Live from Palm Springs

With conference now a sunny, postcard-perfect memory, we're now sorting through post-conference surveys, tallying up numbers of various varieties of attendees, and just taking stock of how it all turned out. Stay tuned for more about attendees' survey feedback. In the meantime, here are a few facts you can use as ice-breakers. Did you know that:

* A record 600+ people attended conference in Palm Springs, our largest turnout ever?

* According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest cookie ever made (chocolate chip, FYI) was 81'8" in diameter, was 5,243.6 square feet, and baked by Cookie Time, in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1996?

* In Palm Springs, the conference Exhibit Hall was sold out, with 95 exhibitors showcasing their wares and services from 106 booths?

* Also according to Guinness, the world's oldest waterskiier was George Blair, a.k.a. "Banana George," who skiied across Lake Florence, in Winter Garden, Florida, in 2002 at 87 years young?

One of our first posts was about the Tote Bag Stuffing Party we held here in the national office in advance of conference. Just about everyone on staff participated, stuffing tote bags (hence the cryptic name of the party) that were then shipped off to Palm Springs.

So it seems appropriate to bring things full circle by blogging about today's conference after-party, at which the entire tote-bag gang reunited to eat pizza, celebrate the tremendous success that was the 55th National Conference, and, best of all, not be tortured by the god-awful music that dominated the Tote Bag Stuffing Party. No, today was all about the pizza, as most days should be.

*Like that headline? All credit to Mike Copps, whose poetic sensibilities are apparently wasted in his capacity as CAI's senior manager of member services.

PHOTO: Cori Canady

What's that? You're beating yourself up for missing out on the action in Palm Springs, and are jonesing for CAI's next great big show? Never fear -- the 56th National Conference & Exposition is only 11-and-a-half months away. And this time, we're pulling no punches.

Sin City, anyone? Caesars Palace, anyone? Celine Dion, anyone? Anyone? Anyone at all? Anyway, it's never to early to register -- or to hear us say what happens at a CAI conference stays at a CAI conference.

PHOTO: Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

How did we commemorate the impending close of CAI's 55th National Conference after last Friday evening's awards dinner? With a second and final trip to In-N-Out Burger, of course. For our first visit last Wednesday night, recall, we were accompanied by our co-blogger, Christie Chapman -- an In-N-Out innocent. This time out, we were joined by fellow In-N-Out veteran -- and, less importantly, CAI chief financial officer -- Steve Albert.

Never let it be said we're unadventurous. Whereas our previous order consisted of a Double-Double (animal style), fries, and a chocolate shake, on Friday we opted for a Double-Double (regular, not animal style), fries (well done), and a strawberry shake. Spice of life, thy name is variety. Steve, meanwhile, quieter yet more discreet than ourselves, showed us up by taking out a cheeseburger and a hamburger, along with fries and a chocolate shake. And he picked up an In-N-Out t-shirt. (Sound to you like someone needs to get a life? Us, too.)

Final thoughts: The Double-Double is always super-groovy, but it's that much super-groovier done up animal style. The mediocre quality of the fries is slightly mitigated by ordering them "well done" (i.e., "extra crispy"). And the strawberry shake is nice, but the chocolate is a standout. We're sure our cardiologist will agree.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

We know -- you were too busy gawking at the stunning palm-tree-studded, desert-flowered, mountain-fringed scenery in Palm Springs to take any photos. Or your schedule was too jam-packed with informative education sessions, productive strolls through the Exhibit Hall, and lively parties. Or maybe you just plain didn't take all the photos you wish you had.

Never fear -- we did it for you. You can look back fondly on your time at Palm Springs (or, if you missed out this time, you can *pretend* you were there) by checking out the photos on CAI's website, courtesy of Dawn Crowe, our director of marketing. We've got it covered, from postcard-worthy shots taken around the resort, to candid shots of education sessions and events such as the big awards dinner and dance, to shots of the awards winners themselves.

Note to attendees: Keep an eye out for a post-conference survey that you should be receiving soon. We want to hear all about your experience in Palm Springs.

PHOTO: Dawn Crowe 

And on the third day, they partied. But first, they -- uh, we, that is, you, er -- CAI spread around some recognition. The time: Friday night, 7 p.m. The location: the Westin's Ambassador Ballroom. The occasion: CAI's annual awards dinner.

It was a scene -- tuxedos and dinner jackets, gowns and cocktail dresses, four bars, a lavish buffet, a live band. And a lot of dedicated members to thank and honor, starting with our volunteer leaders. First came the official installation of the 2006 Board of Trustees:

PRESIDENT: Ross W. Feinberg, Esq.
PRESIDENT-ELECT: Ronald L. Perl, Esq.
Pearline Atkinson-Stewart
Denise Bower, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Robert Browning, PCAM, RS
Steven Y. Brumfield, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
William F. Hession, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
T. Peter Kristian, CMCA, LSM, PCAM
Jack McGrath
P. Michael Nagle, Esq.
Wendy W. Taylor, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
Edward D. Thomas, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Debra A. Warren, CMCA, PCAM
Wilbert Washington II, Esq.

Friday, our final night in Palm Springs, two hours before the big awards dinner. What to do? Why, attend another mixer. This time, it was the Managers Reception, hosted by CAI's Association of Professional Community Managers and sponsored by Kevin Davis Insurance Services.

Not to be confused with the President's Club reception, the Welcome Reception, the Recruiter Club party, or the PCAM Reception, the Managers Reception was, like its predecessors, the usual good, stimulating time. Dozens of professional managers circulated in the Westin Mission Hills' La Concha Courtyard, squeezing in one last hour of official networking before the big top came down on Saturday morning. Our beverage of choice was Corona -- light and cold, perfect for a relaxed outdoor party in the desert. More than a few of the managers in attendance seemed inclined in the same direction. That is to say, toward the bar.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

If our industry could be said to have a front line, our chapters sit right on top of it. And during last Friday morning's general session, right before the keynote, it was time to honor the best and brightest with CAI's annual chapter awards, which are broken down by chapter size -- small, medium, large, and very large.

"Fifty-six chapters, one CAI," President Ross Feinberg, Esq., said before handing out the awards. "We are all in this together."

CHAPTER MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

* Medium: Southern Colorado
* Large: Greater Houston
* Very large: Washington Metro

LEADERSHIP

* Medium: California North
* Large: Greater Houston
* Very large: Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

MEMBER SERVICES

* Small: Southern Arizona
* Medium: Dallas/Ft. Worth
* Large: Southeastern Virginia
* Very large: Washington Metro

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

* Medium: Dallas/Ft. Worth
* Large: Nevada
* Very large: Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

MEMBERSHIP

* Medium: Southern Colorado
* Large: Rocky Mountain
* Very large: Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

CHAPTER EXCELLENCE: Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

Congratulations to our award-winning chapters -- and thanks to all of you for your invaluable service to our members and our industry.

