Talk With CAM 051: An Interview With Joseph West,
SHOW NOTES
Joe is another pioneer in community association management. He was a director with CAI and helped with the development in the early years. Like my self, he found that there was little on the internet to help managers, board member, and members to provide information. His web page, http://www.communityassociations.net/was created to gather information and news articles for the industry. Please visit his web page and bookmark it for future use.

 

 TWCAM 051: An Interview With Joseph West, [18:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 050: A talk with Jack Holeman
Show Notes
It is hard to believe that we have reached 50 podcast in our first year. But here we are. I thought that a good way to celebrate the 50th was to call on an old friend and one of the original managers that started condominium management industry. I hope you enjoy two old friends just talk about the “good-old-days”. Jack’s web page is www.yourcabin.com.

 

 TWCAM 050 Jack Holeman Interview [24:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 049: Sunrise, a time to relax!
SHOW NOTE:
Today, I produced a short podcast asking that members, board members, and manager to take time off from the pressures of life. I went on my patio at sunrise and just watched the sun rise. It is a task that many do not take advantage to “recharge the body’s battery”.

>>>>In addition, I have made a request for nomination of communities and association to be added to a newly created Honor Roll of superior operated associations. Please send an email (Richard@talkwithcam.com) or a letter to 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd., #201, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Answer the following: (By submitting this information, you agree to allow publication of the information.)
Association’s Name
City and State
Condominium, Cooperative, HOA, ROA, or other
A brief statement why your association is a great place to live
Contact information of the person submitting
After review, your community will be posted in a special web page on my site.

***Today I produced a short video posted for your information. Please click to view a short video on my work space: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oLgtngTT84I

 

 TWCAM 049 Sunrise, a time to relax [11:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 048, Discrimination
SHOW NOTES

Today we talk about discrimination. Listed below are several news stories concerning discrimination in associations. You need to understand who you can restrict and who you cannot. The podcast is only for information to think about the situation and each association must fully understand the limits of discrimination. It is recommended that the boards seek legal help to comply with State and Federal laws.

Here is a story about a black couple denied the right to purchase a condominium:
www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/07/16/news/lake_county/docd42fda7adfebdee6862574880006bc2b.txt
“The Homeowner’s Association is totally out of control,” said Suzane Musashe of Jander Property Management.  Musashe leases homes for investors in Rybolts Reserve. She said the association is refusing to rent to gay couples or other adults who are not married.
http://www.wftv.com/news/16897375/detail.html

And in Orlando: http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/gayhoa071608.html
And http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/07/071608home.htm

A local neighborhood association has become the first in the state to ban registered sex offenders.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8701311&nav=menu188_2
SURVEY FOR HOA: I recently came across a survey for HOA that will help draft future laws for HOA. Here are some of the 14 questions on the Cyber Citizens for Justice survey of owners in homeowner association communities.
http://www.ccfj.net/CCFJHOASURVEY.html

 

 TWCAM 048 Discrimination [19:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 047: Emergency #3
SHOW NOTES
This podcast was added to the sessions discussing emergencies because of several emails that I received. We first further discuss chemicals and the need to have a file or notebook with Material Safety Data Sheets, MSDS. For supplementary information, go to: www.msdsonline.com. In addition, you can contact the chemical company listed on the label or the vendor that sells the chemical.

We also talked about traffic and the use of speed bumps or painted lines on the roads.

The two final subjects were fire in condominiums and pets and the possible problems the association can face.

The 50th podcast is scheduled for August 3rd and I request support on suggested subjects.  In addition, I reported that in August I was going to post podcast ever other week: August 3rd, 17th, and 31st because of my tight schedule.

