Live from Las Vegas

With apologies to Mr. W.H. Auden:

Shutter the Reg. Desk, turn in the name tags,
Pack up the Exhibit Hall and toss out the tote bags,
Close down the office and with heavy sighs,
Stand by the door, say our good-byes.

It was our Near, our Far, our Here and There,
Our annual meeting and our county fair,
Our party, our network, our classroom lifelong;
We thought conference would last forever. We were wrong.

Overheard during our final education session -- this morning's surprisingly well-attended "Maximizing the Value of Your CAI Membership":

* "There's so much going on at this conference, you might want to go to more than one session at once. We're looking at a couple of different technologies that might record what is going on -- audio or video recording. How much do you think should we invest in this? And what value would it have?" -- David Jennings, CAE, SPHR, CAI Vice President of Education

* "Your renewal dates for the CMCA are up on the website. We also about two years ago started providing an ID card with all your renewal information. We do track CAI National continuing education.... We can print out a transcript whenever someone calls." -- Ann-Marie Johnson, ACA, NBC-CAM Deputy Executive Director and CAI Director of Credentialing Programs

* "Our website is based largely on your type of membership. If you're looking for something on the website, go under 'benefits for volunteers,' or 'managers,' or 'business partners.' And then look for what you need. Within two or three months, we hope, you're going to see a new homepage, at least, that's going to be a lot more accessible and easy to navigate. It's going to be easier to find individual sections." -- Frank Rathbun, CAI Vice President of Communications and Public Relations

* "The interactive capacity of the database is also going to allow members to renew online and maybe eliminate some of the paperwork on your desk." -- Mike Copps, CAI Senior Manager of Member Services

Overheard during this morning's CAI Annual Membership Meeting:

* "The Membership Representation Groups were created to allow greater communication with members. It's worked out enormously well. They're functioning. They are thriving. Each and every MRG is functioning on all cylinders. We're seeing new faces at each MRG. We have empowered our individual members...to have a more direct role in the operations and governance of CAI. -- CAI President Ronald L. Perl, Esq., of Hill Wallack LLP, in Princeton, New Jersey

In fact, there is no Registration Desk this morning. And no Bookstore, or Technology Center, or general session, or keynote speech. Conference has entered its final hours. We have the CAI Annual Membership Meeting, then an education session called "Maximizing the Value of Your Membership" and a tour of Siena Community Association. And that's it. We promised ourselves we weren't going to cry....

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Everything came to a boil last night -- a bright, cool, Vegas-style boil -- at our Annual Awards Dinner Dance, where attendees were invited to stroll down a red carpet flanked by cheering, whistling lines of CAI board members and staff. Inside the Palace Ballroom there were icy cocktails, a jazzy band, and a sumptuous buffet, all draped in the artful shadows of vintage Vegas. It was ring-a-ding time, baby.

But first, there were our 2007 National Awards to present. CAI President Ronald Perl, Esq., and CEO Tom Skiba, CAE, teamed up to hand out the accolades:

Author of the Year

* Ross W. Feinberg, Esq.
* Ronald L. Perl, Esq.

Award of Excellence in Chapter Leadership

* Joseph P. Waldron, CIRMS (Kentucky Chapter in Organization)

Award of Excellence in Designations

Task force members appointed to revise the CAI Professional Code of Conduct and enforcement procedures for professionally designated community managers, including:
* Dennis C. Abbott, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
* Denise Bower, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
* David I. Caplan, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
* Craig E. Koss, AMS, PCAM
* T. Peter Kristian, CMCA, LSM, PCAM
* Kelly A. Moran, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

Award of Excellence in Membership

* Robin Steinkritz, CMCA, AMS

CAI Rising Star Award

* Steven Shuey, PCAM

CED of the Year Award

* Curt Macysyn, CAE (New Jersey Chapter)

CED Rising Star Award

* Tony Campisi (Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter)
* Linda Razzano, CMCA (Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter)

Educator of the Year

* Marjorie J. Meyer, CMCA, PCAM

Legislative Action Committee of the Year

* Maryland LAC

Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

* Bill Overton, PCAM
* Debra A. Warren, CMCA, PCAM

Recruiter of the Year

* Edward D. Thomas, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

Recruiter Club

* Pinnacle: Richard E. Brooks, Esq.
* Hall of Fame: Edward D. Thomas, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

President's Award

* Ronald L. Perl, Esq.

