Quorum September 2020

Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute

SEPTEMBER 2020

A Magazine for Community Association Volunteer Leaders, Professional Managers and Business Partners

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

____________________________ Codes of Conduct: Encouraging Respectful Behavior for the Benefit of All ____________________________ Positivity and Healthy Habits in the Workplace ____________________________ Exploring Fun Ways to Think About Employee Wellness and Stress Management ____________________________ Ageless Grace at Westridge Swim and Racquet Club

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SEPTEMBER 2020

­CONTENTS 12 Mental Health Awareness

BY HAYLEY KNOWLTON, LCSW

16 Setting the Tone

BY BRITTANIE DAVIS MORGE, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

18 Codes of Conduct: Encouraging Respectful Behavior for the Benefit of All

BY DANIEL BLOM, ESQ.

21 Positivity and Healthy Habits in the Workplace

BY DAVE FOREMAN

22 Namaste Through Milkshake Day – Keeping the Balance

BY KATIE HALFHILL, EBP, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

DEPARTMENTS AND MORE

24 Overcoming Negativity

5 Message from the President 6 Chapter Benefactor: Rees Broome, PC 7 Welcome New Members 8 Upcoming Events 11 People & Places 36 Classifieds 37 Index to Advertisers 38 Cul-de-sac: Re-Defining “Normalcy”: Optimizing Your Mental Health

BY KEVIN P. KELLY

26 Exploring Fun Ways to Think About Employee Wellness and Stress Management

BY JAMES MOYE, SPHR

28 Meeting Stress Head On

BY ALLIE DUZETT

30 Every “Body” Can and Should Practice Yoga!

BY CRYSTAL PARTIN, RYT, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

33 Ageless Grace at Westridge Swim and Racquet Club

BY RENEE JONES

34 Doing it Right From Home

WMCCAI MISSION STATE­MENT To optimize the operations of Community Associations and foster value for our business partners.

BY CANDACE LEWIS, CMCA, AMS

Reader comments and suggestions are welcome. Address your comments to: Quorum 7600 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 West Falls Church, VA 22043

We also wel­come ar­ti­cle sub­mis­sions from our ­members. For author guide­lines, call (703) 750-3644 or e-mail publications@caidc.org.

Articles may be edited for length and clarity.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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President Airielle Hansford, CMCA, AMS, PCAM President-elect Michael Gartner, ESQ. Vice President Ruth Katz, ESQ. Secretary Sara Ross, ESQ. Treasurer Kristen Melson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Immediate Past President Rafael A. Martinez, CTP (EX OFFICIO) Executive Director Jaime Barnhart, CMP, CAE (EX OFFICIO)

D IRECTOR S Leslie Brown, ESQ., Doug Carroll, Hilary Lape, AMS, PCAM, Judyann Lee, ESQ., Sara Ross, ESQ., Gary Simon, CMCA, AMS, Jon Stehle

CO U N C I L C HAI R S Communications Council Jennifer Bennett, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Education Council Kevin Kernan, ESQ. Member Services Council Bernie Guthrie, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

“EVERY LEAF SPEAKS BLISS TO ME, FLUT TERING FROM THE AUTUMN T R E E . ” – E M I LY B R O N T Ë The arrival of September marks the end of summer and what an unprecedented summer it has been. The September edition of Quorum Magazine is focused on “Seeking Balance” and I can’t think of a more appropriate theme for the month of the Autumnal Equinox. September 22, 2020 is the first day of fall and a pivot point in the year when the day and night are equal in length. This is the midpoint between the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The equinox is an opportunity for us to find balance in our lives, too. I hope you find inspiration within these pages.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

O FFICE R S

CO MM I T TE E C HAI R S Conference & Expo Donna Aker, CMCA, AMS, PCAM and Chris Goodman D.C. Legislative/LAC Scott Burka, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, and Jane Rogers, ESQ. Education Kathryn Hutchinson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM and Todd El-Taher Golf Adrienne Zaleski and Brian Lord, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Maryland Legislative Scott Silverman, ESQ. and Aimee Winegar, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM

Public Outreach Elisabeth Kirk and Kim Myles, CMCA Membership Jeffrey Stepp, CMCA, AMS, and Noni Roan, CMCA Quorum Editorial Christopher Carlson, PE, SECB and Liliana Martinez, CMCA, AMS

Chapter Events Kristen Adams and Jen Ann Santiago, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Virginia Legislative Ronda DeSplinter, LSM, PCAM and William A. Marr Jr., ESQ.

QU O RUM Managing Editor Morgan Wright, mwright@caidc.org Design Six Half Dozen

QU O RUM E DI TORI AL CO M M IT TE E Co-chairs Christopher Carlson, PE, SECB and Liliana Martinez, CMCA, AMS Members Michelle Baquero, CMCA, AMS, Dan Blom, ESQ., Mira Brown, CMCA, AMS, Leslie Brown, ESQ., Kristen Buck, ESQ., Doug Carroll, Deborah Carter, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Sara Castle, Traci Castrovinci, CMCA, AMS, Frannie Crouse, Brittanie Davis, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Katie Halfhill, CMCA, AMS, Iman Jackson, CMCA, AMS, Kevin Kelly, Jessica Knutsen, EBP, CIC, Richard Kuziomko, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Crishana Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Liliana Martinez, CMCA, AMS, Kirby McCleary, Susan Miller, CMCA, AMS, Kara Permisohn, Tracy Plazyk, CMCA, AMS, Brandi Ruff, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Lauri Ryder, CIC, CRM, CMCA, Janet Smith, Gunnar Thompson, Susan L. Truskey, ESQ., Olga Tseliak, ESQ., Lee Ann Weir, CMCA, AMS, Doug White, P.E., Aimee Winegar, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM, Jim Wisniewski, Michael Zupan, ESQ. Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute, a 501(c)(6) organization, serves the educational, business and networking needs of the community association industry in 80 cities/counties in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Members include community association homeowner volunteer leaders, professional managers, association management companies, and other businesses and professionals who provide products and services to planned communities, cooperatives and condominiums. WMCCAI has more than 3,200 members including 300+ businesses, 1,100 professional managers from 85 management companies, and approximately 1,500 community association homeowners. WMCCAI is the largest of Community Associations Institute’s 62 chapters worldwide.

Quorum is the award-winning premiere publication of WMCCAI, dedicated to providing WMCCAI’s membership with information on community association issues. Authors are responsible for developing the logic of their expressed opinions and for the authenticity of all presented facts in articles. WMCCAI does not necessarily endorse or approve statements of fact or opinion made in these pages and assumes no responsibility for those statements. This publication is issued with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services and nothing published in Quorum is intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied on as such. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought directly by the person requiring such advice or services.

Articles appearing in Quorum may not be reprinted without first obtaining written approval from the editor of Quorum. In the event that such permission is granted, the following legend must be added to the reprint: Reprinted with permission from Quorum™ magazine. Copyright 2019 Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute. Quorum is a trademark of WMCCAI. Receipt of Quorum is a privilege of WMCCAI membership for which $65 in nonrefundable annual dues is allocated. The subscription price for nonmembers is $75 per year; contact publications@caidc.org or call (703) 750-3644.

To advertise in Quorum, e-mail publications@caidc.org.

For more information about Quorum or WMCCAI, visit www.caidc.org.

We kick off the month with Labor Day. This holiday pays tribute to the economic and social achievements of American workers and the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. This Labor Day let us reflect on the efforts of nurses, doctors and medical workers on the frontline combating COVID-19. I am also incredibly thankful and proud of the many essential employees in our industry. Throughout the pandemic, community associations have relied upon employees for the provision of necessary day-to-day services, including those that safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of residents.

Most schools throughout the DC Metro region will start the academic year with all-virtual instruction. The online classroom has become necessary as school districts look to provide much needed education and critical services while also protecting the health and well-being of teachers, students, as well as the community.

As a parent I appreciate the efforts by educators to maintain balance to keep students engaged in learning while mitigating the risks posed by this pandemic. We patiently look forward to the day when our children can safely return to schools for in-person learning.

We have three exciting Chapter outreach programs and events in the coming weeks. The Potomac River Watershed Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, September 26th. This family-friendly event, originally planned in April to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, provides the chance to positively impact the communities where we work and live. There is still plenty of time to participate in the Chapter’s mask-sewing contest, benefiting the local Ronald McDonald House and Stillbrave. The member who makes and donates the most masks

by October 16, 2020 will receive a Visa gift card prize and bragging rights! The WMCCAI Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for October 16th at Westfields Golf Club. Visit the Chapter’s website to learn more about these events.

WMCCAI’s greatest resource is its members. Your involvement and support are crucial to the health and success of the Chapter. Thank you to our committees and staff for their incredible resourcefulness, dedication, and flexibility during this challenging time. I would also extend my appreciation to our Chapter’s partners and sponsors for their continued support of our organization and its goals.

