In 2008 CAI estimates that there are nearly 60 million people living in more than 300,000 association-governed communities across the country. In addition, it is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 professional management companies and 60,000 individual community association managers. With more than 1.7 million Americans serving on a community association board and nearly 400,000 more participating as committee members and combined dedicating 110 million hours of service to their communities every year, common interest communities are big business and need professional support.
Volunteer leaders are tasked with performing duties and assuming responsibilities for decisions that often require an understanding of a variety of legal, financial, engineering or insurance issues. CAI and its members work together to provide the necessary resources to help communities throughout N.E. meet the challenges they face. Over the past 9 months the chapter has hosted in excess of 41 programs for community association volunteer leaders and homeowners as well as managers and other industry professionals. By years end, a total and record 60 local chapter events and meetings will have been held.
As I reflect on my term as chapter president with now just 3 months remaining, I am impressed by the quality of chapter programming and the timeliness in which chapter volunteers have provided important industry information to our members. I have had the continued opportunity to work with the membership committee and am excited to report that through resources of the Internet and various state agencies throughout N.E., hundreds of new community association decision makers are added to our mailing lists each and every month.
October is one of the busiest months for the chapter. Committees will host an extensive schedule of educational and networking events including the most anticipated event of the year, the Annual Conference and Expo to be held on October 25th at the Marriott Hotel in Burlington, Mass. This annual event has been hosted by the chapter for nearly 2 decades, and since my last term as president 10 years ago, I have seen this annual show grow from a reasonable audience of participating vendors and attendees to a sold out exhibit hall and standing room only sessions. "One Voice Working Together," the theme of this year's conference, reflects the combined efforts of CAI including its volunteer leaders, committee members and staff as well as community association volunteer leaders and industry professionals, working together in the best interest of all New England common interest communities. I would encourage condo board members, trustees, committee members, homeowners and industry professionals to participate in this year's event scheduled from 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Come for the whole day or just a few hours, either way, I look forward to seeing you at the show. For more information go to www.caine.org.

Richard Brooks is the 2008 president of CAI N.E. chapter and partner at Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, Braintree, Mass.