So, yes, we're back in the office today, and yes, we promised fresh material upon our return. But our day job keeps getting in the way, so until we disinter our in-box and return our phone messages, please accept this edgy and vibrant (read: poorly lit and amateurishly focused) photo of last Friday night's awards dinner as the promise of a better tomorrow. Oh, the places you'll go!

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Just this song before we go, a lesson to be learned -- blogging a CAI conference is no easy thing. We are humbled. For every education session we covered, every first-timer we interviewed, every case of successful networking we witnessed, and every trip to In-N-Out Burger we took, there were at least five other incidents of conference magic we missed. But we hope that we and our staggeringly prolific, eternally good-natured co-blogger, Christie Chapman, offered some sense of what happens -- onstage and off -- at a CAI conference.

This is the end, but only for now. Once we're back in the office on Monday, we'll blog last night's dinner dance and awards program, managers reception, CAI Bookstore closing, and other final moments great and small. And we'll keep at it in the following weeks, posting attendee feedack as we get it and laying the groundwork for next year's conference.

But for now, we have a plane to catch. Enjoy one last glimpse of morning at the Westin Mission Hills, and try to survive without us for the next few days. Thanks for reading.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

After the networking and the keynotes and the awards and the parties, this is what it comes down to -- a wreck of a conference office, strewn with the discarded byproducts of a might conference-planning machine, peopled by a weary and hungover hardworking CAI national staff. Our colleagues come and go this Saturday morning, packing tape in one hand, marker in the other, looking, always looking, for that final box to seal, label, and ship.

Here's Mike Copps, offended by the "inappropriate" Jimmy Buffett song playing on the stereo, but unworried, apparently, that he and we are leaving for the airport in an hour and he isn't even packed. There's Sondra Frank, demanding a closeup on our blog, never mind that she was featured prominently in the very first we posted. (So guess who that is, standing at center stage, posing demurely, in the picture above.) There's Jennifer Flynn, she of the exacting color sensibility, this morning dejected by the national award that broke in transit to Palm Springs -- the first time in her nearly 12 (!!) years at CAI, Jennifer says, that she's had a busted award. And there are Shauna McLaughlin and Jeanine Hurley and Karen McMullen and Aurelia Williams and Lula Fekadu -- sealing, labeling, shipping, and looking, always looking.

And there, sitting at the laptop right next to us, presiding over it all, is Holly Carson, the ringmaster of this carnival, coaching and cajoling and soothing us as we take down the tents and pack up the freak show and head out of town. This is how it ends -- not with a bang, but with a tapegun.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

They've been there before. They feel your pain. They can swap stories with you about nightmare board members, woefully underfunded reserves, complaints both large and petty that plague them throughout the day and haunt their dreams at night.

At the popular Manager Exchange, moderated by Steve Shuey, PCAM, of Desert Island Condominiums, in Rancho Mirage, California, managers -- about half present were portfolio managers and half were on-site managers -- shared tips, horror stories, and successes. With no planned agenda, the mic was passed from manager to manager. One manager shared a problem, then another offered advice, and others chimed in before the discussion rolled along to another subject.

The talk kicked off with a manager from Alexandria, Virginia, who'd recently started with a 30-year-old community that's a bit set in its ways. Another manager, from Washington, D.C., spoke up to say she'd dealt with a similar situation -- in the beginning, the board opted to simply special-assess members any time a repair was needed. Slowly, she led the board to the light.

Next topic was apathy and recruitment -- nearly every manager in the room raised his or her hand when Shuey asked how many actively tried to recruit new board members. Tips were shared -- one manager said his community has a committee assigned to recruit and nominate board members, and the process includes interviews.

Another manager said she was pleased to report that her community had undergone a demographic study recently that showed a higher-than-expected number of residents younger than 30. This discovery made the board reconsider some of its activities offerings, such as creating a new sailing club. And then the mic was passed on to the next manager, to share more tips, laughter, and tears. And all around the Ambassador 1 meeting room, there was no shortage of shoulders to cry on.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Sandy Denton, CMCA, LSM, PCAM (of the Sienna Plantation Residential Association, in Missouri City, Texas), and Mike Conduff (of the Elm Group, in Denton, Texas) closed out the governance and legal track this afternoon with "Got a Board? Get Good Governance!"

Over the course of an hour, Sandy and Mike offered a review of Policy Governance, a governance model that's been adopted by Sienna Plantation's board of directors -- as well as CAI's national Board of Trustees. Applied to community associations, Policy Governance encourages boards to set policies and long-term goals and give managers the freedom to implement them on a day-to-day basis.

Managers, Sandy said, often chafe at what they perceive as micromanaging, thinking to themselves, "I could do that if you'd let me do that. I'm the professional. I've got the experience." And, when you serve on a board, Mike noted, "about the worst thing you can hear from one of your constituents is 'You guys are just a rubber stamp for the executive director.' Or, conversely, 'You guys are micromanaging that poor executive director to death."

To find the proper balance, you need to think in terms of "ends." To identify your ends, Mike said, ask -- and answer -- this question: "If the board didn't exist, would somebody create it, and for what purpose?"

The disaster survival track concluded today with "Planning and Budgeting to Get Your Association through Severe Weather and Natural Disasters," presented by Scott Miller, CPA, CFE, of John J. Riley Inc., in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

To drive home a point about relying on your peers in times of need, Miller made an analogy that reflected his background in fire and rescue services. "Fire stations often call other stations when responding to a fire that's too big for them to handle," he said, and then asked whether anyone in the room would call upon another community if the need arose. No hands were raised.

He also pointed out that it's a good idea for you to share any community contingency plan with local emergency agencies.

The final session on the risk and financial management track was "Preventive Maintenance: Who,What, Where, When, and Why," presented by Donald Cheek, CMCA, AMS, of the Corolla Light Resort, in Corolla, North Carolina. This was a nuts-and-bolts session, designed to help attendees identify priorities when it comes to preventive maintenance.

Cheek dispensed practical advice. For example, he said, when your association makes use of drivers, you need to really know who's behind the wheel of each of your association's vehicles. Requiring drivers to submit to background checks and a survey of the person's driving history, for instance, can help stave off high costs in case of an accident.

For basic accountability, it's useful to make sure everything adds up, literally. When keeping an eye on drivers' activities, for example, it can be helpful to require drivers to file travelogues, and to do odometer readings to make sure drivers are going where they need to be going.

Our communications track finished up this afternoon with "Don't Lose Your Temper! Conflict Resolution for the Most Difficult People," presented by Loura Sanchez, Esq., and Robbie Ruhaak (both of HindmanSanchez, in Arvada, Colorado). And Loura and Robbie have identified a lot of them (difficult people, that is), including:

* Barkers and Biters
* Silent Sufferers
* Know-It-Alls
* Great Pretenders

The worst, Robbie said, are Great Pretenders, because they think they're Know-It-Alls but they're usually wrong. No matter what type of difficult person you're facing, there are common strategies you can try out on them, including asking solution-oriented questions ("What are some possible solutions to this?"), paying attention to body language, using silence to wait out angry outbursts, or even calling someone's bluff ("That's a very interesting perspective -- tell me more").