AIRIELLE HANSFORD,

CMCA, AMS, PCAM

Airielle is a Vice President at FirstService Residential. She has worked in community associations since 2004. Airielle has been an active volunteer with WMCCAI since 2007, earning the Chapter’s Rising Star Award in 2011 and Chapter Appreciation Award in 2018. Prior to joining the board, she served as the Member Services Council Chair from 2014 through 2015, chaired the Annual Awards Dinner Committee from 2011 through 2013, sat on the Social Media Task Force, and has written articles for Quorum. Airielle served as the WMCCAI Treasurer in 2017 and as the Vice-President in 2018 prior to Incoming President in 2019.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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CHAPTER NEWS

C H A P T E R

B E N E F A C T O R

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• Licenses Held: The Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia and West Virginia bars • Members of: The Virginia, Maryland and D.C. bar associations; the Montgomery, Fairfax, Arlington, Prince George’s and Prince William counties bar associations.

Actively serving Community Association’s in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia Tysons Corner Office 1900 Gallows Road, Suite 700 Tysons Corner, VA 22182 Telephone: (703) 790-1911 Fax: (703) 848-2530 Bethesda Office 7101 Wisconsin Avenue #1201 Bethesda, MD 20814 Telephone: (301) 222-0152 Fax: (703) 790-5249 Website: www.reesbroome.com Year Established or Incorporated: 1974 • CAI Member Since: 1984

• Areas you serve: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia • Services Provided: Over its forty-six years of legal practice, Rees Broome PC has developed one of the largest bases of community association client representation in the nation.

Additionally, we specialize in civil litigation, corporate law,

Community Association Shareholders • Juan R. Cardenas, Esq.; jcardenas@reesbroome.com • Peter S. Philbin, Esq.; pphilbin@reesbroome.com • Todd S. Sinkins, Esq.; tsinkins@reesbroome.com • Kim O’Halloran-Perez, Esq. ; kohalloran-perez@reesbroome.com • Ursula Burgess, Esq.; uburgess@reesbroome.com • Kathleen N. Machado, Esq.; kmachado@reesbroome.com • Erik Fox, Esq.; efox@reesbroome.com • Hilary Collins, Esq.; hcollins@reesbroome.com • Winta Mengisteab, Esq.; wmengisteab@reesbroome.com • Kelly Zook, Esq.; kzook@reesbroome.com

Article Submissions:

Are you interested in sharing your experiences and expertise with our readers? Quorum magazine is always seeking new article ideas, submissions, and content. If you have an idea or would like to submit an article for consideration, please make sure you contact us before you begin writing to see what our upcoming themes are. Questions and interests should be directed to Morgan Wright at publications@caidc.org or by phone at 703.750.3644.

Advertising:

For advertising, availability, rates, and specifications, please contact Morgan Wright at publications@caidc.org. Targeted advertising in WMCCAI’s Quorum, opens the door to thousands of prospective customers and contacts in the community association industry.

6 | QUORUM

WMCCAI proudly welcomes the following members who joined the chapter in July 2020.

Homeowner Leaders from the Following Associations Berkeley at Ballston Condominium Christopher Condominium Unit Owners’ Association Montebello Condominium Unit Owners Association Potomac Place Condominium Raspberry Falls Homeowners Association Ridges at Loudoun Valley Condominium Second Kings Manor Skyline House Owners Association, Inc. Sully Station Community Association Sutton Towers Condominium The Columbia Residences of Washington DC The Williamsburg Condominium Victory Lakes Community Association, Inc. Whitley Park Condominium Association Individual Managers Yoradyl Benitez, CMCA, Jeffrey Charles & Associates Susana Bonanno, Community Management Corporation, AAMC Casmira-Anne Brown, AMS, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Francisco Constantino, The Wisconsin Condominium Meitear Copeland Ebru Delen, Community Management Corporation, AAMC

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Xiomara R. Diaz Reyes, Legum & Norman, Inc., AAMC Jamie Glassman, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. David Hahn, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Marvin E. Holmes, Jr., CMCA Matthew Hunter, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Amie C. Kennedy, CMCA, AMS, Community Management Corporation, AAMC Brandon Mcfarr, FirstService Residential, AAMC Preston Nguyen, First Priority Management Shaunitse Norris Nida Shahbaz, Community Management Corporation, AAMC Nancy Sherrill, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Krishna Singh, Community Management Corporation, AAMC Earline Stanley, Community Management Corporation, AAMC Alexis Stevenson, Community Association Management Professionals, AAMC James Stewart, CMCA, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Sancia S. Williams, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc. Robert M. Woolf, EJF Real Estate Services, Inc.

CHAPTER NEWS

Welcome New Members

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SEPTEMBER 2020 11/12/19 7:40 PM

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Please Note: All Upcoming Events are considered TBD and subject to change as we continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to frequently visit our website at www.caidc.org to find the latest information, event updates, and member resources. Stay healthy and stay connected with us and your colleagues on our social channels as we navigate these next few months together!

SEPTEMBER 16

Building Maintenance Series: Part 1 (HVAC Systems) 12 – 1 p.m.

Online Webinar

Join WMCCAI for a three-part series on building maintenance. These insightful webinars lead by Doug White of Thomas Downey, Ltd., Consulting Engineers, Ted Ross of TRC Engineering and Kathryn M. Hutchinson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager at Greenhouse Condominium Council of Co-Owners, Inc. will help you understand the system and structural basics of buildings, including, routine maintenance needs. Additionally, you will be well positioned to identify problems, develop repair options and budget for building maintenance costs. Please visit www.caidc.org for more details or to register online.

SEPTEMBER 18

Virtual Mask Sewing Party 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Online Zoom Meet-up

Join your fellow WMCCAI members for our mask-sewing party! James Kelley from DMA Reserves will demonstrate several ways to make masks. Whether you are a master sewer or a novice with a sewing machine, James will help guide us through the mask-making process. If you are unable to make it, we will record James’ tutorial that can be viewed (and reviewed) on the chapter website. All that is needed is you, your sewing machine, and some mask-making supplies. We hope you can join us! Please visit www.caidc.org for more details or to register online.

SEPTEMBER 26

Potomac Watershed Clean-up Day 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Event takes place across several locations along the Potomac River Watershed

Don’t miss the Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Association Institute’s third annual Potomac Watershed Clean-up Day! Join us as we do our part to clean up the Potomac Watershed and positively impact the communities where we work and live. Volunteer as a site leader and make this event a success! The more leaders we have, the larger the event will be and the greater the impact. Interested in becoming a site leader? Have additional questions?

Contact Liz Schell (eschell@caidc.org), Elisabeth Kirk (elisabeth@tedrossconsulting.com) or Valerie Irons (valerie.irons@levelgreenlandscaping.com) for more information. Please visit www.caidc.org for additional information.

OCTOBER 16

2020 Golf Classic 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Westfield Golf Club 13940 Balmoral Greens Avenue Clifton, VA 20124

Grab your clubs and join your WMCCAI colleagues for a day of golf at Westfields Golf Club.

Spend the day on this popular and challenging course, win door prizes and enjoy food and festivities. Registration includes greens and cart fee and food & beverage on the course, and more. NOTE: To ensure the health and safety of our golfers, a limited number of foursomes will be available at our 2020 event. So, don’t wait to register! Spots will fill up fast! Additionally, non-golfing and networking activities are currently under review; further information will be posted at a later date. Visit www.caidc.org for more details and to register online.

For more information on WMCCAI meetings or upcoming events, contact the chapter office at (703) 750-3644, email info@caidc.org or visit www.caidc.org.

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“We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Home Chef as part of our Lifestyle@Home program,” said Michael Mendillo, president, FirstService Residential. “It has been our goal to provide our residents and associates with access to special discount offers, as well as provide ways they can save money and increase convenience for their busy lives.”

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By Hayley Knowlton, LCSW Hayley Knowlton is a licensed clinical social worker in the states of Virginia and Idaho who provides psychological therapies and assessments to active duty military, veterans, and adults. Her primary focus is in the treatment of trauma, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and severe mental health issues. Her professional accomplishments include her training in both basic and advanced modules of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Her therapeutic approaches include EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Solutions Focused Therapy.

Mental Health Awareness A

world pandemic causing a worldwide locked/quarantine changed the way we look at “normal.” Every-day life changed, parents became teachers, work was done remotely from home, therapy was being via the internet the list goes on and on. The struggle became learning how to manage life within the confines of our homes with people we thought we knew. Being quarantined caused isolation for many, which in turn increased awareness of mental health concerns leaving people searching for a sense of mental wellness and well-being.

How do we define mental wellness?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of mental wellness is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community.”

Mental health constitutes more than the lack of a mental disorder. Mental health includes subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, 12 | QUORUM

autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and recognition of the ability to realize one’s intellectual and emotional potential. Individuals can recognize their intellectual and emotional potential. We should all be concerned with mental health, not only for those who have a mental disorder.

There is a constant ebb and flow of our mental health daily. Many things impact this, including physical health, home, and work environments, and relationships. Let us look at the connection between our physical health and how it affects our mental health. Think for a moment about you feel after a vigorous workout, most of us have a sense of accomplishment, more energy, and generally feel happier. Now, think about what happens when we are not consistently working out, there is a sense of sluggishness, feeling depressed, unhappy, and generally unsatisfied with life. So, the connection between physical health and mental health is viable. When we have an active lifestyle that includes working out and eating a healthier diet, we release endorphins into the body that increase the hormones and chemicals that make us feel better and happier.

