November 2024 GCNKAA Apartment Advantage Newsletter
HOLIDAYCHEERSBENEFIT DECEMBER5,2024!
GCNKAA HONORS MAINTENANCE TECHS AT SECOND ANNUAL
More than 180 people came out to honor our maintenance teams during our Second Annual GCNKAA Maintenance Appreciation Night on October 24 at Fowling Warehouse.
Attendees enjoyed food, beverages, networking, fowling, and participating in festival-style games to qualify for the $500 Grand Prize drawing. Congratulations to Chris Henry with Sundance Property Management (pictured left) for winning the $500 Grand Prize; and to Ramon Martinez (pictured right) with Fath Properties for winning the $250 Prize for the GCNKAA app.
A big thank you to all our sponsors including 1-Tom Plumber, Apartments.com, BRG Apartments, Calloway Cleaning & Restoration, Chadwell Supply, Contractors
LAST CHANCE TO STEP UP AS A SPONSOR FOR HOLIDAY CHEERS
The GCNKAA still has some major sponsorships available for the Holiday Cheers Benefit and this is your chance to grab one before they are gone!
A big thank you to the generosity of the following companies: ALL Laundry and ePremium Insurance Agency for sponsoring the $1000 Heads or Tails Raffle; Pinnacle Paving and Sealing for stepping up as an Event Sponsor; and Rent Manager, SNS Management and Rookwood Properties for sponsoring the Deck The Walls Raffles. We are still seeking one additional Heads or Tail sponsor, two more Deck The Wall Sponsors, and five Mystery Bag Sponsors. For details on the sponsorships, see page 12
Now it is up to you - the rest of our members - to continue with this generosity and help us raise more funds for the Apartment Association Outreach. There are two ways you can help. First, we are seeking donations to our auction. If you have an item or cash you would like to donate, please contact the GCNKAA office. Second, be sure to bid on silent auction items via our online auction site or register to attend the event on December 5 at the Savannah Center in West Chester and purchase these great items. Registration is available online here. For complete details, see inside this newsletter.
Inc., Denizen Management, Fath Properties, Ferguson Facilities Supply, Hays + Sons Complete Restoration, HD Supply, HILLS Properties, Integrated Protection Services, Nature is My Office Pest Control, Pinnacle Paving & Sealing, PPG Paints, Pure Property Solutions, RediCarpet, Rent, Restoration 1 of Greater Cincinnati, Rite Rug, Royal Finish, Sherwin Williams, Teasdale Fenton Carpet Cleaning and Restoration, Towne Properties, and Uptown Rental Properties.
Thank you also to Loveland Excavating and Paving for donating door prizes for the Wheel of Prizes. And finally, thank you to our volunteers for working at the games including Mark Arnold with Royal Finish, Adam Cupito with Pure Property Solutions, and Fabiola Munarriz with Contractors Inc.
WELCOME
TO OUR NEW LEADERSHIP FOR 2025!
See inside for all the photos and fun! Congratulations to the candidates recently elected to the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association board of directors and Associate Council. Elections were held at the General Membership Meeting on October 15 at the Kenwood Country Club.
Please join us in welcoming once again to the board: Todd Hignite with Hearth Home Communities; Megan Lawhon with PLK Communities; Oksana Lukjanenko with Denizen Management; and Mike Markus with BRG Apartments.
Also, join us in congratulating the following associate members on their recent election to the Associate Council: Heather Barrow with Rent Manager; Rod Herper with National Credit Systems; Jennifer Illanz with Apartments.com; Jessica Reeb with CORT; Grant Saunders with Hays + Sons Complete Restoration; Eric Scherzinger with Scherzinger Pest Control; and Jeremy Turnerwith Sky Contracting.
The Associate Council will elect their officers for the 2025 year during their meeting in November. The board of directors will elect their officers in December.
All council members, board members and officers will be installed during the 2025 Officers Installation Dinner on Thursday, January 23 at Kenwood Country Club beginning at 5:30 pm.