"You will make mistakes," Robbie said, "because there will be times when you say, 'That's fascinating,' where someone will think you're being a smartass. You just have to be conscious of the way you use [that solution]...and conscious of the intent behind it."

The two big winners of today's Mystery Booth drawing -- by exhibitors Community Association Banc and Ian H. Graham Insurance -- weren't present in the Exhibit Hall when their business cards were drawn. But they were there at just the right moment -- the fortuitous moment at which each winner dropped his business card into those then-unknown Mystery Booth exhibitors' collection bowls. Fortunately for the no-shows, the winners didn't have to be present to win the two $750 prizes. And, as you'll see in the picture above, the physical lack of a winner didn't stop Community Association Banc President Craig Huntington (on the right) from counting out his company's loot to CAI CEO Tom Skiba, while Exhibit Hall ringmaster Marc Ingram looked on.

Other prizes were also awarded: a David Yurman necklace, another bucket o' cash, and, yes, another RoboMaid. Richard Means, PCAM, of the Keys Condominium Owners Association, in Walnut Creek, California, won the Issues Advancement Fund raffle -- a $300 cash prize -- and donated $200 of it back to the IAF.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Terry Paulson, Ph.D., began his career as a clinical psychologist, but today he's a world-class speaker, author, and expert on change management. The unplanned professional course he charted reminded him of the audience he addressed during his general session keynote presentation, "The Art of Listening, the Power of Speaking," this morning.

"Very few people start out in your area," Terry said at the beginning of his speech, which was sponsored by Feinberg Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt LLP. "And then the job finds you.... And it's growing. The challenge is always that communication is a difficult [issue]." Effective communication amounts to a balancing act between "being a doormat and [being] a steamroller," and ultimately is less about maintaining control than it is exerting influence. "The less authority you have," Terry said, "the more you're in sales."

Apropos of our conference theme -- "Listen to Learn" -- you can start by being a good listener. Everything else follows from that. "Our job," Terry said, "is to find a way to make sure that people take ownership in the associations that you lead.

PHOTO: Dawn Crowe

Conference attendees were able to get in on some Cinco de Mayo action during today's luncheon outside the Exhibit Hall. The buffet lunch included build-your-own burritos with refried beans, rice, chicken, and vegetables -- and even an assortment of Mexican-style desserts, such as apple empanadas. The most intriguing dessert option by far for many diners was the chocolate raspberry tamales: a soft, sweetened cornmeal filling with melty chocolate and raspberry syrup, all wrapped in corn husk. Some were hesitant, unaccustomed to finding their desserts wrapped in layers of knotted corn husk. But other intrepid luncheoners gave it a go, and those who did expressed variations on the same sentiment: "It's different... but good."

You may hate when gossip and rumor-mongering swamp your community. But it has its time and place -- such as after Hurricane Wilma. When the mega-storm ripped Kings Point in Tamarac, in Tamarac, Florida, last October, "communication from traditional means was almost nonexistent," according to manager Shannon Ventry, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, who with Carol Eskew (of Goldman, Juda & Martin, in Plantation, Florida) presented a disaster survival session called "After the Storm: Providing Leadership in a Time of Crisis" this morning.

The solution to a post-disaster communications blackout? "Word of mouth," Shannon said. "That grapevine we have to deal with all the time -- now's the time to use it.... Everyone you speak to, instruct them to tell the next person they see everything you told them."

Above all, be comfortable stepping into your role as a community leader -- because no matter how bad the devastation, Shannon said, the ultimate lesson is simple: "Life goes on."

Michael Walker is a seasoned conference-goer. We caught up with him as he basked in the sunshine during the lunch break between sessions.

Who: Michael Walker, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Company: PGA West Residential Association
Where: La Quinta, California
Number of conferences he's attended, including this one: 15
What's your favorite part of conference? "The education sessions. I come here for information to take back to my board."

A teenager drives a car into the association gatehouse, and the teenager has no insurance. Which policy will cover the damage?

A) Property
B) General liability
C) HO6
D) D&O

That was the first question posed by Joel Meskin, Esq., CIRMS (of McGowan & Company, Inc., in Fairview Park, Ohio), in his risk and financial management session this morning -- a game show called "Who Wants to Be a Fully Insured Association?" Joel's first contestant, a good sport named John, guessed B, which earned him a big fat buzzer. Wrong answer. So John consulted a panel of experts Joel had assembled: manager Steven Shuey, PCAM, board member Barbara Larsh, insurance professional Rick Morel, and attorney Matt Ober, Esq. Their consensus answer: A. Correct!

"The good news is that every one of your associations is insured for every single risk that confronts them," Joel said. "The bad news is, are they self-insured for these risks? Or are they insured by a commercial carrier?"

Construction Defect Litigation: The Community Association's Guide to the Legal Process was two years, four months on the desk of co-author (and CAI President) Ross Feinberg, Esq. Then it went to Community Associations Press for six months of editing.

And this morning, there it was -- nearly three years of work, stacked neatly at a table in the CAI Bookstore, where Ross and his co-author (and CAI President-elect), Ron Perl, Esq., were signing copies. (Above, Ron -- sans necktie -- and Ross do the honors for a conference attendee.) In between, they told us a little about their book.

"It's to provide managers and board members with an easy-to-understand summary of the defect process," Ron said. "Because the book talks about litigation, but it also talks about alternative dispute resolution, too. It's intended to be a practical, straightforward guide." Added Ross: "It's a way to apply the business-judgment process to the construction-defect resolution procedure." And will construction defects continue to be a major issue for our industry? "As long as they build new associations and there's a shortage of labor," Ross said, "there's going to be problems."

PHOTO: Chris Durso

After a brief interruption to celebrate the birthday of Jerry C.M. Orten, Esq., one of the panelists of the morning's first session on the governance and legal topics track, the panel discussion got underway. The presentation, "Legislative Trends in Governance & Being Reasonable -- It's Up to You to Decide Who Will Govern," was moderated by Molly Foley-Healy, CAI's senior vice president of governance and public affairs. Panelists were Lucia Anna "Pia" Trigiani, Esq., of Troutman Sanders LLP, in McLean, Virginia; Marc D. Markel, Esq., of Roberts Markel Guerry PC, in Houston, Texas; abovementioned birthday boy Orten, of Orten, Cavanaugh, Richmond and Holmes LLC, in Golden, Colorado; and Scott B. Carpenter, Esq., of Carpenter Hazlewood PLC, in Tempe, Arizona.

