Articles Posted in Current Affairs

On Friday, February 27, 2009, the Orange County Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) held its annual awards dinner. We are pleased to announce that our very own Sandra Gottlieb was presented with the Chapter’s coveted May Russell Hall of Fame Award.

Each year, the Orange County Chapter of CAI recognizes an outstanding individual who has been instrumental in the success of the Chapter. The Chapter’s most prestigious award is named after May Russell, a former Irvine Company Executive who helped form CAI and was its first president (CAI started in Orange County). Recipients of this Award were first announced in 1988 at the Chapter’s very first awards dinner. The Award is presented to an individual who has proved exemplary leadership and demonstrated the ideals and objectives of CAI through active participation at the local, regional and/or national level.

Congratulations to Sandra Gottlieb!

2008 was remarkable for the fact that the California Legislature did not pass much in the way of new legislation impacting or affecting California Community Associations. We are providing a summary of two changes to the California Civil Code regarding fines/assessments and solar energy that became effective as of January 1, 2009.
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SANDRA GOTTLIEB AWARDED SPEAKER OF THE YEAR BY THE SACRAMENTO CHAPTER OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE

On December 4, 2008, Sandra Gottlieb (and other members of her panel) was awarded the coveted Speaker of the Year Honors by the Sacramento Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) for her role in a panel program “Managing Foreclosures”.

This is what the Sacramento Chapter had to say about Sandra Gottlieb (the panel) and this award:

Reported by the Associated Press
WASHINGTON (Dec. 16) — Unless new anti-drowning drain covers are installed, tens of thousands of public swimming pools and hot tubs could be forced to close Saturday under a sweeping law designed to prevent drain suction from trapping children underwater.

The rules apply to pools and spas used by the public, including municipal pools and those at hotels, private clubs, apartment buildings and community centers. (CID’s are included.)

NBC’s Today show ran a news story on this issue.
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Community Associations Institute (CAI) has weighed in on the side of a Vail, Colorado condominium owner who won a costly and contentious, seven-year court battle with his association over who was responsible for resolving a water-intrusion issue. The court determined that the association should pay $550,000 in attorneys’ fees and related costs in light of what the trial judge called the association’s “stubborn refusal” to address the problem. What was that board thinking? To read the entire article click here.

As a reminder, Tuesday, November 4th is Election Day, and it is important that you exercise your right and duty as a citizen to vote. We are not voting on just who will be our next President, but there are a number of other initiatives on the ballot that are worthy of your consideration.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Despite the unprecedented number of voters who cast their ballots early, experts are forecasting long lines.

Employees are entitled to take off two hours (under California law) to vote, without losing any pay if they are working during that time period and will not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote. Employees may take off as much time as they need to vote, but only two hours of that time will be paid. An employee can take time off for voting only at the beginning or end of their regular work shift, unless they make other arrangements with their employer. If an employee believes that they will need time off to vote, they must have notified their employer at least two working days prior to the election (California Elections Code Section 14000).