Then came the eating and drinking and dancing, and the last official good time of the 56th National Conference & Exposition. We'll be posting photos -- perfectly focused, perfectly lighted professional photos -- in the next few days. For now, take a picture in your mind of the most fun you could possibly have, and you're halfway there. Viva community, pally!

Our managers have the right idea. Their Managers Reception -- sponsored by Kevin Davis Insurance Services -- is the last party before tonight's big fancy Awards Dinner and Dance. And, really, who doesn't love a pre-party? Certainly the managers do, if the levels of joviality, merriment, and general joie de vivre on display at the reception are any indication. Drink up, lads and lasses. You've earned it. So say we.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Sources close to the CAI Bookstore tell us that our little publications shop is threatening to pass $17,000 in sales this afternoon. This is close to two times the business we do at an average conference, and further prove that Vegas is CAI on steroids -- without any of the nasty side effects. Thanks to everyone who shopped with us, and big-time props to CA Press Director Debra Lewin and her dedicated staffers. And remember -- if you missed us, you can always shop online.

Turns out the goodies weren't confined to the Exhibit Hall this afternoon. The CAI Technology Center gave away two 160GB portable hard drives today, to:

* Richard Ekimoto, Esq., of Ekimoto & Morris, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

* Javier de Jesus Lopez, of La Paloma, in San Ysidro, California.

In addition to telling us about the giveaways, Tech Center czar Bill Hession, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, took a few minutes from breaking down his shop to answer two final idiot questions from us:

Was there a recurring theme to the questions you got? There was curiosity over Vista and seeing the demo in August 2007. And, secondarily, they wanted to know about technology they could use in the field -- doing property inspections, for example. We used a tablet PC for that kind of demo.

Will there be a second Tech Center at next year's conference in Orlando? Oh, yes. Very much so.

Pity us, o devoted reader. While the rest of the world enjoys a 90-degree day in Las Vegas, we can only gaze forlornly out the window, down upon the shimmering mirage of Caesars' lush Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis. Soon enough....

PHOTO: Chris Durso

And now for a little professional bonding. The Exhibit Hall is shuttered, the Registration Desk and Bookstore are ghost towns, and the hallways are empty. But the meeting rooms are full -- of Shoptalk! These are our peer-to-peer networking sessions, where ideas, inspirations, grievances, war stories, and triumphs fly fast and furious. Everyone gets in on the act:

* Manager Exchange, sponsored by NCB, A National Cooperative Bank Company
* Shoptalk for Accountants
* Shoptalk for Attorneys
* Shoptalk for Bankers
* Shoptalk for Insurance and Risk Management Professionals
* Shoptalk for Reserve Professionals
* Homeowner and Volunteer Leader Exchange

Alas, no Shoptalk for Bloggers. Yet.

Another afternoon in the Exhibit Hall, another spectacle of attendees swarming over our vendors. And another batch of generous exhibitor giveaways, including a money tree, video iPod, gift cards, wine, and, our favorite, an Xbox 360. And, the gravy on the potatoes, another pair of Mystery Booth winners, each of whom is $900 richer:

* Thomas Herald, of Management Solutions, in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, compliments of The Distinguished Programs Group.

* Steven Grant, of Facility Engineering Associates, in Fairfax, Virginia, compliments of Eugene Burger Management Corporation.

What's that? You've recognize the name "Thomas Herald" from somewhere? Yeah, that would be yesterday's Mystery Booth drawing, in which Mr. Herald also won $900. Far be it from us to subscribe to something as irrational and superstitious as luck, but may we suggest that Mr. Herald take his $1,800 to the nearest craps table immediately?

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Before keynoter Matt Weinstein took the stage at this morning's general session, CAI President Ronald Perl, Esq., got to hand out two big accolades:

1. First, he honored CEO Tom Skiba's fifth anniversary with CAI, leading attendees in a standing ovation. Ron noted that Tom's tenure has coincided with "a challenging and rewarding time" in CAI's development, encompassing our Member Value Initiative as well as significant member growth. Also, reflecting on photos of Tom five years ago and today, Ron observed that our CEO seems to have somewhat less hair now. Go figure.