The panelists talked about the vicissitudes of association law in their respective states and others. Some of the issues facing associations today, they said, include the fact that much legislation is forged on the basis of anecdotal information, with some legislators penning these laws not being intimately familiar with how associations work. Legislation disputes in the mighty "battleground states" -- Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas; and, when it comes to construction defects, Colorado -- for association law were another hot topic.

It's one thing to parachute in to the Coachella Valley for a week and gloat about how pretty it is. It's another thing to live here all year round. Who are these lucky people? Well, some of them are our hosts -- the members of CAI's Coachella Valley chapter.

They cut a pretty high profile here at the conference. Chapter members are staffing an information table loaded with information about CAI and Palm Springs. They're stationed around the hotel, directing conference attendees to events and facilities. They're introducing speakers at education sessions. They're maintaining a hospitality suite where anyone can stop by for a little R&R.

And they all look tan and fit and happy. Take chapter past president Carol Fulton, CIRMS, pictured above. She's a Palm Desert insurance agent who was on duty at the chapter table this morning, and she was still beaming about last night's massively successful chapter party, which drew more than 200 people to the Agua Caliente Casino, just up the road. Turnout was so good, the casino ditched the original plan to serve appetizers and opened its crab-dinner buffet to partygoers.

Carol says that's all part of life in the Coachella Valley. "It's like living in a small community, although it's growing," she says. "It's the people that I like -- the small-town atmosphere, the people, the networking here. I grew up in a small town, and when someone's ill, everyone pitches in. Everyone helps."

PHOTO: Chris Durso

A roomful of unsuspecting attendees at this morning's legislative trends panel discussion had just settled into their chairs, ready to hear all about the ins and outs of community association law in various states, when a black-cloaked figure with a scythe made his way down the aisle toward the podium. Molly Foley-Healy, CAI's senior vice president of government and public affairs, equally unsuspecting, continued with her introductions of the panelists for a moment, then stopped speaking. For the Grim Reaper had seized control of the mic.

As it turns out, the harbinger of death had not showed up to escort any of the panelists or attendees off to that big community association in the sky. The funereal figure was merely there to announce the 50th birthday of one of the panelists, Jerry C.M. Orten, Esq, pictured above with the hooded face of doom. A sigh of relief was breathed by all as the Reaper led everyone in a rendition of "Happy Birthday," and a giant chocolate cake was wheeled in through the back doors. As quickly as he had appeared, the Reaper fled the room, his black polyester drugstore-costume cloak swishing, to portend death or spread birthday cheer for the next unsuspecting soul.

PHOTO: Dawn Crowe

For some of the educational sessions at conference, it's OK to sit by yourself, a bank of empty seats around you, flipping through hand-outs and glancing up at the PowerPoint presentation. But for a session about communicating, it makes sense to cozy up to your neighbors and actually speak with them. So, as people entered Ambassador 1 for the morning's first session on the communications track, "Surviving Each Other: The Art of Communication," presented by Beth A. Grimm, Esq., of Beth A. Grimm PLC, in Pleasant Hill, California, and Carole Murphy, CMCA, PCAM, of M&C Association Management, in Stockton, California, everyone was asked to sit close to others and partner up.

The session included a discussion of e-mail and Internet etiquette. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you click on "Send," from a hand-out distributed at the session:

* Would it be embarrassing if something you wrote about someone, such as a homeowner, got back to him?

* Would anything in the e-mail be damaging if the e-mail were admissible in court?

* Does the e-mail set up a discrimination claim for someone?

* If discussing strategy in a lawsuit with your attorney, could the e-mail come back to bite you in the notes were discovered in a court proceeding?

Just thought you'd like to see a picture of our morning commute this week. We step out of our room and follow the lazy path along the golf course, past the villas and palm trees, over to the meeting facilities. And everyone we pass -- conference attendees, exhibitors, staff members, hotel employees -- smiles and says hello. It's like the Olympic Village -- a movable feast of good will and excellence, minus the world-class athletes and doping scandals. Wish you were here!

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Conference first-timer Stanley Gould, a manager with Personalized Property Management, in Cathedral City, California, was spotted at this morning's 8 a.m. Networking Coffee Break, in search of some caffeine and a pastry. Alas, no pastries were to be found, so we came to the rescue with an assortment of danishes from the CAI staff's secret personal stash. After bribing him with breakfast treats, we asked him to chat a bit and smile for a snapshot.

Who: Stanley Gould, CAI member for three years, but a national conference first-timer.
What do you do? "I'm a manager. My company just created a new position, so I'm what's called a corporate compliance officer. Basically, I translate legislation and CAI documents into working documents. There are 17 managers at my company, so it's more efficient if only one of us spends our time doing this."
What are you most looking forward to? "I'm a big-systems and procedures guy, so I'm looking forward to those sessions. There's a lot of good advice out there, and managers need to be able to press a magic button and get what they need. I'm going to try to be that magic button."

PHOTO: Christie Chapman

Another night, another swanky party. Except tonight the weather cooperated, so unlike last night's President's Club fete and Welcome Reception, the PCAM Reception didn't get bumped inside on account of the annoyingly desert-like weather. Instead, we found ourselves in the Westin Mission Hills' lush La Concha Courtyard, savoring the sweet, mild, early-evening air, eyeing the dispiritingly long line at the bar, and watching the biggest class of PCAMs in CAI history collect their official PCAM certificates.

"We have a big group, a proud group, a wonderful group to hand certificates to," said Paul Grucza, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, immediate past chair of the APCM Board, who presided over the commencement portion of the PCAM Reception -- which was sponsored by The Flood Company. Tonight, Paul told an enthusiastic group of old and new certificants, CAI would hand out its 1,480th PCAM. But, he was quick to add, "no matter what number you've got, it means the same thing." Hear, hear.

PHOTO:  Chris Durso

A little more than an hour ago, we walked by the CAI Bookstore and found the proprietor, Community Associations Press' own Debra Lewin, standing behind the counter, weary but satisfied, a fat batch of receipts stacked in front of her. The Bookstore was closed, and the day's trade had been brisk.

Today's top sellers: our latest title, Construction Defect Litigation; recently updated warhorses like Risk Management and Reserve Funds; the highly topical Before Disaster Strikes; and, in a nod to this morning's keynote speaker, The Winds of Turbulence. An eclectic group, to be sure, but we can do better. Let's see if we can't knock Debra clean unconscious by close of business tomorrow, eh?

PHOTO: Chris Durso

The title of today's final governance and legal session didn't mince words: "The One-Hour Board Meeting -- It Is Possible!" And the speaker, Rolf Crocker, AMS (of Community Association Banc, in Pleasanton, California), was equally direct. More productive, better-focused meetings, Rolf said, are all about prior planning.