2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MELISSA JOY
Village Green Mgmt President mjoy@villagegreen.com
Nicole Metz, Membership Coordinator and Office Administrator
2023...Tonya Petersen
2022...Tonya Petersen
2021...Don Brunner
2020...Don Brunner
2019...Jud Oscherwitz
2018...Jud Oscherwitz
2017...Stacy Walton
2016...Stacy Walton
2015...Rusty Lykes
2014...Rusty Lykes
2013...Maria Stanton
2012...Maria Stanton
2011...Jeff March
2010...Brian Fullenkamp
2009...Brian Hendy, CPM
2008...Brian Hendy, CPM
2007...Becky Alejandrino, CPM
2006...Marc Cameron, CPM
2005...Marc Cameron, CPM
2004...Gary Sanzone, CPM, CAPS, CAM, NALP
2003...Gary Sanzone, CPM, CAPS, CAM, NALP
2002…Jim Ruh
2001…Jay Ingram, CPM
2000…Roy Wergers
1999…Roy Wergers
1998…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS
1997…Terry Sievers
1997…Dave Lockard
1996…Jim Cohen, CPM
1995…Jim Ruh
1994…Mark Robinson
1993…David Noll
1992…Bernie Wessels **
1992…Jerry A. Molique, CPM, CAPS ** 1991…Jay O. Ingram, Jr., CPM
1990…Ronald Bommer
1989…John Cobey
1988…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS
1987…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS
1986…Charles Berling
1985…Joseph Fullenkamp, CAPS
1984…John Stalnaker
1983…Jerry A. Molique, CPM, CAPS
1982…Harry Fath
**Apartment Association of N. KY merged with GCNKAA
Office Hours: Monday Through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
ADVERTISING RATES 2024
Ad rates are for full color ads. Link from your ad to your website is included. Ads must be submitted as a press
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
Ad deadlines are the first of the month for the next month’s issue. Placement of articles and ads is limited to pre-set space and dimensions of the Apartment Advantage. Submissions may or may not be used and placement is at the discretion of the editor
Apartment Advantage is a monthly publication of the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association, Kenwood Executive Center, 7265 Kenwood Rd, Ste. 100, Cincinnati, OH 45236; phone (513) 407-8612; fax (513) 407-7868. For up-to-date information check out our website: www.gcnkaa.org.
Across the Board
A MESSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Melissa Joy, President
Melissa Joy Village Green Mgmt.
What just happened? Do you remember January of this year - when the month was 75 days long? What happened to the month of October? It quite literally evaporated, much like the entire summer. As I write this article, Christmas is exactly two months away. Time makes no sense, and it feels like we are living in an alternate universe!
Before I share a heartfelt personal message, I would be remiss if I did not say that October - albeit the fastest month everwas a spectacular month for the GCNKAA. We started with the always fabulous Night Out for Outreach, which was wildly successful thanks to the incredible commitment of the Apartment Association Outreach team. Special thanks to Susan Peck and Megan and Brian Lawhon for their tireless efforts to present such a memorable evening. We also had an important Strategic Planning session for 2025 with the GCNKAA Board of Directors, Associate Council, and all Committee Chairs. This meeting was followed by our General Membership Meeting featuring our annual elections.
The newly elected slate for the Board of Directors includes Todd Hignite (Hearth Home Communities), Megan Lawhon (PLK Communities), Oksana Lukjanenko (Denizen Management), and Mike Markus (BRG Apartments). And please join me in congratulating our 2025 elected members of the Associate Council: Heather Barrow (Rent Manager), Rod Herper (National Credit Systems), Jennifer Illanz (Apartments.com), Jessica Reeb (Cort), Grant Saunders (Hays & Sons Restoration), Eric Scherzinger (Scherzinger
This section contains articles and information concerning the Board of Directors and Association policies.
members. Lastly, for the month of October, we celebrated our hardworking maintenance team members with the annual Maintenance Appreciation event at Fowling Warehouse. A great time was had by all and there were TONS of prizes shared with the women and men of our front-line service teams. No wonder October was a vapor - we packed in SO MUCH with the GCNKAA! Thank you to our Diamond Sponsors, event sponsors, GCNKAA staff, Board of Directors, AAO, Associate Council, committee members, and everyone who volunteered and attended these events. We owe it all to you!
