Fall President's Message: Cautious Optimism
By , CMCA, AMS, PCAM
The Fall 2021 Issue of The Communicator focuses on architectural modifications and owners’ protected uses. Residents are drawn to common interest development living for many reasons. Among those reasons are the covenants, conditions, and restrictions that, in part, are designed to deliver a uniform and visually appealing community experience. However, layered over this, and sometimes in direct conflict with the association’s general plan as articulated through its governing documents, is a continually evolving stream of legislation that affords residents certain protections regardless of what the governing documents indicate. Over the years we have seen these protections applied to satellite dish installations, solar systems, flags and banners, vehicle charging stations and ADU/JDU units, to name just a few. To co-exist, associations must understand these protections and craft their rules and regulations, policies and procedures, and future amendments to governing documents to work within the framework of the law while mitigating the impact to the association at large. This is no easy task for sure, and one that should not be undertaken without the consultation of association legal counsel.
This year, the CAI Bay Area and Central Valley Chapter started off with a sense of cautious optimism that we would once again see the normalization of chapter activities and, more importantly, day-to-day life. While I am confident that optimism remains strong, one cannot help but feel a little like Charlie Brown after being promised by Lucy for the umpteenth time that she will not pull the football away when he goes to kick it. Trusting her, and seeing the potential for a favorable outcome, he forges forward full speed and, predictably, Lucy pulls the ball away at the last possible moment, causing Charlie to fly up in the air feet first and land hard on his backside, AGAIN! Similarly, our chapter has had its fair share of setbacks over the past two years. The good news is that we, too, continue to rise to the challenges presented and persevere in the face of adversity. We can all be immensely proud of this fact.
Flexibility and the ability to continue to pivot quickly when it comes to hosting chapter educational and social events will remain one of the key elements to our success for the foreseeable future. All chapter events will follow CDC, state, and local guidelines and precautions. As a result, the dynamics of any one event can change quickly and members are advised to keep an eye out for regular updates up to and including the day of the scheduled event.
I would like to end the year the way I started it, by saying what a privilege it has been to serve as your 2021 Bay Area and Central Valley Chapter president. Please accept my heartfelt thank you to all the committee members, event speakers, and authors who volunteered countless hours of their time and performed all the heavy lifting needed to make each of our chapter events and publications a success.
Likewise, I cannot express enough gratitude for the continued support offered by our sustaining sponsors; without them none of this would be possible. Finally, a tip of the cap to my fellow board members for their contributions and support and to our executive directors, Rachel Selwan and Kelvin Nanney, for being the glue that holds it all together.
Wishing you and yours happy holidays!
Grant Shetron, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
CAI BAyCen Chapter President