We all seek happiness and want to be happy, but what does that mean? When people say they want to be happy, what they mean is they want to have a feeling of a positive sense of mental well-being. Achieving a sense of mental well-being takes effort and

a willingness to incorporate different activities into daily life. One of the first things I recommend to my clients is to learn that self-care does not mean you are selfish. What it means is that you like and love yourself enough to take care of you, so you can take care of those you love. Self-care does not require spending absorbent amounts of money or taking lengthy amounts of time away from your family or job. It can be as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood, workplace, or park alone to relax and enjoy nature. Or it might be going to the spa for women, going fishing or hiking for men, it might be taking time away from the family/husband/wife for a night out with friends. Many, many other things could be listed here; however, selfcare looks different for everyone. The one thing self-care is not is selfish!

Incorporating a few things into a personal life that does not require time away from family or work yet can help improve a sense of well-being and can improve quality of life.

There are buzz words we all hear but may not know what or how to incorporate them into our daily lives. Some of the more recognized ones are mindfulness, environmental influence, loving others, self-compassion, and physical wellness. Let us look at each one briefly.

Mindfulness is learning to be present, rather than being stuck in the past or projecting into the future. Mindfulness allows you to use all your senses to stay in the present, meaning asking yourself, what do I smell, hear, see, taste, and what am I feeling. You can do this anywhere at any time.

Mindfulness allows for you to be aware of what you are doing, so you can override automatic thinking and make positive changes in behavior and thoughts. Being mindful allows for non-judgmental responses to events that are happening to allow for the detachment from negative emotions rather than being controlled by them. Result in changing how you respond to events in your life. As you practice mindfulness, your feelings become better regulated, and you can react less emotionally over things you cannot control.

The benefits from a mindfulness practice do not come from occasional use but daily practice for approximately 10 minutes a day.

Practicing 10 minutes a day will provide you with some benefit in a matter of a few days. There will be a noticeable change in your behavior with daily practice in a couple of weeks. Changes you should notice include feeling calmer, less stressed, and things that used to bother you will not be as noticeable as before. Other noticeable changes you will feel will be clarity of thought and ability to focus. Mindfulness works best when you can find and dedicate a specific time to practice every day; this looks different for everyone. There are multiple books, courses, and online resources to help you learn how to practice mindfulness. For beginners, there are guided apps on your phone that will help; one such app is Headspace and one I would recommend.

Our environment matters more than most people realize. The environment impacts emotional well-being because it stays active in the subconscious mental space for a brief period, even after the event is over. An example, have you heard a song on the radio,

saw something or smelled something and then sometime later you heard, smelled, or had an emotional reaction to what you saw.

These events are still active in your subconscious and impact you emotionally. Therefore, to experience positive emotional well-being taking in as many positive things from your environment is vital. You also must minimize the number of negative things around you. There are things in our environment that we do not pay attention to that impact our emotional well-being. Think about the things that are on television, presented in the news, the music we listen to, video games played, social media, and the people we are surrounded by. If these things are negative, the emotional impact is negative; frequently, you do not notice how these things are making you feel down.

One way to begin to experience positive input is to change the environment around us. By doing things such as watching the news, disconnecting from those who are negative and complain, stop watching or playing anything violent or scary. Begin to make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive, uplifting, and inspiring things. Examples such as spending time in nature, with joyful people, listen to uplifting music, read inspirational books, and improve well-being. The time and effort this will take help you begin to feel more positive.

Self-Compassion is one of the most foundational elements of emotional well-being. Finding true happiness is dependent on the ability to have self-compassion. To have a good life, you cannot hate yourself, even though many people try. People are self-critical, use much negative self-talk to motivate themselves to do better, demanding perfection, and setting unrealistic expectations for themselves, essentially setting themselves up to fail. All of the negative self-talk impacts and damages self-esteem and can lead to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Continued on page 15 SEPTEMBER 2020

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Learning to like and be kind to yourself is self-compassion. A willingness to forgive yourself for mistakes, flaws, and shortcomings is taking a step in the right direction. For true self-confidence, you must learn true unconditional love of self. People are typically controlled by their inner-critic and believe they do not deserve to have self-compassion. If you think you are influenced by your inner-critic and lack self-esteem seeking professional therapy may be needed.

Many self-help books can help improve self-esteem. I recommend to my clients is The Self-Esteem Workbook by Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D. there is also a companion book “Self-Esteem” both are incredibly helpful with improving self-esteem.

When we are kind to others, it releases chemicals in the reward center of the brain, also known as the pre-frontal cortex, referred to by professionals as the “Helper’s high.” Helping other people helps lower stress, blood pressure, and relief from depression and physical pain, all of which are positive effects on mental health. There is research that shows those who engage in showing compassion, kindness, and love for others helps to have a better and higher quality of life as well as live longer. Demonstrating these types of behaviors can be as simple as spending more time doing the loving, kind things for people in your life, maybe volunteering occasionally or helping out at the local food bank. All of these types of activities helped to get you out of your head and focused on someone else’s well-being, all of which help you feel good about yourself.

shows that cardio exercise daily in a minimum of 10 minutes can be enough to improve mood and quality of sleep. This, in turn, helps emotion regulation and a great sense of well-being (Jaffery, Annese, Edwards, & Loprinzi, 2017).

More than ever, people need to find a sense of well-being and mental wellness as we begin to adapt to the new “normal” after the pandemic quarantine. For this to be a reality, people are going to have to take the steps necessary to experience mental wellness. The reasons people used to give about why they are unable to achieve this are no longer relevant: being too depressed, too anxious, not enough time, too stressed out, or too much to do and people to take care of. Now is the time to put forth the effort required to make the changes necessary to bring mental wellness. It takes energy to list out limitations and reasons why people cannot make the required changes—moving this energy toward living a joyful and mentally healthy life. It is time to focus all your energy and attention on how to implement self-care and believe it is okay. Mental wellness and well-being do not happen because you talk about it; it happens when you put action behind the words you speak.

Last but not least is the physical aspect of mental well-being. The body and mind cannot be separated. There is a whole school of thought and research to show that nutrition and exercise play an essential role in mental well-being (Jacka, 2017).

We all know that exercise plays a significant role in helping a person feel better because when we exercise, endorphins are released into the body, creating feelings of pleasure. Research

References Jacka, F. (2017). Nutritional Psychiatry: Where to next?” EBioMedicine.

Jaffery, Annese, Edwards, M. K., & Loprinizi, P. D. (2017). Randomized control of intervention evaluating the effects of acute exercise on depression and mood profile: Solomon experimental design. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol. 92. No. 3. Elsevier.

O’Leary, K., Bylsma, L. M., & Rottenberg, J. (2016). Why might poor sleep quality lead to depression? A role of emotion regulation.

Cognition and Emotion pg. 1-9.

Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 12.2. pgs. 66-67.

Toups, M., Carmody, T., Rethorst, C., Grannemann, B. & Trivedi, M. H. (2017). Exercise is an effective treatment for positive valence symptoms in major depression. Journal of Affective Disorders 209: pgs. 188-194.

World Health Organization https://www.wikihow.com/Cite-the-WHO-in-APA

SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Brittanie Davis Morge, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Brittanie Davis Morge is the proud community manager of River Creek Owners Association located in Leesburg, VA. She has been in the industry for 15 years achieving the highest level of certification, her PCAM.

Setting the Y

our board meetings are one of the most important ways to communicate with your membership. They are the trifecta of all the vital players: your membership, board members and most likely management. With all these individuals in one place, it is surprising that the major-

ity of board meetings have low attendance and owners frequently leave feeling put off.

Unfortunately, board meetings can often be a place of bickering, complaining and discontentment. Coincidently, there are even websites dedicated to Board Meetings gone wrong.

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But fortunately, there are some things that can help to leave your membership feeling better about their Association’s business.

Here are a few tips that I have learned over the last decade and a half that can help to change the tone of your meeting.

The key to any good meeting is having an agenda in advance that the Board is familiar with and has agreed upon. This helps direct the meeting in a synchronized manner, allows the membership to follow along and proves that there is a reason to conduct business. And most importantly it sets a tone of professionalism.

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It’s been said time after time, tone is everything. A board meeting is the perfect place to be present of the tone and show the true meaning of the professionalism, but how can that be achieved when meetings have such a bad rap?

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Setting Expectations Your board President should recognize immediately whether or not there are new faces in the assembly. If this is the case, it

Tone is an excellent opportunity to lay out some ground rules at the commencement of the meeting. These should be announced in a friendly manner that encourages your membership to be engaged, act courteous but also participate in the meeting. Some examples are: • Mentioning that the meeting is being recorded. If owners are aware of this, and legally they should be, it tends to encourage them to be deliberate with their words.

• Explaining when owners’ forum is and what is its purpose. Along with encouraging owners to sign up to speak, stressing this can alleviate a lot to shout outs or interjections while the Board is conducting their business.

• Explaining how old and new business will be reviewed by the board and that owners may not comment at that time. As well as the fact that this is the only time the board meets to make association decisions. This will show that this time is important and they only time that decisions will be made.

• Explain when meeting minutes will be available. So many people think that right after the meeting they can get a copy to share with their neighbors. This is not the case and the expectation should be set for newcomers.

• Explain what executive session is and for what purpose the board will be entering it that evening. As well as, mentioning that no action will be taken in executive session. Owners love transparency.

We hear that word a million times throughout our industry. Acknowledge it and own it. It is up to the owner to stay to hear the motions made after Executive Session or read the results in the meeting minutes. This gives them the choice.

