Oct_2017_Conf

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

I t’s that time of the year again, summer is winding down and the kids are back to school. This is also the time of the year that all of us should be making plans to attend the annual CAI-NJ Annual Conference and Expo. For those that attended last year, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that that this was one of our best conferences in recent years. I can tell you that the Conference and Expo committee has worked very hard to provide you with an even better experience. Pat McGlone as Chair and Cheryl Rhine as Vice Chair met with the committee monthly to discuss the days event and rest assured, they along with the commit- tee, Angela as staff liaison and Mohammed Salyani and Donna Belkot as Board liaisons have covered “all the bases” to make this a great day for all of our members. I am asking that everyone “spread the word” among their colleagues and industry connections. This is the one event that boards should not only allow but should encourage their management teams to attend. I’m sure that your main- tenance staff will also benefit from attending. The operation of your community will not be severely affected by their not being at their desks for the day. We make this a free event for board members, this includes your committee chairs and committee members as well. There is no better way to show potential new board members what CAI is about. As you may know, prior to becoming the CAI NJ Executive Director, I was the Senior Manager for Renaissance at Manchester. I invited two of the community’s key volun-

teers to attend the 2015 Conference, they are Kathy and George Middleton. Kathy is editor of the monthly maga- zine (and a host of other volunteer positions) and George is the Chair of the Recreation Committee. I met them at the entrance when they arrived and the first words from both of them was how much they were amazed at the size of the conference. They spent the entire day visiting the exhibitors, asking questions and sitting in in the education seminars. I received an email from both of them the next

"This is the one event that boards should not only allow but should encourage their management teams to attend."

day telling me how impressed they were with the event and what CAI- NJ has to offer. Renaissance has since registered George as a CAI member. My point here is that Kathy and George are key contributors to their community and prior to attending the 2015 Conference had no idea of the many benefits CAI can provide to them. So please, get your board, committee members, and management team togeth- er, pack up your cars and spend the day with CAI-NJ. n

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017 New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center at Raritan Center Edison, NJ

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