:02.803 --> 00:22:08.023
Unless Mike decides to dress up as Ben again. Yeah, that's always a great one.
00:22:08.123 --> 00:22:12.763
Everyone always has so much fun getting dressed up and feeling fancy and mingling.
00:22:13.863 --> 00:22:19.143
I really like the expo, but another one that I absolutely love is Ladies on
00:22:19.143 --> 00:22:21.663
the Links. And you don't have to be a golfer.
00:22:22.083 --> 00:22:25.763
And that's the annual event for women.
00:22:26.263 --> 00:22:28.843
And it's just a fun afternoon.
00:22:29.503 --> 00:22:34.323
There's lessons for women. There's a wonderful lunch before.
00:22:35.283 --> 00:22:40.963
Great raffles, as always. And it's just a really fun, fun, fun afternoon.
00:22:41.583 --> 00:22:43.963
I was going to say, last year was the first time I did that,
00:22:43.963 --> 00:22:47.223
and I am not a golfer. I was like, I can mini-golf, but hey,
00:22:47.283 --> 00:22:51.043
I'll support the cause. And that was a great time, just getting women together
00:22:51.043 --> 00:22:53.343
and getting to drive a golf cart.
00:22:53.503 --> 00:22:57.503
I mean, hey, I'm not great at hitting a ball, but I will drive a golf cart like no other.
00:22:58.623 --> 00:23:02.463
Yeah, I hit a lot of grass and drove a golf cart. That was my,
00:23:02.523 --> 00:23:06.303
and I had a blast doing it. What about you, Laureen?
00:23:06.883 --> 00:23:11.243
My favorite is still the Expo because it does have everything.
00:23:11.243 --> 00:23:16.263
It has education. It has all the vendors, the business partners.
00:23:16.383 --> 00:23:22.163
You can connect with other managers. You can connect with just anybody that you, you,
00:23:22.623 --> 00:23:28.923
there's even two homeowners that one of them is a board member that I see every
00:23:28.923 --> 00:23:32.263
year that I used to manage a million years ago.
00:23:32.363 --> 00:23:39.543
And we always still say hi and give each other hugs. So every year I see them there and it's great.
00:23:39.783 --> 00:23:46.683
I just, I love being there. I always make sure I do schedule that time to attend.
00:23:48.185 --> 00:23:53.025
Yeah, that's very fun to see everyone come together and just see all the relationships,
00:23:53.025 --> 00:23:56.945
because since it's our biggest event of the year, you really get to see how
00:23:56.945 --> 00:24:01.645
everyone's connected and all the networks and lots of smiles. Very good time.
00:24:02.985 --> 00:24:06.665
So then going back to meeting the expo this
00:24:06.665 --> 00:24:09.825
was the first time i think that i attended the
00:24:09.825 --> 00:24:14.105
night before and i actually really enjoyed that quite a bit i was like a little
00:24:14.105 --> 00:24:18.405
it was less intense because usually i'm pretty hoarse at the end of the expo
00:24:18.405 --> 00:24:22.825
after just talking all day non-stop i'm sure it is like for everybody but like
00:24:22.825 --> 00:24:27.625
this past year i will definitely do that again next year pretend like that opening night.
00:24:27.825 --> 00:24:31.665
Yeah, the networking event the night before is always so much fun.
00:24:31.885 --> 00:24:35.985
Everyone's just on a good mood, excited for the big event the next day.
00:24:36.205 --> 00:24:41.025
And yeah, it's a more relaxed way. And a lot of people comment on that being
00:24:41.025 --> 00:24:43.805
one of their favorite parts. So it's good to hear.
00:24:44.445 --> 00:24:49.685
So who would you recommend joining CAI, particularly the Keystone chapter?
00:24:50.925 --> 00:24:55.345
Everybody. I mean, honestly, anybody involved in the industry,
00:24:55.625 --> 00:25:00.325
managers, board members, contractors, there's just value for everyone.
00:25:01.565 --> 00:25:05.565
I think that's what I appreciate most about CAI is that it just brings all those
00:25:05.565 --> 00:25:07.525
different pieces together in the industry.
