BOMA Boston' 24th Annual Benefit will be held March 2nd, 2013 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The event will raise funds for five local charities this year, all of which are committed to ending homelessness in Greater Boston. This year's beneficiaries are Father Bill's and Mainspring, Homes for our Troops, Homestart, Inc., My Brother's Keeper, and Rosie's Place.
BOMA Boston has a Benefit Committee comprised of BOMA Boston members who are responsible for selecting the charities, fundraising, and planning the event. This year's BOMA Benefit theme is the Wild Wild West, and features play gambling, live entertainment, and a reception.
The Annual BOMA Benefit, started in 1989, was created to aid local charities focusing on homelessness and education in Greater Boston, and has raised close to $1 million to date. Last year, BOMA Boston's Mardi Gras themed event gave $70,000 to 4 charities: Crittenton Women's Union, Homes for our Troops, My Brother's Keeper, and Somerville Homeless Coalition.
BOMA Boston's continues to support education for those in the real estate industry through monthly roundtable discussions and courses offered through the Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI). The BOMI courses give members of the BOMA Boston community an opportunity to pursue any four designations: Real Property Administrator (RPA), Facilities Management Administrator (FMA), Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA), and Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT). BOMI courses are taught by local industry professionals with expertise in the subject matter. Last year, local BOMI instructors included Larry Lenrow, chief operating officer and managing director property management and development of the Davis Companies, and Dennis Callahan, executive vice president of Colliers International.
BOMA Boston wrapped up their first BOMI course of the year this past month, Design Operations and Buildings Maintenance II. This course provided information that property and facility managers need in order to make management decisions about various building systems. A Budgeting and Accounting ten-week course also began in January, and runs through March.
On January 15th, BOMA Boston held a Roundtable discussion on best practices for property management teams. The discussion was led by three Industry Award winners from last November's TOBY and Industry Awards.
In the months ahead, BOMA Boston has a full schedule of programs and educational courses. On February 19th BOMA Boston will host a Roundtable about the threat of rising sea levels. On March 6th, BOMA Boston will offer Ethics is Good Business, a one-day BOMI course. And starting in April, BOMA Boston will be offering the popular Foundations of Real Estate Management course.
For more information about BOMA Boston's upcoming events and courses, or about BOMA Benefit sponsorship, donations, and ticket information, please visit www.bomaboston.org.