2. Next, to raucous and sustained applause, Ron announced our Chapter Achievement & Excellence Award winners:

Best Net Growth

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley -- 32%
Georgia -- 47%
New Hampshire -- 59%
Hudson Valley -- 45%

Best Net Retention

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley -- 87%
Hawaii -- 84%
Western New York -- 88%
Hudson Valley -- 90%

Chapter Management and Development

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley
North Carolina
Dallas/Ft. Worth

Leadership

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley
Greater Houston
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Wisconsin

Membership

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley
Georgia
Utah

Member Services

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley
Suncoast
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Wisconsin

Public Affairs

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley
Greater Houston
Dallas/Ft. Worth

Excellence Award

Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

Congratulations to Tom and to all our chapter award winners. And, having been born in Pennsylvania and grown up in New Jersey, allow us to say: Go, Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley chapter!

---

Like Lips Houlahan yesterday, Matt Weinstein began his keynote speech this morning -- sponsored by Associa -- with a simple question: What makes a person successful?

The answer could turn into a real downer, but given that Matt's topic was "Putting Fun to Work: The Power of Humor in Business," we needn't have worried. Most books that have addressed this question, Matt said, have been overly complicated. So he and a co-author, Luke Barber, wrote their own book -- Gently Down the Stream: 4 Unforgettable Keys to Success. The four keys? We think you'll have heard of them:

1. Row, row, row your boat -- i.e., be an active participant in your life and your career.
2. Gently down the stream -- i.e., go with the flow.
3. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily -- i.e., have fun!
4. Life is but a dream -- i.e., create a personal vision statement.

Matt went into each step, but seemed most interested in talking about Key #3 vis-a-vis the power of humor -- of laughing and having fun -- at work. "It not only builds a sense of team among your people," Matt said, "it gets them talking about you to their friends and relatives."

Overheard during still more of this morning's education sessions:

Supersize My Community: "Supersizing is a simple concept. It allows communities to be built where people can live, where they can work, and where they can play.... The community association will manage both commercial property and residential property." -- Gary Debus, PCAM, of Highlands Ranch Community Association, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Guiding Your Career in an Evolving Industry, sponsored by the Foundation for Community Association Research: "Anybody know how much is spent every year in management fees in this country?... The number I've seen is $10 billion -- in management fees and ancillary services." -- James Small, of Parker Finch Management, in Phoenix, Arizona

Manager Certification: Past, Present, and Future: "The only effective way to police and enhance our industry is manager licensing.... We also have to enhance our professionalism, because, for the number of hours we spend and the work we do, we are grossly underpaid. Unfortunately, there are too many boards, at least in our state, that will go with the cheapest." -- Mark D. Pearlstein, Esq., of Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, in Chicago, Illinois

Overheard during this morning's new Leadership Development Series:

Leadership Without Limits: Taking Your Leadership IQ to the Next Level: "Developing your leadership skills is important also. The only way to do that is to read. Study. And, I cannot emphasize this enough: Find a mentor. Find someone in the industry who has what you want." -- our pal Bill Overton, PCAM, of Capital Consultants Management Corporation, in Scottsdale, Arizona

Coping With Negaholics: "Sometimes we think of verbal negaholics as being shouters. But sometimes verbal negaholics reveal themselves this way: 'No, we, uh, we can't do that.' These are the folks that, no matter what you ask them, the sky is falling." -- Mike Conduff, of The Elim Group, in Denton, Texas

Usually our Networking Coffee Break is a brisk affair. But this morning it was positively decaffeinated, its quiet acoustic thrum a marked contrast to the electric buzz that's defined conference thus far. Were Vegas and all its temptations taking their toll already? Nope. It seemed that people were already situating themselves in the meetings rooms one floor down, getting ready for our education sessions. Weird and wonderful, huh?

