Quorum - January 2017

Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute

JANUARY 2017

A Magazine for Community Association Volunteer Leaders, Professional Managers and Business Partners

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

___________________________ Meet the 2017 Board ___________________________ 2016 Volunteer Award Winners ___________________________ Be Better; Be Happy

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JANUARY 2017

­CONTENTS 12 2017 Board of Directors 16 2016 Volunteer Awards 18 Are You Ready…What’s YOUR Plan to Evacuate? BY KARA PERMISOHN

20 Active Shooter: A Community Response BY PETE HUGHES

22 Safeguarding Association Funds BY BETH JOHNSON, CPA BY BETH J. LEVINE BY THERESA MELSON, PCAM, CIRMS

DEPARTMENTS AND MORE 5 Message from the President 6 Chapter Benefactor: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP 6 Quorum Magazine Editorial Calendar 7 Welcome New Members 8 Upcoming Events 10 People & Places 11 Volunteer Spotlight 19 Event Flyer: WMCCAI’s Jump Start January 27 Event Flyer: Community Association Litigation! Navigating Through

26 Lessons Learned While Re-Lamping Our Property BY ALLEN SCHISSLER, PCAM

28 PCI Compliance/Cybersecurity and The Quest for Candy BY JIM WISNIEWSKI

30 Congress and HUD Attempt to Ease Condominium Restrictions, Yet Again BY LESLIE BROWN, ESQ.

32 Barring Notice - What is it? How can it help a Common Interest Community Association? BY MICHAEL L. ZUPAN, ESQ.

35 Event Flyer: 2017 WMCAAI’s Conference & Expo 36 Classifieds 37 Index to Advertisers

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38 Cul de sac: Start With You - Be Better

WMCCAI MISSION STATE­MENT To optimize the operations of Community Associations and foster value for our business partners.

Reader comments and suggestions are welcome. Address your comments to: Quorum 7600 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 West Falls Church, VA 22043

We also wel­come ar­ti­cle sub­mis­sions from our ­members. For author guide­lines, call (703) 750-3644 or e-mail publications@caidc.org. Articles may be edited for length and clarity. JANUARY 2017

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President Bruce H. Easmunt, ESQ President-elect Sarah Elise Gerstein, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Vice President Rafael A. Martinez, CTP Secretary Michael Gartner, ESQ. Treasurer Airielle Hansford, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Immediate Past President Jeremy M. Tucker, ESQ (ex officio) Executive Director Matt Rankin, CAE, MPA (ex officio)

D IRECTORS Gordon Boezer, Thomas Burrell, Dorothy Firsching, PMP, Kristen Melson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Ted Ross, Todd A. Sinkins, ESQ., Elizabeth Schultz, CMCA, AMS, John Tsitos, CMCA, AMS, and Stephen Wright, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM

CO U N C I L C HAI R S Communications Council Crishana Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Education Council Jennifer Bennett, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Member Services Council Ruth Katz, ESQ.

CO MM I TTE E C HAI R S Conference & Expo William Cornelius and Donna Aker, CMCA, AMS, PCAM D.C. Legislative/LAC Jane Rogers, ESQ. Education Kevin A. Kernan, ESQ. and James Santos, CMCA, AMS Golf Elizabeth Rudolph, AMS, PCAM and David Crone, CMCA, AMS Maryland Legislative Thomas Schild, ESQ., CCAL Outreach Lenard Goldbaum, AMS, PCAM and Sara Ross, ESQ. Membership Joe Inzerillo and Jarold Martin Quorum Editorial Susan L. Truskey, ESQ. and Nicole Williams, ESQ. Chapter Events June Chulkov and Bernie Guthrie, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Virginia Legislative Ronda DeSplinter, LSM, PCAM and William A. Marr Jr., ESQ.

QU O RUM Editor Rickey E. Dana, rdana@caidc.org Design Six Half Dozen

QU O RUM E DI TORI AL CO M M ITTE E Co-chairs Susan L. Truskey, ESQ. and Nicole Williams, ESQ. Members Mira Brown, CMCA, AMS, Chris Carlson, PE, Deborah Carter, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Michael Gartner, ESQ., Laura Goguet, CMCA, AMS, Scott Greges, CMCA, AMS, Shannon Junior, Ruth Katz, ESQ., Crishana Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Thomas Mugavero, ESQ., Kara Permisohn, Brandi Ruff, CMCA, AMS, Lauri Ryder, CIC, CRM, CMCA, Kim Veirs, Aimee Winegar, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Michael Zupan, ESQ. Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute, a 501(c)(6) organization, serves the educational, business and networking needs of the community association industry in 80 cities/counties in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Members include community association homeowner volunteer leaders, professional managers, association management companies, and other businesses and professionals who provide products and services to planned communities, cooperatives and condominiums. WMCCAI has more than 3,000 members including 300+ businesses, 1,100 professional managers from 85 management companies, and approximately 1,500 community association homeowners. WMCCAI is the largest of Community Associations Institute’s 60 chapters worldwide. Quorum is the award-winning premiere publication of WMCCAI, dedicated to providing WMCCAI’s membership with information on community association issues. Authors are responsible for developing the logic of their expressed opinions and for the authenticity of all presented facts in articles. WMCCAI does not necessarily endorse or approve statements of fact or opinion made in these pages and assumes no responsibility for those statements. This publication is issued with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services and nothing published in Quorum is intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied on as such. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought directly by the person requiring such advice or services. Articles appearing in Quorum may not be reprinted without first obtaining written approval from the editor of Quorum. In the event that such permission is granted, the following legend must be added to the reprint: Reprinted with permission from Quorum™ magazine. Copyright 2017 Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute. Quorum is a trademark of WMCCAI. Receipt of Quorum is a privilege of WMCCAI membership for which $65 in nonrefundable annual dues is allocated. The subscription price for nonmembers is $75 per year; contact publications@caidc.org or call (703) 750-3644.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is an honor and a privilege to serve as 2017’s WMCCAI Chapter President. This year is especially significant, as it is the 40th anniversary of our Chapter. 40 years ago, WMCCAI’s founders set out to create an organization that would exist to serve common interest communities and their integral volunteers. We have grown substantially from our modest beginnings, but our goals and values remain the same. As the largest chapter of Community Associations Institute, WMCCAI continues to proudly serve common interest communities by providing industry leading advocacy, education, and resources to their volunteers, managers, and business partners.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

­O FFICE R S

WMCCAI is successful because of the people who devote their seemingly inexhaustible time and energy to our common goals, as well as those organizations who financially support the Chapter through our Partner Program or through individual sponsorships. Whether you serve on a committee, on the board, or attend some of our many events and educational offerings, you are contributing to what makes our chapter a success. As we continue to build upon the successes we have achieved over the years due to the hard work and dedication of our past leaders, my goal and focus for our 40th anniversary is to increase the appreciation that our Chapter shows to its volunteers and supporters. If you participate in any way with the Chapter, I want you and your company, association, or firm, to know that those efforts are acknowledged, appreciated, and valued. On behalf of WMCCAI, I want to personally thank each of our volunteers and supporters for all that you do to improve our Chapter. For me, CAI is about connecting with one another; about forming and maintaining lasting relationships. I’ve found that the more time and energy that I invest with CAI, the more personally rewarding the experience has been. I want to encourage each of you to increase your involvement with the Chapter. Devote an extra hour a month to come to a committee meeting; attend an educational session to enhance your understanding of the needs of the associations which we serve; attend a happy hour and say hello to a new face at those events. As we strengthen our individual relationships and connections, so too will we strengthen and improve our Chapter. I once again thank you all for this distinct honor and look forward to working with you in the coming year. BRUCE H. EASMUNT,

ESQ.

Bruce a senior associate in the law firm of Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, P.C. His practice is devoted to community association representation. He has previously served as president of a condominium unit owners’ association and as vice president of a master association, both in Falls Church, VA. Bruce was elected to serve on the WMCCAI Board in 2012, he has authored articles in Quorum, presented at CAI education seminars, and chaired the WMCCAI Outreach Committee. He was awarded the WMCCAI Rising Star in 2011, Committee Chair of the Year in 2012, and Educator of the Year in 2015.

To advertise in Quorum, contact Rickey E. Dana, editor, (703) 750-3644 or email publications@caidc.org. For more information about Quorum or WMCCAI, visit www.caidc.org.

JANUARY 2017

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CHAPTER NEWS

C H A P T E R

B E N E F A C T O R

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP Edward J. O’Connell III, ESQ. 3190 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 800 Falls Church, VA 22042 Telephone: (703) 280-9260 Fax: (703) 280-8944 Email: eoconnell@wtplaw.com Tiffany M. Releford, ESQ. 1800 M Street, NW Suite 450N Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: (202) 659-6800 Fax: (202) 327-6179 Email: treleford@wtplaw.com

Areas you serve: Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware Corporate Associations: N/A Services Provided: As a leading law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Michigan, we provide legal advice and representation to community associations, individuals, and businesses of all types throughout the region. Licenses Held: Our attorneys are admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan, and a number of other states.

Website: www.wtplaw.com Year Established or Incorporated: 1933 CAI Member Since: 1991 Certificate of Insurance: N/A Bonded: N/A

Company Philosophy: Identifying and solving legal problems early and cost-effectively requires a close, collaborative relationship between attorney and client. To foster that relationship, we stress responsiveness and open communication. In serving our community association clients, we draw upon our firm’s unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in community association law and in all other areas of law affecting community associations.

QUORUM MAGAZINE EDITORIAL CALENDAR

Article/Submissions Ads Month Theme Due Due th February Our 40 Anniversary Dec. 1 Dec. 17 March Community Associations of the Year Jan. 1 Jan. 17 April Dirty Jobs Feb. 1 Feb. 17 May Summer Recreation March 1 March 17 June Covenants April 1 April 17 July Legislative Update May 1 May 17 August Annual Meeting Review June 1 June 17 *Themes subject to change.

