News and Resources

Committee for Community Development: Providing the Best for Those Who Need It the Most

By: Linda J. Schiff, President and Vlatka Puljic, Financial Analyst of COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE® of Barrington Bank and Trust Co.

Recently, we became aware of a need in our area to assist community associations which did not have ample resources to attend CAI functions. In response to this need, the CAI Illinois chapter became the first CAI Chapter to welcome the formation of the Committee for Community Development. The Committee was formed in March of 2006 to provide professional services to low or moderate income community associations.

One of the most important goals of this committee is to implement a variety of financial counseling programs, including subsidized educational sessions and CAI resources. The committee is self funded by its own members which include known industry professionals. The volunteer committee was founded and chaired by Linda J. Schiff, President of COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE® of Barrington Bank & Trust Co. The members include Bill DeMille, President of Chicagoland Management & Realty; Jessica Fortich, Executive Director of CAI Illinois; Tim Haviland, Vice President of Itasca Bank & Trust; Diana Larson, Relationship Manager of Harris Bank, N.A; Mark Pearlstein, Partner at Levenfeld and Pearlstein; Brad Schneider, President of Condo CPA; and Barbara Wick, President of CARMIC. The committee secretary is Vlatka Puljic, Financial Analyst of Community Advantage of Barrington Bank & Trust Co.

After a number of meetings and hours of planning, the dedicated committee members hosted their first seminar entitled “So Now You’re on the Board” on November 9, 2006 at Loyola University. The committee recognized the need for an educational seminar in the 60626 zip code and therefore Loyola was chosen as a centralized location for the inaugural seminar. The committee provided complimentary “So Now You’re on the Board” CD’s which will be a valuable resource for the attendees to develop their skills as board members. CAI, with the help of Debra Lewin, recently updated this media resource from cassette to CD in time for the seminar and to meet the changing needs of our association board volunteers. Jessica Fortich, Executive Director of CAI Illinois also handed out CAI promotional folders which will educate the associations about our organization. The seminar was well attended by board members who truly welcomed the opportunity to discuss their association issues with known industry professionals. The speakers discussed topics such as organization and governing documents, rules and regulations, policies and procedures, business operations and other topics within the scope of association living. A discussion and summary of the program aired on Common Interest Radio – WBIG 1280 AM (a service of CAI Illinois) hosted by Bill DeMille. He interviewed two committee members, Tim Haviland and Diana Larson, who emphasized the value of the committee and its mission.

One of the highlights of the seminar was a donation of a collection of reference publications on managing condominium, cooperative and homeowner association to Loyola University’s Library. The collection valued at more than ,200 was made possible by a donation from the Committee for Community Development and Foundation for Community Association Research through its Adopt-a-Library program. The donation was graciously accepted by Robert Seal, Dean of Loyola’s Library.

Due to the overwhelming success of the inaugural seminar, the committee will begin planning a similar event to be held in 2007. This seminar is an outstanding example of how the Members, Committees, Chapters, Institute and Foundation all work together to meet a need. We challenge you all to do the same or better in your communities. Tap into the vast resources of our organization and serve. That’s the nature of true leadership.

Members of Committee for Community Development (not including Mark Pearlstein, Brad Schneider and Barbara Wick) with Robert Seal, Dean of Loyola’s Library. From left to right: Robert Seal, Diana Larson, Jessica Fortich, Linda Schiff, Tim Haviland, Jordan Cramer, Bill DeMille

January 2, 2006