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Overheard during this morning's education sessions:

Annoyance Factor: Using Nuisance Laws to Protect Your Community: "It's never bad to be reminded that you're dealing with people and their property. The right to use property as you want is very strong in this country.... People are very adamant of their love of property and what they can do on it." -- David J. Marmins, Esq., of Balch & Bingham LLP, in Atlanta, Georgia

Pathways to Success -- A Strategic Plan, sponsored by the Foundation for Community Association Research: "A mission statement is short and sweet. You can make it longer,...but my feeling is the shorter, the easier it is to revisit it. The mission statement is your touchstone. It's how you get the board to look at each challenge they face." -- Patricia Brawley, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, of Central Management and Consulting Services, in Milton, Massachusetts

Insurance Under One Big Mixed-Use Roof: "The agent does need to get involved in the claim, because a lot of the adjusters don't know how to read the policies." -- Carol A. Fulton, CIRMS, of LaBarre/Oksnee Insurance Agency Inc., in Palm Desert, California

Where else would an In-N-Out Burger in Las Vegas be located except at the corner of Dean Martin Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue? And that's where we found ourselves last night, with fellow In-N-Outophile Steve Albert, who we've heard works as our Chief Financial Officer during his free time. Also joining us was Community Associations Press Director Debra Lewin, fresh off an amazingly prosperous day at the CAI Bookstore -- and politely tolerant of our and Steve's flowery odes to In-N-Out.

Our order: a Double-Double, animal style; fries, well done; and a chocolate shake. Steve did something similar but threw in a cheeseburger and soda. And Debra, the good sport and good soldier, followed our lead and went with a cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate shake. Nobody went away hungry. Or disappointed.

Then it was time to head back to Caesars, and suddenly history repeated. Much as last year we marooned ourselves and an unsuspecting coworker at an In-N-Out in Palm Springs, far from every taxi on the planet, last night we couldn't flag a cab to save our lives. Finally we resorted to staking out the In-N-Out parking lot and following a cabbie who'd just finished eating dinner back to his hack. The things you do for love....

It's the way of the CAI conference. After Wednesday's President's Club reception and after the Welcome Reception comes Thursday's PCAM Reception, which this year was sponsored by the Flood Company and TOPS Software. (It's also the way of the CAI conference that the lighting is terrible -- at least when it comes to amateur bloggers trying to take party photos -- the result being either flat and overlighted or, as you might notice above, blurry and underlighted.) It was about what we expected -- networking and laughter and war stories, in more or less equal measure.

But we're still getting used to the Vegas scale. Holy professional credentials, there are a lot of ace managers here, and all of them seemed to turn out for the PCAM Reception tonight, to nosh on primo food and sip at primo drinks and join Debra Warren, CMCA, PCAM, immediate past chair of our Association of Professional Community Managers Board, as she welcomed our latest class of PCAM recipients.

Congrats to our new PCAMs for reaching the pinnacle of community management. And congrats to our existing PCAMs for belonging to a group that knows how to throw a great party.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

It's a good CAI Bookstore when we do circa $10,000 for an entire conference. But Bookstore proprietor Debra Lewin just told us that we've passed the $12,000 mark. As of today. A day and a half into conference. With two days left to go.

So, thanks for shopping with us. And remember -- we've got plenty of stock left, with many new titles and many great deals. And kudos to Debra for quarterbacking the greatest CAI Bookstore ever.

Overheard in this afternoon's education sessions:

Best Practices from Other Countries: "The research that has been done has shown that 90 percent of all disputes result from either a lack of information or a lack of understanding of the laws and rules." -- Michael Ryall, of Ernst Body Corporate Management, in Brisbane, Australia

Transitioning Vertically -- Managing a High-Rise: "A buried cylinder leak is going to cost as much as a new hydraulic elevator. That's a $40,000 or $50,000 job." -- George Von Klan, of Edgett Williams Consulting Group, in Mill Valley, California

Facing Goliath? Legislative, Regulatory, and Legal Challenges for Community Associations: "We're in an era now where foreclosures of mortgages are starting to climb. We're seeing that. And associations have fewer tools with which to collect." -- Marc D. Markel, Esq., of Roberts Markel Bale, P.C., in Houston, Texas

Ethics and Human Resources in the HOA/CIC: Part II: "The real trouble is figuring out who is exempt and who is not.... It's a mistake as an employer to try to slot everyone into exempt, because that's how you get in trouble with the federal government." -- Donna A. Zanetti, PCAM, of Capital Consultants Management Corporation, in Las Vegas, Nevada

