Free Help for Community Associations

December 4, 2007

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — National surveys show that most of the 60 million Americans who live in homeowner and condominium associations are happy in their communities, but not all association boards govern as responsibly as they should. That can lead to homeowner frustration, factional conflict and, in the worst cases, expensive lawsuits.

That’s where new Governance Guidelines developed by Community Associations Institute (CAI) can come into play. The guidelines can help community association boards identify and meet basic benchmarks of responsible governance–the cornerstone of any successful community.

The guidelines address a dozen of the most potentially contentious components of association management and governance, including assessments, home foreclosure, conflicts of interest, elections, rules and grievances and appeals.

CAI says the guidelines can enlighten boards, prompt constructive community dialogue and lead to more responsible, responsive and transparent governance and happier residents. “There are a number of communities, especially new and struggling associations, which can benefit from these guidelines,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CEO of the 29,000-member, nonprofit institute. “We know there are community association boards that need to be reminded that residents deserve to have their reasonable expectations met.”

There are almost 300,000 homeowner and condominium associations nationwide.

National research conducted by Zogby International in 2007 showed that close to nine out of every 10 community association residents believe their board members strive to serve the best interests of the community. Still, if only 5 in 100 boards are underperforming, at least 15,000 associations are not reaching their full potential.

The guidelines can be downloaded for free at http://www.caionline.org/governance. Single copies of the printed brochure can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to: Governance Guidelines, CAI, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314.

CAI is a nonprofit, national membership organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, competent, harmonious community associations. CAI and its 58 chapters provide education, tools and resources to the 1.7 million homeowner volunteers who govern associations and thousands of community managers and other professionals who support them.

SOURCE Community Associations Institute