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Welcome New Members WMCCAI proudly welcomes the following members who joined the chapter in November 2016. Community Association Volunteer Leaders from the Following Associations Colecroft Station Condominiums Individual Managers Lydia Gettys, Villages of Urbana Community Association Karl Gilpin, FirstService Residential, AAMC Mark Miller, CMCA, AMS, Park Fairfax Condominium Unit Homeowners Association Richard Springer, Jr. Michelle Winters Business Partners Capital One Bank, N.A. JMR Concrete Potomac Exteriors LLC Quest Benefits, Inc.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 12

Jump Start January 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Fairview Park Marriott Registration Fees Early Bird After Dec. 27 Homeowner Member $60 $110 Nonmember $85 $135 Manager Member $60 $110 Nonmember $85 $135 Business Partner Member $85 $110 Nonmember $135 $135

Kick off 2017 with an all-star event at WMCCAI’s Jump Start January. Score new contacts, toss your name in the hat for championship prizes, and learn how to maximize your playing time in the Chapter. Registration fees include continental breakfast and lunch. Visit www.caidc.org to register online.

JANUARY 24

Manager Luncheon 12:30 – 3 p.m. Seasons 52 11414 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852 Registration Fees Early Bird After Jan. 17 Homeowner Member $50 $60 Nonmember $65 $75 Manager Member $60 $70 Nonmember $75 $85 Business Partner Member $110 $125 Nonmember $135 $150

Disputes can arise in a variety of areas such as by-laws and regulatory enforcement, developer issues, contracts, maintenance and repairs disputes, and Fair Housing matters. This session will explore the roles of the boards, management, and counsel in working together to achieve the best possible litigation outcome. Happy hour to follow from 3-5:30 p.m. Visit www.caidc.org to register online.

JANUARY 25-27

M-100: The Essentials of Community Association Management 8:30 – 5:30 p.m. Northern Virginia

This comprehensive course provides a practical overview for new managers, an essential review for veteran managers and an advanced course for board members. Register through CAI, www.caionline.org/pmdp. For more information, Registration Fees email caieducation@caionline.org. Member $445 Manager $545

FEBRUARY 25

Conference & Expo Walter E Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington, DC 20001 Registration Fees Regular Rates After Jan. 31 Homeowner Member $45 $60 Nonmember $75 $90 Manager Member $100 $115 Nonmember $130 $145 Business Partner Member $170 $185 Nonmember $200 $215

Don’t miss the largest and most important conference and expo in the Washington metro area for the community association industry. More than 200 industry-leading companies will exhibit at the 2017 Conference & Expo, and last year we welcomed more than 2,000 attendees. Visit www.caidc.org for more information.

2017 W M CCAI CONFERENCE & EXPO

For more information on WMCCAI meetings or upcoming events, contact the chapter office at (703) 750-3644, email info@caidc.org or visit www.caidc.org. 8 | Quorum­

2017 Scholarship Program We’re excited to announce that we are offering a scholarship award for a fourth year! This year’s topic is “How Could You Implement a Green Initiative Using Teen Volunteers in Your Neighborhood?” The application can be found on, www.caidc.org. The scholarship program is for all Washington metro area highschool seniors who will be enrolled fall semester in post high school educational courses in a four-year college, community college, or vocational school. If you’d like to help sponsor the scholarship program, please contact Liz Schell at eschell@ caidc. org, or call the chapter office, (703) 750-3644. Sponsors will receive recognition in Quorum, on the chapter website, and in our twice-monthly e-Newsletter.

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Town of Residence: Ashburn, Virginia Education: Environmental Horticulture and Landscape Contracting degrees from Virginia Tech Family: My fiancé, Michael, and my cat, Mikko. Employer/Occupation: Heritage Landscape Services/ Marketing Representative WMCCAI Activities/Participation: Were you surprised you won an award? What went through your mind? Yes! I was very surprised that I won an award. Honestly, I didn’t know what to think. I never really win anything. Why do you feel it is important to be so active in WMCCAI? Because if you aren’t active in CAI, you only look at the organization as a requirement more than an opportunity. It’s not as much fun. Life is short. Make all of the things you have to do as fun as you can. What is the best advice you have ever received? What is the best you have ever given? Make sure you love what you do. Honestly, I don’t know. Words can impact people in different ways.

What was the most recent spontaneous thing you have done? How’d it turn out? Well, last weekend I ran across the street like Eddie the Eagle (in a ski jump-like position). My fiancé took video of it and sent it to my dad and my sister. What is a hidden gem of your community? Why? If I have the definition of this correct, I would say Clyde’s at Willow Creek Farm. This is because they not only have great food and space for many functions at once, but they host charity events as well, like the Sprout 5K. What advice would you give to new WMCCAI members? Get involved. It may seem boring at first since you’re stuck in a room with people you don’t know, but once you speak up, people will remember you and talk to you and you’ll have more fun at the events. Anything you’d like to add? I’d like to thank my company, HLS, for donating their time and materials, the CAI events team for donating their time and efforts, and Neil Moreland, may he rest in peace. Even though I never met him, he meant a great deal to CAI and the Ronald McDonald House and he is greatly missed.

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2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Burrell

Firsching

Martinez

Not pictured: Tom Burrell, Dorothy Firsching, Raf Martinez

Back Row: Todd Sinkins, Ted Ross, Gordie Boezer, Elizabeth Schultz, Steve Wright, Sarah Gerstein, Mike Gartner, John Tsitos, Jeremy Tucker Front Row: Airielle Hansford, Bruce Easmunt, Kristen Melson, Matt Rankin

Meet the Board

W

ashington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute’s 15-member board of directors is responsible for the organization’s policy and governance. In accordance with Community Associations Institute and WMCCAI bylaws, the board reflects CAI’s multidisciplinary membership with at least two community association volunteers, three community association managers, three business partners, and seven at-large members. Additionally, the composition of at-large members cannot provide any one membership category with more than 50 percent of the seats on the board of directors. Board President Bruce H. Easmunt Jr., ESQ. Serving since 2012 Bruce a senior associate in the law firm of Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, P.C. His practice is devoted to community association representation. He has previously served as president of a condominium unit owners’ association and as vice president of a master association, both in Falls Church, VA. Bruce was elected to serve on the WMCCAI Board in 2012, he has authored articles in Quorum, presented at CAI education seminars, and chaired the WMCCAI Outreach Committee. He was awarded the WMCCAI Rising Star in 2011, Committee Chair of the Year in 2012, and Educator of the Year in 2015. President-elect Sarah Gerstein, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Serving since 2011 Sarah is the GM of Broadlands, a 3,800 unit HOA in Loudoun County. She has been in the community management industry since 2000. First as a portfolio manager before transitioning to large scale on-site management in 2012. Sarah has been active in the Chapter for more than 10 years and has served on various committees during that time. She has served on the Chapter Board for five years, holding the offices of Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. Sarah was named to Loudoun County’s Class of 2015 Top 40 Under 40 Business and Community Leaders.

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Vice President Rafael A. Martinez, CTP Serving since 2012 Raf is the community association segment manager with Access National Bank. Rafael brings more than 10 years of industry experience in community association treasury management and lending. He is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), a designation earned through the Association for Financial Professional, signifying expertise in capital and risk management. He earned a B.A. in economics at George Mason University, is a U.S. Army veteran, and has been involved in Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Association Institute for more than eight years, including serving on the Board of Directors. Secretary Michael Gartner, ESQ. Serving since 2014 Mike is a partner in the Falls Church, VA office of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP. Much of Mike’s practice is focused on the representation of common interest communities on a wide range of issues, including covenants enforcement, governance, and statutory compliance. He also has a significant civil litigation practice in which he represents clients in the federal and state courts in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mike has been active in WMCCAI for many years, serving as the co-chair of the Quorum Editorial Committee, and then as the Communications Council Chair before being elected to the Board of Directors. Treasurer Airielle Hansford, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Serving since 2015 Airielle is a condominium division director at Associa Community Management Corporation and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. She joined Associa CMC in 2004 and has managed a wide variety of associations. Airielle has been an active volunteer with WMCCAI since 2007, earning the Chapter’s Rising Star Award in 2011. Prior to joining the Board, she served as the Member Services Council Chair from 2014 through 2015, chaired the Annual Awards Dinner Committee from 2011 through 2013, sat on the Social Media Task Force, and has written articles for Quorum. Immediate Past President Jeremy M. Tucker, ESQ. Serving since 2011 Jeremy is a community association lawyer and a shareholder with Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered. He represents community as-

Nonvoting Ex Officio Matt Rankin, MPA, CAE Serving since 2013 Matt is the executive director of WMCCAI and is responsible for implementing the organization’s mission and managing its staff. Most of his 20-year career has been in senior level positions helping nonprofit organizations advance a variety of missions including environmental and public protection and achieving excellence in public service. He has also published and presented on a diverse range of topics including skate parks, continuing education, professional regulation, landscape architecture, and public service. Matt holds the Certified Association Executive credential by the American Society of Association Executives. Gordon L. Boezer Serving since 2015 Gordie is a transplant from the West Coast. He served 27 years in the USAF. He retired in the grade of Colonel in 1988. A second career followed of 19 years spent at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Since 1989, Gordie has been a resident of Westridge, a managed community. He began his community involvement almost two decades ago, serving first on various committees and then the Westridge Board of Trustees. He became a volunteer member of WMCCAI’s Board in 2016. Gordie and his wife, Sharon, continue to enjoy the ambience of Westridge even though the children have long since established their own families. Thomas Burrell Serving since 2013; 2016 Tom has been a management consultant for the past 24 years after retiring from the U.S. Army. He has served for the past seven years as the president of the Barrister’s Keepe Homeowners Association. Previously, he served as a member of his homeowner association’s Board of Trustees for 13 years and served as chairman of the Planning, Environment, Land-Use and Transportation Committee for 16 years. As the PELT Committee chairman, he was responsible for planning and executing monthly meetings and serving as the organization’s primary liaison with county staff, the development community, the Planning Commission and the Board of County Supervisors. Dorothy Firsching, PMP Serving since 2014 Dorothy is president of Ursa Major Consulting and president of the MapleTree Pool Association, which serves three condo associations. She has more than 25 years of experience in providing business and technology-related consulting for nonprofits, Federal, state and local agencies and commercial firms. She is a Project

