TAKE ACTION
We Get It: You're Torn
We've done our best to distill concerns into an approachable format, but the totality of what's occurred over the past 50 years is challenging to consolidate. Just like all those statutes and governing documents, understanding the complete picture isn't easy. You're not going to read a 20 page legal brief and we're not going to write one!
Notably, a portion of our audience are professionals who find their careers inextricably linked to CAI because it's the only organization (along with CAMICB which is essentially its subsidiary) that credentials managers and certain other CIC industry verticals. Furthermore, CAI has undeniably some of the best industry marketing resources and sways favor with legislators (both state and federal) through consistent (and not inexpensive) lobbying efforts.
Whether you're a community resident, homeowner, homeowner volunteer leader, or industry professional, we ask you to consider whether the actions of CAI and its senior leaders exemplifies CAI's own governance and statements listed in About CAI.
Overwhelming evidence supports the fact that CAI's myriad online forms like the Exchange and HOA Resources are NOT trusted forums for the collaborative exchange of knowledge and information and, furthermore, that CAI senior leaders, its Board of Trustees and certain credentialed professionals directly engage in behavior that both violates the organization's own governance and ethical codes and fails to reflect professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship.
This is NOT a Game
CAI, the multi-million dollar CIC industry trade group has labeled Condo Connection – a volunteer hobby – a competitor, yet this is not a game. $100 billion+ in annual homeowner assessments means that the stakes are real. We are simultaneously honored to be recognized and gravely concerned about CAI’s extensive control of a massive, unregulated industry. We're not the only ones concerned: just ask Deborah Goonan at Independent American Communities.
Despite CAI’s threats, shadowbanning and blatant steps toward excommunication, WSCAI (the Washington State CAI chapter) sent this email last week soliciting a membership renewal. What’s the ask? Money, of course!
We declined CAI’s demand to pay a $600 "business partner" membership back in January 2022. CAI reacted by banning us from their Exchange forum. Attempts to limit the ease with which one can share the truth is a popular tactic. Just ask Twitter.
Why should you care about resources like Condo Connection? Because advocacy works. WSCAI homeowner workshops came with a cost – even for members – until July of 2022. Our advocacy disrupted the status quo. CAI isn’t happy, but you should be.
Condo Connection was created – and exists solely – to support communities and their homeowners by democratizing the availability of free, practical, well-researched resources that are never biased by corporate sponsorships or paid advertisements. We overwhelmingly support accountability, consistency, empathy, honesty, integrity, reason and transparency. Learn more about Condo Connection any time. Have a question? Just ask! We're an open book.
CAI is a trade organization that exists primarily to bolster the unregulated business industry that benefits from over $100 billion dollars in annual CIC assessments. Learn more about CAI and FCAR and read about the CAI cancel culture.
The reality of this truth sinks in immediately when you call a CAI chapter asking about ADR resources and are told that "we're a membership organization so our first priority is not pissing off our business partners."
CAI’s 2021 Volunteer Leader Survey results were never published save for the aforelinked summary by Janet Newcomb. Why? The results aren't flattering:
Homeowners feel that CAI doesn't think they are as important as community managers and business partners, and they believe management companies need more vetting and accountability.
+++ TAKE ACTION +++
YOU can send CAI a message. Concerned readers contributed to a petition months ago and added their own commentary.
CANCEL or DO NOT RENEW your individual or association/group CAI membership. Want discussion? Join r/HOA on Reddit.
Email CAI leaders and ask them honor CAI's own governance and mission statements by guaranteeing, without exception, the free, uncensored collaborative exchange of knowledge and information on all CAI platforms including the Exchange community forum.
Ask CAI to embrace truthful conversation regardless of its source and/or reflection on the organization.
Ask CAI to be transparent about its priorities that put businesses first and homeowners last.
Ask CAI to release all its survey data including the 2021 Homeowner Leader Survey.
Add your voice to this petition directed toward CAI, it's Board of Trustees and senior leaders.
Visit our Support page for additional ways to directly support the free resources provided by Condo Connection.
Share this message with your fellow homeowners and colleagues.