Community Communication Corner
by Bob Gourley, MyEZCondo Founder, Member of CAI CT Board of Directors

Welcome to Communication Corner
The first issue of "Common Interest" for the New Year is exciting for several reasons. CAI-CT is now entering its 30th year of service. The volunteer members of the organization are rejuvenated and excited by the growth and activity of the membership. Several members of the Publication Committee have pledged their involvement in bringing their expertise to readers. I am especially excited to be a part of the activity and I welcome you to my new column that will focus on Communication issues specific to community associations. I encourage you to write or email me with your stories and successes as we strive to build better communities through better communication.

With the craziness of the holiday season behind us, the beginning of the New Year is a great time to make a commitment to change. If one of your resolutions is to do a better job communicating with your fellow association members, I trust you will find my column useful.

Finance and Communications
The start of a New Year means the beginning of a new budget for most associations. This year, that may mean big changes for many communities. Increased costs for insurance, fuel, and other resources have many communities scrambling to find the money needed to keep their properties strong. How well you use your communication skills during this process can be the difference between achieving success or being perceived as part of the problem.

The vast majority of community members do not participate in the budget process. How will you keep them informed and interested in your community's financial matters? Will you simply raise their common fees or assess them for increased expenses? How do you think they will respond to that approach?

To the uninitiated, the budget process can seem a bit daunting and mystical. It is a combination of the science of financial planning and the art of crystal ball wizardry that yields a "best guess" as to how much items will cost in the upcoming year and what income will be needed to offset those costs. Property managers and the members of an association's Board of Directors have access to previous year's numbers and generally do a good job forecasting the fiscal responsibilities that lie ahead for the community.

When the budget changes little from year to year, there appears to be little to communicate to community members. Residents pay their common fees, the bills get paid, and all is well. What happens when a 50% increase to insurance premiums is compounded with the 20% increase in lawn maintenance? At the same time, the property management firm has requested a 10% increase on their fees since their expenses went up as well. It looks like there is going to be big story to tell this year after all.

The best approach to communicating with your audience is to tell your story well and to tell it often. If your community has a newsletter or website, publishing highlights from the current and previous years' budget is a great way to start the conversation. Any one who has watched this past year's unfortunate and tragic chain of weather disasters will understand why insurance rates have risen. Surely, we are all feeling the pinch of higher prices at the gas pumps and can understand why a fuel-intensive business like a lawn service needs to increase rates. You can tie it all together nicely by explaining what the BOD and Property Management Company are doing to mind the dollars of the association.

Don't stop there. In future releases, highlight a particular item in your budget and explain to community members what that item is and how it effects them. By highlighting various financial topics throughout the year, you will be giving community members the opportunity to better understand their budget and their role in helping to control expenses. Informed members make better decisions when it comes time to vote for next year's budget.

Make a resolution to make your community better through better communication! Your investment in doing so will reap financial rewards for years to come.

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