Management Professional (PMP) certified by the Project Management Institute, and has taught classes on project management, data mining, information technology, facilitation, and proposal development. She guides strategic planning, business process improvement, systems engineering, provides facilitation, and develops websites, particularly using open source software such as Joomla! and WordPress. Kristen Melson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Serving since 2016 Kristen is the director of corporate operations at CFM Management Services, overseeing the technology needs, manager training, and the AP department. Prior to joining CFM, she managed communities undergoing major reserve projects. Kristen’s career began at GSA in the Public Building Service, before transitioning to the construction industry as a controller. Kristen currently serves on WMCCAI’s Virginia Legislative Committee, co-authored the “Dollar for Door” Brochure, and served as co-chair of the Chapter Events Committee in 2014 and 2015. She holds a B.S. in accounting from Boston College.

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

sociations and condominiums in a wide range of matters, including general counsel and litigation. Jeremy has chaired WMCCAI’s Maryland Legislative Committee and served as vice chair of CAI’s Maryland Legislative Action Committee. He received WMCCAI’s Rising Star and President’s awards in 2010, and the Maryland Public Advocate of the Year award in 2008 and 2010 for his work on the Maryland Legislative Committee. Jeremy is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Ted Ross Serving since 2013 Ted is the owner of TRC Engineering, and holds 30-plus years of experience in mechanical systems; Navy trained, he has been locally groomed in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, computerized mechanical systems monitoring, and boilers. Ted is active in various trade and professional associations and is a frequent speaker on energy management at industry conferences and trade shows. He is an instructor for the National Association of Power Engineers Educational Foundation and the Building Owners and Managers Institute. He was recognized by WMCCAI with a Rising Star in 1999, Chapter Appreciation award in 2002, and a Chapter Appreciation award in 2014. Elizabeth Schultz, CMCA, AMS Serving since 2015 Elizabeth is an on-site property manager at The Overlook at Leisure World, a Condominium, a high-rise condominium building located within the Leisure World of Maryland community. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and finance. New to the industry, she continues to expand her knowledge by learning about community management and believes the field is continuously changing. Todd A. Sinkins, ESQ. Serving since 2013 Todd is a shareholder of Rees Broome PC, where he has practiced since 1999, and is co-chair of the firm’s community association department. He currently serves on the Chapter’s Virginia Legislative Committee and is a past chairman for the D.C. Legislative Action Committee, for which he was recognized as the 2007, 2012 and 2013 Public Advocate of the Year. Todd received WMCCAI’s Educator of the Year in 2008 and Volunteer of the Year award in 2012. He has written extensively on the field of community association law and has lectured both locally and nationally on issues relating to community association law. Continued on page 14 JANUARY 2017

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2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Tsitos, CMCA, AMS Serving since 2016 John is vice president of Associa Select Community Services, SCS, and holds over 25 years of experience in the housing and apartment construction and development industry. He started with Associa SCS in 2009 after a 12-year career in senior management with an award-winning homebuilder. John’s executive responsibilities have included full balance sheet profitability for acquisition, construction, and operation of apartment complexes. He also has years of portfolio asset management experience. John has served as a board president on residential communities, as well as a large condo properties. He was named on of WMCCAI’s Rising Stars for 2016! Stephen C. Wright, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM Serving since 2012 Steve is the general manager at Riviera of Chevy Chase in Maryland and works with Cummings & Associates as a consultant. He has been a member of the Virginia Legislative Committee since 1999 and received the Rising Star Award in 2004. Steve has been in the community management field since 1975 managing cities and residential properties. As a consultant, as well as portfolio and site manager, he has managed everything from high-rise to single-family condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations of all sizes and descriptions. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

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JANUARY 2017

| 15

glitz and glamour Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute stepped back in time for a Roaring 20s themed night of glitz and glamour! The chapter recognized 19 award winners and countless volunteers during the Annual Awards Dinner at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA on November 5, 2016. A Speakeasy Reception kicked off the evening with Prohibition style cocktails and hors d’oeuvres being passed around for the gangsters and silent screen stars. Once the ballroom opened, a duet plate of seabass and filet mignon was served. The ceremony began with Chapter Executive Director Matt Rankin thanking the Chapter Partners and event sponsors. New PCAM recipients were recognized as well as the new Board members before the year-in-review slide show started. After dinner, Chapter President Jeremy Tucker and Matt took the stage to announce award winners before introducing the incoming Chapter President, Bruce Easmunt. Bruce ended his speech with a toast to the new year, and the band got the party started. The Chapter Events Committee, led by June Chulkov and Toni Partin, CMCA, AMS, planned a dazzling night to celebrate the excellent work of the chapter and its volunteers. THANK YOU! This event allows the chapter to turn the spotlight on to its volunteers by honoring Rising Stars, Volunteer of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Public Advocates among others. Choosing who receives award recognition each can prove difficult: the chapter relies so much on volunteers that we want to be able to award each and every one of them every year. Instead, WMCCAI’s Board of Directors has developed criteria in an effort to create objective standards. A number of awards are primarily based on a point system—volunteers accumulate points by participating in committees, speaking at educational sessions, writing articles for Quorum, and volunteering at other chapter activities.

Dinner Sponsors

Thank you to all the Annual Awards Dinner sponsors!

Community Association Underwriters of America The Falcon Group Jackson & Campbell, P.C. Jenkins Restorations McFall & Berry Landscape Management, Inc. Nagle & Zaller, P.C. Power Systems Electric Corporation Rainbow International of Northern Virginia

Premier

Reception Sponsors

Griffin Owens Insurance Group

Association Bridge, LLC Closetbox Daly, Hamad & Associates, PLLC HomeAdvisors.com Johnson, Bremer & Ignacio, CPAs, P.C. Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered Miller+Dodson Associates Minkoff Company, Inc. NOVA Painting Company Wellness Solutions Inc. Zalco Realty, Inc., AAMC

Raffle Donors The chapter would like to thank our raffle donors: Capitol Concierge, Inc. Community Association Engineering Community Association Services, Inc, AAMC Community Landscaping Services Frost Cleaning Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered Pete’s Towing & Storage, LLC Kolas Contracting O’Leary Asphalt, Inc. Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling Pro-Pave Incorporated Vic’s Tree Service 16 | Quorum­

Platinum National Realty Partners, AAMC

Awards Capitol Concierge, Inc. Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, P.C. Sahouri Insurance Window Plus, LLC

2016 annual AWARD winners Board Member Recognition

Ignacio

Loritsch

McNelis

Plank

Auringer

Moshinsky

Santos

Tsitos

Johns

Farrah

Rogers

Trigiani

Van Horn

Martin

Katz

Jose Ignacio, CPA, Johnson, Bremer & Ignacio, CPAs Crishana L. Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Town Square Towers Judith McNelis, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Barkan Management, LLC, AAMC

Chapter Appreciation Award Don Plank, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, National Cooperative Bank

Rising Stars Donna Aker, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Associa-Community Management Corporation, AAMC (not pictured) Sarah Auringer, Heritage Landscape Services Jan Moshinsky, CMCA, AMS, FirstService Residential, AAMC James Santos, CMCA, AMS, Legum & Norman, Inc., AAMC John Tsitos, CMCA, AMS, Select Community Services

Public Advocate Award Virginia – Betsy Johns, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, National Realty Partners, AAMC Maryland – Mitchell Farrah, CMCA, Farrah Properties District of Columbia – Jane Rogers, ESQ., Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, LLP

Educator of the Year Lucia Anna “Pia” Trigiani, ESQ., MercerTrigiani

Recruiter of the Year Mystre’ Van Horn, CMCA, AMS, Lake Land’Or Property Owners Association, Inc.

Committee Chair of the Year Joe Inzerillo, BB&T Association Services (not pictured) Jarold Martin, CertaPro Painters of Arlington

Volunteer of the Year Ruth O. Katz, ESQ., Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered

Hall of Fame Inductee Peter Miller, RS, Miller+Dodson Associates

President’s Award Ruth O. Katz, ESQ., Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered

Outgoing President Recognition Jeremy M. Tucker, ESQ., Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered

Miller

Tucker

Photos courtesy of Max Taylor To view additional photos, visit facebook.com/ WMCCAI JANUARY 2017

| 17

By Kara Permisohn Kara has worked in business development for the Minkoff Company, Inc. for the past 12 years. She is the past president of CRCCAI, has served on both WMCCAI and CRCCAI Boards of Directors, and is active on committees in both chapters.

Are You Ready… What’s YOUR Plan to Evacuate?