In closing I have a quick personal message to share, along with a challenge for each of you. I just finished a wonderful book called, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” At the end of the book, the author, TJ Klune, gave his acknowledgements and said he was recently asked “What do you think your legacy will be?” It was a rather bold answer and one that inspired me deeply. First, because he was so passionate about who he is as a person and how inclusivity and acceptance are the primary drivers of everything he does, and then because he said something that was so profound I had to write it down. He said, “… we are all deserving of everything that is good in this world”. What an incredible legacy to leave - one of belonging, acceptance, and encouragement to one another. I have not yet pinpointed exactly how I would answer this question about what I would want my legacy to be, but I can tell you it involves my son and it involves being a source of JOY to as many people as possible. My challenge to you is to consider this very question. And if you feel led to do so, I would love it if you chose to share.
By the time you read this article, we will be in Election week. I don’t talk politics very often, but considering my message I would challenge you to choose kindness and encouragement in the coming
Brain Power
Education’s Stick Season
Recycling for Property Managers: Building Greener Communities 11/15/24
9 AM - 10:00AM Virtual
Disaster Prep 2024
11/21/24
9 AM - 12 PM In Person
Moisture and Indoor Air Quality 11/20/24
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Water Extraction Principles 11/20/24
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Mold Remediation Principles 11/20/24
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Maintenance For Managers 1/22/25 9 AM - 5 PM
Low, Predictable cost &
High ROI At .50 cents a unit, the average GCNKAA member’s savings pay for the pass after 5 people attend a single session!
Our House
This heading contains membership, staff, committee information and events.
NAA MAINTENANCE LEGENDS: ENTER YOUR TECHS TODAY FOR
NOVEMBER CONTEST PRIZES
The National Apartment Association (NAA) Maintenance Legends returns for the 2024-2025 season. This program will continue to shine a spotlight on the maintenance heroics we’ve all seen and heard about. It will give the rental housing industry the chance to celebrate the Maintenance Professionals going above and beyond every month.
WIN BIG EVERY MONTH
Three monthly winners will receive prizes up to $5,000 retail value. Submit your maintenance story for a chance to win.
PAID TRIP TO NAA APARTMENTALIZE 2025
Monthly winners will get airfare, lodging, and access to 2025’s Apartmentalize Conference in Las Vegas in June.
FREE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS
In June 2025, 25 additional winners will be selected for a free certification including the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT), Certified Pool Operator (CPO), EPA 608 Certification, and more.
A SHOT AT OUR GRAND PRIZE
Monthly winners will have a chance to win big during the 2025 Apartmentalize Conference. The overall grand prize is a new Ford truck.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A LEGEND?
Are you, or do you know, a maintenance tech or property manager that goes above and beyond for their tenants? Time to turn those stories into Legends! Each month, in addition to the story with the most fan votes, our panel of judges will pick two favorites, for a total of 3 winners. Candidates can submit their story from November 1 through November 20 at www.maintenancelegends.com.
HOW, WHEN AND WHERE CAN WE VOTE?
Voting will be open to the general membership beginning November 23 and will close November 30. It is one vote per person.
How To Become a Maintenance
Fill
November
DO YOU HEAR WHAT WE HEAR? HOLIDAY CHEERS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 5 AT SAVANNAH CENTER
The 27th Annual Holiday Cheers Benefit is a fundraiser benefiting the Apartment Association Outreach Inc., a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to assisting residents with rent payments during times of personal emergencies or crisis. Monies raised during the Benefit will help fund the Rent Assistance programs of various local agencies including:
• Free Store Foodbank
• Citizens Active In Northside (CAIN)
• Jewish Family Service and
• Santa Maria Community Services
Each year, the Apartment Association Outreach, Inc. supports these programs with annual payments of more than $148,000 per year. With the current economy, these funds are more important than ever to support our local community and the efforts of our fellow organizations.