Realtor Relationships and Their Roles: "Multifamily projects are high-risk projects. The builders are very sensitive to it.... They're turning around and saying, 'How do we control that? How do we control the risk?'" -- H. Alan Mooney, P.E., RS, of Criterium Engineering, in Portland, Maine

Congratulations to the two winners of today's Mystery Booth drawings, announced in the Exhibit Hall minutes ago. Each got $900:

* Christoper Ryba, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, of Heritage Management Group Inc., in Somers, New York, compliments of Popular Association Banking.

* Thomas Herald, of Management Solutions, in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, compliments of Association Information Services Inc.

We'll have two more Mystery Booth drawings tomorrow, which means two more $900 winners. But, really, what's someone going to do with a little extra cash in Vegas?

Checking in at the CAI Technology Center this afternoon, we found proprietor Bill Hession, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, helping Marilyn Brainard -- a member of CAI's Community Association Volunteers Committee -- figure out what kind of laptop she needed. Bill's advice? Look for 1GB of memory, a 15.4-inch screen, and an 80-to-120 GB hard drive. "That about covers the basics," he said.

We covered some other basics with the eternally nice, eternally helpful Mr. Bill, who was perched behind a counter of gleaming hardware -- five laptops, digital cameras, handheld scanners, and more -- like a cheerfully mad electronic prophet:

Are you getting good traffic today? Very good traffic.

What kinds of questions are you getting? A lot have been about the handheld scanner and the UMPCs -- the ultra-mobile PCs.

Are you getting more questions about hardware or systems and processes? It's probably about 60-40. Initially they ask about the hardware because there's gadgets here. But then I ask what they're using it for, and they get into software and systems issues.

Are most people using the wrong technology? They're not necessarily using the wrong technology, but they're not using the technology they have right. They're not using all the features in Windows XP to their advantage, for example.

Will there be a Tech Center 2.0 at next year's conference? I sure hope so!

PHOTO: Chris Durso

We thought last night's Welcome Reception was the be-all, end-all of supernetworking, but we were just forced to change our mind after a trip through the Exhibit Hall. Maybe we shouldn't have been surprised, this being our best-attended conference ever, and so why wouldn't it be the best-attended Exhibit Hall ever?

Which it is. Folks were body to body in there this afternoon, and most of the vendors we saw had people two and three deep queuing up at their booths. And not just because of the candy, pens, squeeze balls, wine, movies, iPods, and other cool swag they were giving away or raffling off. In fact, the madding crowd seemed a lot more interested in learning about the many products and services on display in the Exhibit Hall. Check out the guy in the black shirt and khakis in the picture above -- he's so eager to take it all in, he's practically blurred himself out of existence. Must be that whole "Master Trends, Transitions, and Transformations" idea....

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Patrick "Lips" Houlahan had a question for our attendees: "Are the top guns of CAI ready to use leadership and teamwork to transform their communities in 2007?" The "top guns" reference was more than hyperbole. Lips is a Marine pilot and a member of Afterburner, a team of 50 fighter pilots who train business executives and community leaders around the world. Together with Julie "Jewels" Hudson, an Air Force pilot, he presented this morning's keynote, sponsored by Feinberg, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP -- "How Leadership and Teamwork Can Transform Your Experience."

"We always operate as a team -- at least two, maybe four, ideally more," Lips said of his experiences as a pilot. "Heck, I would take 16 pilots along if I thought my bosses would let me." But, as Lips himself pointed out, his "front office" is the cockpit of an F-15 Eagle. What does that have to do with running a community association?

Just this: In business as in aerial combat, Lips said, "Lose sight, lose the fight. If you lose sight of your competition,...you will always, always lose the fight. It's true flying a fighter, and we believe it's also true here at CAI." 

After a quick round of education sessions this morning, CAI President Ronald L. Perl, Esq., convened our opening general session at 10:30 a.m. The room was literally standing room only, with hundreds and hundreds of attendees stretched across Caesars' Palace Ballroom. Many of them were wearing the flashing "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" lapel pins our Nevada chapter has been handing out, and in the darkened room the effect was dazzling -- like scores of eager, curious fireflies were settling in for a concert.