A

s community managers and homeowners, Emergency Preparedness is vital to the safety of everyone in your building(s) and home(s). Unfortunately, Evacuation Plans are one of the most underrated pieces of that puzzle. All too often a “plan” is in place but no one is familiar with it, has not practiced it, or updated it based on factors that might have changed in the building over time. I remember being seven years old and learning the basics of “stop, drop, and roll,” at school. I was so scared that I forced my parents to purchase a drop ladder for the second floor. That’s where all our bedrooms were. We discussed ideas and came up with ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B’ for how to escape the house if we ever needed to put that ladder to use. A smooth evacuation in any situation can make or break the success of the scenario. It is the beginning of a potentially dangerous event and it sets the tone. There are a few steps to consider when creating your evacuation plan such as designing, implementation, testing with live drill exercises, directional signage (where sensible), effective communication, and program improvement. Have specific routes for different parts of the building, complex, or home. Directional signage is only as helpful as it is put in obvious, visible places. By stairwells, elevators, hallways and even bathrooms are a good start. If

18 | Quorum­

you have lighted Exit Signs be sure that you have a backup system to keep them lit if they run on electric in case you lose power. Batteries or a generator can be viable options. Communicate these routes to all people in the building. Confirm that your staff knows where vital valves are located to turn them off. This might prevent additional damages depending on the reason of the evacuation. For example – if there is a fire and the building runs on gas, shut the gas valves off so as

maps in advance. It’s as simple as distributing the documents at the Annual Meeting or placing them in everyone’s mailbox. Run timed test drills at least once a year with the homeowners and perhaps more often with your staff. Explain to everyone how important their participation is for the exercise. If compliance is a challenge be prepared to site real life examples that did not end well. It might help the person to relate

“You can help the situation by staying calm, keep a master list of all residents, and have a committee or team of people to help.” not to create a devastating explosion. You can help the situation by staying calm. This will partially dictate how smoothly and compliant the crowd will be while they evacuate and once they are out of the building. Other ways to be prepared are to keep a master list of all residents with their contact info. This way you can confirm everyone is accounted for. Have a committee or team of people to help make phone calls if necessary. You can make note of anyone with physical challenges and/or pets. Become a hero when you can direct someone (preferably EMS professionals) to assist Jane Doe in unit 605 who is in a wheelchair. If the elevators are out of use and she and her dog Sparky get out safely you’ll know that your plan is working. Have a gathering point designated in advance. Everyone should know this spot when they are given a copy of the directional

better. Make it clear during the drill who the key authorities are in charge. Perhaps that is done with a special neon vest or small hand held flag. Most importantly, after any drill sit down and discuss what went smoothly and what improvements need to be made to the plan. Of course, these are all very basic ideas. Every building and group of people are different and have your own way of doing things. Find a system that works well for your property or home and be stern about its use. There are so many specific details for evacuations of all kinds. There is a wonderful resource provided through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Their website is www.ready.gov which includes an excellent worksheet to help get you started with creating YOUR plan.

. y r a nu

Jump Start

a J

Kick off 2017 with an all-star event at WMCCAI’s Jump Start January. Score new contacts, toss your name in the hat for championship prizes, and learn how to maximize your playing time in the Chapter.

Premier Sponsor:

Rick “Doc” Walker! When:

Gold: Windows Plus, LLC Silver: Alliance Association Bank Becht Engineering BT, Inc. Bronze: Purofirst of Metropolitan Washington

Thursday, January 12, 2017 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Where:

Fairview Park Marriott 3111 Fairview Park Drive Falls Church, VA

What: WMCCAI’s annual meeting will be followed by our featured speaker, Rick “Doc” Walker. A starting tight end on the 1982 Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins and an original member of the famed offensive lineman known as the “HOGS,” Doc Walker is a D.C. sports legend. His career is evidence that with team spirit, a winning attitude, and energy, we all become a stronger team. Come hear Doc’s stories on and off the field as a player, sideline reporter, and radio host.

How:

Visit caidc.org to register or for sponsorship options

Who:

This program will benefit Business Partners, Homeowners & Managers

Credits:

This program is worth one (1) continuing education unit.

7600 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 West

E-mail: programs@caidc.org

Falls Church, VA 22043

Web: www.caidc.org

T: 703.750.3644

F: 703.941.1740

NOVEMBER 2016

| 19

By Pete Hughes Pete recently retired from NCIS after a 34-year law enforcement career. He joined First Coast Security, an armed and unarmed security service provider to residential communities and commercial buildings in the National Capital Region.

Active Sh ter: A Community Resp nse O

n September 26, 2016, a disgruntled lawyer who had numerous weapons, randomly shot at drivers in a condominium in Houston, hitting six people, one critically, before being shot and killed by police. The suspect, who lived in the condominium community and was described by one resident as an “average joe,” had shown signs of instability prior to the shootings. When questioned by reporters, the community manager confirmed the suspect had previously aimed a gun at a roofer in the community and made an email threat to the property management company about their inaction to his water pressure complaint. Is it possible the shooting incident could have been avoided and what action did the property management team take once it started? We live in an era in which active shooter incidents occur all too frequently resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. If there is an active shooter incident in your neighborhood, what will be your response and are you prepared? This might occur in the clubhouse, a residence, or on the playground. What is the plan should this happen in your community? How will you communicate to your residents when a flood of phone calls, emails, and other social media inquiries come in demanding a status and update? It is also highly likely that following the incident, you will be interviewed to determine what complaints were made against the suspect and or information you may have that is relevant to the investigation.

20 | Quorum­

A recent FBI study identified 160 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2013, of which approximately 13 percent occurred in residences and/or neighborhoods open spaces, i.e., playgrounds. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) describes active shooter situations as unpredictable, evolve quickly, and are over within 10–15 minutes. DHS highly recommends everyone be aware of their environment, whether at work, home, in the community, or clubhouse as to where the exits are located and where to go in the event of an emergency. DHS strongly advocates the “Run, Hide, Fight” theory when an active shooter incident occurs. Police departments across the country teach this theory to community and commercial leaders. In fact, the Houston Police Department has a training video

“Managers/Boards may want to consider having the local police department provide Active Shooter awareness training to the community.” titled, “Run, Hide, Fight,” which represents an accurate picture of the measures one should take if an active shooter comes into a

public or private place. The first action anyone should take in this type situation is to run. If not possible, then it is recommended you barricade and hide yourself behind a locked door. If the shooter gains entry to your space, you must then fight for your life. Use what is available to fight, such as a fire extinguisher, keyboard, etc. This training video can be seen on YouTube by searching Run, Hide, Fight. As property managers, you should have an emergency action plan in place to handle any and all emergencies. As part of the plan, you should consider having a communications plan by which you can notify all residents of an active shooter incident; wherein, you share accurate information in a timely manner to your residents. In addition, it is critical you provide updated information even if there is nothing new to report. Your residents will expect and demand updates.

Following most active shooter incidents, investigative findings determined the shooter

was showing some signs of distress and instability that was noticed by family, friends, and/or neighbors prior to the shootings. In many instances, the shooter made threatening comments or gestures about their intentions, but people were hesitant to share the information with the authorities. If they had done so, it is possible some form of intervention could have taken place that could have prevented the subsequent carnage. As property managers, there may be residents who share with you disturbing information about neighbors or residents. Most police departments have a non-emergency phone number you could use to communicate your concerns. In addition, an effective Neighborhood Watch program’s mantra of “if you see something, then say something,” is another means by which a tragic incident could be averted. As community managers and leaders, it is encouraged you work closely with your community’s board of directors to have an effective emergency plan in place. You could communicate this plan through your local newsletter or via email. In addition, you may want to consider having your local police department provide Active Shooter awareness training to the community as part of an annual association meeting. By being proactive, the association is clearly informing its residents you are actively engaged and have their safety and security as a top priority.

JANUARY 2017

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By Beth Johnson, CPA Beth is a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia with Bremer & Ignacio CPA’s, P.C. She has served on several WMCCAI committees, participated in chapter programs and is a past Board member and Chapter treasurer. She currently serves as the treasurer of the Bollinger Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the District of Columbia, and was appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve on Virginia’s Common Interest Community Board.

By Beth J. Levine Beth is the Senior Vice President of Wealth Management with Lara, May & Associates. She has worked in the financial industry for over 20 years. Currently, she works with board members and managers, consolidating holdings and advising them in strategies to effectively leverage their investments and maximize yield according to each associations’ by-laws.

By Theresa Melson, PCAM, CIRMS Theresa is licensed as a property and casualty insurance broker in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia for USI Insurance Services LLC, specializing in the common interest community association field. She holds the Professional Community Associations Manager (PCAM ®) and Certified Insurance and Risk Management Specialists (CIRMS) designations from CAI.

$afeguarding

Association Funds W hen it comes to your association’s finances, being a responsible fiduciary is critical. Acting as a fiduciary means protecting the assets of others by putting the association’s needs first. Community association boards can safeguard their funds by focusing on three areas: insurance, auditing, and investing.

Insurance Employee dishonesty is costly and inescapable in today’s world. Even in organizations that maintain strong, enforceable internal controls, background checks, and audit practices, trusted individuals can—and do— engage in fraudulent activity. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Inc., 2012 Report to the Nations, the typical organization loses 5 percent of its revenues to fraud each year, and the median loss caused by the occupational 22 | Quorum­

fraud cases was $140,000. More than onefifth of these cases caused losses of at least $1 million. The frauds reported lasted a median of 18 months before being detected, and most occupational fraudsters are first-time offenders with clean employment histories. The current economic climate, combined with technological advances, provides more options to commit crime. But the insurance industry is keeping up with the times and offering community associations coverage to combat this issue. Fidelity and Crime Insurance This insurance addresses the most common threats to organizations, including losses due to employee dishonesty, credit card forgery, computer fraud and theft, and the disappearance or destruction of property. Employee dishonesty crime insurance

(a fidelity bond) indemnifies the community association for loss of money, securities, or any property because of any criminal act including fraud, dishonesty, forgery, theft, larceny, embezzlement, wrongful abstraction, willful misapplication, or misappropriation on the part of directors, officers, committee members, association employees, board members, and volunteers. Coverage can also extend to protect the association against criminal acts by an independent managing agent. Fiduciary Liability Insurance If an association sponsors a retirement or health plan for its employees the board members are likely considered fiduciaries. This means the board members can be held personally liable for what happens to the plan under ERISA law. As standard Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability policies exclude claims for ERISA

Social Engineering Fraud Endorsement Social engineering is the art of manipulating people so they give up confidential information. It refers to a non-technical kind of intrusion, such as emails, phone calls, and social networking chats, which relies heavily on human interaction. It often involves fooling potential victims into downloading malware or leaking company or personal data. Social engineering is highly effective because it exploits peoples’ penchant to trust others. This surprisingly successful fraud happens to unsuspecting employees every day. Social engineers also rely on company policies that foster employees to be helpful, especially those in service-oriented positions. The weakest link in any organization is the employees. Social engineering fraud is not covered by Cyber Liability insurance (this insurance protects businesses from internet based risks, such as computer hacking and data destruction). Only a handful of carriers will offer coverage at present, and deductibles can be high. Loss prevention and good internal controls are key.