Be Present During my board meetings I choose to sit with the board, but I angle myself or my table to face towards them. This way they are aware

that I am actively listening, taking notes and I am able to get their attention should they need guidance, redirection or I need clarification. I tend to comment after motions are made to get clarification on how they would like the motion recorded if there was a lot of discussion or to thank them for taking action. This shows the membership that management and the board are on the same team, trying to better their community. It also expresses that once the meeting has concluded my work is not done. I will take the actions given and implement them.

You should also strive to practice active listening skills during owner’s forum. Ask the owner for clarification about their name and address, if they have handouts or visuals take a picture of them, ask them to email you any additional information after the meeting so their subject is fresh on your mind. This sets a professional and amiable tone that will leave your owners feeling heard.

Be Gracious Kindness goes along way. I learned from a manager about ten years ago, that is it important to thank your board in the membership’s presence. They are after all volunteers and the are giving up at least a few hours of their personal time to help you achieve your communities’ goals. I frequently thank the board after they make a motion, after they have given me an action item or anytime, they complement management in anyway. It shows that I have respect for the process and in turn your membership inevitably will.

Your board meetings are not a time to dismiss ideas, make owners feel unwanted or to hash out disagreements. It is a time to be grateful that others show interest in your community as well and this should be acknowledged at every meeting.

Setting the right tone throughout the meeting can be the difference between members leaving frustrated or feeling informed.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Daniel Blom, ESQ. Daniel is an associate attorney with the law firm of Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn P.C. His practice is devoted to the representation of community associations throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia, including covenant interpretation and enforcement, contract law, and collections matters. He is an active member of WMCCAI’s Quorum Editorial Committee.

Codes of Conduct: Encouraging Respectful Behavior for the Benefit of All

A

s leaders, community association boards of directors and managing agents can use their positions to set the tone for communications with and among owners. There is great opportunity for boards and managers to lead by example to engage owners in civil and productive discourse concerning what can often involve emotional and divisive issues affecting the community. Maintaining a calm and respectful demeanor and actively listening to others’ viewpoints are tactics every individual can use to encourage understanding and cooperation in everyday conversations, and in particular in impassioned, contentious conversations that can all too often lead to hurt feelings, resentments, and, importantly, failure to resolve the underlying actual issues at hand.

While it is easy to say that individuals should remain calm and respectful, it can be much more difficult to implement when emotions run high. Having a community-wide

standard to reference in such times can be helpful to encourage individuals to behave appropriately and with respect. By actively implementing and incorporating into the community association’s culture a code of conduct or ethics, a civility pledge, or some other official means of expressing the association’s commitment to civil discourse and behavior, community associations can take steps toward encouraging divergent viewpoints and reconciling differences with earnest debate, honesty, and good will.

Depending on a community association’s governing documents and the law of the local jurisdiction (hint: ask your attorney for assistance, if necessary), a code of conduct or civility pledge may be more of a set of aspirational guidelines or principles rather than formally enforceable rules or regulations.

That being said, studies have shown that corporate codes of conduct can have a positive impact on ethical performance1 and having such guidelines in writing can be helpful to

persuade individuals to act within the accepted norms and practices of the group.

Further, having individuals sign on to such non-binding agreements underscores the social understanding that the guidelines are important and should be followed, even if there may not be teeth for enforcement if someone disregards the guidelines.

Community Association Civility Pledge The Community Association Institute College of Community Association Lawyers created the Community Association Civility Pledge, which is readily available on CAI’s website, to allow community associations to express their commitment to “fostering a climate of open discussion and debate, mutual respect, and tolerance between all who live in, work in, and visit” their communities.2 While the commitments in the Community Association Civility Pledge are intended as guiding principles, not as le-

1 S ee, e.g., Patrick M. Erwin, Corporate Codes of Conduct: The Effects of Code Content and Quality on Ethical Performance, 99 Journal of Business Ethics 535 (2011).

2 https://www.caionline.org/HomeownerLeaders/CivilityPledge/Documents/CAICivilityPledgeForms.pdf

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gally binding agreements, community associations can use the Civility Pledge as a tool to cultivate productive community conversations.

Community input and buy-in is important when considering adopting a code of conduct or the CAI Community Association Civility Pledge. By soliciting and encouraging owners to be involved in the creation and adoption of such civility policies, community associations can exhibit their willingness to engage in open discussion and debate to work together with their members. Giving the community a sense of ownership over their code of conduct should encourage compliance with the standards developed and set out in the code.

The Community Association Civility Pledge can help set the framework for these efforts.

Importantly, implementing policies that foster open dialogue can go a long way toward easing tensions and encouraging owners to express their viewpoints in a civil and productive manner. Tolerance of others’ points of views and engaging in open and honest debate can strengthen communities across the board. Codes of conduct and the CAI Community Association Civility Pledge are excellent tools community associations can use to encourage respectful behavior for the benefit and well-being of all.

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By Dave Foreman Dave is the business development manager for Greenscape, Inc., a Massachusetts-based company that has been serving the DC Metro area for 10 years.

He joined Greenscape in the fall of 2018, bringing with him over 20 years of landscaping experience. Dave’s vast landscape knowledge and dedication to customer service is a huge asset to Greenscape’s clients and the people that he meets in his travels.

Positivity and Healthy Habits IN THE WORKPLACE

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s I sit here writing this article during the “shutdown” from COVID-19 virus, I can’t help but laugh at how much things have been flipped upside down.

What was once an easy article to write has taken on a whole new meaning. My biggest hope is that people will begin to understand the importance of “social distancing” and the effectiveness it can have in promoting a positive and healthy work environment.

I recently saw a meme that said something along the lines of “COVID-19 has proven that the job my boss said I couldn’t do at home is able to be done at home.” This is one of the best perks a company can offer.

Allowing employees to work from home even once a week provides many luxuries.

The most important is the recognition of trust to do the job, even when not being supervised. It also offers a healthier environment where they can take a quick walk, make something for lunch instead of eating out, or skip lunch and head to the gym. All of which helps the employee feel at ease in

their day. Working from home does require a strong understanding of time management. We’ve all been at the breaking point because too much work has piled up. The easiest way to overcome this is to set goals for what needs to be accomplished, and times to have them done by. This alone will help you feel positive and reassure that things are being accomplished. As the day winds down, you will know there is a plan to finish the rest tomorrow. This alone will be crucial in boosting your morale. For me, time management has become a critical skill while working from home. The last thing I want is to be sidetracked. Which has resulted in my productivity rising, ensuring I have time for my yellow lab and I to enjoy a walk at lunch!

In the real-world, aka your office, working from home isn’t always an option. You might not have even been able to during the quarantine. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on being happy and healthy! Find a nice little route around your office to go for a lunch break walk. Even an open window to let air in can make a huge impact. There is no limitation to what you can do, sometimes you just have to be creative. I was recently in a management office that had a “quiet room”.

If you work in an environment where open-

ing windows and walks aren’t possible, reach out to me or your network! I’ll help you find that walking path. Another option is to find a closet that isn’t being used and talk to management. Work with them on creating a meditation room where people can go be in peace for 10-15 minutes. A simple color changing light bulb and 2-3 pillows will get you comfy and relaxed in no time. If all else fails…remember, I didn’t buy Apple Air Pods because I wanted overpriced Bluetooth headphones. I bought them because I could drown out the world in some music while writing this article.

My hope is everyone will remember what they did during the quarantine and continue applying those same items moving forward.

Take time for yourself and put down the phone for a second to appreciate what’s in front or outside of where you are. Surround yourself in healthy relationships and social distance the others. Dedicate the time to get your work done so you can spend some time on yourself. Much like the world working to resolve the virus, remember the results will be based on your attitude and willingness to adapt and overcome challenges. Which is why I live by the quote “your attitude belongs to you and it’s your choice if you want have a good one.” – Joyce Meyer SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Katie Halfhill, EBP, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Katie is an account manager at C&C Complete Services. Prior to entering into the contractor world, she spent 15 years managing community associations.

Katie is also an active member on the Quorum Editorial Committee.

Namaste through Milkshake Day Keeping the Balance

W

hen I first started working in community association management, there were cell phones, but that’s all they were…phones. And the phones ran off minutes and after your minutes were up, it cost extra. The world of convenient communication didn’t exist (yet). This meant that when I closed shop and headed

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home at 5:30PM, I was done until the next morning. Unfortunately, those days are over, and managers get the live feed from owners 24/7. The technological advances in cell phones make it possible for managers to be reachable all day, every day – sick, asleep, grocery shopping, on a beach, etc.

And, even if you as the manager try not

to look at e-mails over the weekend, you feel you have no choice.

So, what now? How can we keep great managers from burning out? First and foremost, everyone is different and has a different family life and different needs.

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Only you as individual manager know what is best for you and your family. If you can make managing a property or a portfolio work, then that is total Rockstar status! But if not, there is absolutely no shame in bettering your life for what works for you. At the end of the day, if you’re not happy, it will eventually show and that doesn’t help anyone.