00:25:07.885 --> 00:25:11.645
So, you know, going back to the expo, too. I mean, I've got a project in mind.
00:25:11.645 --> 00:25:15.545
I can go right to the expo and look for those contractors I don't typically
00:25:15.545 --> 00:25:19.225
use, you know, for doing playground equipment or whatever it might be.
00:25:19.225 --> 00:25:23.685
I mean, if I'm doing asphalt, I know to call Jeff, but when I have that weird
00:25:23.685 --> 00:25:26.865
project come up and I'm like, I've got to do a tennis court, who do I call?
00:25:27.025 --> 00:25:31.245
Like, I know I can just, you know, find the contractors I need for the year at the expo.
00:25:32.558 --> 00:25:35.698
Or on your website, too. Yes. Directory.
00:25:37.098 --> 00:25:44.298
Yeah, as far as being a vendor, being a member, you know, working at HOAs and
00:25:44.298 --> 00:25:49.238
condos is definitely a different type of work rather than a shopping center
00:25:49.238 --> 00:25:50.418
or an apartment building.
00:25:50.718 --> 00:25:54.238
It's definitely pretty intense that we all know that we're not working just
00:25:54.238 --> 00:25:58.538
for the manager and not just for the board. It's for every single person there.
00:25:58.538 --> 00:26:02.938
So, it's definitely a more demanding space for us.
00:26:03.378 --> 00:26:06.498
So, as far as vendors, you have to know what you're getting into,
00:26:06.738 --> 00:26:08.958
but it's very rewarding as well.
00:26:09.678 --> 00:26:13.078
Well, Jeff, you know us homeowners. We can be very demanding people.
00:26:13.878 --> 00:26:16.718
I'm sure Fran and Lorene know that, too.
00:26:18.018 --> 00:26:22.338
That's why I send my boards to CAI. I'm like, please come join us and see what we do.
00:26:24.878 --> 00:26:29.518
But I agree with Fran. Yeah, and I think everyone and anyone that's really involved
00:26:29.518 --> 00:26:32.878
in an association, condo or homeowners,
00:26:33.258 --> 00:26:39.918
or a business partner that services us, I think that CAI is a wonderful, wonderful resource.
00:26:40.298 --> 00:26:44.658
And if homeowners become involved, I say that you attend the board leadership workshop.
00:26:45.038 --> 00:26:50.118
I don't think you need to be on the board to be a member. I think that's a big fallacy.
00:26:50.298 --> 00:26:54.138
You could be on a committee as well. But I think any homeowner that's interested
00:26:54.138 --> 00:26:59.138
in property values and issues that affect living in an association,
00:26:59.158 --> 00:27:02.278
I think that CAI is really a valuable
00:27:02.278 --> 00:27:06.778
resource and way to learn and stay engaged when it matters to you.
00:27:06.778 --> 00:27:11.858
Yeah, I'm going to agree that as far as the homeowners joining any of my communities
00:27:11.858 --> 00:27:15.878
where there are, it's unfortunately, it's like just the homeowners that are
00:27:15.878 --> 00:27:17.778
board members or the committee members.
00:27:17.898 --> 00:27:23.358
It's not just usually someone else, but anybody that's joined agrees that it's so valuable.
00:27:24.213 --> 00:27:28.413
I wish I could get all of my boards to join, but we know that's not going to happen.
00:27:28.693 --> 00:27:33.233
But for the ones that have, you can tell that they are looking at the information
00:27:33.233 --> 00:27:39.333
and they are better educated and maybe approach things differently than other boards do.
00:27:39.633 --> 00:27:43.973
And an educated board makes managers' job easier. Their own, too.
00:27:44.333 --> 00:27:48.413
I mean, I think it really helps make them a more effective board and help to
00:27:48.413 --> 00:27:52.133
lead their community better and understand what it is they need to do as a board.
00:27:52.373 --> 00:27:55.813
Definitely. I mean, it's like anything in life. When you have some education
00:27:55.813 --> 00:27:59.093
to back up your decision making, it just tends to go smoother.
00:27:59.093 --> 00:28:05.493
You feel more confident, more sure about your choices, and it's usually reflected in the outcome.