Again this year, this fundraiser will be a hybrid event with portions held online and other portions happening live at the Holiday Cheers Party at the Savannah Center in West Chester. All members and the general public will have more than a full week of bidding opportunities for silent auction items beginning on November 27 and will culminate on December 5 with the Heads or Tails Raffle, Mystery Bag Bourbon and Wine, Deck the Walls Raffles, and raffle ticket items.
If you would like to donate an item, please contact Michele at the Association office by emailing michele@gcnkaa.org or calling 513-4078612. If you would like more information, contact either Michele Klusman or a member of the Holiday Cheers Committee.
If you do not have an item to donate or the time to buy something to donate, we can go out and purchase items for you. Cash donations are acceptable and will be used to buy items for the benefit in your company’s name. This is one event that will not be possible without the support of all our
members and the surrounding community. Through the help of the Holiday Cheers Committee, spearheaded by Gerry Johnson with BRG Apartments and Lloyd Cobble with CIG Communities, this is an event that will be a huge success.
All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Due to the preliminary work of setting up all the items on an online auction site, kindly have your donations into the GCNKAA office by Thursday, November 7.
THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS!
Heads or Tails - ALL Laundry and ePremium Insurance Agency
Event Sponsors - Pinnacle Paving & Sealing
Deck The Walls - Rent Manager, Rookwood Properties, and SNS Management
SEPTEMBER 2024 NEW MEMBERS ASSOCIATE
Apartment List
Mack Clark 475 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94107 (317)650-6434
mclark@apartmentlist.com
Goodman Gable Gould Adjusters
International
Jeffrey Print 3903 Naylors Lane Baltimore, MD 21208 (800)858-3900
jprint@gggco.com Insurance
ResidentIQ
Ann Padgett 2035 Lakeside Centre Way Suite 250 Knoxville, TN 37922
Don’t miss your chance to reserve space for the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association (GCNKAA) 2025 Trade Show scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at Sharonville Convention Center. Booth cost is $800 from October 2 through February 11, 2025. After February 11, the price increases to $900 per booth.
REASONS TO EXHIBIT AT GCNKAA TRADE SHOW
Besides the opportunity to meet and greet 600 to 800 industry peers during our trade show, here are additional reasons you won’t want to miss out!
1. New Floorplan Includes Carpet. Minor changes have been made again to the floorplan to encourage better foot traffic as well as accommodate more booths. This year the booths remain 8’ x 10’. All booths include pipe and drape, one table, two chairs, booth sign and wi-fi. Premier booths are an additional fee. Other booths are reserved for VIP Sponsors. Electric and additional tables and chairs can be ordered separately through Sharonville Convention Center or Academy Rentals.
with each and every one.
3. Expanded Education Rooms. By creating more education seminars that accommodate more students, we can guarantee a larger attendance of property managers, leasing agents and maintenance technicians when the trade show opens. At the end of these seminars, seminar attendees will flow onto the trade show floor where you have the opportunity to talk
4. More Sponsorship Opportunities. By creating new sponsorship levels, we enable you to get more bang for your sponsorship buck. Whether through signage, verbal recognition or company listing on gcnkaa.org and in the Apartment Advantage, we will find a way for you to get involved whether you have one employee or one thousand. We have also added several more benefits to the VIP Sponsorship including premier booth space. Watch for more information to
and we would love to have them back!
you do business with any of the companies listed please reach out to them and remind them of the value of membership.
follow regarding sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorships range from $300 for a logo or food sponsorship to $1000 for VIP Sponsorship.
Booths are available on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to reserve a booth, visit www.gcnkaa.org and download the floorplan and booth contract. Review the available booth space, select your booth and either reserve your booth online or complete your contract with your top three selections, and return back to michele@gcnkaa.org.
If you have any questions, we are here to help! Give us a call at 513-407-8612.
BOOTH SALES INFORMATION
• Booth price includes table, 2 chairs, pipe and drapes, booth marker. Facility is carpeted. Electric, additional tables and chairs can be ordered separately through Sharonville Convention Center and Academy Rentals for an additional cost. All orders for carpet, electric, additional tables and chairs need to be placed directly through Sharonville Convention Center or Academy Rentals and NOT through GCNKAA. See Exhibitor Kit for more detailed information.
• Booths are sold on a first come first serve basis.