WE MAKE LAUNDRY violations, boards cannot rely on those policies for protection in case of litigation. Defending a claim—even if it is without merit—is expensive and time consuming. According to the latest Tillinghast Survey, the average cost of a paid claim was $994,000, with an average reported defense cost of approximately $365,000. As a fiduciary, boards cannot wholly transfer liability to another party, such as a professional investment firm or third-party plan administrator. Fiduciary liability insurance protects benefit plans, the sponsor organization, and its trustees, directors, officers, and employees acting as fiduciaries or administrators of the plans. The policy covers liabilities arising out of violations of any of the responsibilities, obligations, or duties imposed upon fiduciaries by ERISA.

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Auditing One of the most important duties of the board of directors is safeguarding the association’s assets. In Common Interest Realty Associations, the largest assets are cash, certificates of deposit, and other investments. In order to protect these assets, the board of directors needs to be diligent in monitoring activity, making sure the cash, certificates of deposit and other investments are in the name of the association, internal controls in place to protect the assets are adequate, and the balances in the accounts do not exceed FDIC and SIPC limits. This starts with signature authority. For the most part, the management company has signature authority over the checking account. Oftentimes the management company has signature authority on the money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and other investments. It is recommended that the president of the association also have signature authority over the other bank/ investment accounts for the purposes of reviewing, communicating, and having access to the funds. The board of directors needs

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to update the signature cards with each election. With respect to the checking account, a member of the board, probably the treasurer, should receive a copy of the checking account bank statement and bank reconciliation monthly, and review the reconciliation and compare it to the financial statements and general ledger. The treasurer should also receive a copy of all other bank/investment statements and make the same comparison to the financial statements and general ledger. They should question any unusual activity and make certain that transfers from one bank account to another are done in a timely manner. These procedures allow the board of directors to make sure the investments exist and the balances on the bank statements are consistent with the financial statements. The board of directors also needs to understand the internal controls and procedures over receipts and disbursements. There should be adequate segregation of duties over receipts, disbursements, bank reconciliation, journal entries, and preparation of the financial statements. Among other things, there should be controls in place to ensure that all funds coming into the association are deposited into a bank account in the name of the association, that disbursements are supported by adequate documentation, and are to the appropriate vendor for expenses that are appropriately incurred

by the association. A vendor list should be maintained and reviewed by the board on a periodic basis for the purpose of identifying fictitious vendors. The board of directors also should understand the internal controls and procedures in place at the management company that safeguard these assets. These include the following: • monitoring and updating the signature cards; • making sure there is adequate segregation of duties over cash and investments; • determining that all accounts are in the name of the association and reported under the association’s federal ID#; • ensuring that funds are not co-mingled with the management company or other associations funds; and • making sure the management company allows its staff to report any unusual ac-

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tivity to the proper person without fear of retribution. The board of directors should meet with the management company after each election cycle for a board of directors’ orientation regarding the policies and procedures in place at the management company to protect the association’s assets. For the board to protect the financial assets of the association, it is imperative that the members: • understand the policies and procedures in place at the management company; • understand and monitor the activity in the cash account, certificates of deposit, and other investments; • make certain all the financial assets are in the name of the association and signature authority cards are up to date; • obtain adequate fidelity bond insurance that names not only the association but the management company; and • monitor the activity by reviewing and comparing the bank statements investment statements, and reconciliations with the financial statement and general ledger. The most important thing to remember is this: When in doubt, ask questions.

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Spending, saving, and investing funds is of the utmost importance for the value of your community. By maintaining and ultimately improving the association’s financial well-being, the board plays a key role in increasing property values. How do you make sure your association is in good financial shape? Review the budget. The most effective way to address finances as a fiduciary is to make

sure your association’s budget is within reason. Does the budget provide for the association to meet its operating and reserve funding goals? Is there a cost of living increase each year on the members’ annual dues? Are operating accounts charging minimal or no fees? And are the replacement reserve investments earning as much interest as possible within the limits of the association’s by-laws? Allocate investments carefully. Because fees are being collected, there is also another aspect to acting in a fiduciary role. It’s the

board’s job to make sure all funds are invested as required by the association by-laws. First and foremost, operating and replacement reserve funds are to be preserved to ensure they are available when needed. It is for this reason that associations commonly limit investments to FDIC CDs and/or U.S. Government guaranteed instruments. Each bank is FDIC insured up to a maximum of $250,000. It’s typical for by-laws to require the use of FDIC instruments and FDIC compliance. Investing or depositing more than the FDIC maximum amount at any one bank, leaves funds unprotected.

To maximize the yield on invested funds, implement a laddered approach – spreading funds among several FDIC insured CDs that have different maturity dates. This approach provides access to funds each year as individual CDs mature, allows the association to maximize yield while taking advantage of different interest rate environments, and eliminates the guessing game of when rates will go up or down. Acting in a fiduciary role for your board will protect assets and keep your association in good financial shape.

JANUARY 2017

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By Allen Schissler, PCAM Allen has been with Legum & Norman, Inc. for ten years and is the general manager for a 584 unit condominium in Herndon, Virginia. Allen is an active participant in WMCCAI’s Virginia Legislative Committee and a strong supporter of the Arts.

Lessons Learned While Re-Lamping Our Property

T

he keeping of lights shining in two, five story parking garages and the common area hallways at the Bryson at Woodland Park Condominium has been a maintenance and security concern since the property was constructed. A garage or hallway with burnt out bulbs can be scary. We sought to improve the lighting on the property as well as save on energy consumption by replacing the common area light fixtures. In the process, we learned a lot and significantly reduced our bills.

LED’s Always Saves $$$ in Energy

In our world of property management, one of the most important things to our homeowners is saving money, right? Light Emitting Diode (LED) conversion makes sense dollar wise, every time. For instance, upon conversion of the lights in our two parking garages, we went from an average electricity usage of 49,500 Kilowatt hours (kwh) per month down to 10,725 kwh per month. Which was equivalent to an electric bill of $3,275 per month (pre-conversion) or $933 per month (post conversion) for an annual savings to the Association of about $28,000. The side benefit of the lighting conversion is that our maintenance team can now use the time previously spent replacing burnt out bulbs to concentrate on bigger projects.

Have you heard this comment? “I don’t like LED’s, they’re too bright!!!” We worked through this by experimentation. I would encourage you to install an LED in one of your main areas and let the 26 | Quorum­

residents, committee members, or board see the difference. There are two essential considerations when selecting a replacement light: • Lumens equals light, this is important. The lumens value of a bulb is printed on your product and more lumens equates to increased light. However, when comparing the lumens of LED’s to other bulbs it is not as easy as checking the printed values on the replacement bulbs to the existing. We compared a 3,350 lumen LED bulb with a 13,600 lumen metal halide at our property with the perceived difference of an increase in the light provided. • Kelvin = color temperature of warm vs. cold light, this is more important for most residents. Kelvin is also printed on your product. For example, 2700k is printed on most incandescent lights (otherwise known as a “normal” light bulb) and is considered a “warm” light since it is more yellow and generally used in homes or restaurants. Whereas jewelry stores usually want a more crisp, clear, and bright light so they would choose a Kelvin of 5000k or more. The color is usually what will give the perception of it being “too bright”. For our garage setting, we went with the 5000k light for a comfortably brighter and safer feel, than the former 4100k.

Going Green and Environmental Impactz

LED’s are made of plastic and metal and, therefore, fully recyclable! Whereas, spiral, compact, or other fluorescents contain mer-

cury and need to be sent to a special facility for proper disposal. LED can be put into the regular waste without concern for contamination.

Rebates and Reserves

Pepco, Baltimore Gas and Electric, and Dominion VA Power offer rebate programs for LED conversion. Some of them are for simply changing the bulbs, but in most cases the light fixtures must be DLC (The DesignLights Consortium) and Energy Star listed. You should read and understand the requirements of the energy company to be sure you can comply, including using a certified installer. In Virginia, we saved 65 percent on the cost of the project! Don’t neglect updating your Reserves after you have finished the LED conversion and are realizing the energy savings. LED bulbs do not last forever and this is a topic of discussion in the industry. They have an expected service life of 4–6 years of continuous use in most cases, so they will need to be replaced at some point. Sometimes the bulbs are integrated into the fixture, so consider whether your conversion will have a changeable bulb or if the entire fixture must be replaced. We found that the energy savings, reduced associated maintenance, and the perception of a safer environment was well worth the effort to make the change to LED lighting and we are enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Community Association Litigation:

Navigating Through LUNCH / LEARN / network

When Tuesday, January 24, 2017 12:30 — 3 p.m. Registration opens at 12 p.m.