For those in Rockstar status, we may need to rediscover your work/life balance. It is certainly not easy being a community manager and when you have a company that acknowledges that and tries to alleviate the load, it shows they are looking out for your well-being and that’s a great feeling. When you are gone for the day, try putting your out of office on, noting the office hours, the emergency protocol and that you will be happy to get back within 24 hours. This sets the expectation and should hopefully make you as the manager feel better about not checking e-mails or worse, answering them, until you get back to the office. Family time is family time and you don’t get that back.

Evening board meetings can take time away from family. Those are part of the job, but you can time your agendas or ask the board members for comments and questions regarding the board packet, prior to the board meeting (to try and get them to read it). During homeowner open forum, announce that everyone has three minutes to speak and then once open forum is closed, those still in attendance are there to observe, not participate. Board training is also a must – so board members can learn how to run successful meetings.

Outside of board meetings, don’t be afraid to say no…or instead of no, offer an alternative. If I had a vendor or a board member who wanted to meet me at o’ dark thirty, I’d offer a time that worked better for me.

If you’re a portfolio manager, at the end of every year, try to schedule your next fiscal board meetings for when it works for you. You may have those three that are set in stone, but for the others, go through the calendar and pre-populate the dates for the year so you’re not going to four meetings a week. That will burn you out VERY quickly!

As stated earlier, being a community manager is tough and often thankless. You can experience the worst of people and the worst of situations. What often helped me, was taking a break from the work, at work. Company picnics or company holiday events are great ways for everyone to step back and relax. Around Thanksgiving the whole office literally went outside and bowled a frozen turkey! I would try to plan events with vendors or try to get all of the other portfolios to go out to lunch or happy hour every once in a while. I also had a habit of turning a desk drawer into the communal candy drawer, where coworkers could go in and grab some much-needed sugar.

Sugar makes everything better!

Now, I’m an extrovert, therefore I’m better when I’m around my co-workers, so little things like Milkshake Day on the first warm day of the year were important for me to balance out the stresses of the job. For the introverts, at home I work on jigsaw puzzles to keep the anxiety down. I know others who use the adult coloring books. Things don’t have to be THAT bad, if you find what you can do to make it even a little bit better. It’s so important to keep good managers and I sincerely hope this gives some hope and helps those struggling to get the balance back. Everyone deserves a Milkshake Day! SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Kevin P. Kelly Kevin is a business development specialist with the full-service marketing firm, Graphcom. He works out of Graphcom’s signage division. Kevin has worked in the sign industry since 1981 and has worked in almost every area within a sign company. He currently sits on the Quorum Editorial Committee.

Overcoming Negativity N

egativity is a beast that will die, like all things on this planet, if not fed. This negativity can come from many places, such as work, home, school, social media, the internet, the news, or on your weekly trip to the grocery store. These “negative waves” can be directed toward the general population, isolated groups, or on a personal level, towards you. It is easy to recognize these purveyors of doom and gloom when confronted by them. They are the ones that cause gnashing of teeth, headaches, a rapid pulse, and if allowed, a toxic environment.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

– Winston S. Churchill When confronted with negative thoughts, turn the table, and offer up positive thoughts. If these positive thoughts are not accepted, move on. Surround yourself with positive people. The more time you spend with positive people, the more positive you become. Spend time with people you admire and respect, and who feel the same way about you.

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“No one can create negativity or stress within you. Only you can do that by virtue of how you process your world.”

– Wayne Dyer Do not take anyone’s negative thoughts personally. When negativity is allowed to influence your thinking, it restricts everything you say or do, and limits your possibilities. If presented with a problem, focus on the solution. Don’t waste your time placing blame. When confronted with anger and hate, offer love and support. Everyone has pressures in their life, regardless of who they are or what they do. Everyone reacts differently to those pressures. Some react negatively. A simple “How can I help you” works wonders.

“The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being.”

– Lee Iacocca How many of you, after volunteering your time, for a fundraiser, or charity, or simply a kind gesture of goodwill, feel a sense of happiness? I was raised to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I open and hold doors for anyone and everyone. I am the king of Please and Thank You. This makes me happy. Offering my time to help someone or connecting people who can help each other, is something I do regularly. This helps build and keep my armor against negativity strong.

“When you smile, your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins come into play too. The endorphins act as a mild pain reliever, whereas the serotonin is an antidepressant.”

– SCL Health.org Start every day with a smile. Think happy thoughts or recall happy

memories. Fill your space, at home or at work, with things you love, or things that are meaningful to you. Watch movies or read books that make you feel good. Listen to music that puts you in a positive state of mind. Do your best to control your environment, to keep negativity out. With all that is going on in today’s world, a global pandemic, political and civil unrest, financial instability, it would be easy to allow oneself to be consumed by negativity. Don’t fall prey.

Be the positive lighthouse in the storm.

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By James Moye, SPHR James is nearing his one year anniversary with Cardinal Management Group, Inc., and has enjoyed bringing his expertise and vast experience to the team.

He has recently taken Julie Adamen’s CAM 101 and is looking forward to further participating in WMCCAI and embracing the industry and those who care for it.

EXPLORING FUN WAYS TO THINK ABOUT

Employee Wellness and Stress Management

W

ellness and stress management has always been on the radar for most well-lead businesses and there is a wealth of strategies to be applied across the various workplaces. Strategies range from allowing nap time to a designated fitness center for employees and everything in between.

All of these efforts are to combat the ongoing challenge, which is …”how do we engage our workforce and ensure they are mindful of their health and wellness?” Without this, your business may find their team overwhelmed, burnt out, or worse…experiencing high employee turnover. Not to mention, in today’s competitive employment environment, the

top candidates are in search of these added perks and place considerable value on creative work/life balance techniques.

The financial impact can be a major deterrent for business leaders when considering implementing wellness programs. Providing healthy food options could cost hundreds of dollars a month or offering paid gym memberships that end up not being used is cost prohibitive. The goal should be developing engaging, measurable actions that staff will value and be budget neutral! One way to begin this approach is to develop a committee with the mission of creating wellness pro-

grams, specifically around stress management in the workplace. This committee may be comprised of a cross-departmental team whose purpose is to analyze data trends in the workplace and introduce measures to support a healthier working environment.

This approach not only engages committee members and brings a sense of importance and meaning to their work life, but also tackles the challenge of bringing team members from the various departments together. Out with the “us vs. them” and in with the “we are better together” mentality. Developing these types of committees creates an empowered organization of individuals who are committed to the success of the business and their team members.

Many employers introduce the concept of the “Balanced Work Week”, which is a strategic effort to create habits throughout the workforce that would impact the team both mentally and physically.

A balanced workweek is a way of looking at each day as an opportunity to create a new skill or offer resources to the staff that could cause a lifestyle change over time.

It begins with Mondays, which can focus employees on coming back into the work26 | QUORUM

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place after their weekend. This is a critical opportunity to deal with the stress and anxiety that returning to work can cause. Mondays can be a day of meditation and reflection! Monday is thought of as “Mindful Mondays” where you supply the staff with a guided meditation sessions and other thoughtful quotes about self-reflection.

Continue on to “Timeout Tuesdays”, where the focus is on reflection.

Encourage the staff to take time away from anything negative or distracting in their work or their home lives. “Walking Wednesdays” and “Tone-up Thursdays” then offer the staff the ability to leap into the physical well-being aspects of themselves. For Friday, you can take the approach of focusing on the nutrition of your staff by bringing in fresh fruit for the team to enjoy and labeling the day, “Fresh

J O B

Fruit Fridays”. This is a fairly inexpensive gesture that goes a long way and has proven itself successful for me time and time again!

Your committee can also focus on reducing the overall mental and financial stress of your staff by offering lunch and learns led by financial planners and fitness professionals, as well as introducing the use of apps like “Calm” which are tools to support the workforce. By taking the time to develop a strategic approach to Health and Wellness you can focus on offering a holistic solution that creates lasting behavioral change. The overall bottom-line will be impacted through potential benefit cost reductions, due to a healthier workforce. A healthier workforce is a happier workforce!

P O S T I N G

Onsite General Manager – National Realty Partners This high-rise Condominium Association includes 484 residential units. The Owners and residents of the Association represent their interests through their Council of Co-Owners which has a very dedicated and business minded Board of Directors.

The Board is looking for an Onsite General Manager that shares their vision regarding the proper operation and maintenance of their community. If you are a true CIC Professional who takes pride in a job well done, this job may be for you.

Completed in 1974, the concrete and brick structures provide excellent sound insulation and fire resistance. The twenty-two acre complex includes ample parking as well as unusually large grounds with extensive lawns, mature trees and landscaping.

Amenities include a large swimming pool, fitness centers, tennis courts and basketball court, cookout areas, a children’s playground, pool rooms, rooms for community activities or private parties.

Company: National Realty Partners Location: Fairfax, VA Job Type: Full Time Industry: CIC Management Job Level: Management Salary: NRP pays for attitude, skill and knowledge…if you’ve got game, we’ll talk.

Minimum Education: CMCA and AMS required.

Posted: July 22, 2020 TO APPLY: Contact Lili Martinez @ Careers@NRPartnersLLC.com or, James Foley @ JFoley@NRPartnersLLC.com.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Allie Duzett Allie is a medical intuitive specializing in helping clients overcome long-standing emotional self-sabotage so they can enjoy their work and see more clearly the good they contribute to the world. You can check out her work at allieduzett.com and she is highly contactable at allie@allieduzett.com.