• Each booth is 8’ deep x 10’wide.
• Booths are $750 each through October 1; $800 from October
2 through February 11; $900 after February 11. Select booths are reserved for VIP Sponsors.
BOOTH RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS
• After you have selected your booth with the Apartment Association, you must either forward GCNKAA a signed contract or remit full payment to reserve that booth.
• We will hold all booths for 14 days without signed contract or payment.
• You may pay for your booth with check or credit card or call the office for an invoice.
• We cannot hold a booth longer than 14 days without contract or payment. After those 14 days, if we do not receive a contract or full payment, GCNKAA will contact you for payment or contract. If no response, GCNKAA may release the booth you selected.
• Full payment of all booths must be received by February 11, 2025.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Apartment Association.
DOWNLOAD FULL EXHIBITOR KIT COMPLETE WITH FORMS AND GUIDELINES HERE
~ Includes 4 admissions to event ~ Signage for the Heads or Tails table ~ Company logo on event web banner ~ Company logo on promo pieces ~ Full color, full page ad in Apartment Advantage newsletter for two months ~ Video post to Facebook ~ Social Media posts also on Instagram and LinkedIn ~ Signage for the Mystery Bags table
2025 GCNKAA Trade Show
Sharonville Convention Center
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 4 pm - 6:30 pm
Booth Information
Size: 8’ x 10’
Loading Dock Area and Sharonville Convention Center Concession Stand
· Cabinet Door Replacement with Resurfacing of frames and boxes
· Increase Rent/Occupancy
· NEW look - Fresh Colors
Government & Housing Legalities
CINCINNATI
By Pat Crowley, Vice President of Governmental Affairs
Cincinnati’s newest member of Cincinnati Council is anxious for a renewed look at the city’s comprehensive plan, including the components that deal with housing.
Councilmember Evan Nolan says an update of Plan Cincinnati, the city’s comprehensive plan that was adopted more than a decade ago, could help spur the development of new housing throughout the city. When it was adopted, Plan Cincinnati was the city’s first comprehensive plan in 30 years. An update to the plan is expected next year.
“Plan Cincinnati was adopted in 2012 so it’s a little dated,” Nolan told WVXU. An update to Plan Cincinnati is expected to kick off next year.
“We hope to add the priorities from the Green Cincinnati Plan into Plan Cincinnati,” Nolan told the station. “A focus on pedesThis
NEW CINCINNATI CITY COUNCILMAN WANTS TO DUST OFF PLAN
trian safety, public safety, affordable housing, racial equity, in particular - a lot of these issues isn’t addressed in any meaningful way in Plan Cincinnati.”
In an interview with City Beat, Nolan said there needs to be a diversity of housing across Cincinnati.
“That requires an increase to housing overall, and that happens through processes and incentives the city puts in place,” he said. “That requires an update to Plan Cincinnati that brings to the forefront the current priorities of City Council, and removing obstacles, whether they be in the zoning code, or the processes that go through the city to help incentivize and promote development of housing, the development of affordable housing, and the development of workforce housing across the city.”
Nolan was sworn into council in October. He replaced former Councilmember Reggie Harris, who resigned his seat to take a job with the federal government in the U.S Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Pat Crowley
The Apartment Association Outreach, Inc.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Justin Seger, HILLS Properties, Outreach President
Justin Seger
October has been a great month for the Apartment Association Outreach!
On Saturday October 12, we celebrated the impactful work of AAO with “A Night Out For Outreach 2024.” So many of our sponsors and partners joined us on a perfect night at the Downtown Hyatt to support our organization. I want to thank Megan and Brian Lawhon, our event chairs and event sponsors; our additional event sponsors: Bernecker Brothers Roofing, ePremium Insurance Agency, Forcht Bank, Sandstone Properties, The Heldman Group, JLS Properties, Rent Manager, and all of our Champions For Outreach. Childhood Food Solutions provide food for hundreds of children in the Cincinnati area on the days they are not in school. Last week, a
large group of AAO volunteers spent the morning at Roll Hill bagging food. I encourage everyone to try to find time to volunteer between now and the end of the year! Please contact Susan at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association (GCNKAA) office if you would like to volunteer. Upcoming opportunities are November 13, and December 18, 2024.