That begins with big-picture steps: Hold an annual board workshop. Create a vision or mission statement -- "not a pithy Hallmark statement that looks good in a frame," Rolf said, but a "compass that points to the true north of your community." Use the statement to determine the validity of the tasks taken on by the board. Set specific short- and long-term goals for the coming year, and use them to create an annual agenda. Send the agenda to owners.

"It's not rocket science," Rolf said, "which is good, because not all of us are rocket scientists."

In his session on the risk and financial management track this afternoon, "Be Prepared, Not Surprised: The Timing and Logistics of Reserve Studies," presenter H. Alan Mooney, RS, of Criterium Engineers, in Portland, Maine, shared tips for running an association like a small business.

There's more to planning reserve studies than simply adhering to local statutes or association bylaws, Mooney says. In viewing the association as a small business, you put a long-range funding plan into place, making good use of expert resources and exercising careful planning.

Mooney's talk also included a refresher course on some of the terms used when referring to reserve studies, such as "fully funded." "When a reserve fund is 'fully funded,' that means there's money in the bank when you need it," he says. "For example, say you know you're going to need a new boiler in 10 years and that, for simplicity's sake here, it's going to cost $100,000. That means you need to set aside $10,000 every year. If you're able to do that, you have a fully funded reserve fund."

It's one of those fundamentals you must master to peacefully live in or manage an association, or work with people who do, and it's the title of the last session on the disaster survival track today: "Dealing with Difficult Situations and Upset People," presented by Kurt Grosz, president of KGA Inc., in Laguna Beach, California.

The key to navigating your way through disgruntled or litigious folks is good old-fashioned negotiation, Grosz says. And he has a math formula to demonstrate just how important listening -- the theme of this conference -- factors into a successful negotiation: Negotiation equals 80 percent listening and 20 percent bargaining.

Grosz also presented a step-by-step guide to successful negotiation, from preparing for possible confrontation before they occur, to avoiding making threats.

Willen Hasler likes lists of 10. During "Using Communications to Run Better Board Meetings," the communications track sesssion she presented this afternoon, she offered two different decalogues.

First, Hasler -- an Oceanside, California, professional parliamentarian who specializes in community associations -- identified the 10 qualities you look for in board members: trustworthiness, responsibility, commitment, promptness, cooperativeness, enthusiasm, intelligence, activeness, courtesy, and preparedness. After that came an even more ambitious list: the 10 commandments of effective listening. Behold:

1. Thou shalt not judge nor evaluate until thou has understood.
2. Thou shalt not infer thoughts, facts, or ideas in addition to those stated.
3. Thou shalt not attribute thine own thoughts and ideas to the speaker.
4. Thou shalt not permit thy thoughts to stray nor thy attention to wander.
5. Thou shalt not close thy mind to others.
6. Thou shalt not permit thy heart to rule thy mind.
7. Thou shalt not interpret words and phrases except as they are interpreted by the speaker.
8. Thou shalt not become infatuated with the sound of thine own voice.
9. Thou shalt not consider thyself too good to learn from thy associates.
10. Thou shalt not fear improvement, correction, or change.

And we saw that it was good.

When it comes to insuring their units, many condominium and cooperative owners have no idea where the association's scope of coverage ends and theirs begins. And whose fault is that? Insurance professionals', according to Timothy Cline, CIRMS (of the Timothy Cline Insurance Agency, in Santa Monica), who with Robert Travis, CIRMS (of Community Association Underwriters of America, in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania), and Edmund Weber, CIRMS (of the West Chester Insurance Group, in West Chester, Ohio), presented "What Is the Homeowners Six Policy Anyway?" this afternoon.

"Insuring a condominium property is probably the trickiest type of insurance purchase there is," Timothy said during the education session, which was part of our risk and financial management track . The association's master policy covers the common elements, while individual unit owners are responsible for liability and personal property coverage in their homes -- which comes in the form of the Homeowners Six (HO6) policy. But "as an insurance industry," Timothy said, "we've done an excellent job of keeping this as confusing as possible."

As a result, it's more important than ever for associations to encourage owners to get an HO6. Do your owners know, for example, that master policies typically don't cover individual units for loss of use, loss of rent, premises liability, or real property improvements that are the owners' responsibility? Said Timothy: "I think the liability or exposure is significant."

In the first session on the governance and legal topics track this afternoon, Lynn M. Krupnik, Esq., of Ekmark & Ekmark, in Scottsdale, Arizona, issued a list of caveats for ensuring that an association's rules are legal, in her session, "Rules: How to Ensure They Are Legal, Effective, and Address the Problem at Hand."

There are few basics, of course -- make sure the rules don't conflict with federal laws, such as Fair Housing laws, or local ordinances. In general, association leaders can't discriminate against people for personal reason -- but an exception is granted for age-restricted communities, which may discriminate based on familial status (which is to say, families with children might not be allowed to live in, say, a seniors community).

Krupnik cautioned to make sure to enforce rules consistently, and to keep thorough records, to avoid getting in legal trouble for discrimination. A family that is constantly censured for children throwing balls into neighbors' yards, and other child-related mischief, could conceivably make a case that it is being discriminated against on the basis of it familial status (it has children).

In the afternoon's first Communications track session, "How to Define -- and Change -- the Organizational Structure of Your Community Association," Bradford J. Brady, CMCA, PCAM, of Associa, in Glen Allen, Virginia, ticked off a list of reasons many associations have difficulty functioning well. But identifying potential weaknesses, some common organizational problems can be nipped in the bud.

As a kind of lifestyle in the U.S., associations are relatively new -- they came to be in the 1960s and began to flourish in the 1980s. They're also relatively unique, which means they're often misunderstood, even by homeowners who live there, and, sometimes, even board members. They're also startlingly diverse, encompassing condos as well as bucolic single-family communities.

And, speaking of unique, here's a bit of trivia from Brady's session -- the smallest association is a two-unit condominium association, in Reston, Virginia.

William F. "Chip" Merlin, Esq., of the Merlin Law Group, in Tampa, hit our disaster survival track right on the head this afternoon with "Dealing With Disaster: How to Survive Being Flooded Out, Burned Up, and Blown Away." Chip was blunt, pragmatic, and wide-ranging, addressing disaster preparation as well as management and recovery.

The biggest pre-disaster concern, he said, is obviously insurance. He stressed the importance of meeting with your agent to review your policy -- and make sure you're covered for what you think you are. Sound like a no-brainer? Sure. Except that Chip has been retained by an association whose carports were covered by one insurance carrier -- but not by a later carrier. The lapse didn't come to light until the carports suffered $750,000 in damage.

Post-disaster, you need to plan for things like access to units, power sources, and communications. "Where is your office going to be," Chip asked, "if your condominium is competely wiped out?"

Vaden Savage, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, a newly minted PCAM, of Worldmark by Trendwest Resorts, in Bass Lake, California, is a lucky man. He won "Karaoke Idol" while on a cruise once. And this afternoon, he walked out of theExhibit Hall with a bucket of cash.

