Basic Training
What you need to make you a strong communicator By Joel Starks, CMCA, Sperlonga Data & Analytics
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hat is an education? What does it stand for?
Many of us grew up with an urge to learn. A desire to gain a better understanding of our surroundings. Over the Christmas holiday, I watched this urge in action. My one-year-old nephew, Brooks, was crawling around the house, exploring, laughing and learning. Sometimes he slowed enough to eat and sleep. I also watched his parents work to keep up with Brooks’ big brother, three-year-old Cooper. Cooper, too, is in a learning and growth stage. He tries his parents’ patience and resolve. I was impressed with their grace in handling the boys. Frustration and exhaustion did not deter from their ability to entertain and manage the ever-changing attitudes of two boys in different stages of learning. We adults are always in learning mode too. Boards work with owners, and owners interact with board members with personal agendas; managers answer homeowner emergencies; vendors respond to complaints; board members hear the complaints, managers take the heat and try to resolve the issues with grace, compassion and skill. It’s a constant circle, and we must figure out roles and responsibilities, accept accountability and grow in our roles through education and not frustration. Board members must keep their fiduciary duties in mind. Each board member should seek more education in handling homeowner disputes and complaints, emergency situations and insurance claims. Each circumstance lends itself to learning. I encourage you to learn from others by participating in local CAI CAVL events and education seminars, reading trade magazines, or attending lunch-and-learn events at your management company. Or simply look
online. There are several resources available through our website and the national CAI website. Visit www.caionline.org and click Learning Center and then Education for Homeowners. Through professional development, knowing where the resources are and trusting in the systems that are in place, homeowners can be better armed with information to make sound decisions for the association. Education can help you learn about proper meeting agendas, staying on task, use of committees to decrease the burden on individual board members, easy-to-read finances, or simply creating a list of action items that lead to accountability and satisfaction when completed. Boards are constantly changing as owners move, terms are completed or members choose to step down. Homeowners need to know that they are not alone. CAI is here to be a guide in learning and a focal point for good discussions based on best practices and time-honored traditions like Robert’s Rules of Order. Don’t forget that you are all volunteers. Recognize your fellow homeowners, your board members and committee chairs. Without them, things would fall apart fast. Growth is knowing something we did not know a day ago, an hour ago or even a minute ago. Growing through proactive approaches and seeking out the resources that can make us stronger homeowners, board members, managers and companies will help us all achieve better cooperation in our communities and cities. As we watch our infants grow into toddlers, toddlers to children and so on, we must not forget that we are all lifelong learners. Enjoy this issue that focuses on the who, the what, the duties, the descriptions and most importantly the development of us all. January | February 2016
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