WHERE Seasons 52 11414 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852

HOW Visit www.caidc.org to register

WHO This program will benefit Business Managers

Credits

This program is worth three (3) credit hours

WHAT Though community associations, their managers, and attorneys attempt to avoid litigation, in some cases, it is inevitable. Disputes can arise in a variety of areas such as by-laws and regulatory enforcement, developer issues, contracts, maintenance and repairs disputes, and Fair Housing matters. This session will explore the roles of the boards, management, and counsel in working together to achieve the best possible litigation outcome. Join us to lunch, learn, and network with our experts Ray Via, ESQ., Whiteford, Taylor& Preston, LLP, and Mac Staples, Vice President, Associa- Community Management Corporation, AAMC.

HAPPY HOUR TO FOLLOW / 3-5:30 p.m. sponsors Chancellor | TRC Engineering Dean | Windows Plus, LLC Professor | Lerch, Early & Brewer, Charted Masters | Purofirst of Metropolitain Washington Bachelor | Mutual of Omaha Bank

7600 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 West

E-mail: education@caidc.org

Falls Church, VA 22043

Web: www.caidc.org

T: 703.750.3644

F: 703.941.1740

By Jim Wisniewski Jim is the Director of Sales for Northstar Technologies based in Alpharetta, Georgia. He has also served as the General Manager of several properties, as well as HOA President of several communities across the US.

T

here have been many times that two common words, of ordinary import, have been brought together to create a “Superword.” Some quick examples would include “Gumdrop,” “Catfish,” and “Buttercup.” One which is has found a great deal of grammatical friends over the past few years has been “Security.” It’s been attached to “National,” “Homeland,” “Financial,” “Racial,” “Ethnic,” “Border,” “Undergarment,” and the list could go on. However, when it is connected to “Cyber,” many individuals begin to truly panic, for they begin to feel as if it is actually touching their lives, but they are not truly certain how. One such area of concern that brings it home into our various communities, is whether credit cards are either accepted routinely or not at all. In many cases, the reasons for our community’s desires to implement credit card payments are as diverse as the communities themselves, but they all come back to PCI compliance. PCI compliance, which from the perspective of the merchant, is the Payment Card Industry standards that all companies accept, process, store and/ or transmit credit card information in a secure environment, or in simpler terms, and from the resident’s perspective – is the ability to safely use one’s credit card without the apparent fear of having your identity stolen, misused, misrepresented, or a random Batman costume purchased without your consent. Those credit cards, and their relatively new connections to our smart phones,

28 | Quorum­

have opened a new world of conveniences, impulse purchases, and threats from the very innocuously titled, Internet of Things. The Internet of Things, or “The IoT,” which sounds more like a tough neighborhood than a pile of connected microchips, is comprised of millions of devices that we come into contact with every day – everything from gas pumps, to ATMs, Smart Phones, laptops, and even those attractive “learning thermostats” which have proven to possess the ability to be hacked and “teach” thieves, when we are not around – guiding them to our unattended, but well-connected homes. But today, let’s say that Barley and I would like to leave the sanctity of our home and purchase some candy at the clubhouse or at the retail store in our community. We begin our journey without our credit card, even though we are going to make a credit card purchase. We head out, confident that we will return successful, candy in hand, and credit in-tact. After a short walk and upon entering the shop, I search for the candy, retrieve my purchase, and start walking toward the checkout, smiling as the clerk slowly becomes gleefully closer with each step. Utilizing the communities new credit card resident software system, all that the clerk needs is my member number and the system will then proceed with the credit card sale using a tokenization system. This means that the actual credit card data is not stored within the system, but off-site on the server of the credit card processor. When the request is initiated, a token is request-

ed and one-time access is granted to charge that card – again, never passing that information through the system, and again, never giving anyone the chance to intercept the information. In essence, the system is not PCI compliant, but truly PCI out-of-scope. The resident may purchase goods and services at the facility without ever having to remove a card from a wallet or purse, and without even having to carry a card – thus even eliminating the possibility of even skimming or electronic card scanning. While threats of many kinds exist, communities, with the proper safeguards in advance and proper adherence to the basic PCI guidelines, can safely implement credit card use throughout their properties, should they desire exist. Now where was I…with each step my confidence grows, and as I come within a few feet of the clerk, I hear him greet me by name, even though I have never seen him before as he is a new employee. The community’s clubhouse is now utilizing a Beacon system which recognizes the fact that I have the Properties App running on my smart phone, securely opening a transaction on the clerk’s screen. The Beacon system is a low-energy Bluetooth device which emits a signal, or ‘beacon,’ and when it senses the unique ID of my smart phone and community app, it “recognizes” me. The clerk can see my picture and visually verify that I am the resident in front of him. He is, as am I,

3. If a resident does not have the App running or does not wish to be identified in this manner, the App also has an electronic card, which may be displayed visually to be scanned – giving all of the same verifications. 4. The off-line storage of the card keeps the information secure and eliminates the need for the resident to physically carry the card. This eliminates the dangers from physical loss, electronic scanning or skimming. confident that he is addressing the proper resident. Quickly, he scans my chocolate bar, and the transaction has begun. Overjoyed at our impending departure, I look at my phone, see that my App is requesting my fingerprint identification. Quickly I press my thumb upon the home button, and the clerk tells me to enjoy my evening. I take my prize, and an excited Barley, and back home we go; ready to toss the Hershey wrapper of victory stout heartedly into the imaginary faces of the cyber-bullies looking to take my candy money. But what happened behind the scenes?

at the facility without ever having to remove a card from a wallet or purse, and in reality, without even having to carry a card – thus even eliminating the possibility of electronic card scanning. Breaking it down further: 1. The Resident was visually identified, when the Beacon system identified his device. 2. If the device was lost or stolen, visual identification could thwart a user, as would the fingerprint functionality.

5. The tokenization methodology allows for the usage of the card, without the exposure of the information to interception. 6. Fingerprint verification allows for further identity confirmation. A few extra measures – certainly. However, the facility has taken some great steps to increase the confidence of its residents, protect its reputation, enhance its competitive position, and strengthen any potential legal issue that may arise. Now if only the clubhouse would have something for Barley to enjoy too!

AAB_Innov_Burkhammer_HorzQtrPg_120115.pdf 1 12/1/2015 5:46:30 PM

When the staff member enters the tender screen and selects the credit card option, the system then reaches back out to the resident’s phone and requests another level of verification through the use of the device’s finger print identification system. Once this has been received, the system will then proceed with the credit card sale through the use of a tokenization system. This means that the actual credit card data is not stored within the system, but off-site on the server of the credit card processor. When the request is initiated, a token is requested and one-time access is granted to charge that card – again, never passing that information through the system, and again never giving anyone the chance to intercept the information. In essence, the system is not PCI compliant, but truly PCI out-of-scope. The resident, may purchase goods and services JANUARY 2017

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By Leslie Brown, ESQ. Leslie is Counsel with the law firm Rees Broome, PC, representing community associations and other non-profit and business entities in the D.C. area. She was previously co-chair of the Quorum Magazine Editorial Committee.

Congress and HUD Attempt to Ease Condominium Restrictions,

n i a g Yet A

O

n July 29, 2016, President Obama signed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (H.R. 3700), a law which relaxes some of the existing requirements previously imposed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for condominium eligibility. Thereafter, on September 28, 2016, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed new regulations to address the changes implemented by the statute. Overall, the statute and the proposed regulations loosen requirements that condominium communities found burdensome in order for units to be eligible for FHA financing, such as owner-occupancy ratios, and commercial space and transfer fees, but the proposed regulations do have some potential downsides.

Commercial Space

Under the previous rules, no more than 25 percent of the total floor area could be used for commercial purposes, although FHA would consider a project with up to 35 percent commercial space on a case-by-case basis and up to 50 percent if the applicant provided additional information outlined by FHA. Under the proposed regulations, mixeduse projects with between 25 percent and 30 | Quorum­

60 percent of commercial floor space could be eligible. Furthermore, FHA is required to take into consideration factors relating to the economy of the locality where the condominium is located. While in its commentary, HUD expressed that it would be unlikely that a building with more than 50 percent commercial space would be eligibility, the proposed range does provide for some flexibility which could apply in high-density, urban areas.

condominium property. This change essentially enables associations to amend governing documents to require new owners to provide a capital contribution upon purchase.

Transfer Fees

Under the new law, FHA had until the end of October 2016 to issue guidance regarding the percentage of units that must be occupied by owners as a principal residence or a secondary residence for condominium eligibility. If FHA failed to meet that deadline, then the required owneroccupancy ratio is reduced from the current 50 percent threshold to 35 percent owneroccupied. Through the September 28, 2016, proposed regulations, HUD is proposing an owner-occupancy range between 25 percent and 75 percent which HUD would be able to vary via notice. The owner-occupancy calculation would include primary and secondary dwellings (up to 1). HUD stated in commentary that it believes the current 50 percent requirement has worked in the past, but that it also wants to provide some flexibility.

Under the previous FHA rules, transfer fees, such as a working capital contribution that a buyer of a condominium unit is required to pay to the association upon purchase, rendered the condominium ineligible due to the National Housing Act’s prohibition on rules and policies that restrict the free transfer of the unit. However, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA, the overseer of FannieMae and FreddieMac) came out a few years go permitting transfer fees in instances where the fees are paid directly to the homeowners association or condominium association to benefit the property. The new law now requires FHA to adopt the same standards as FHFA regarding transfer fees. In other words, FHA is now required to accept for eligibility condominiums that have transfer fees that directly benefit the

Investor Ownership

Under FHA’s previous rules, at least 50percent of the condominium units must be owner-occupied for the condominium to be eligible for FHA certification.

While the regulations are still pending final approval, in the meantime, FHA issued a new mortgagee letter on October 26, 2016,

Under the proposed rules, proposed and under construction projects would no longer be eligible, but legally phased projects would still be eligible for certification by phase. From a community association perspective, the change will not have much impact for existing communities. However, developers may oppose these proposed changes as it can affect sales of units that are preconstruction. It appears that prospective purchasers would not be able to use FHA financing for pre-construction purchases of units in new condominium developments.