00:28:06.413 --> 00:28:07.633
Yeah, I would agree.
00:28:08.432 --> 00:28:12.872
All right. Anything else? Did I miss anything about your membership experience?
00:28:12.872 --> 00:28:15.272
What you love about CAI Keystone?
00:28:15.612 --> 00:28:19.732
What you think people need to know? I thought about one other thing,
00:28:19.872 --> 00:28:24.072
too, we didn't really touch on is the recognition CAI gives.
00:28:24.212 --> 00:28:29.852
Like, you know, our very own Lorene winning the Manager Award last year in excellence.
00:28:30.472 --> 00:28:33.912
Congrats. The LeBron Awards getting their gold stars. You know,
00:28:33.992 --> 00:28:37.452
it's not you educate, but you also congratulate, too.
00:28:37.692 --> 00:28:43.072
There's the gallon stuff to recognize those boards and board members and managers
00:28:43.072 --> 00:28:47.692
that really go the extra mile and achieve what they need to through CAI.
00:28:47.872 --> 00:28:51.312
So I think that's something worth shouting out first. Absolutely.
00:28:51.992 --> 00:28:55.512
We're very proud of our members when they accomplish things. Because you are.
00:28:55.652 --> 00:29:00.412
You're all out doing so much work and earning these designations, earning these awards.
00:29:00.672 --> 00:29:05.012
And someone's got to recognize it. I was going to say, the challenges we all
00:29:05.012 --> 00:29:08.972
face now is living in the world where everyone wants it yesterday.
00:29:09.432 --> 00:29:13.732
And it's a tough industry. So I think it goes a long way to,
00:29:14.152 --> 00:29:17.472
like I said, the gold stars and the boards put those out there and just like,
00:29:17.472 --> 00:29:18.652
Like we're doing things right.
00:29:18.852 --> 00:29:21.852
Like we're on the right path here. I think that really makes a difference.
00:29:22.352 --> 00:29:25.332
Yeah. And so that program's great, the Gold Star Community Award,
00:29:25.492 --> 00:29:29.772
because that essentially is a way for communities to share what they're doing
00:29:29.772 --> 00:29:33.692
as a community to make sure that they're running to the best of their ability
00:29:33.692 --> 00:29:38.872
and they can submit all that information and it gets reviewed by industry experts.
00:29:39.252 --> 00:29:43.312
And if they pass, they get this, you know, sign to display in front of their
00:29:43.312 --> 00:29:45.872
community and show that they are a Gold Star community.
00:29:45.872 --> 00:29:48.892
So that's a very fun initiative that
00:29:48.892 --> 00:29:51.992
was created by our chapter and i think it just helps
00:29:51.992 --> 00:29:56.072
add to that pride like barbara said you know you have a stake in it so you want
00:29:56.072 --> 00:30:03.352
to be proud of where you live and what you're doing agreed 100 i mean again
00:30:03.352 --> 00:30:08.292
it's a wonderful group of people and i really enjoy my time with everybody yeah
00:30:08.292 --> 00:30:10.372
but that's about it thanks.
00:30:11.223 --> 00:30:14.623
Do you find it's worth your investment as a business partner, your membership dues?
00:30:15.223 --> 00:30:20.983
Yeah, absolutely. So in all the HOAs, apartments, shopping centers,
00:30:21.343 --> 00:30:29.683
industrial space, the HOA CAI for us, the referrals are like no other except at CAI.
00:30:29.983 --> 00:30:35.043
So that's, I mean, once you are known to do a decent job, take care of residents,
00:30:35.703 --> 00:30:38.743
I mean, our name gets passed around as long as we keep coming through,
00:30:38.983 --> 00:30:40.863
our referrals keep coming through.
00:30:41.223 --> 00:30:43.563
But that's been great for us.
00:30:44.023 --> 00:30:48.263
Love to hear it. Yeah, I think we're all investing in ourselves,
00:30:48.503 --> 00:30:51.323
whether it's a company or us as a manager or board member.
00:30:51.543 --> 00:30:56.403
You're investing in your community. I think it's 100% worth it to spend the
00:30:56.403 --> 00:30:59.623
money to build yourself up in your community and your business.