Savage was one of many winners, some in absentia, to leave after today's 2:45 p.m. raffle drawing with money and gifts from exhibitors, ranging from $100 Best Buy gift cards to a RoboMaid and a gift basket packed with moon pies. To win the pail o' cash, the prize in a raffle held by SenEarthCo, in Minneapolis, participants had to guess how much green stuff was stuffed inside. The answer was $331, and Savage was closest. The money is going, he says, to his own personal anti-poverty fund. In other words, he'll likely spend it on practical things. Although he did mention the lure of the casino down the road....

Also this afternoon, business cards were plucked from bowls on the tables of the day's two Mystery Booth exhibitors -- Dimensional Vinyl Graphics, Inc. and U.S. Lawns. Participants have a shot at winning one of two daily $750 prizes, just for leaving their business cards with exhibitors. The first winner, Linda Harold, wasn't present, but the second, Sherry Lynn Neal, CMCA, PCAM, of Equity Management, in Temecula, California, was, and got her $750 in cash counted into her hand before an envious crowd. (In the photo above, Dimensional President Bart Barthelman does the Joker's Wild routine for Neal while our Exhibit Hall master of ceremonies, Marc Ingram, looks on.) Neal says she's fairly lucky, having won prizes in raffles and events held by her local CAI chapter. She'll use her Mystery Booth money to help fund an upcoming vacation.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Sure, Howard Putnam served as CEO of a then-fledgling company called Southwest Airlines, led another airline, Brainiff International, out of bankruptcy, and spent more than 20 years with United Airlines. But let's talk about what makes him a perfect keynote speaker for CAI: He spent four years -- "four damn long years," he specified during his keynote address this morning -- on the board of his Nevada homeowner association.

Howard lived to tell the tale, and to share it with his spillover audience in "Leadership Strategies for Surviving Turbulence," a keynote presentation sponsored by Associa. First, he said, you have to figure out the legacy you want to be part of: "Some play the game" or "Others change the way the game is played." Not surprisingly, Howard hews toward the latter approach. "Turbulence is inevitable, but misery is optional," he said. "You may as well take advantage of the turbulence and make some changes."

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Howard's free e-newsletter. Just be sure to fasten your seat belt first.

National President Ross Feinberg, Esq., remembers his first CAI conference. It was in Boston in 1986, Ross told a standing-room-only audience at this morning's Opening General Session. Our old pal Cliff Treese, CIRMS, was president at the time, and he made Ross feel welcome -- like part of a family. Twenty years later, that experience still informs Ross' vision of CAI. "Even though we're all competitors," he said, "we're all part of the same industry."

It's an industry -- and an "Institute," as Ross often refers to CAI -- that increasingly revolves around two concepts. "The two words you're going to hear most often are 'community' and 'professionalism,' because that's what we do." He added: "Everything we do is to ensure that CAI remains an active and trusted resource."

The Exhibit Hall opened at noon today in the Celebrity Ballroom, where a stroll among the booths leads you past faux flowerbeds coated with what looks like mulch but is actually recycled tires, large bits of pipe and displays that incorporate running water, logoed pens and other freebies, the scatologically themed booth of waste-management services company EntreManure, and a series of rotating experts at the Ask the Expert post out front.

To help capture the look and feel of a CAI Exhibit Hall, we asked a couple of exhibitors to give us their spiels.

Who: Chris Cote
Company: GroundScape, which has offices across the country (Cote is based in North Carolina)
Been to a CAI conference before? No, this is our first national conference.
What's your product or service? GroundScape is the permanent ground cover made from clean, shredded, recycled rubber, for natural-looking color and texture that lasts.
Brochures/business cards feature: Brochure is emblazoned with the product motto, "The Freshly Landscaped Look That Lasts."

Who: Kay Miller
Company? Guardsmark, located in Palm Desert, California
Been to a CAI conference before? Yes, about five.
What's your product or service? Security services, investigations, background screening.
Brochures/business cards feature: On business cards, a gilded, family-crest-style insignia with the words: "Truth, Courage, Judgement."

PHOTOS: Christie Chapman

CAI feted its star recruiters at Crazy Bones last night, and CAI CEO Tom Skiba extended a personal thank-you to recruiters for their efforts. The air was thick with smoke from the fire pit and the aroma of Southern-style barbecue, and recruiters queued up for the temporary-tattoo artist, who offered an array of designs: butterflies, stylized graphic patterns that weave around the bicep -- even a CAI tattoo.

Sponsored by SmartStreet, the Recruiter Club party offered us a chance to poll a few recruiters -- some seasoned, one newbie -- while they waited in line for the tattoo artist. Among other things, we asked them for their top recruiting tips.

Who: Denise Bower, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Company: Community Management, Portland, Oregon
How many members have you recruited? "50 to 100 people."
What's your secret? "Be enthusiastic. It's all about passion. You have to believe in what you're saying."

Who: Mark Coolman
Company: Western Risk Insurance, Las Vegas
How many members have you recruited? "50 to 100 people."
What's your secret? "I believe in the benefits of membership, so I explain to people that it makes economic sense to join."

Who: Joanne Strobel
Company: assistant chapter executive director
How many members have you recruited? "I'm a newbie, but I'm a firm believer in the benefits of membership, and even more so now after the chapter executive director training."
Tell us about your tattoo: "It's a tarantula. It reminds me of a black widow spider -- a man-eater."

PHOTOS: Christie Chapman

The risk and financial management track started today with "Budgeting and Forecasting: Tips and Techniques to Foster Organizational Growth," presented by CAI's unofficial "gadget man," William F. Hession, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, of HCi, in Sachse, Texas. Hession shared new strategies for developing and protecting association budgets.

He also addressed the age-old riddle: How to ask association members to spend money now to benefit later. "You can never give people enough information," Hession says. "To get people to buy into your plan, tell them, 'You'll be seeing some nice new things going up around the pool,' for example."

And reserve studies can make banks take you more seriously. "If your study is properly done, the bank will say, 'Well, obviously they'll have the money in a few years, so let's front them the money now.' It's a a tool to help you get your project done."

The timely disaster survival track kicked off this morning with "How to Develop a Business Continuity Plan for Your Association," presented by Donna A. Zanetti, PCAM, of Capital Consultants Management, in Las Vegas, Nevada. As numerous disasters, natural and man-made, have dominated headlines in recent years, it's clear that no community can take its safety and harmony for granted.

While many of us hear "disaster" and think along the lines of hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, or of terror attacks, smaller menaces sometimes escape our attention. For example, what if the folks in charge all come down with the flu -- who would be the second line of defense? And, as Zanetti pointed out, a much larger-scale health scare could disrupt operations in your community -- say, for example, the entire area had to be quarantined.