Ron lost no time in skipping through an impressive agenda. He announced that we have 950 full registrants for this conference -- "our biggest and our best ever." He named the latest recipients of CAI's professional designations, including the Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS), Reserve Specialist (RS), Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC), Large-Scale Manager (LSM), and Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) credentials. He introduced NBC-CAM Chair Patricia A. Wasson, CMCA, PCAM, who awarded NBC-CAM's Barbara Byrd Keenan Award to Judi M. Phares, CMCA, PCAM -- herself a past NBC-CAM chair -- for her "exceptionally valuable contribution to community association management certification."

And finally, Ron set the stage for today's keynote speech, which addressed leadership and teamwork -- which, he noted, aren't exactly unknown topics to CAI members. "As an organization," Ron said, "we will never be satisfied with just managing or othewise servicing our communities."

PHOTO: Chris Durso

This morning we had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion involving two of CAI's most active, accomplished members: J. David Ramsey, Esq., and Wendy W. Taylor, CMCA, AMS, PCAM. The three of us presented an education session called "Megan's Shadow: Do's and Don'ts When a Registered Sex Offender Moves In," and it seemed to have been pretty well received.

But our point is, man, CAI's session speakers don't have an easy job. Or, at least, we were pretty nervous, standing in front of 30 or 40 people and trying to pass ourselves off as some sort of authority on a notoriously complicated issue. Fortunately, David and Wendy were both cool and assured -- as pretty much every other education session presenter we've ever seen at a CAI conference has been.

So, thanks, David and Wendy. And thanks to all our speakers. We're happy to rely on you.

This is what a year of planning and months of anticipation come down to: six bars, three carving stations, generous buffets of cheese and fruit, countless trays of passed appetizers, and a sprawling crowd of conference attendees holding cocktails that glowed green and blue. This is your Welcome Reception. In true Vegas fashion, it blurred -- blurs -- the lines between between networking and socializing, work and play, friends old and new. The room is a beehive of connectivity, a buzz, buzz, buzz of  getting-to-know-you.

The kick-off party officially ended about a half-hour ago, but you wouldn't know it from the strands of people still woven among the tables and chairs. They didn't get the memo. Or, if they did, they're ignoring it. Good for them, and good for us. Welcome to the 56th National Conference & Exposition!

"Where's the beef?" is never a question that will be asked of CAI's President's Club, for at least two reasons that were evident during the exclusive group's reception this afternoon:

1. Its members have dug deep into their pockets to fund a variety of important CAI initiatives through the years.

2. Its annual meeting -- which is really more like a cozy gathering of your favorite club -- always features some of conference's best grub, including a succulent carved roast.

This year's reception was extra-clubby, as veteran Chair Marc Markel, Esq., passed the torch to a new leader -- Wil Washington, Esq. Reflecting on his tenure, Marc said he couldn't remember when it actually began. "I was taller," he said, "and had more hair." Back then, Marc remembered, President's Club meetings were more formal, with members sitting around a table and running through an agenda. But today, he said proudly, it's more of "a social group and a true venture-capital group." One with great taste in hors d'oeuvres.

Before the parties begin -- we have our eye on today's President's Club reception and Welcome Reception -- and the drinks flow and conference becomes decidedly, well, non-linear, we must pause and say thank you to some people whose generosity has helped make this whole delirious carnival of community possible. Of course we're talking about our sponsors:

Platinum Partner* U.S. Bank

Gold Partners* Community Archives Inc.
* Eugene Burger Management Corporation
* Preferred Property Programs
* SmartStreet, a Division of RBC Centura Bank

Event Sponsors* Thursday keynote speaker: Feinberg, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP
* Friday keynote speaker: Associa
* Managers Exchange: NCB
* Managers Reception: Kevin Davis Insurance Services
* Chapter Leadership Breakfasts: Colonial Bank
* Welcome Reception:       >>AssociationVoice
       >>Jenark
       >>U.S. Lawns

To all our sponsors -- thank you. We'd say the first drink is on us, but, really, it's on you. Otherwise we'd be the sponsor.