Meeting Stress HEAD Y

ou’re sitting in this meeting trying not to let your face betray you. The people here are CRAZY. And worse, they do NOT understand what is actually going on in the community behind the scenes.

They don’t know how hard you work, they don’t understand the community budget, and they seem to have no boundaries at all—it feels like everything they are saying is

a personal attack on the community, on the board, and on YOU. Take a deep breath! These are some tips you can use to keep your cool in the middle of massively stressful meetings.

1. Breathe more deeply. Humans NEED air to survive--and lots of it. When we are oxygen deprived, our bodies can go into

a fight, flight, or freeze state--and when we are chronically oxygen deprived, this chronic stress response can present similarly to anxiety and depression. Americans tend to breathe very shallowly, and masks are just one more barrier to breath.

In a meeting when you’re losing your cool, take some time to just focus on your breath and see how your emotional state changes.

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ON This is a good thing to try before meetings, too. Or, when you wake up, when you go to sleep, focusing on filling your whole belly with air slowly and feeling that air do its work before letting it go. Over time, you may be astonished at how your physical AND emotional health improve with more oxygen in your system.

become both emotional blackmailers and the emotionally blackmailed. When we let go of these feelings, we are in a much calmer place: it feels much more doable to have strong boundaries. My favorite technique to let go of these sorts of things is outlined in this 7-minute video here: tinyurl.com/scribbletechnique.

2. Visualize light. Hang with me. I know it might sound silly, but this visualization can really work if you try it. When people around you start attacking you or otherwise stressing you out, imagine yourself fully encased in a ray of sunshine straight from the Sun. Imagine this tube of light working like a shield: all the negativity from the people around you gets neutralized as soon as it makes contact with your space. If you’ve never visualized before, it might feel a little strange at first, but as you experiment with this you will find that it really does make you feel safer and calmer in the middle of meetings.

5. Remember that it’s not about you. No one’s reactions to you are EVER about you. They are ALWAYS about the person reacting.

Imagine you have two dollars out on a table. A person comes up and takes them without asking. Now imagine those are your only two dollars in the whole world and you have no idea how you will get those dollars back. Imagine the rage and anger and panic and worry and nervousness--you need those two dollars! That’s all you have!

But now imagine that in the back room you have a million dollars, in cash. Your very own Scrooge McDuck vault of cash. If someone takes two dollars from you, who cares?

3. Write it out. Write out how you and others deserve to be treated-yes, on a piece of paper, with a real-life pen or pencil. Write down that you (and all people) deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. Write down the behaviors that you will no longer tolerate because they are a violation of fundamental boundaries. This would include things like verbal and physical abuse, and emotional blackmail. Write out how an emotionally mature person like yourself will handle these behaviors in the future. Will you calmly remind others that you are not responsible for their feelings? Will you deflect their attempts at blackmail kindly but firmly? In the case of physical abuse or threats of physical abuse, will you call security or the police as appropriate? Take some time to really think about appropriate boundaries and how to enforce the core value of respect in your life and the lives you touch with yours. How will you be a voice for respect in every situation? Think about it and make a thoughtful plan.

4. Let go of anger, blame, shame, and guilt. This could take up a whole book to explore, but the fact remains that it’s hard to have strong, respectful boundaries when we are festering with anger, blame, shame, and guilt of our own. These are the feelings that lead us to

We all have our two dollars out on the table, all the time--emotionally. For some of us, that’s all we’ve got--and for others of us, we’ve got a million more emotional “bucks” in the back room. For someone who is struggling in their life in general, anything negative that happens to them will set them off. For someone who has plenty of emotional security in their life, very little will ruffle their feathers.

When people snap at you at a meeting, sometimes it can help to remember that the REAL issue here is NOT the deadline, and it’s NOT the color of the window shutters, and it’s NOT even the money or you personally. When people are upset, it is ALWAYS a reaction to what is going wrong with them in their own hearts.

Remembering this helps us all stay in a place of compassion when I’m working with difficult people, and it helps me remember to prioritize my own emotional health so that I never feel like my last two dollars in the world have been ripped away from me. The people who are the worst to deal with are already coming from a negative place: it is not your fault. You are the person they are coming to for help – and you can do this!

SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Crystal Partin, RYT, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Crystal is a manager with National Reality Partners, LLC, AAMC and has been in the community association industry since 2008. Crystal’s experience includes leading and supervising varying size condo and homeowner associations within both portfolio and onsite management. She is an active WMCCAI member, has co-taught CAI manager level classes and has served on several CAI committees in the past. In addition to the designations in the community association industry, she is also a certified registered yoga teacher instructor (RYT), with Yoga Alliance.

EVERY “BODY� CAN AND SHOULD PRACTICE YOGA!

M

any studies have found that a little yoga every day can minimize stress, improve health, and increase productivity! Aside from the health benefits that yoga brings to your body, it encourages a good mood, an increase in mindfulness and a healthy dose of psychological benefits. The biggest misconception is that you need to be in great physical health or flexible to do yoga.

This is untrue, every “body� can and should practice yoga!

What is yoga and how might it benefit you, you might ask? The answers vary on this one, but in summary, yoga is a way of life that

unites your breath, mind, body, and spirit into harmony. It helps bring awareness and connects us to our internal and external self. As humans, we work, run from place to place, serve others, deprive ourselves of sleep, take care of our families, and at the end of the day offer very little to ourselves.

Yoga is proven to bring all parts of you, as an entire person, back together to work the way you were meant to operate.

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I had a fellow yogi tell me once that yoga saves lives and is the answer to healing the world. I agree, it is the ultimate self-care!

The physical and mental health benefits of yoga and meditation are many. For me, the release of trapped toxins & keeping your mind working in harmony with your body is most important. To achieve this, you must move, stretch, and breathe. If you’ve ever studied animals, you’ll note a few things.

Take a dog for an example, they always stretch when they first wake up, same thing yoga promotes. Sometimes you will see an animal go into the other room to be left alone or staring into space. They are doing the same thing mediation provides us. Ever see a dog stop in their tracks in the middle of playing, just to breathe? Yep, they are linking their breath back with their body.

How about when a dog experiences an unexpected or trauma like event, they’ll literally shake it off. When we are not moving throughout our workday, we are trapping the day’s events into our bodies and over time this is toxic, both mentally and physically. Stress releases cortisol into our bodies which is a hormone that can trigger the flight or fight response.

Excessive cortisol can become trapped if you don’t move it and stretch it. In excessive amounts it can cause depression, fatigue, weight gain and other negative health issues. In summary, humans, unlike dogs and other animals, are not listening to what our

body’s need, and we often unintentionally end up in a flight or fight mode, and this can be with even the small everyday tasks of life.

Yoga helps put us back into sync the way an animal naturally does for themselves all the time by releasing the trapped cortisol.

embrace and learn yoga, try a vinyasa class. Mediation, yin yoga and restorative classes are great for reconnecting your mind with your body without a lot of added physical stress. There are classes for everyone!

To get started with yoga, consider signing up for a class at a yoga studio. Do a little research about what type of class is best for you and go try it out. I recommend an actual yoga studio and reading the class description before going. Yoga studios have more options than gyms who cater to their clients in providing a workout, instead of allowing you to focus, which is an important aspect of yoga. If it’s your first time, I recommend a beginner’s class, but it’s not required because with yoga you are to listen to what your body can do and with a good instructor you can pick up on the moves easily. If you have physical limitations, consider chair yoga, yoga for those with injury, or a gentler yoga class like the ones provided for seniors. If you are seeking to really

Once you’ve learned a few yoga poses be sure to implement them into your workday. Just 10-15 minutes will make a difference and no need to become fancy. Just get up from behind your desk, place your bare feet on the floor, quiet your mind and listen to your body. Focus on nothing but stretching and breathing, add a little music if you would like. In most cases, you want to inhale if you are rising or reaching up, and you want to exhale while you are lowering or reaching down. The idea is to link your breath with each movement and continue to repeat the same movements until you feel the link of breath with the movement. Even the smallest stretching and movement while linking your breath is yoga and you will reap many of the benefits yoga has to offer.

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P O S T I N G

General Manager – Elizabeth Condominium A luxury high-rise condominium association in Chevy, Chase Maryland is seeking a General Manager. The General Manager is responsible for all aspects of operations of the condominium property, including overseeing the on-site staff of 5 and contracted concierge staff. A detailed job description will be provided upon request.

Skill and Knowledge Requirements Include: • At least 5 years of experience in related management required (facilities management such as hotel, resort, rental or condominium).

• Demonstrated talent for interacting with a wide variety of people.

• Ability to effectively and proactively organize and coordinate multiple priorities.

• High rise property management preferred.

• PCAM designation preferred.

• Strong customer service abilities.

• Strong computer skills required, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and web search engines. Knowledge of accounting software preferred.

Company: Elizabeth Condominium Location: Chevy Chase, MD Job Type: Full Time Industry: High-Rise Building Management Job Level: Management Minimum Education: High school diploma/GED required.

Posted: July 14, 2020 TO APPLY: Please submit resume, cover letter and full job description request to: chevychasecondogm@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Renee Jones Renee is passionate about seniors living with dementia. She and her husband, Paul, are the owners of FirstLight Home Care of Woodbridge, VA. Renee graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and studied Pastoral Care and Counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Renee has an extensive background in education and training. In addition to being a certified Ageless Grace Educator, Renee is currently a certified trainer of Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, a cutting-edge approach to caring for those living with dementia. Renee is the mom of two daughters and the proud grandma of two granddaughters.

