CAI-NJ Dec.2016

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D E C E M B E R , 2 0 1 6
LOOKING FORWARD
LARRY THOMAS, PCAM | CAI-NJ CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
"As community leaders, we
need to take a broader look at
our communities and recognize
and address the resident issues
that we frequently come in
contact with."
As we close out 2016 and welcome in the new
year, regardless what CAI membership category
you are part of, we should all start thinking about
how we can improve our community’s operations and life-
style. It is in the best interest of all our members to work
together to make the lifestyles of every one of our residents
as enjoyable an experience as possible. We all need to
remember that your residents moved into your community
because they expected a certain quality of life. Whether it
was for social reasons or the transferring of certain mainte-
nance duties, your community was selected as their home.
In my position as Chapter Executive Director, I constantly
mentally refer back to my years as a community manager.
This background allows me to view matters from the other
side of the desk when I get phone calls from residents of a
community that feel they are not receiving the services they
are entitled to or feel their rights as a homeowner have
been violated. I also have the luxury of being in charge
of the mediation program here at CAI-NJ. This gives me
first-hand insight into some of the disagreements that occur
in our communities. One of the major factors that lead to
a community’s disagreement is residents not being informed
and the lack of the board not to (at the very least) give the
resident an opportunity to be heard and present his/ her
case to the board.
As community leaders, we need to take a broader look
at our communities and recognize and address the resident
issues that we frequently come in contact with. I come in
contact with dozens of communities either through their
management team or their board members. I’ve found that
the most successful and harmonious communities are the
ones that have created transparency and have developed
a method to meet and listen to their residents’ concerns.
This is done by way of “town hall” meetings, establishing
a designated time for residents to meet one on one with the
board or management team or having your key leadership
volunteers or staff attend neighborhood or club functions.
We all understand that there will be disagreements that
will require outside assistance to resolve. You may want
to consider using the CAI-NJ Mediation Program. It’s a
lot cheaper than getting your attorney involved and elimi-
nates the sometimes uncomfortable situation of using your
residents as mediators. My office handles around 80
mediations per year and the success rate is very high. If
you’d like additional information, please visit our webpage
—
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what a great job our
Conference and Expo Committee did with this year’s event.
The committee led by Kevin Oliver and Patricia McGlone
and staff liaison Angela Kavanaugh did an outstanding job
in creating a top notch experience for all of the exhibitors
and attendees. A huge thank you to all of the committee
members and CAI-NJ staff for working together to exceed
all of our expectations. n