Please join us at the Savannah Center in West Chester, on December 5, 2024, for Holiday Cheers, hosted by our Associate Council. This is a fun event, in which 400 of your colleagues and friends dress in their holiday attire, and raise lots of money for The Apartment Association Outreach programs and partners. The night includes a Silent Auction, Raffle Auction, Deck The Walls, Heads or Tails, and Bourbon Mystery Bags. Holiday Cheers is one of my favorite nights of the year, and I look forward to seeing all of you on December 5!
HEADS TAILS or
Buy some beads. Test your luck. Win some money.
Returning to the 2024 Holiday Cheers Fundraiser**
Test your luck on December 5, 2024,at The Savannah Center in West Chester, Ohio
**limit of 10 beads per person. Contest will feature total of 20 coin flips before heading to sudden death round(s).
Please see list of rules at the Heads or Tails booth at the Holiday Cheers event.
Trend Setting
COLD WEATHER SAFETY
Courtesy of Sedgwick
As the warm temperatures begin to drop, we all know that cold weather is right around the corner. This should remind us that we must change our thinking from heat safety to cold safety. Cold weather hazards can be just as dangerous to our employees as the heat, so it is imperative we take the steps to protect them from these hazards. Hazards such as immersion, frostbite and hypothermia are just a few cold stress conditions that are dangerous to our employees. Training employees on these hazardous conditions and the steps to minimize them is key to keeping workers safe.
Whether your employees work outdoors, or indoors in cold environments, training them to protect themselves and others is vital. Consider a training program that includes understanding cold weather conditions, appropriate clothing and signs and symptoms of cold stress. Understanding winter weather terminology is a good first step in preparing employees to work in the cold.
1. Wind Chill is a term used to describe what the air temperature feels like to the human skin due to the combination of cold temperatures and winds blowing on exposed skin.
This heading contains information on Management & Leasing.
4. Winter Storm Warning when blizzard conditions, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet are imminent or occurring.
5. Winter Weather Advisory is issued for snow accumulation, freezing rain or drizzle and sleet accumulation. Advisory is a hazardous weather condition issued by the Nation Weather Service (NWS).
Many of these weather conditions (and others) are issued by the NWS, so staying up-to-date allows employees to prepare for the day’s work. There are many phone weather apps available, so take the time to find the one that is most beneficial to your workforce. Once you have chosen the right app, be sure employees know how to use it.
The next step in preparing for the cold weather is knowing how to dress. Wearing the appropriate clothing is crucial to comfort, warmth and the ability to perform the job safely. Each job should be evaluated to ensure the correct clothing is being used. The rule of thumb is to start with three layers of clothing: an inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body, a middle layer made up of wool or a synthetic material to provide insulation when wet, then an outer layer such as a jacket or parka, to protect against wind and rain and allows for ventilation to prevent overheating. Make sure the clothing is loose to allow for circulation. Tight clothing will restrict blood flow, affecting its ability to warm the body,
especially the extremities.
Finally, employees should be trained to recognize cold weather stress conditions. Some of these stress conditions include the following.
IMMERSION HYPOTHERMIA
This condition typically occurs when the body or parts of the body are wet. Cold water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air. Signs and symptoms include reddening skin, tingling or pain in the affected area, leg cramps and numbness or blisters.
If an employee suffers from immersion hypothermia, remove wet clothing and dry the area (do not rub). Get medical assistance if needed.
FROSTBITE
This condition leads to a loss of feeling and color in the affected areas. Commonly affecting extremities such as the nose, ear, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes, it may lead to permanent damage to the body, including amputation in severe cases. A person suffering from frostbite may not realize it is occurring because that body part is numb. Signs and symptoms include reddened skin that develops into white/gray patches, tingling, aching and loss of feeling. Get the
individual into a warm room or shelter, remove any wet clothing and warm them using dry layers of blankets and clothing. Mild frostbite gets better with rewarming. Seek medical attention for anything more serious than mild frostbite.