Ageless Grace at Westridge Swim and Racquet Club

A

geless Grace Brain Health Fitness is a brain-body program based on the concept of neuroplasticity. It is designed to support cognitive health and activate all five primary functions of the brain.

The program uses physical “games” called “tools” that stimulate the brain, work the core, and activate the organs and systems of the body. The 21 tools of the program are based on the cutting-edge concept of neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to change structurally and functionally. Anyone, at any age, including those with physical disabilities and challenges, can participate at his or her own level of ability.

Each tool addresses a primary factor commonly related to physical aging. All the tools stimulate and utilize the five functions of the brain – strategic planning, memory and recall, analytical thinking, creativity and imagination, and kinesthetic learning. Ageless Grace can restore and maintain neural pathways as well as stimulate the creation of new ones.

The 21 tools of Ageless Grace activate the core of the body, including the internal organs and systems, such as the respiratory system, endocrine system, and digestive system. The program is led by a certified Ageless Grace Educator and is practiced in a chair, stimulating the brain to figure out how to do these activities while seated, rather than standing. Performing the tools in a chair also affects physical skills, such as balance, stability, range of motion, etc. People of all ages and abilities (including children) can perform the movements, including those with weight and joint issues, diabetes, and other challenges or physical limitations.

Using just three tools each day, for 10 minutes, is all that’s required to get plenty of benefit from the program. All that’s needed is a chair, a clock to time your practice for 10 minutes, and some music to stimulate your brain and body even further.

Originally scheduled for late March and early April, Ageless Grace Brain Health Fitness will be presented in the near future at Westridge Swim and Racquet Club’s Clubhouse.

This program will be offered at no cost to residents; morning and evening sessions will be offered. For more information about Ageless Grace, visit the website at http://www. agelessgrace.com/.

For a short TEDx video, go to https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=cXTpLgtH60Y SEPTEMBER 2020

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By Candace Lewis, CMCA, AMS Candace is a portfolio manager and coordinator of Professional Education and Designations for Cardinal Management Group. She has been with Cardinal Management’s team since 2016 and has eight years of community management experience. Candace serves as co-chair of the WMCCAI Scholarship Committee and also serves as a member on the Public Outreach and Conference and Expo Committees. She is currently working on obtaining her PCAM designation.

Doing it Right B

y now, many of us have had the pleasure of teleworking during the COVID epidemic. Was it a true experience of what teleworking would be like if you were to continue? Possibly not.

Prior to the pandemic, teleworking was a sought-after opportunity for many. An opportunity to work from home without the distractions of a busy office space, be-

ing able to avoid traffic congestion and cost savings for your lunch and gas budgets. An opportunity to eat healthier, exercise more, stress less…all while being more productive and accomplishing the work-life balance. This pandemic, however, has given some the misperception that working from home was all a fairytale as so many other aspects of our daily lives has been turned upside down.

The reality is, we will all get through this challenging time and return to a day when kids are in school, when spouses are off to work, and when the home office is once again peaceful. If you are considering continuing the work from home experience, there are a series of challenges to consider to ensure you are properly equipped to be productive.

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The right office equipment is essential to your performance; making note of everything you have in your office at work and what you cannot live without is a good starting point. This isn’t just about a properly functioning computer, but also your internet connection and the bandwidth it can handle in order to download large documents. If your company is not providing a computer, ensure you have the most up to date software and/or whether you need to purchase additional software.

A multi-functional printer may be necessary if it can scan, copy, fax, and has a paper feeder. If you are handling sensitive documents, a paper shredder may become convenient. Having a functional desk and storage set up may seem self-explanatory; however, you will need drawers and space for both your personal and professional life. Adjustable desks have become more common in the workspace, so you can easily stand and still be productive. Ensuring your seating is comfortable at your desk is imperative, so don’t be afraid to splurge.

Last, but certainly not least, having a landline may be necessary.

from Home Office Atmosphere Now that you are not in an office where you must be cognizant of the comfort of those around you, you can consider what you’d like in your office to make your workday more enjoyable. A television and stereo may provide you some options for background noise. Just be sure whatever is on isn’t distracting. You can also create a sense of atmosphere with candles and aroma therapy machines. There are energizing scents that reduce stress and promote concentration.

Painting your office with certain colors can also promote productivity. Take advantage of the opportunity to decorate with whatever style you have and if you lack one, find one on Pinterest that brings you inspiration.

Eliminate Distractions Every household is different, so identify what your distractions are likely to be. Noise cancellation headphones may be useful if there is

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outside noise interrupting your day. If it involves other people, have a discussion with them about arranging the need for peace and what can be done. While working from home last summer, I found it helpful to create a “busy” schedule for my son to follow while school was out. Within this schedule, I created short “face time” breaks so he could have an opportunity to speak with me throughout the day.

Get Results!

The opportunity for working from home goes beyond the benefits of an increase in productivity, less stress, improved focus, and time management. Employers who offer opportunities to work from home are more appealing to the job seeker and have a positive impact on employee retention. For the employer, the workforce can expand without having to increase or change office spaces to accommodate more employees. Benefits of working from home are endless and can be felt on both sides of the table.

P O S T I N G

Portfolio Manager – National Realty Partners As a result of the retirement of one of our long time Portfolio Managers and our continued growth, we have two Portfolio Management positions open in Northern Virginia, specifically Fairfax and Arlington.

Both portfolios include a mix of Condo and HOA communities. NRP will not allow a CIC Portfolio Manager to carry more than 8 communities, regardless of size.

Company: National Realty Partners Location: Fairfax & Arlington, VA Job Type: Full Time Industry: CIC Management Job Level: Management Salary: NRP pays for attitude, skill and knowledge…if you’ve got game, we’ll talk.

Minimum Education: CMCA and AMS required.

Posted: July 22, 2020

PCAMs are always welcome! CMCA, AMS required.

TO APPLY: Contact Lili Martinez @ Careers@NRPartnersLLC.com or, James Foley @ JFoley@NRPartnersLLC.com.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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Directory and Classifieds ASPHALT PAVING/MAINTENANCE/REPAIR

JANITORIAL

MANAGEMENT SERVICES (CONT’D)

Brothers Paving & Concrete Corporation 9469 Hawkins Dr T: (703) 393-1927 Manassas, VA 20109 F: (703) 393-1928 Paul Battista info@brotherspaving.com

Clean Advantage Corporation 9701 Philadelphia Court, Suite G-7 T: (800) 315-3264 Lanham, MD 20706 F: (301) 595-3331 www.cleanadv.com info@cleanadv.com

Comsource Management, Inc. AAMC www.comsource.com 3414 Morningwood Drive T: (301) 924-7355 Olney, Maryland 20832 F: (301) 924-7340 Gary M. Simon, CMCA, AMS, PCAM gsimon@comsource.com

Dominion Paving and Sealing 290 N. Brewster Lane T: (800) 728-3312 Purcellville, VA 20132 www.dominionpaving.com Josh Schiffer info@dompave.com Espina Paving, Inc. Asphalt/Concrete 15441 Farm Creek Drive T: (703) 491-9100 Woodbridge, VA 2191 F: (703) 491-9101 Serving: MD, DC, VA info@espinapaving.com ATTORNEY

Thomas Schild Law Group, LLC www.schildlaw.com 401 North Washington Street, Suite #500 T: (301) 251-1414 Rockville, MD 20850 Thomas C. Schild, CCAL tschild@schildlaw.com Scott J. Silverman ssilverman@schildlaw.com ENGINEERS

ETC Engineering and Technical Consultants Inc. Water intrusion, roofing, exteriors, windows, balconies, property studies, structural & architectural services www.etc-web.com T: (703) 450-6220 Mindy Maronic mindy@etc-web.com The Falcon Group www.falconengineering.com 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 325 Rockville, MD 20855 T: (240) 328-1095 Stew Willis info@falconengineering.com GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Ploutis Contracting Co, Inc. T: (703) 360-0205 8365 Richmond Hwy F: (703) 360-5439 Alexandria, VA 22309 info@ploutiscontracting.com Stella Ploutis www.ploutiscontracting.com INSURANCE

Griffin Owens Insurance Group www.GriffinOwens.com 847 Station Street, Herndon, VA 20170 T: (571) 386-1000 Offices also located in Falls Church & Manassas Daniel Flavin, CIC, CRM dan@griffinowens.com

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LAUNDRY ROOM EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

Caldwell & Gregory, Inc. Your Commercial Laundry Professionals 129 Broad Street Road Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103

T: (804) 784-6100 F: (804) 784-7418

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Associa Community Management Corporation, AAMC 4840 Westfields Blvd, Suite 300 T: (703) 631-7200 Chantilly, VA 20151 www.cmc-management.com John Tsitos, CMCA, AMS, PCAM jstitos@cmc-management.com Barkan Management, LLC AAMC 8229 Boone Blvd., Suite 885 T: (703) 738-2501 Tysons Corner, VA 22182 F: (703) 388-1006 Michael Feltenberger, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Senior Vice President CAMP, AAMC (Community Association Management Professionals) www.gocampmgmt.com T: (703) 821-CAMP 4114 Legato Road, Suite 200 Fairfax, VA 22033 hgraham@gocampmgmt.com 209 West Street, Suite 302 Annapolis, MD 21401 sblackburn@gocampmgmt.com Capitol Management Corporation 12011 Lee-Jackson Highway, Suite 350 Fairfax, VA 22033 L. Peyton Harris Jr., CMCA, CPM lph@capitolmanagementcorp.net

