Community Matters

Swim at Your Own Risk: Operating a Pool Without a Lifeguard

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

It’s pool season! Community associations with pools are struggling with the same situation that public pools and local beaches are facing – a shortage of lifeguards. So, is it still safe to open the pool? The conversation during this episode will cover the legal and liability issues regarding operating pools with or without lifeguards. The guests for this episode are Brendan Whelan, CIRMS, with Smith Insurance Associates, A Division of Brown & Brown Metro, and the Secretary of the Keystone Chapter’s Board of Directors; and Neil Hilkert, Esq. an Attorney with Reidenbach & Associates, LLC and a member of the chapter’s Communications & Content Committee.

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Advice for New Community Association Managers

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Today’s conversation is all about best practices for community association managers that are new to the profession. Our panel discussion addresses things like how to handle the variety of roles of a manager, how industry volunteerism can benefit career growth, and important tips to help new managers learn. Today’s guests are Cathy Dunn, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, community manager of A Pocono Country Place Community Association, Lynn Hartmann, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Branch Vice President for Associa Mid-Atlantic, and Rosy Brophy, AMS, a portfolio manager with Access Property Management.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Young Professionals - and your business cards - can’t miss CAI’s Annual Conference!

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Today’s conversation is all about CAI’s biggest event of the year – the Annual Conference & Expo and the benefits that the event has for young professionals and members that are new to the industry. Community Live! takes place on May 11-12, 2022, at Valley Forge Casino. Guests for this episode are Savannah Garcia, CMCA, AMS, a community manager with Taylor Management Company, Tyler Logar, Senior Project Engineer with Joseph B. Callaghan, Inc., and Josephine Lee Wolf, Esq., an attorney with Clemons Richter & Reiss. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Preparing for Association Board Meetings with a Board Book

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

One of the primary functions of a community association board is meetings. Among other things, meetings establish policy, develop strategic plans, provide for owner input, and establish community finances and budgets. 
In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about how a community association board should prepare itself for meetings by developing a board book, and how managers can assemble the resources contained in a board book in a professional manner.

My guest for today’s topic is is Richard Kuziomko, a member of the CAI Keystone Chapter Communications & Content Committee. Richard has managed associations for over 12 years in Washington State and the Greater Washington DC area. Richard earned his MBA from McGill University, and has maintains his professional community association manager credentials, including the CMA, AMS and PCAM. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Preparing Your Roof for Fall & Winter

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

In this episode, we're talking all things roof related, and whether or not your roof is ready for the Fall season.

Today's guest is David Velasco, with Lifetime Tool & building Products. David is an active member of CAI's Business Partners Council. For more information on Lifetime Tool Tool & Building Products, please visit their website at www.lifetimetool.com.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store and on Google Play. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Chapter Leader Chat: Nicole Skaro, Board President

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

We're taking a bit of a different approach with some of our podcasts this year. In addition to the informational and educational podcast interviews that you are used to hearing in this space, we'll be including chats with CAI chapter leaders. And, to start off, this episode features a chat with Nicole Skaro, CMCA, EBP, with CIT Bank, the President of the CAI Keystone Chapter. Tune in to hear how she got to be President of the Board, her plans and goals for the chapter, a new Ladies LAC golf outing, and her new set of drums!

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Let’s Talk Legislation with CAI’s PA LAC

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

This is our first episode for 2022 and the topic is legislation. We’re in the middle of a very active legislative session in Harrisburg and CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee is currently tracking 34 pieces of legislation that could potentially impact community association operations in the Commonwealth.

We touch on many of these bills with this episode's guest, Ed Hoffman, Esq., CCAL, with Hoffman Law. Ed currently serves as the Chair of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee.. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Resale Disclosure in Community Associations

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

What is a resale certificate? Simply put, a resale certificate is a legally mandated document containing a very large trove of information that a seller must provide to a buyer of a home or unit in a community association. In reality, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Preparation of a resale certificate is important to both the buyer and the seller, its contents are extensive and its preparation is time consuming. We’ll cover all the details of resale disclosure certificates in today’s episode of Community Matters.

Today's guest is Neil Hilkert, Esq., an attorney who specializes in community association law with the law firm Reidenbach & Associates, LLC located in Wayne, PA.s. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Lessons Learned: Association Boards, Reserves & Fiduciary Duty

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

Anyone listening to this podcast is very likely aware of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium building in Surfside, Florida that occurred a few months ago. The discussion that we are focusing on today intends to serve as a conversation regarding the obligations of elected homeowner leaders, while avoiding any insinuation as to the causes or events leading up to that tragic incident. And, before we start our discussion, we want to extend our sincerest condolences to all those impacted by this tragic event.

The topic of condo and building safety will dominate the conversations of community association practitioners for many months and years to come, as we all work to insure something like this never happens again. CAI’s national organization assembled various task forces that are working on a series of public policies to address issues such as building inspections and maintenance and reserve funds and studies. This podcast is intended to be a conversation about the obligations of elected homeowner leaders when it comes to the various issues involved in this topic.  

Our guests for this episode include Sara Austin, Esq., with Austin Law Firm, LLC, Marshal Granor, Esq., CCAL, with Granor & Granor PC, and Stefan Richter, Esq., CCAL, from Clemons, Richter & Reiss. 

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.

Re-establishing Community in a Post Pandemic World

Welcome to this episode of Community Matters podcast, where we discuss issues important to managing and governing condos, cooperatives and homeowner associations.

As a community association manager or board member, it can be difficult to fully understand the financial, legal, and emotional impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the residents of your community association. While it’s crucial to focus on budgets, board meetings, and other community obligations to get your community back on track, you can’t lose sight of what matters most: reestablishing a sense of togetherness.

We’ll talk about this in detail with today’s guest, Jenniffer Harrington, Business Development Manager for Associa Mid-Atlantic, AAMC.

Community Matters is available in the iTunes store, on Google Play and on Spotify. Subscribe there or download the podbean app and be the first to receive notifications when new episodes are posted.