HYPOTHERMIA
It occurs during very cold weather and is one of the most severe conditions of exposure. Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If someone is suffering from hypothermia, get medical attention immediately, move the individual to a warm, dry area and replace any wet clothing.
A comprehensive cold weather safety program is key to a safe workplace. Research the latest treatments for cold weather stress by visiting the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or The Occupational Safety and Health Administration website (www.osha. gov). Once you’ve developed a program, be sure to train employees on measures to protect themselves and others. Winter is approaching, be sure you and your employees are prepared.
If you need help identifying potential hazards in your workplace, please contact Andy Sawan, Risk Services Specialist at Sedgwick at andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330.819.4728.
FIVE HOLIDAY AND WINTER COMMUNITY EVENT IDEAS THAT ENGAGE RESIDENTS
By Ashley Tyndall, Chief Relationship Officer for Criterion.B.
Improve resident experience with these highly marketable event ideas.
“Resident experience” is the hot topic in the apartment industry these days — and for good reason. When you’re able to achieve a positive resident experience, you’re also able to achieve more renewals and new leases.
Importantly, a huge part of creating a positive resident experience is fun resident events; however, it can be difficult for your property to host regular, planned events, especially if it’s small to mid-sized. In general, it’s probably not a question of whether your team wants to do events, but rather a lack of time, ideas and budget.
To help you fill out your resident event calendar for the upcoming holiday season and bring a spark of joy to your community, here are five easy, affordable, and unique ideas:
1. LEND A HELPING HAND.
Often, people want to volunteer and lend a helping hand to others, especially during the holiday season, but don’t know where to go or what to do. If your team figures out all of the details and sets up an easy volunteer opportunity for your residents, you may be surprised how many residents say “yes.”
For something hands-on and in-person, you can partner with a local charity, food pantry or homeless shelter. For something simpler, you can organize a canned food, toy or clothing drive within your community. Coordinating a drive will be as easy as keeping a collection bin in your leasing office or lobby and getting the word out to your residents through social media posts, flyers and emails.
To help improve the chances of residents joining in, you can even offer a selection of dates for when they can volunteer if you’re doing an in-person event. The recipient organization will be so appreciative of the support and your residents walk away feeling good about giving back to the community.
2. HOST A HOLIDAY POTLUCK AND CREATE A COOKBOOK.
This idea is a cool twist on a classic resident event. At least a week before the potluck, have your residents submit the recipes for the dish they will be bringing to the dinner and compile them all into a seasonal, winter cookbook. Then, give a copy to each of your residents at the end of the potluck. Not only will your residents enjoy time together and a yummy dinner, but also receive a special token they can take home and enjoy for years to come.
As an additional tip, the more you can make it feel like a true cookbook, the more likely your residents are to keep it on their shelf. It also is recommended to put your community’s logo on it and giving the cookbook a fun, memorable name.
3. MAKE TRENDY WINTER WREATHS OR GARLANDS.
This is a great winter-themed craft and activity that is relatively inexpensive and will get residents to come out and participate. This is because it is both a low-commitment and high-value event.
For residents, there’s nothing better than free holiday home decor that will take under 30 minutes to get. Plus, it also creates an opportunity to do a community-wide giveaway for the wreath that gets the most likes on social media after you share them all.
If you’re not sure what to get for this resident activity, there are tons of videos on YouTube that show you how to make incredibly beautiful wreaths from supplies from the Dollar Store. You really can’t go wrong!
4. BUILD MINI GINGERBREAD HOUSES.
The “mini” part of this resident event idea is key because the idea of putting together a full-sized gingerbread house can easily feel overwhelming and time-consuming for residents. It’s understandable why they might then be deterred from the whole icing and gumdrop ordeal.
However, if you make it a mini gingerbread house creation night, it’ll be much more enticing and unique. Who doesn’t like things that are mini? Not to mention, there’s no shortage of miniature-sized candy you can grab for decoration.
This will be a fun, creative, hands-on event for your community that is family-friendly and good for people of all ages. This is also another event you can share all over social media and have your audience vote on the prettiest (or funniest) mini gingerbread house for a special prize!