Conclusion There are still many important requirements that are unchanged by the new law and the proposed regulations. For example, associations still cannot have more than 15 percent of their members more than 60 days delinquent in assessments. The association cannot be involved in a construction defect lawsuit and must have adequate fidelity insurance in place.

ML 2016-15, which provides further clarification on the current owner-occupancy standards. Currently, FHA still requires at least 50 percent owner-occupancy for existing projects, but will accept 35 percent if the condominium’s budget allocates 20 percent for reserve funding and if not more than 10percent of the total units are 60 days past due in the payment of assessments. Furthermore, the submitter must provide 3 years’ worth of financial data.

Reserve Funding

Under the previous rules, annual budgets had to allocate at least 10 percent of the budget for reserve funding. If the condominium did not do so, FHA could require the association to provide a copy of a reserve study, no less than 12 months old, to verify the status of the association’s reserve funding. Under the proposed regulations, FHA will accept a reserve study that is up to 24 months old.

Recertification Time-Frame

We will continue to monitor the status of the proposed regulations and report any additional changes affecting community associations in our area.

Committed to our communities For 30 years, BB&T Association Services has provided solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of property management companies and community associations. You can count on us to be your trusted partner. BBT.com/AssociationServices

Association Services Joseph Inzerillo Jr. VP, Relationship Manager 703-841-5021 • JInzerillo@BBandT.com

Under the previous rules, FHA’s certification of a condominium project would last for 2 years. HUD is proposing to change the certification time period to 3 years.

Proposed and Under Construction Projects

The proposed regulations would make proposed and under construction projects ineligible for FHA financing. This change constitutes a major shift from FHA’s previous position. Previously, under construction and existing projects were all eligible for FHA financing so long as 51percent of the units were under contract. The previous rules also permitted legal phasing which is popular with developers in our area.

Branch Banking and Trust Company is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Loans are subject to credit approval. Only deposit products are FDIC insured. © 2016, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved. JANUARY 2017

| 31

By Michael L. Zupan, ESQ. Mike is counsel with MercerTrigiani and a member of the Quorum Editorial Committee. He previously served on the Education Committee for Washington Metro Chapter Community Associations Institute.

W H AT I S I T ? How can it help a Common Interest Community Association?

C

ommon interest community associations can be called upon to address concerns about the conduct of visitors in the community. In the current atmosphere, unusual or suspect conduct may necessitate action by the association and management. Personal conduct matters are never easy - circumstances vary broadly and the association must carefully consider alternatives. When conduct creates concerns about personal safety, the first and always best approach is to contact law enforcement. But associations or individual owners may find it necessary to take additional action to address conduct that creates concern from the community.

The Barring Notice Owners of private, real property are entitled to decide who is permitted to enter onto the property they own, or over which they have control – like a community association. If a person comes onto private property and acts in a manner contrary to the wishes of the owner, the owner may prohibit or bar that 32 | Quorum­

individual from returning. A Barring Notice, also known as a Banning Notice or a Trespass Notice, is a document that informs the recipient that he or she is prohibited from entering onto the owner’s property and that the recipient may be arrested if he or she ignores the notice and returns to the property. The Barring Notice is issued by the property owner (or the person having control over the property – an association) and enforced by the police. Barring Notices (Notice) are recognized in Maryland, Virginia, and in the District of Columbia. Most local jurisdictions have a standard form that may be used by the property owner to start the process. Accordingly, the local police should be consulted if a Notice is being considered. The process may vary slightly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but is essentially as follows: • Contact the local police and obtain a copy of the preferred Notice form. • Complete the Notice and deliver it to the offending individual (in some jurisdictions, a witness is required to verify delivery).

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| 33

• Submit a copy of the Notice to the police with evidence that the Notice was delivered to the offender. (Be sure that the information regarding the Notice and the individual barred from the premises is submitted to the police in accordance with local procedures.). • If the offender returns to the property after receiving a copy of the Notice, the police may be called. • If found on the property, the offender may be arrested and prosecuted for trespass.

Use by a Common Interest Community Association Common interest community associations are frequently called upon to address offensive behavior that occurs on the common property, whether it be the common area in a homeowners association or common elements in a condominium. This common property is private property. The association, as the title holder to the common area in a homeowners association or under a power

of attorney in a condominium, has the authority and obligation in some instances to address misconduct that occurs on the common property. A Notice gives the association a useful tool to help address safety, security, and enjoyment of the common area and common elements. Simply issuing a Notice, with the possibility of arrest, and delivering it to the offender may be sufficient to convince the offender to stay away from the property. If not, the it provides the basis for the police to act quickly to remove the individual from the common property or common elements. (Having a copy of the Notice readily available when the police are called may assist the police in making the arrest.) Because a Notice is enforced by the police, and involves recourse to the criminal justice system, it should not be issued casually. Conduct leading to a Notice should be significant, i.e., conduct that violates association rules or covenants, or local, state, or federal law. Vagrancy, panhandling, assault,

battery, destruction of property, or other conduct constituting, or likely to result in, a breach of the peace may justify a Barring Notice. Although issuance of a Notice frequently follows repeated offensive behavior, if the behavior is sufficiently egregious, the association may ban the individual from returning to the community after only one incident. Once the arrest is made, the association must be prepared to assist local authorities as the case works through the legal process, including testifying in court. Otherwise, the case may be dismissed and the benefit of the Barring Notice lost. This Notice is not a cure-all for the association; it will only apply to guests and invitees. Owners and authorized tenants have a right to be on community property. A Notice cannot take away their rights. The association must look to the governing documents, condominium instruments, or criminal laws to address offensive behavior of owners and tenants. Guests and invitees have no such rights. They may be barred from the common area or common elements if behavior warrants. There are also practical considerations. Delivering a Notice to the offending individual may be difficult or even dangerous. The association may prefer that someone outside of the association undertake this obligation. (The police, although willing to enforce a Barring Notice once delivered to the offender, generally do not serve legal papers and may not be willing to deliver the Barring Notice to the offender initially.) A private process server may be an alternative. Also, if the offender is not on association property when the police arrive, immediate arrest is unlikely, and getting the police to the site before the offender leaves can prove challenging, especially in nonemergency situations. Participation in the legal process after the arrest can be time consuming. However, when confronted with offensive behavior by an individual who has no right to be on association property, a Notice may provide the viable option to restore peace and security to the association and its residents.

34 | Quorum­

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Directory and Classifieds ASPHALT PAVING/MAINTENANCE/REPAIR

Espina Paving Inc. 15441 Farm Creek Drive Woodbridge, VA 2191 Serving: MD, DC, VA

F: (703) 491-9101 T: (703) 491-9100

info@espinapaving.com

O’Leary Asphalt, Inc. 9629 Doctor Perry Road Ijamsville, MD 21754

OLearyAsphalt.com T: (301) 948-0010 F: (301) 874-8505 ATTORNEY

Segan, Mason & Mason, P.C. www.schildlaw.com Donna Mason dmason@seganmason.com

T: (703) 354-9170

Alliance Association Bank T: (703) 856-7463 Direct F: (702) 818-8076 Tracy Burkhammer tburkhammer@AllianceAssociationBank.com BB&T Association Services www.bbt.com Let us save you time and money with our lockbox processing, ACH, coupon book, statement printing and transmission services. Joseph Inzerillo Jr. T: (703) 201-5774 jinzerillo@bbant.com Community Association Banking/CondoCerts Mutual of Omaha Bank Noni Roan T: (301) 639-5503 Noni.Roan@mutualofomahabank.com Xenith Bank T: (703) 966-5962 Funding your next project is easy with Xenith Bank’s experienced bankers on your team every step of the way! Tom Durrer tdurrer@Xenithbank.com ENGINEERS

36 | Quorum­

Comsource Management, Inc. AAMC www.comsource.com 3414 Morningwood Drive T: 301-924-7355 Olney, Maryland 20832 F: 301-924-7340 Tony Martella, cmca, ams, pcam tmartella@comsource.com

Falcon Engineering, Architecture + Energy Consultants 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 325 Rockville, MD 20855 www.falconengineering.com T: (240) 328-1095 Stew Willis info@falconengineering.com

KPA Management, AAMC 6402 Arlington Blvd., Suite 700 Falls Church, VA 22042

TRC Engineering 9210 Wightman Rd., Ste 110 www.tedrossconsulting.com Gaithersburg, MD 20886 T: (301) 869-6446 Ted Ross ted@tedrossconsulting.com LAUNDRY ROOM EQUIPMENT

BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

Becht Engineering BT, Inc. 10717 Birmingham Way Woodstock, MD 21163 Bill Hasselman

ETC Engineering and Technical Consultants Inc. Water intrusion, roofing, exteriors, windows, balconies, property studies, structural & architectural services www.etc-web.com T: (703) 450-6220 Mindy Maronic mindy@etc-web.com

www.bechtbt.com T: (401) 461-3904 whasselman@bechtbt.com

Caldwell & Gregory, Inc. Your Commercial Laundry Professionals 129 Broad Street Road Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103

