For many homeowners, joining their association board may seem like an obligation rather than an opportunity. However, it can be transformative both personally and for the broader community. As a long-time board member, I know our community’s strength begins with individual volunteers.
Many community association leaders are unaware that most music and movies are protected by copyright. Use of copyrighted work without a license constitutes infringement regardless of intent. If a community association publicly plays music or a movie, it must first obtain a license.
Implementing a disaster preparedness plan early on can limit property loss, reduce risks, and speed the association’s recovery. Planning in advance can strengthen a community association’s ability to mitigate risk and alleviates some of the unnecessary chaos that comes with an emergency.
Natural disasters are occurring more frequently — and more violently than ever before. Community associations caught in the path of extreme weather find the devastation lingers long after the storm has passed. Although it is not possible for associations to insulate themselves completely from catastrophic weather, there are lessons to be gleamed from those who have been hit that could help mitigate loss and protect owners’ investments.
Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, has been named the next chief executive officer of Community Associations Institute, the leading international authority on the community association housing model that includes condominium associations, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives. Bauman begins her new role on July 1. She succeeds Tom Skiba, who is retiring after 23 years of service.