So it's crucial to put a plan in place that meets the unique needs of the community: Who's in charge? What do you restore first? Address these questions now, and you won't be scrambling to restore order in the midst of chaos.

Our governance and legal track kicked off this morning with "Non-Confrontational Transitions: Why Everyone Benefits," presented by Margey Meyer, CMCA, PCAM (of Associa, in Houston), Lynn Vorhees, RS (of Kipcon, Inc., in North Brunswick, New Jersey), and David Larkin, Esq. (of Toll Brothers, in Horsham, Pennsylvania).

So what makes for a non-confrontational transition from developer control of a community? David said it's key that a developer assemble an "association development team" made up of qualified professionals: an attorney, an insurance agent, an accountant, an engineer or reserve specialist, and -- most importantly -- a manager. "It's the managers that bring the experience to the table," David said. "From our experience, the manger is the big player."

As part of our communications track, Julie Adamen (of Adamen, Inc., in Poulsbo, Washington) and Mike Packard, PCAM (of Associa, in San Diego) presented "Corporate Culture Matters: Are You Listening?" this morning. Both Julie and Mike have worked with management companies and community associations across the country, and they've found the same thing. "The common denominator for all successful companies," Mike said, "is a good, positive culture."

Meaning what? Their definition came right from Wikipedia: "Corporate culture comprise the attitudes, values, beliefs, norms, and customs of an organization." In many companies, Julie said, the prevailing culture evolves on its own, and thus is flat or stagnant. "A lack of culture is a culture," she said. "If you want to move it forward into something better, you can."

How? Start by defining a corporate strategy that involves four parts:
     1. Mission statement
     2. Vision statement
     3. Goals and objectives
     4. Strategic planning

"This may sound a little corny and wishy-washy," Packard said. But that doesn't make it any less important.

Directly opposite the Registration Desk, standing behind the Ribbon Bar, Dave Caplan, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, pressed on every single manager who bellied up to the Ribbon Bar a hot-pink "APCM Rocks!" ribbon. It's a brand-new item -- as is the APCM itself. Hence Dave's relentless promotional efforts. "We want you to get involved with the managers group," said Dave, an APCM Board member, pictured above in a shirt that we'd call "red" but that our colleague Jennifer Flynn insists is closer to "puce." As managers helped themselves to their neon-lit strips of professional empowerment, Dave added: "Our subgroup is here to represent you to the Board of Trustees."

Ditto the Center for Community Association Volunteers and the Business Partners Council, by the way, each of which also has its own new ribbon -- respectively, a yellow slip that says, "CCAV Leads!," and a light-blue number that says, "Business Partners Rule!" (FYI, Jennifer agrees with both colors.) Get 'em while they're hot.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Bookstores today seem constitutionally prohibited from not opening a coffee shop. Thus, this morning's Networking Coffee Break was located mere steps from the CAI Bookstore, the better to encourage browsing, mingling, and caffeinating. It didn't take long before every table was filled. Over here, two attendees debated the merits of the communications track versus the disaster survival track. Over there, three attendees pondered the difficulty of establishing a strong committee structure.

And, standing in line for coffee, a PCAM who'd already been to "three or four" CAI conferences seemed dubious about our plans to switch to decaf for the rest of the morning. "It's so early," she said. Point taken. So what brought her to Palm Springs? "The sessions are great," she said. "The networking's even better."

PHOTO: Chris Durso

After the President's Club party, after the Welcome Reception, and after the Recruiter Club party, it was time. Time for a break. Time for a boost. Time, friends, for In-N-Out Burger.

For our first trip last night, we recruited our co-blogger, the ever-tolerant Christie Chapman, who'd never been to In-N-Out and thus offered a less-biased counterpoint to our fanboy palette. Christie kept her order simple: cheeseburger, fries, chocolate shake. Perfect for a neophyte. But we felt like we were ready for the next level -- a Double-Double, animal style, which means the patties are cooked in mustard and smothered in grilled onions.

The verdict, as determined by Christie and ourselves: very solid shake, mediocre fries, tremendous burger. In fact, after her first bite, Christie was moved to say, and we quote: "Wow. I can see why this is so popular." True enough. You never forget your first time. Especially when you wash down that In-N-Out cheeseburger with a half-mile walk along a windblown highway to a desert casino in the hope of finding a cab. Never let it be said we don't know how to show a girl a hep night out.

The theme of this conference is "Listen to Learn," and the listening and learning flow in many directions, including speakers to attendees, attendees to attendees -- and, as we discovered at this evening's Welcome Reception, attendees to staff members. The plan, you'll recall, was to (1) throw a big bash, (2) bring together hundreds of CAI members,  and (3) spring on them a party-wide icebreaker that would force everyone to talk to everyone else.

And, we have to say, Steps 1 and 2 went fabulously. But Step 3, the icebreaker, went nowhere, because it turned out our Welcome Reception attendees needed no prompting at all to mix, mingle, network, chat, jaw, gossip, bond, and otherwise get to know each other. Within 15 minutes it was a human mixing bowl, albeit one greased by killer margaritas.

Speaking of which, we got into the spirit and made a few new friends ourselves. There was Ed Hutt, PCAM, president-elect of CAI's Greater Inland Empire chapter and, more importantly, the guy who came out of nowhere to buy us a margarita when we couldn't find a drink ticket. Ed has been in community management since 1988 -- currently he's with Equity Management, in Temecula -- and, considering the skill with which he procured a new drinking buddy tonight, it's not hard to divine the secret of his success.

We also met Sabine Liedel, Greater Inland Empire's executive director. She's been on the job for about six months but already seemed to have her chapter -- and much of the industry -- down cold. But what do you expect from someone who came to the United States from Germany when she was 12?

These are just some of the things we learned when we listened. And conference hasn't even really started yet.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

"We won't start until everyone has a drink," said Marc Markel, Esq., chair of CAI's President's Club -- and, no hypocrite, the guy in the white shirt holding the pleasantly amber-colored beverage in the photo above. Marc was kicking off the President's Club annual meeting, which was buried deep within its invitation-only, one-hour reception late this afternoon, and his opening remark neatly capturing the group's good-hearted swagger and determined sense of cheer.

Of course, President's Club members have reason to be proud. In many ways they're our most dedicated and generous supporters, their contributions funding ambitious, far-ranging CAI projects such as Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities, the 2005 Nationwide Survey of Homeowner Satisfaction, and the book Building Community: Proven Strategies for Turning Homeowners Into Neighbors. "These are the folks that are willing to dig into their pockets to make the contributions that make the whole thing work," Marc told us before heading to the podium, where he exhorted several dozen of his fellow President's Clubbers to drink from the swell bar -- Sam Adams and Bass Ale! -- and eat from the swell hors d'oeuvres.