T: (804) 784-6100 F: (804) 784-7418

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Associa-Community Management Corporation, AAMC 4840 Westfields Blvd., Suite 300 T: (703) 631-7200 Chantilly, VA 20151 F: (703) 631-9786 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 907 T: (301) 692-1700 Rockville, MD 20852 F: (240) 221-0443 Nick Mazzarella, mba, cmca, pcam, lsm NMazzarella@cmc-management.com Capitol Management Corporation 12011 Lee-Jackson Highway, Suite 350 T: (703) 934-5200 Fairfax, VA 22033 F: (703) 934-8808 L. Peyton Harris Jr., cmca, cpm lph@capitolmanagementcorp.net Cardinal Management Group 4330 Prince William Parkway, Suite 201 T: (703) 569-5797 Woodbridge, VA 22192 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300 T: (301) 896-9700 Bethesda, MD 20817 www.cardinalmanagementgroup.com Thomas A. Mazzei, CMCA, AMS, PCAM cardinal@cardinalmanagementgroup.com CFM Management Services, AAMC Suite 100, 5250 Cherokee Ave. T: (703) 941-0818 Alexandria, VA 22314 F: (703) 941-0816 Christiaan Melson, ams, pcam c­­­­­­­­melson@cfmmanagement.com

www.kpamgmt.com T: (703) 532-5005 F: (703) 532-5098

Legum & Norman, Inc., AAMC 3130 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 200 T: (703) 600-6000 Falls Church, VA 22042 Direct: (703) 970-8811 John Rhodes jrhodes@legumnorman.com Select Community Services 4840 Westfields Blvd., Suite 160 T: (703) 631-2003 Chantilly, VA 20153 F: (703) 631-5380 John Tsitos, cmca, ams jtsitos@scs-management.com Nick Mazzarella, mba, cmca, pcam, lsm nmazzarella@cmc-management.com Sentry Management www.sentrymgt.com 6395 Little River Turnpike T: (703) 642-3246, ext. 203 Alexandria, VA 22312 F: (703) 891-2378 Dave Ciccarelli, ams, pcam dciccarelli@sentrymgt.com Sequoia Management Company Inc., AAMC 13998 Parkeast Circle www.sequoiamanagement.com Chantilly, VA 20151-2283 T: (703) 803-9641 Craig Courtney, pcam ccourtney@sequoiamgmt.com Vista Management Co. Inc., AMO 1131 University Blvd. West, Suite 101 Silver Spring, MD 20902 T: (301) 649-2700 www.vistacares.com F: (301) 649-3560 L. Scott Wertlieb, esq. vistacares@aol.com Zalco Realty Inc., AAMC, AMO 8701 Georgia Ave., Ste. 300 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Arthur Dubin,cmca, pcam, cpm Z.J. Chelec, cpm

www.zalco.com

T: (301) 495-6600

adubin@zalco.com zchelec@zalco.com

PAINTING SERVICES AND RETAILERS

Capital Painting Co. www.capitalpainting.net 5520 Oakwood Road T: (703) 313-0013 Alexandria, VA 22310 F: (703) 922-1826 George Tsentas george@capitalpainting.net NOVA Painting Company www.NOVAPAINTING.com 22831 Silverbrook Center Drive #150 mark@novapainting.com Sterling, VA 20166 T: (703) 401-2000 Painting/Drywall/Carpentry Serving DC/VA/MD

­­I NDEX TO ADVERTISERS A Alliance Association Bank...............................................................................................................29 Associa-Community Management Corporation, AAMC....................................................................11

B BB&T Association Services.............................................................................................................31 Becht Engineering BT, Inc..............................................................................................................33 C Caldwell & Gregory.........................................................................................................................23 Capital Painting Co.........................................................................................................................25 Cardinal Management Group, Inc., AAMC......................................................................................14 Cowie & Mott. P.A...........................................................................................................................21 Ploutis Painting & Contracting Co., Inc. T: (703) 360-0205 8365 Richmond Hwy F: (703) 360-5439 Alexandria, VA 22309 info@ploutispainting.com Stella Ploutis www.ploutispainting.com Reston Painting & Contracting 619 Carlisle Drive Herndon, VA 20170 David Hamilton

T: (703) 904-1702 F: (703) 904-0248

dave@restonpaint.com

Williams Professional Painting 110 S. Floyd Street VA: (703) 768-8143 Alexandria, Virginia 22304 DC: (202) 751-2026 williamsprofessionalpainting.com Rick Williams Rick@williamsprofessionalpainting.com PET WASTE REMOVAL

DoodyCalls Pet waste management solutions and services 13923 A Willard Road Chantilly, VA 20151 T: (800) DoodyCalls (366-3922) www.DoodyCalls.com RESERVE SERVICES

PM+ (Specializing in Reserve Studies Since 1990) A Veteran Owned Company T: (703) 803-8436 www.pmplusreserves.com Ben Ginnetti, pra, rs, p.e. pmplusreserves@cox.net

D DoodyCalls.....................................................................................................................................14 F Falcon Engineering, Architecture & Energy Consulting....................................................................39 L Legum & Norman, Inc., AAMC.......................................................................................................15 M Mutual of Omaha Bank.....................................................................................................................7 N NOVA Painting Company................................................................................................................40 O O’Leary Asphalt, Inc........................................................................................................................15 P Ploutis Painting & Contracting Co., Inc............................................................................................39 R Reston Painting Company................................................................................................................2 S

ROOFING

TWC Services LLC Exterior Building Services 6700-M Springfield Center Drive T: (703) 971-6016 Springfield, VA 22150 F: (703) 971-4161 Linda Walker info@twcserv.com WINDOWS & DOORS

Windows Plus, LLC 14230 Sullyfield Circle, Suite F T: (703)956-6172 Chantilly, VA 20151-1660 F: (703)956-6744 Kimberly Wayland kknight@windowspls.com

Segan, Mason & Mason, PC...........................................................................................................34 Sentry Management, Inc...................................................................................................................2 T TRC Engineering............................................................................................................................11 TWC Services, LLC..........................................................................................................................25 W Williams Professional Painting.........................................................................................................24 Windows Plus, LLC...........................................................................................................................4 X Xenith Bank......................................................................................................................................9 Z Zalco Realty, Inc., AAMC..................................................................................................................7

JANUARY 2017

| 37

CUL DE SAC

By Brandi Ruff, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Brandi is the general manager for Americana Centre Condominium. She is a frequent contributor to Quorum, and has been recognized with a Chapter Rising Star Award!

SECURE your

2017

Start with you. Be Better.

J

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s celebration. When I was reminded that I had to write an article for this edition, I honestly had no clue what I was supposed to write about. I thought to myself, “This is not a good way to start 2017.” Granted, it isn’t 2017 yet even though you will be reading it in 2017. The meeting was a vague memory since it occurred in August or September of 2016. Regardless of my memory loss, the reality is that I was expected to write an article. I wasn’t going to attempt to rewrite history, deny it, or argue about it. Reality sunk in and I realized that I just needed to get it done. No procrastinating: one of many thoughts I keep as my daily mantra. I needed to write an article to fit the theme of “Securing Your 2017,” so here’s my message: Be Better. Some people may be thinking, “Ok Brandi…What are you talking about? Better than what?” Well, I am glad you asked. Even if you didn’t, I am going to tell you anyway. Be better than you were last year. Heck, be better than you were yesterday. Being better will depend on you. I can’t tell you which areas in your life need improvement. But I can tell without a doubt that every person will have areas that need improvement; no one on this planet is perfect. To be clear, you should not be looking for perfection because 38 | Quorum­

that is an illusion; we should strive to grow and learn every day we are on his earth. I challenge every person to simply be a better version of them self. I recognize that change is a process and most people can’t immediately stop the bad habits they have developed over years, but you can change those habits over time if you really want to. I read somewhere that the top three New Year’s resolutions are: get in shape, eat healthier, and stop procrastinating. I am definitely one of the people who would have these items on my resolution list if I did one. No, I am not going to guilt you into exercising more, eating healthier, or to stop procrastinating, although those are all great resolutions. I stopped making New Year’s resolutions because they didn’t work for me. I decided that whenever I noticed I needed to do something differently, change a behavior, adjust my attitude, improve my mindset, reduce my stress, be more present in situations, slow down, take breaks, or just be better at whatever…I figured why wait for the New Year? I could start now. How does being better secure your 2017? Being better ensures that you are constantly changing and growing. Many people make resolutions or set goals for themselves at the beginning of every year that fall flat

(well before the end of the year). If setting goals at the beginning of the year works for you and you follow through – carry on! If not, try something different. I would like to challenge everyone to add “be better” to your resolution list (or non-list) for 2017 AND make it part of your daily habits. Stop with the mental gymnastics to justify your actions. Stop being a sore loser, stop being mean, stop being disrespectful, and stop being a word sorcerer to try to make words have alternate meanings. Just stop! Be truthful and take the time to understand the entire situation before jumping to conclusions. Stay calm and recognize that every person has a different opinion. Listen with an open mind, but realize you need to let go of preconceived ideas that impact your ability to be rational. If you don’t have a clue about what I am talking about, you need to get one. Focus on your own thoughts and actions. Choose to tell yourself a different story when people are rude or mean, choose not to assign intent to a person’s actions, and choose to move forward instead of constantly looking back for the sole purpose of finding fault and complaining. Stop blaming others when things do not go your way. Take time to self-reflect and learn what you could have done differently. Make an effort to be more patient, kind, and at a minimum, more aware. Be aware that we are not clones of one another. Focus on taking the time to get to know your neighbors, aiding a neighbor who we know is struggling, volunteering for a committee, or attending committee meetings instead of simply complaining about what you don’t like. It means that you will have to make a concerted effort to be the change you want to see, and for goodness sake - smile. J Being better is not about simply saying the words; it is about saying the words AND aligning your actions to match your words. A Nature Valley Granola commercial said, “You can learn from granola: keep it simple, always be real, don’t be artificial, but always be sweet.” If you truly want to secure your 2017, start with you and be better! Wishing everyone an awesome 2017!

THE FALCON GROUP Falcon Engineering, Falcon Architecture, Falcon Energy Consultants Licensed Professional Engineers, Registered Architects, Inspectors and Reserve Specialists

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www.falconengineering.com JANUARY 2017

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