 

 TWCAM 047 Emergency #3 [17:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 046: Emergency #2
SHOW NOTES
This podcast is the second discussion of emergency procedures and planning for board of directors. The subjects that we will discuss are:

6. Energy loss, 7. Water supply, 8. Food supplies, 9. Terrorism and Nuclear circumstances, 10. Drought, and 11. Crime

You plans need to include: Yourself, your family, your children, your pets, your neighbors, and your community. The key is to develop some type of plan. It can be simple as putting your plans in writing to setting up stockpiles of supplies. Many of the emergencies as listed in our eleven discussed can be included as a single package or plan. My recommendation is to establish a committee to evaluate possible events that could happen and that the committee creates a plan of action. Then each month review, inspect, and test the plan.

 

 TWCAM 046 Emergency #2 [19:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 045: Emergency #1
SHOW NOTES
This podcast will discuss the creation of a emergency plan of action. We will discuss five emergencies that associations may face. Next week we will discuss six other emergency situation in podcast 046.

The five this week are: Fire, Flood, Storms to include hurricanes, Earthquakes, and Public Health. Your plan should start with yourself, your family and children, pets, neighbors, and community. While the association and board has some responsibility, the final responsible is each member and owner.

Some web pages are: The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is www.floridacert.com.  I do strongly suggest that each association contact CERT for information on how to set up an emergency team.

For information on my Hurricane Report, send me an email at Richard@talkwithcam.com.

 

 TWCAM 045 Emergency #1 [25:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 044: Landscape
SHOW NOTES
Our guest speaker today is Tom MacCubbin. He is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Service from Orange County. He also writes a column for the Orlando Sentinel answering questions on landscape. His email is TomMack1996@aol.com. He referred to a web page for information, www.SolutionsForYourLife.com. Another web page is http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/, which is a University of Florida web page.

For information on other state sites other than Florida, go to http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/Netlinks/ces.html.

Our discussion covers the full spectrum of landscape from trees to grass. To locate the extension agent in your area, look up the phone number in the blue section of you phone book.

 

 TWCAM 044, Landscape with Tom MacCubbin [31:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 043: News Articles
SHOW NOTES
Today I decided to talk about news articles that come across my desk concerning condominiums and homeowner association. Each week, I receive well over 50 different newspaper articles and these are only a few of the ones that I feel are very important.

The articles come from: Allentown Examiner, Newsnet5.com, Redirbut.com, Volusia News Journal, ABCactionnews.com, and Nashua Telegraph.

One article discusses a situation where a man needed for health reasons a second window AC and did not present the association with the proper medical information and the matter went too far in court involving HUD and other government agents.

Another discusses a disabled mother with an autistic son that needed a swing set in his back yard. While the association rules restricts such toys, the board did allow the swing set.

An article that discusses the problems when a home tries to install solar panels is our next subject. While there is no final answer in the article, there is a feeling that the green home will be a leader in future construction.

The article on the lawns is closer home and comes from Volusia County Florida were an association was attempting to force an owner to cause his law to be green rather than spots of brown grass. Being in a time of little rain and water restrictions, the owner was extremely upset about the pressure the association was placing on him.

The next article disuses a condominium unit fire. While the story was some what small, it does point out that we need to understand fire fighting procedures.

My final article discusses a group that is fighting city hall and their taxes.

 

 TWCAM 043, New Articles [22:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Talk With CAM 042: Foreclosure
SHOW NOTES:
After receiving several emails about my collection policy and the current financial market, this podcast will explain my position on my recommended collection’s policy. It explains that sometimes it is best not to follow the policy. In brief, the board must make a business decision.

My recommendations are to approve a collection’s policy to send a first notice to delinquent units at the ten-day late date. A second late notice at thirty-days and a third notice by certified mail on the 40th day delinquent. At sixty-days, the delinquent account should be sent to the attorney for a lien and then 30 or 60 days later have the attorney file foreclosure.

The reason that I recommend this policy is that the association stands a better chance to collect because the owner will owe a smaller delinquent amount. HOWEVER, with today’s financial market turned upside down and the high number of bank foreclosures, this policy may need to be modified. For some properties, filing foreclosure is not the best financial decision. The key is to evaluate each property and take the necessary action to reduce the losses.

 

 Foreclosures [20:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download