5. HOST A POST-HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR.
While a happy hour is a popular resident event, hosting one in celebration of your residents making it through the holiday season makes it super fun and unique. After all that decorating, shopping and cooking, who wouldn’t want a drink? Also, it is much more likely your residents will attend an event after rather than during the holiday season.
To make it extra special, your team can even craft a signature drink that’s named after your property and turn it into a tradition where you serve it every year. For the cherry on top, you can order some low-cost drinking glasses with your logo printed on it.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES + SOUVENIRS = MARKETING MAGIC
While it might feel a little unnatural and “promotional,” try to view every resident event as a marketing opportunity — take photos and videos, create stories, make TikToks and share, share, share!
Another recommendation for consideration is pairing a souvenir or take-home item, such as the drinking glass or cookbook, with every event. Residents love to be able to walk away with something they can keep and use in their home. Not only will it entice them to show up, but they’ll walk away with that warm feeling that comes with a smile (and maybe leave you a review or two).
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ASSISTANCE ANIMALS TO AVOID FAIR HOUSING VIOLATIONS
By Steven M. Williams, Esq.
There are two types of assistance animals: service animals and other support animals. A service animal is a dog that is specifically trained to perform some work or task that benefits its disabled owner. Support animals include other trained or untrained animals that do work, perform tasks, provide assistance and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities. Investigations into alleged violations can be costly and inconvenient. Steven M. Williams, Esq., Managing Partner of the law firm Cohen Seglias, shares a number of important things to know about the laws regarding assistance animals.
1. Assistance animals are not “pets.” Assistance animals cannot be subject to pet rules, deposits or fees. While some of the conduct-based rules that apply to pets will also apply to assistance animals, others will not. You should consider having a separate set of conduct-based rules that omit any reference to deposits or fees.
2. With extremely limited exceptions, a disabled person is entitled to an assistance animal irrespective of the breed. Though there are extremely limited exceptions, you cannot legally refuse an assistance animal simply because it is one of the restricted breeds that you do not allow as pets. You also cannot limit the number of assistance animals a disabled resident can have so long as each qualifies on its own.
3. There are limits to the information you can request from the resident. A housing provider can obtain verification of the existence of a disability and/or the relationship between the disability and the requested accommodation, if either or both are not readily observable/readily apparent.
In order to evaluate a resident’s request for a service animal, you are entitled to ask only two questions: (1) is the animal needed due to a disability, and (2) what work or tasks has the animal been trained to perform. According to HUD’s best practices, third-party verification should not be requested when a person has satisfactorily answered the two questions qualifying a service dog, even if the disability or disability-related
need is not readily apparent.
To evaluate a resident’s request for an assistance animal other than a service animal, you are entitled to documentation from a verifier only that: (1) the resident is disabled, (2) the resident needs the animal to accommodate the disability, (3) there is a connection between the need for the animal and the disability, and (4) there are no other accommodations that will work for the resident. You are not entitled to know what the disability is or the resident’s diagnosis, and you may not ask for medical records.
4. A housing provider may request reliable documentation when an individual requesting a reasonable accommodation has a disability and disability-related need that are not obvious or otherwise known. In many cases, the verifier will be a medical professional, but the law does not require it to be. Do not limit verifiers to medical professionals.
5. You cannot simply deny a resident’s request. You may not deny a request without first engaging in the interactive process, i.e., giving the resident the opportunity to discuss with you the need for an assistance animal.
6. There are limitations to using the direct threat exception to deny a request. A direct threat cannot be established by generalized assumptions, fears or speculation that the animal may cause injury or damage, or because the animal is part of a “dangerous” breed. Rather, a direct threat is established by specific proof of dangerous behavior based on objective evidence regarding the specific animal being requested.
7. It is illegal to disclose anything about the resident. Ownersoperators are often questioned about why another resident has an animal that is not consistent with the pet policies, and the only answer should be that you are in compliance with all applicable laws. Saying anything that reveals or indicates that the resident is disabled or has a disability-related need for the animal could result in a fair housing violation.
Steven M. Williams, Esq., Managing Partner with Cohen Seglias.
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