president’s message
F
irst, I hope this finds you and yours safe and doing the best you can to stay healthy in these troubled times. Please, follow the mandated social distancing and sheltering in place current at the time of writing this article.
The first quarter of 2020 has been experiencing some unprecedented challenges, not only in California but on a global scale. I have been asked where our industry is in all of this. It’s my interpretation of the California mandate currently in place, as well as on the Homeland Security CISA website (https://www.cisa.gov/commercial-facilitiessector), that management of a community association is in fact an essential service. Managers and management companies are critical to the safe operations of a CID. Related to a management contract in these challenging times, my guidance to managers and management companies is to follow the language in the management agreement unless the association’s legal counsel guides the board otherwise. For example, if the agreement states that annual audits will be mailed out within the 120 day requirement, please do so. If the agreement states monthly property walks, please do so, yet still follow social distancing. Many associations are holding electronic board meetings in order to remain sheltered in place. Always, even under these crazy challenging times, always check with the association’s legal counsel before altering services mandated by statute or your management agreement. CACM has done the best we can to recognize the importance of continuing education and learning and have adjusted our services in these strange times. Our courses normally held in person across California are now all online at reduced prices. Regretfully, due to the state and various local mandates, we have been forced to cancel All Spring Forums and other events through June. These events take an enormous amount of time and effort to plan well in advance. Under the current circumstances with no clear end in sight, we simply can’t afford to develop events and be forced to cancel, again. We are very hopeful this will be behind us in a few months and we’ll be ready to get back to business providing you the necessary education and events we all have enjoyed. Lastly, please remember that every challenge also provides opportunity. In these troubled times, take the opportunity to further connect with your loved ones or to get healthy. While following social distancing, take the opportunity to enjoy the wondrous splendors of mother nature and the great outdoors. Read a book or take advantage of the opportunity to further your education through online courses. Whatever it is you prefer to do, see these troubled times as an opportunity, and do it.
Please stay safe and healthy.
Thomas Freeley, President & CEO
cacm.org | Vision Spring 2020
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