Community Matters

Crisis Communications

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

We often hear people talk about the need for communication skills, especially in a crisis. And crisis communication skills are needed perhaps now more than ever in the midst of a global pandemic. We’re going to talk about crisis communication skills in today’s episode of Community Matters Podcast with guest Robyn Colajezzi, Director, Commercial Marketing and Development for SERVPRO of Germantown, Pennypack/Bustleton, and Upper Bucks.

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Pools in the Age of Coronavirus: To Open, or Not?

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

Memorial Day is fast approaching, and, with it, pool season. But, this year’s pool season is different from all the others, thanks to Coronavirus. Many community managers and homeowners are facing the same question right now about their pools – do we open them, or not? We’ll talk about this question and more in today’s episode of Community Matters Podcast with guest Ben Basch, Chief Development Officer for American Pool.

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.

Why You Need Flood Insurance

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

This topic was adapted from an article by Ross Rutman, with JGS Insurance, that was originally published in the May/June 2019 issue of our chapter publication, Community Assets.

It’s a pretty common question. Nearly every homeowner has asked at one point or another: why do I need flood insurance? I have been told that the property is not near a body of water and the area is not a high risk for flood. People also have let me know that there has never been a flood at their property before. So, why do you need flood insurance?

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.

Be Productive While Working from Home

Today’s episode of Community Matters podcast is being recorded during the ongoing coronavirus public health emergency. Millions of workers have been furloughed while millions more have been working from home for the last few weeks, and for the foreseeable future. This sudden change means a new and unfamiliar routine for many of us. In this episode of Community Matters podcast, we’re talking with Alyssa Cowling, Technology Director and Marketing Assistant for The Rahn Companies on how to stay productive and safe while working from home.

For more information on The Rahn Companies, please visit their website.

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.

Communicating After a Disaster: A Little Conversation Goes a Long Way.

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

Today’s episode is being recorded during the Coronavirus global pandemic, during which tens of millions of Americans are under stay at home orders. We are re-visiting and re-purposing older content that we believe may have some useful value to community associations as we deal with the ongoing public health emergency.

The subject of today’s episode is communicating after a disaster. This article was printed originally in our chapter publication, Community Assets, in May of 2019, and was authored by Jill Geiger, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, community manager with Associa MidAtlantic, and Barbara Saxton, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, condominium manager with The Galman Group.

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.

Technology for Community Association Management

Today’s episode is all about technology – more specifically, the technology necessary to efficiently manage a condominium or homeowners association, and a community association management company. From accounting and collections, to data security, communications platforms, and even mobile apps, we’re going to touch on all of it with today’s guest, Steve Gothard, Director of Operations for CAMCO Management Company and currently serves as the Chair of CAI’s Annual Conference & Expo Committee.

For more information on CAMCO Management Company, please visit their website.

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.

Hoarding and Associations: When the Accumulation of “Stuff” Requires Intervention

This episode of Community Matters is this first in a new series of episodes re-purposing content from CAI's bi-monthly magazine, Community Assets. The topic for this episode is dealing with hoarding in community associations. This article was originally published in Community Assets in the May-June, 2016 issue, and was authored by Josephine Wolf, Esq., and Scott MacNair, Esq., with the law firm Clemons, Richter & Reiss. 

Community Matters is now 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.

The Minute Email Newsletter for December, 2019

Tune in the audio version of CAI's The Minute Email Newsletter for December, 2019. Spend sixty seconds to hear about December events, our new podcast on Religion in Community Associations, the 2020 member directory and more!

Visit our website for more information on CAI.

Religion in Community Associations: Fair Housing or Free Speech?

This episode of Community Matters is being recorded at the start of the holiday season, which means associations may be dealing with holiday decorations, religious displays, and related issues that may lead to violations of fair housing laws.

We’ll be discussing the challenges that religion may pose to community associations with today’s guest - Ed Hoffman, co-founder and partner of Barrow Hoffman, a law firm with offices in the Philadelphia area and the Lehigh Valley. Ed is an active member of CAI and currently serves on the Pocono Mountains Regional Council and as a delegate to CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee. For more information on Barrow Hoffman, please visit their website. 

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.

CAI is Sleeping Out for Covenant House in Philadelphia

Welcome to this edition of Community Matters Podcast. This is a very special episode featuring Chapter President Cathy Dunn, Chapter Secretary Nicole Skaro and Business Partners Council Chair Sean McCabe talking about CAI’s efforts to support Covenant House of Pennsylvania’s Executive Sleep Out. On Thursday, November 21, 2019, nearly 40 members and friends of CAI will be participating in the Executive Sleep Out in Philadelphia. These brave members will be spending a night sleeping out on the street and experiencing what thousands of homeless youth have to endure on a daily basis not only in Philadelphia, but throughout the region and the nation. This team has already raised almost $20,000 to help Covenant House fulfill their mission of showing homeless youth unconditional love and absolute respect — demonstrating in word and action that we care about them. Sleep Out raises funds for the Covenant House programs that offer homeless youth the chance of an abundant life away from the streets and out of harm’s way. Tune in and find out how this team effort came together, and how you can help.

Click here to donate to CAI's Sleepout Team.