THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 14, 1995 TAG: 9501120284
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Common Ground
SOURCE: G. Robert Kirkland and Michael A. Inman
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Several people on our board said you mentioned a new computer bulletin board system for community associations in a recent column.
I am familiar with both the local bulletin boards and some of the larger national ones like America On Line.
Is this part of those? I think this kind of service would be great for exchanging ideas and experiences.
Is this thing for real and how do I get involved?
Yes, the system is for real. It's called Community Associations Online and it's a stand-alone bulletin board, not part of any large national systems.
It was developed by the Community Associations Institute as part of an ongoing effort to improve communications and knowledge in the community association industry.
The CAO system is designed for anyone who has a role or interest in community associations. This includes homeowners, managers and board members.
The system has just about everything you could hope for. It provides electronic mail, conferences, an on-line library, download files and archives.
The archives contain 20 years of publications from the CAI as well as actual example material from other associations.
There are special areas for managers, lawyers, accountants, etc.
There are also news, weather and features, including a columnist area where this column is available on line. You may also send questions to us through this service.
The system is very easy to use, requiring only the software, a modem and a mouse to turn your computer into an association resource center.
You can get more information about logging on by calling the CAO at 1-800-248-1325. How to fight mudslinging
Recently on a talk show, I heard the host really putting down the idea of homeowner associations.
I am a member of an association that is really quite large, and I don't understand why this fellow thinks there are major problems with associations.
Our association generally has excellent morale, and neighborhood battle like he spoke of are unknown in our association.
More importantly, I am concerned about my property value as a result of this negative publicity. Is there anything we can do about this sort of occurrence?
After a national newspaper did a story on an association's battle over a pink house, it's become the copycat idea for owners to go to the news media with stories of ``oppressive'' associations.
However, these stories surely do increase the public's recognition of how well associations can protect your property values.
It is absolutely true that some associations do go off the deep end and give reason for such publicity. Association boards, as mini-governments, can make mistakes if they have not been properly trained for their jobs.
Is the same not true for city governments, police departments and other public agencies?
The need for training to successfully operate associations is the reason for the national Community Associations Institute. Associations face too many liability issues to continue making such mistakes.
That is also the reason that the CAI's Southeast Virginia Chapter holds programs on a regular basis. You simply cannot afford the risk of not learning as much as possible about how to run your association properly.
In fact, we will throw down a challenge to all of you. Let's hear from the silent majority. Tell me whether you like the environment your association creates for your neighborhood. You can leave a message on our answer machine (430-3617) used by people with questions for this column, but make it brief.
You can E-mail your response to us on the national Community Associations Online (call 1-800-248-1325 only for signups), assuming your association is an on-line member.
In the meantime, quit tolerating ignorance and feuds. Start keeping your associations out of the media! Remember, you elect your board every year. You are their neighbors, and, if they do poorly, elect people willing to learn what they should be doing. MEMO: G. Robert Kirkland, president of a Virginia Beach property management
consulting firm, and attorney Michael A. Inman specialize in Virginia
community association issues and are affiliated with the Southeastern
Virginia chapter of the Community Associations Institute. Send comments
and questions to them at Real Estate Weekly, 150 W. Brambleton Ave.,
Norfolk, Va. 23510. To submit questions by phone, call 446-2033; fax:
446-2531. by CNB