And give themselves a pat on the back, too. That's what we'd do if we didn't have a camera in one hand and a Bass in the other.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

There's no escaping the three P's of association living -- pets, pools, parking -- not even at the CAI Bookstore, whose first sale upon opening for business this afternoon was Pet Policies: How Community Associations Maintain Peace & Harmony. And, because the author of Pet Policies -- Debra Lewin, pictured above with our Live from Palm Springs co-blogger, Christie Chapman -- also runs the CAI Bookstore, it was she herself who made the sale. Just another example of the circle of life -- and, you know, books -- that is a CAI conference.

The Bookstore was only open for a few hours today, but tomorrow and Friday, it will be up and running all day. If you're here, stop by, say hello to Debra, browse our voluminous catalog, and enjoy the perks and special events we have on tap, including free shipping on orders of $100 or more, and, on Friday morning, a book signing for the newest title from Community Associations Press -- Construction Defect Litigation: The Community Association's Guide to the Legal Process.

Remember, reading is fundamental, but reading about community associations -- well, that's just plain fun. Right? Hello? Hellooooooo?

PHOTO: Chris Durso

When it opens tomorrow at noon, our Exhibit Hall will be a thriving bazaar of more than 100 booths and nearly a thousand attendees. But right now, it's a bit like a ghost town under construction. Our exhibitors, usually the sharpest-attired people at the conference, are dressed for comfort, the better to make sense of the maze of crates, tables, signs, and kiosks that they'll raise into a bright, shining metropolis of commerece. It's a lot of work, and this time tomorrow, you won't see any of the sweat -- just a lot of smiles, even more handshakes, and many happy customers.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

After spending hours stuffed on a plane, collecting and hauling luggage from baggage claim to taxi to hotel desk to hotel room, then finally registering for conference, it's just what you need: to be accosted by someone asking you why you came to conference. And, could you please pose for a snapshot?

But this afternoon, three conference-goers were nice enough to submit to a brief Q&A -- and smile for the camera.

Who: Donna A. Zanetti, PCAM,
Company: Capital Consultants
Point of departure: Las Vegas
Veteran or newbie? Veteran -- been to "seven or eight" national conferences.
What are you most looking forward to? The topic disaster prevention is especially timely right now. Also, renewing acquaintances with people who live on the other side of the country.

Who: Kathy Lawler
Company: ServPro
Point of departure: Sylmar, California
Veteran or newbie: New to national conference.
What are you most looking forward to? Seeing friends I don't get to see often because they live far away.

Who: April Tronson
Company: ServPro
Point of departure: Sylmar, California
What are you most looking forward to? We're exhibitors, and the schedule is very exhibitor-friendly this year.

PHOTOS: Christie Chapman

It's quiet this morning -- still and slow, and flush with a sense of stealth concentration that can mean only one thing: our Membership Representation Groups (MRGs) are getting down to business. In advance of their annual membership meetings on Friday morning, the APCM Board, Business Partners Council, and Community Association Volunteers Committee today are tucked away, doing a bit of this and a bit of that.

Spectators are welcome, but right now there don't seem to be any. Very odd. It's almost as if a meeting -- or three -- held in a small, windowless board room can't compete with unspeakably gorgeous weather. Clearly, further investigation is in order.

PHOTO: Chris Durso

Every November, we as a nation give thanks. And every May, we as an association give thanks -- to the sponsors whose generous support makes our national conference possible.

So, if you would, take a moment to direct some gratitude toward the service providers and allied professionals who are helping make our time in Palm Springs so memorable. And make sure you visit them in our Exhibit Hall tomorrow and Friday.

PLATINUM PARTNER

* U.S. Bank

GOLD PARTNERS

* Preferred Property Programs

* SmartStreet, a division of Flag Bank

SILVER PARTNER

* Resort Condominiums International, LLC

EVENT SPONSORS

* Associa -- Thursday keynote speaker

* Feinberg Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP -- Friday keynote speaker

* Kevin Davis Insurance Services -- managers reception

* The Flood Company -- PCAM reception

* Smart Street, a division of Flag Bank --

          >> Recruiter Club party

          >> CEO-MC/Large-Scale Community Managers lounge

          >> Chapter leadership breakfasts

          >> Chapter executive director scholarship

* SouthData, Inc. -- chapter leadership training afternoon breaks

 And don't forget tonight's Welcome Reception, sponsored by AssociationVoice, eReserves Systems, Jenark Business Systems Inc., and U.S. Lawns. It's only thanks to the commitment of these and all our other sponsors that we're able to give conference attendees the best of everything.

It took the better part of the day, but we're finally here, at the Westin Mission Hills. It's dark, and the air is heavy and soft and a little sweet, and everything is just as beautiful as we remember -- a masterpiece, at 10 p.m. local time, of graceful lighting and elegant landscaping. And the people who work here are really, really nice, too.

Tomorrow -- or today, if you're reading this on the East Coast -- the conference starts ramping up. There will be meetings of our MRGs, Board of Trustees, Government & Public Affairs Committee, plus orientation for our new CEDs. And then will come the fun, fun, fun of the Welcome Reception and the Recruiter Club party. Some of us might even try to squeeze in our first visit to In-N-Out.

But for now, we're quite content to sit on our balcony and listen to the faintly chirping night and gaze over the green-shadowed slopes of the golf course just outside. Tomorrow truly is another day. And it's still not too late for you to be a part of it. Really -- we love walk-ins.

PHOTO: Courtesy Westin Mission Hills

It's one of the many thrills of conference -- watching those formerly buttoned-up, staid, well-behaved fellow conference-goers morph into fun-loving, disco-dancing, conga-line-joining party animals, albeit while dressed elegantly and in a luxurious setting. It could only be CAI's Awards Dinner and Dance. And this year, it'll all happen under the stars.

From 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 5, at the Masters Plaza at the Westin Mission Hills, we'll dine on great food, honor CAI's national award-winners from 2005, and dance to a live band at this event, which is complimentary for all full conference registrants; additional tickets are $80 at the registration desk. Attire is black-tie optional, but keep in mind that the dinner and dance are outdoors.

You may have heard about the Great American Boycott, a nationwide call for immigrant workers to participate in rallies and marches on Mon., May 1, to demand full rights for immigrants and their famililes. This falls on a day that some of you plan to attend PMDP courses at the Westin Mission Hills in Palm Springs.

The event shouldn't disrupt either the PMDP courses or conference -- CAI and the Westin Mission Hills are prepared to handle the lack of hotel support staff on Mon. The hotel has asked visitors to please be patient with any possible delays. On Mon., room service will not be available in the morning through the afternoon, because the staff will be concentrated at the hotel’s restaurants to better assist guests during the day. Room service will be available Mon. evening, but it may be slower then normal. The hotel should be functioning normally on Tues., May 2.

Conference veterans know that, whether in sunny Palm Springs or some other clime, there’s one fashion trend that is de rigueur -- the ribbons. When you get your name badge at the registration desk, you have available for you an array of ribbons in a rainbow of color