Breakfast Briefs

MercerTrigiani presents the popular Breakfast Briefs seminar series hosted quarterly in our Old Town Alexandria office. If you missed a seminar, you can now access the handouts from past Breakfast Briefs as a great way to keep current on community association issues.

• Insurance and Risk Management for Common Interest Communities (Jan 5, 2012)
  Risk management is the process of taking measures to minimize the losses that can affect community associations. Insurance is one of the most critical components of a comprehensive risk management program. In fact, association governing documents and state law require associations to purchase and maintain certain types and amounts of coverage. Stephen Dickerson, CIC and Theresa Melson, PCAM, of USI Insurance Services discuss risk management considerations and solutions for common interest communities. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Parliamentary Procedure (Sept 12, 2011)
  Parliamentary procedure is a set of rules used to maintain order and to conduct proceedings in a fair manner. The importance of proper parliamentary procedure may not be realized until it is too late. Collette Trohan understands how a working knowledge of parliamentary procedure can become a valuable tool for conducting effective and efficient association meetings - meetings that can often become contentious and interfere with business. For more information, visit her Web site at www.agreatmeeting.com
  
  
• Breakfast with the Ombudsman (July 12, 2011)
  In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly enacted significant new statutes affecting common interest community associations and established the Common Interest Community Board and the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman. Heather S. Gillespie, Virginia's first CIC Ombudsman, discusses her position and responsibilities and new regulations which require community associations to institute an internal complaint process to handle association member complaints. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Legislative Update (Apr 12, 2011)
  Each year the Virginia General Assembly amends laws that govern community associations and have a direct impact on the administration and governance of common interest community associations. It is critical that management stay informed about out changes to laws which affect their community associations to ensure compliance. Learn about the latest changes to Virginia law that become effective on July 1, 2011 and measures your community association should consider in response to these changes. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Rule Making and Enforcement (Jan 11, 2011)
  The community association form of housing results in unique legal and social inter-relationships among residents not present in other types of housing. The distinctive relationships and characteristics of associations create the need for rules addressing both property rights and standards of conduct. Successful operation of associations is heavily dependent upon rule-making and rule-enforcement processes. Learn how community managers can facilitate the development of rules and enforcement processes that comply with governing documents and statutory requirements. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Annual Meetings - Notice, Quorum, Proxies, Oh My! (Sept 14, 2010)
  Annual meetings are important to the successful governance of all community associations. Every association must have one - at least once a year! Annual meetings can be amiable, a celebration of volunteer achievement and management accomplishments. But annual meetings are also critically important for the conduct of association business ?€" the election of owners to serve on the board. Preparation is essential. Hear our attorneys discuss what community managers can do to facilitate productive, orderly annual meetings that comply with governing documents and statutory requirements. We will address the fundamental concepts of community association meetings and provide practical. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Fair Housing Works for You (April 13, 2010)
  To promote fair and equal housing opportunities, the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability.  Virginia's Fair Housing Law is substantially similar ?€" adding the elderly as another protected status.  Residential common interest communities are governed by these federal and state fair housing laws. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• Changes to the FHA Condominium Guidelines and How They Affect You! (Jan 12, 2010)
  Recently, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced a new review and approval process for condominium to quality for FHA mortgage insurance. New guidelines will affect condominium unit owners associations since FHA insured mortgages are playing a greater role in financing the purchase of condominium units. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• You Can't Fight Sin Unless You Know It! (Nov 10, 2009)
  Smoking . . . drinking . . . gambling.  Oh those guilty pleasures!  Frequently community association leaders must play the role of enforcer regarding the laws and policies on smoking bans as well as social events held on association property that involve alcohol use, raffles or bingo games, movies and music. Get the tips and guidelines on "sin licensing" that will keep the good times rolling in your community. Seminar Handouts
  
  
• A Primer on Meetings - Observing Protocol, Avoiding Pitfalls! (Sept 15, 2009)
  The business of community associations must be conducted in meetings ?€" that is the law and practical reality. Volunteer leaders are thrown into the rough and tumble of  conducting a variety of different meetings ?€" committee meetings, board meetings, annual and special membership meetings as well as informal hearings. Learn valuable, time-saving procedures and essential protocols for announcing, hosting and conducting meetings that will promote a more cohesive community association. Seminar Handouts
  

Webinars

As leaders in the Community Associations Institute, College of Community Association Lawyers and Virginia Bar Association, our attorneys frequently participate in Webinars that discuss cutting-edge issues affecting the community association industry. Visitors now have the convenient option of either viewing a slide show or accessing a video of recently produced Webinars.     

• Fairfax County Government - "Your Community Your Call" (Nov 11, 2011)
  2011 Common Interest Community Educational Seminar
  Jeremy Moss joins the WMCCAI panel to discuss the Common Interest Community Board, manager licensing, FHA guidelines, 2011 legislation, and guidanace for volunuteer board leadership. Read more.
  
  
• Fairfax County Government - "Your Community Your Call" (Sept 20, 2011)
  Legislative Review 2011
  Pia discusses 2011 legislation impacting homeowners and condominum associations and provides updates on regulatory actions of the Common Interest Community Board. More Info.
  
  
• Creative Problem Solving - Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! (Nov 4, 2009)
  Pia Trigiani discusses how creative problem solving techniques are just a heel-click away" by approaching problems with heart, mind and fortitude. She presented this leadership seminar during the the 17th Annual Leadership Colloquium, "Raising the Stakes with Creative Leadership," hosted by the University of Mary Washington. View slide show.
  
  
• Pet Policies: Sit, Stay, Good Rule! (Oct 28, 2009)
  Americans love their pets - 62 percent of all households have one. More than 77 million of those pets are dogs, and undoubtedly many of them live in the communities you manage. But, it isn't the pets that cause problems - it's the residents who own them. Learn how to deal with dog owners in ways that will make them sit, stay and heel! View slide show or access an On Demand Webinar at CAI Connect.
  
  
• 2010 Legislative Review (July 29, 2010)
  How will the 2010 General Assembly legislative session impact your common interest community?  Which steps should your association board take to comply with these changes?
  
  On Thursday, July 29 at 7 p.m., tune into Your Community, Your Call on Fairfax County Government TV channel 16. The live, call-in program will  discuss the "2010 Legislative Review." Submit questions on homeowner/condominium association management and living by calling 703.818.1445 or e-mailing. Or, view the live broadcast online by clicking here.
  
  The panel of industry professionals will answer your questions:
  
  • Michelle L. Thompson, member of Consumer Affairs Branch 
  • Lucia Anna "Pia" Trigiani, community association attorney with MercerTrigiani 
  • Paul Orlando, vice president of Armstrong Management Services, Inc.
  
  Your Community, Your Call is a bi-monthly program for homeowner and condominium association directors, managers and members featuring industry professionals.
  
  
• 2008 Virginia Common Interest Community Legislation (Oct 22, 2008)
  Under the legislation passed in 2008 by the General Assembly, the Common Interest Community Board was charged with developing regulations to implement the professional community manager licensing regime and policies for businesses obtaining the provisional licenses. This webinar discusses the implications of this new legislation for community association managers in Virginia.
  View slide show or access a free On Demand Webinar at CAI Connect.