CACM Brings Back Golf Tournament

later this year! The Halloween themed CACM Golf Classic will take place Oct. 28 at the Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine.

The Golf Classic is one of several new events being added to the calendar this year. CEO and President Tom Freeley plans to announce several other local events that will make it easier for the industry to network and learn in their backyard. Freeley said the idea to re-launch a golf event came from listening to member feedback.

“It’s based on the interest of our manager and Industry Partner members wanting CACM more involved locally and our goal to offer the best quality events,” he said. “We’re kicking off a Golf Tournament in Orange County this coming fall. This tournament will allow our members in this local market to network and collaborate together with their colleagues in a fun and exciting, yet competitive, environment.

“But this is just the start,” Freeley added. “The anticipated success of this event will lead to similar tournaments across California in 2020, in addition to many other local market events throughout the year.”

Oak Creek Golf Club opened in 1996 and is part of the original 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch. Once an orange grove, the land was reinterpreted for modern-day use with careful attention to environmental sensitivity and to preserving a trace of the past.

Today, the towering heritage eucalyptus that once provided a windbreak for the citrus trees now contributes to the peaceful setting. No matter your vantage point, not a single house or road interrupts the scenic beauty of the course.

Oak Creek is more than just a golfer’s sanctuary. It houses wildlife including owls and hawks, which nest in the eucalyptus, and egrets and herons, which fish in the meandering creek. The course has also made important strides in conserving water and reducing the use of chemicals and pesticides.

Oak Creek is a 71-par, 6,834-yard public golf course. It features an 18-hole course, a restaurant and practice facilities with a bunker.

BY MARY BETH SHIELDS, CCAM

Too often in the busy-ness of our hectic days we lose sight of “service”: the action of helping or doing work for someone. This seems like an oxymoron for a community manager professional when our days are lived in service by answering emails, taking phone calls, preparing documents and board packages, interfacing with vendors, attending meetings, being present to those who are present. We go to that well of selfconfidence, solid education and training in our industry, and know that, if only for this breath, everything is alright. We amble along to the words of Frances:

And yet, there are moments when that smile is insincere, and to hide our true self, we state we are okay though the internal turbulence is churning a far more difficult story. We are expected to be of service to those who create chaos, who have few kind words and still, we are expected to maintain professionalism in the face of fury. We also deal with the perceived judgment of others which can consciously or unconsciously damage our self-confidence. Eat or be eaten for introverts in an industry of extroverts can be daunting. Being of service, it is always okay to walk away from a heated situation or adjourn a gathering if the participants are uncontrollable. Finding courage amid conflict is an act of bravery and self-preservation.

Our business doesn’t allow for moments to consider that if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. We are always expected to have answers available. Occasionally, when you resort to saying, “I will need to look into this and get back to you,” it feels like a complete cop out, and spoken as a defense mechanism. We can’t, or don’t shelter ourselves from the onslaught of pessimism and must bounce back or get swallowed up with cynicism and negativity.

Knowing when and how to ask for help is vital to our industry.

Knowing when to get up from your desk and take a walk around the room, the block, or the neighborhood to get perspective can be of value. For some, that physical escape is not available. For some, help is finding an ear to whom you can vent, someone who will not offer recommendations to fix whatever is ailing and only to be present for the one in need. Be it pride or a stubborn nature, sometimes we need to get out of our own way and admit to a weakness so learning and healing can happen. Knowing when to wave a flag or throw in the towel is important to regaining confidence after reprioritizing, scheduling, or taking the time needed to think through the current dilemma.

Mirror, mirror on the wall.

When you look in the mirror, it is easy to find a million things wrong with yourself. When you look in the mirror, hopefully you think, “I feel good, I have my health, and I’m so blessed.” Each person needs to feel that

the reflection in the mirror is one who embodies the Code of Ethics we have sworn to uphold. Being a person of integrity and high morals is hard work and reflects excellence. Being recognized as a person of those qualities is high compliment and should be humbly acknowledged. If the reflection staring back at you is troubled or in pain, ask for help. Your mental health is only a portion of your total health, and as with any infirmity, if not addressed, it will get worse. Talk to your doctor, or minister/rabbi, friend, coworker, family member or independent counselor. If you feel your thoughts are dangerous, seek help so you can get back on track. Verbalizing the need for help is a big step. Take the time you need to make sure the next steps have been well thought out. In our industry, there will always be someone to whom you can reach out, who knows exactly where you are, where you’ve been and where you are going. There is an incredible network at our disposal,

October 3-4, 2019 Newport Beach Renaissance

Join fellow CACM managers from across California for this two-day summit focused specifically on you! You’ll find collaborative and collective solves to some of your most challenging situations, all while building and strengthening relationships. Don’t forget about your passion.

Make time for yourself during the week. Find a place of respite and gather your thoughts to reaffirm your genuine goodness. Do you like to paint, sing, read, bowl, swim, hike, play a musical instrument, play video games, dance or watch TV? Do you make lunch dates with a loved one to break up your day? Give yourself permission to schedule time for yourself in the office, and away from the office, and be faithful to that special time. Take those mandatory 10-minute breaks if only to get a cup of coffee or drink of water. Spend time with positive, loving people who can ease the stress, help your mood and improve the way you feel overall. Do something you loved to do as a kid: run through the sprinklers, hang from the monkey bars, or make a mess with finger paints. Do something you've always wanted to do: bake a soufflé, build a tree house, or learn to knit. If you're not sure how, take a class or look for a local group dedicated to the activity. Watch a video, listen to a podcast, or browse a website. Or get a laugh the old-fashioned way – through the comics section or in a comic book.

It's okay to say no.

Trying to please everyone all the time is a trial and an unrealistic possibility. Sometimes saying “no” is the best way to move forward. Sometimes saying “no” is the only way for someone to truly hear what you are saying. Sometimes saying “no” can be empowering and powerful. Bullies expect to only hear “yes” and are diminished by a “no”. Retain your power and just say “no”. Understand that in verbalizing a “no” you often times can accomplish more than saying “yes” and the resulting actions will reflect your good choice. Saying “no” should be done to maintain health, balance, endurance and perseverance, especially if you are in one office and other managers are in a different office. Working with physical separation is when you most need to step out of your comfort zone and scream “I need help”. Hopefully that plea will not be met with comments of “just work smarter” or “just deal with it”. Sometimes, just dealing with it is not in the best interest of anyone. Make that “no” work for you in ways that will benefit you and others.

Community managers put their heart and soul into their service of others. Some managers believe that work will always be there, and it’s okay to go home and not take their computer/laptop. Some managers believe they are responsible 24/7 for the associations they manage. They work hard, they play hard and then they try to sleep. The mind is a terrible thing to feed at night when the what-if, or the what-now, or the wait-what creeps in. Turning off the active mind can be not only a physical but a mental challenge. Write in a journal, or an active to-do list, or just take time at the end of your day to capture issues to handle the next day. These can be healthy if only to get those thoughts out of your head so you can make room for the much-needed sleep.

The one who needs to be at the forefront of service is YOU. A good, positive, self-assured, loving, caring YOU is what this industry needs. Take time for you so you can give time to others. When someone asks how you are, with honesty admit that you are not okay, if you are not okay, and ask if they have a moment to talk. Getting clutter off your chest can be freeing. Having another to listen to your concerns can be a blessing. One heartbeat at a time, one breath at a time, one step at a time so your invaluable service will be restored.

Mary Beth Shields, CCAM, is a community manager at Menas Realty Company in San Diego.

23461 South Pointe Drive, Ste. 200 Laguna Hills, CA 92653

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