April 2016

LOOKING FORWARD LARRY THOMAS, PCAM | CAI-NJ CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

T hanks to everyone that attended our recent Annual Awards Dinner on February 25th. It was a won- derful evening and went off without a hitch. I have worked with several non-profit organizations in the past and I’ve found that our volunteers are the most dedicated professionals I’ve ever come across. This was evident by the outstanding job of the Awards Dinner Committee. Led by Kari Prout and Theresa Heinzemann, CMCA, this committee set their goals at the first meeting of the annual retreat in December. From there, all of their meetings were on point and task focused. All of the committee members brought something to the table and no one was shy about offering suggestions. Jackie, from my office, also played a key role in working with the committee to realize their objectives. The Board Liaisons, Gabe Vitale and Larry Sauer, attended the meetings and assumed the roles as liaisons perfectly. They let the committee run themselves and added advice and direction when requested. I am sure that you have noticed that we have put together an extensive educational program lineup for 2016. Angela and the entire staff, along with sugges- tions and input from all of our members have created events that are either geared towards a particular mem- bership group or have an appeal to all of our members. The board of directors has agreed that these events be either “low cost or no cost,” thus affording any member the opportunity to attend. I am asking that all community board members not only allow their management team to attend, but insist that they attend. These events will keep

your management team current with industry and legislative changes. We all know that these are changing times and any information that we can get to help us govern our communities is invaluable. One very important event that is geared to all of our members is the upcoming “Cyber Threat” seminar. The information presented here will be helpful in keeping your community’s assets protected from cyber theft or fraud. Information concerning this seminar can be found on page 64.

“I am asking that all community board members not only allow their management team to attend, but insist that they attend.”

Please read Chris Li’s Legislative Update on page 8. Several of our initiatives are moving in a positive direction. I receive weekly calls from our elected officials asking for information or input on legislation that affects community living. Chris, along with the Legislative Action Committee, are a very committed and educated group of industry pro- fessionals dedicated to supporting or opposing legislation that could touch all of our residents and professionals that have an interest in New Jersey community living. Included in Chris’s article is a breakdown of two very important favorable court decisions. n

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