T: (703) 934-5200 F: (703) 934-8808

Capitol Property Management Corporation, AAMC 3914 Centreville Rd, Suite 300 T: (703) 707-6404 Chantilly, VA 20151 www.capitolcorp.com Jeff Lawrence, CMCA, AMS, PCAM jlawrence@capitolcorp.com Cardinal Management Group, Inc., AAMC 4330 Prince William Parkway, Suite 201 T: (703) 569-5797 Woodbridge, VA 22192 www.cardinalmanagementgroup.com cardinal@cardinalmanagementgroup.com Thomas A. Mazzei, CMCA, AMS, PCAM CFM Management Services, AAMC 5250 Cherokee Ave, Suite 100 T: (703) 941-0818 Alexandria, VA 22314 F: (703) 941-0816 Christiaan Melson, AMS, PCAM c­­­­­­­­melson@cfmmanagement.com

FirstService Residential DC Metro LLC, AAMC 11351 Random Hills Road, Suite 500 T: (703) 385-1133 Fairfax, VA 22020 Robert Teeling robert.teeling@fsresidential.com KPA Management, AAMC www.kpamgmt.com 6402 Arlington Blvd., Suite 700 T: (703) 532-5005 Falls Church, VA 22042 F: (703) 532-5098 Offering personalized service Ed Alrutz, CPM, CMCA, PCAM ealrutz@kpamgmt.com Legum & Norman Inc. AAMC 3130 Fairview Park Drive Ste 200 T: (703) 600-6000 Falls Church, VA 22042 www.legumnorman.com Marc B. McCoy, CMCA, AMS MMcCoy@legumnorman.com Sentry Management www.sentrymgt.com 7619 Little River Turnpike, Suite 210 T: (703) 642-3246 Annandale, VA 22003 602 South King Street, Suite 400 T: (540) 751-1888 Leesburg, VA 20171 Dave Ciccarelli, AMS, PCAM dciccarelli@sentrymgt.com Sequoia Management Company Inc., AAMC 13998 Parkeast Circle T: (703) 803-9641 Chantilly, VA 20151-2283 www.sequoiamanagement.com Craig Courtney, PCAM ccourtney@sequoiamgmt.com PAINTING SERVICES AND RETAILERS

Capital Painting Co. www.capitalpainting.net 5520 Oakwood Road T: (703) 313-0013 Alexandria, VA 22310 F: (703) 922-1826 George Tsentas george@capitalpainting.net Reston Painting & Contracting 619 Carlisle Drive Herndon, VA 20170 David Hamilton

T: (703) 904-1702 F: (703) 904-0248 dave@restonpaint.com

­­INDEX TO ADVERTISERS A Alliance Association Bank...............................................................................................................30 Associa-Community Management Corporation, AAMC....................................................................14 B Barkan Management, LLC, AAMC..................................................................................................10 Brothers Paving & Concrete..............................................................................................................4 C Caldwell & Gregory, Inc...................................................................................................................34 Capital Painting Co.........................................................................................................................11 RESTORATION SERVICES

Titan Restoration Co Warrenton, VA T: (540) 349-1503 www.titanrestoration.com F: (540) 349-1512 Anita Puckett apuckett@titanrestoration.com

CIT - Community Association Banking & CondoCerts......................................................................24 Clean Advantage Corporation T/A Condominium Cleaning Service..................................................40 D

ROOFING

DoodyCalls.....................................................................................................................................11

TWC Services, LLC PO Box 150277 T: (703) 971-6016 Alexandria, VA 22315 www.twcserv.com Linda Walker info@twcserv.com

F The Falcon Group...........................................................................................................................28 FirstService Residential DC Metro, LLC, AAMC................................................................................39

WINDOWS & DOORS

G Windows Plus, LLC 4321 Markham Street T: (703) 256-0600 Annandale, VA 22003 F: (703) 942-6987 Kimberly Wayland kknight@windowspls.com

Gardner Engineering, Inc................................................................................................................25 M Miller-Dodson Associates................................................................................................................26 P Ploutis Contracting Co., Inc.............................................................................................................39 R Reston Painting Company................................................................................................................2 S SageWater......................................................................................................................................20 Sentry Management, Inc.................................................................................................................19 Solitude Lake Management............................................................................................................22 T TWC Services.................................................................................................................................19 W Windows Plus, LLC...........................................................................................................................7 WINTRUST Community Advantage Bank.......................................................................................16

SEPTEMBER 2020

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CUL-DE-SAC

By Crishana L. Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Crishana is the general manager of The Adagio Condominium located in Bethesda, MD. An active member of the chapter since 2002, she’s a passionate advocate for the community association industry and believes in the power of volunteerism and paying it forward. Her commitment and enthusiasm have allowed her to be recognized as a Rising Star, Committee Chair of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and to receive the Chapter Appreciation Award. A natural mentor, she strives to influence everyone in her sphere to be better, every day. She truly believes that the chapter represents the best and brightest in the industry. An avid runner, she spends many early mornings preparing for her next big race.

RE-DEFINING “Normalcy”: Optimizing Your Mental Health

F

ull disclosure. When I was first approached to write this article, I’d intended for it to be a light hearted, comical approach to de-stressing complete with recommendations for binge worthy shows, my feelings about the newest Ben & Jerry’s flavor Netflix & Chilll’d™ (which by the way is not only aptly named but utterly binge worthy, pun intended) and a few tried and true methods that have served me well over the years to help me to unwind when the stresses of our profession get to me.

Then COVID-19 happened, we learned of the tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and many others, which have served as the catalyst for protests decrying the systemic injustices suffered by people of color in the United States and indeed worldwide, and now as we enter into the home stretch of the election cycle leading to the 2020 presidential election, managing stress seems like a fantasy, lovely to talk about but something we are unlikely to achieve.

So where do we go from here? How can we navigate these “unprecedented times” (now such a cringe worthy phrase) and resume with our normal lives?

First, we must redefine normalcy. If we are honest, we want things to go back to the way they were, but you know what, that is not going to happen. Bummer, right?! Who

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could have imagined we would be looking back at 2019 with fondness? Dumpster fire, anyone? Seriously, the first step is to acknowledge and accept that things will not go back to the way they were. Am I the only one hearing Barbra Streisand’s voice in my head right now? For all my movie buffs, can you think of the movie reference? Hint: her leading man was Robert Redford. As you can see, even with all the stress in my life and on my mind, I still have room for trivia and pop culture references.

In researching sources for this article, I came across a checklist from Therapy for Black Girls (therapyforblackgirls.com) that encapsulated everything that I wanted to communicate, and while it was specifically directed toward black women, the advice provided is applicable to everyone.

There are so many practical tips in this list and the temptation for all of us Type

A personalities is to approach it with an all or nothing vigor. Instead I would encourage us to do as one of my favorite authors Elisabeth Elliot admonishes and that is “Do the next thing.” For me, this means I am committing to getting back to practicing good sleep hygiene. I will start with turning off my phone and other electronic devices at least 30 minutes before I go to bed. This means my nightly Golden Girls habit will go by the wayside.

I will definitely miss the “Girls,” but I know that they would want me to be my best self.

After all, they have been my “best friends in my head” for a long time. They get me.

What from the list do you commit to start now? I know what mine will be…but know this, do not come for my Ben & Jerry’s. I am not ready…yet. Baby steps.

10 Ways to Optimize Your Mental Health

• Practice Good Sleep Hygiene • Tighten Your Circle

• Examine Your Relationship with Social Media

• Get a Mental Check Up

• Set Healthy Boundaries

• Examine Your Relationship to Food and Substances

• Celebrate Yourself Often • Focus on the Present Moment

• Get Physical

• Get Better at Letting Go

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Dear Board Member, Thanks for all you do for your community in the DC Metro area.

We are here to support you during these challenging times.

Throughout the stay-at-home orders, our associates went above and beyond to make sure that residents and board members like you had the resources to stay safe and well during the pandemic including ► Close to 40 webinars on technology, wellness, cleaning and more ► Exclusive offers for residents including fitness, kids’ programming and more ► Daily communications and updates to boards, including video messaging ► Daily leadership calls from executives to our management teams ► Monthly town halls to stay up to date on best practices and to maintain high levels of engagement while staying apart As we move into the “new normal,” we will continue to evolve how we serve you so that we can deliver exceptional service and make a difference, every day.

MICHAEL MENDILLO President

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TRENT HARRISON, PCAM® President, MidAtlantic

703.385.1133 www.fsresidential.com

SEPTEMBER 2020

14/07/20 10:36 AM

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2020 CHAPTER BENEFACTORS

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As the chemical exits the electrostatic sprayer, it’s given a positive electrical charge. The droplets then become attracted to all negative surfaces, covering the visible area, underside and backside,

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with sanitizing agent. Surfaces that are already covered will repel the spray, making the method extremely efficient.

16/07/20 10:33 PM