00:31:00.343 --> 00:31:04.243
Yeah. And for business partners from a homeowner's perspective and everything,
00:31:04.523 --> 00:31:09.183
I will tell you, and I'm sure managers, you both can say the same thing,
00:31:09.183 --> 00:31:14.723
is we ask other communities, well, who was that vendor that helped you there?
00:31:14.843 --> 00:31:16.403
Who did this for who did your roads?
00:31:16.623 --> 00:31:19.663
Just recently, we have to do some pickleball resurfacing.
00:31:20.003 --> 00:31:24.703
We were at the expo and another community said, oh, we just got our pickleball
00:31:24.703 --> 00:31:26.923
courts redone or resurfaced.
00:31:27.043 --> 00:31:29.783
Well, who did you use? And they said who they used.
00:31:29.943 --> 00:31:35.703
And, you know, so it really, if you're a business partner, it's a small community.
00:31:36.043 --> 00:31:39.203
And especially up here in the Poconos, A lot of large-scale communities,
00:31:39.203 --> 00:31:43.303
we all talk to one another and, you know, pats around, oh, you know,
00:31:43.823 --> 00:31:46.623
yeah, this business partner is wonderful. They're great to work with.
00:31:46.923 --> 00:31:49.983
So it's really a great space to be in.
00:31:50.303 --> 00:31:53.563
I think word of mouth is just your number one recommendation.
00:31:53.563 --> 00:31:57.863
I mean, you can Google 500 businesses, but if I don't know you from Adam and
00:31:57.863 --> 00:32:01.963
nobody can speak for you, you know, I'm not going to use you versus somebody else.
00:32:02.698 --> 00:32:06.438
Yeah, and that's another great benefit of membership for business partners is
00:32:06.438 --> 00:32:10.818
as a member, you have the opportunity to submit topics for presentation and
00:32:10.818 --> 00:32:12.778
present at our educational events.
00:32:13.058 --> 00:32:16.618
So that's, I mean, there's no better way. I tell business partners all the time,
00:32:16.738 --> 00:32:20.778
that's your best sales pitch is just educating people because you're proving
00:32:20.778 --> 00:32:22.198
that you're the expert on it.
00:32:22.578 --> 00:32:26.158
So I love to see our business partners speak at our hands.
00:32:26.698 --> 00:32:31.518
It is pretty cool, though, with having this job, you can use what you've learned
00:32:31.518 --> 00:32:34.518
for actually your own home, too.
00:32:34.998 --> 00:32:40.398
And it's like, wait, I can actually use this knowledge that I gained here and
00:32:40.398 --> 00:32:43.398
use it for myself, personally.
00:32:43.658 --> 00:32:46.818
So that's pretty cool. I enjoy that part, too. As a new homeowner,
00:32:47.118 --> 00:32:52.978
as of June last year, so almost coming up on a year, I started looking at our
00:32:52.978 --> 00:32:55.318
educational resources in a whole new light.
00:32:56.598 --> 00:33:00.758
Exactly. And talking to business partners being like, I have ice dams on my
00:33:00.758 --> 00:33:03.198
roof. What the hell are you doing with my guys?
00:33:04.618 --> 00:33:10.138
I live in an HOA that is self-managed. So all I say is say prayers for me because
00:33:10.138 --> 00:33:13.518
they're in the industry and like knowing what they need to do.
00:33:13.518 --> 00:33:18.138
And yeah yeah okay
00:33:18.138 --> 00:33:21.138
well awesome thank you all for joining me today this
00:33:21.138 --> 00:33:25.198
has been a really cool episode a membership takeover community
00:33:25.198 --> 00:33:28.258
matters podcast for more information on membership with
00:33:28.258 --> 00:33:34.158
cai keystone please visit our website at www.caikeystone.org
00:33:34.158 --> 00:33:40.138
or email me at amanda at caikeystone.org and once again thank you to our sponsor
00:33:40.138 --> 00:33:48.338
of community matters hoffman law llc find them on the web at hoffmanhoalaw.com thanks for tuning in.