Welcome to Ungated

Perhaps you should make a more thorough search. You say that you found CAI popping up in all sorts of web sites. I can only imagine (actually I know) the sites you are referring to. Unfortunately, they know little or nothing about CAI or our programs, they just need a windmill to tilt at and someone to focus their hate and vitriol on, and we are among the easiest targets. The reality is that the vast majority of CAI's members are homeowners just like you. Some are board members, some serve on committees, and some just own homes in community associations. What they have in common is the desire to run their communities well, preserve and protect every homeowners property values, and make a contribution (frequently unappreciated) to their communities. No one needs the aggravation, anxiety, and stress that serving on a board can create, they accept it because they feel a duty to serve. Do people make mistakes? Do people disagree on key topics? Of course they do, that is the human condition (Just take a look at the White House) and with over 300,000 communities in the United States and 50 million residents there is a lot of potential for people to rub each other the wrong way. If you feel that your board is not serving your community the way it needs to then there is a simple solution - Get involved. Volunteer to serve on a committee, get neighbors together to discuss issues, write articles for the newsletter, maybe even run for the board and make a committment to your community yourself. As far as CAI is concerned, I think you need to look deepter and perhaps not base your assessment on the judgement of others who have a very specific and frankly negative agenda. I would suggest you look at some of our publications, review our public policies, and investigate our numerous educational programs, at both the chapter and national level, before accepting others opinions and judgements on what we do, how we do it, and who we serve. You are right though, about the bill in Nevada. As I noted clearly in my original post on this topic it had some good ideas - positions that we could support. Unfortunately, the process that was used to try and bring it to fruition, without debate, and with every bill related to communities thrown together willy-nilly, resulted in a nightmare of a bill that no one could fully support. You will find that many of the various "homeowner advocate" web sites also encouraged a veto of the bill for the same reason. (We are frequently on the same side of issues with the various "advocates", but they don't like to mention that as it would admit CAI might be right at least some of the time). I think everyone felt there were some real good ideas in that bill and some complete non-starters. For example, allowing any resident to make any physical change they desired to common elements, creating a massive liability for the individual and the association, and prohibiting associations from controlling traffic and speeding in their communities thereby endangering children and other residents. I appreciate your thoughts and encourage you to remain involved in your community. Tom