Condo Media - January 2021 - 2

President's Message
WWW.CAINE.ORG

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

020 was a difficult year, to be sure. The pandemic presented
not only serious health concerns and grievous personal
tragedy, but significant economic challenges. The 2020
presidential election, as all presidential elections do,
highlighted many additional economic and social concerns,
but also underscored a deep divide that presently exists in our
nation. It seems apparent we have all earned a happier 2021.
As I craft this, the first of my monthly President's Messages, we are experiencing a record spike in daily COVID-19 cases and debate continues to swirl
around the election. But I believe we all should take great comfort in knowing
that, as a nation, and a people, we have been through far worse collective circumstances and we have almost always come out stronger on the other side.
Our industry, particularly, faced its share of challenges in 2020. Most of us
were struggling to simply normalize operations and get a handle on client and customer needs we never
imagined we'd confront. Having practiced law in the area of community associations for almost three decades,
I had become accustomed to handling calls with the confidence that I could answer almost any inquiry off the
top of my head. COVID-19 put that hubris to rest. Starting at about the point of the shut down my pat answer
became " I don't know, but I'll figure it out and get back to you. " I trust in every corner of our industry there were
professionals figuring it out as they went.
CAI-NE was in no different a circumstance. There was much to figure out for an organization whose stock-intrade is putting people in the same room to plan, educate, and network. Led by the experienced hand of Executive
Director Claudette Carini, and the strong and reliable leadership of 2020 CAI-NE President Ed Allcock, the staff
and volunteers of CAI-NE demonstrated why, pound-for-pound, this is the best chapter in the country. With much
work and dedication, the staff and volunteers of this chapter made the impossible seem effortless as the organization shifted from almost exclusively in-person events to almost exclusively virtual events, deftly balancing the
need for operational and financial stability with the recognition that business could not simply go on as usual.
We can all expect similar results as the organization moves into 2021, as our competencies will benefit from
complete continuity at both the staff level and among volunteer leaders at the committee level. Laura White
Brandow, Mary Joy Howes, and Erik Shaughnessy will continue to lead the Attorneys' Committee. The Banquet
Committee will still be ably captained by Debbie Davie and Will Thompson. Scott Wolf has agreed to maintain
the reigns of the CEO-MC Committee. Pam Jonah will once again head-up the Emerging Leaders Network.
The Golf Tournament Committee will be operated under the longstanding direction of Paula Solemina and
Tony Chiarelli. Jill Wetmore-Piken comes back to face the solo task of taking on the Managers' Committee.
And last, but only alphabetically least, Mark Einhorn and Dave Uitti will have the mantle of the Seminar &
Conference Committee. I would like to take this opportunity to express thanks and appreciation to them
from the entire organization for their efforts in 2020. I look forward to working with them in 2021.
There are no doubt some difficult times ahead, but with the dedicated staff, volunteers, and members pulling
together in one direction, I have every confidence that regardless of the circumstances, CAI-NE will persevere
and come out stronger on the other side.
Sincerely,

Thomas Moriarty, Esq., CCAL
2021 CAI-NE Chapter President

CONDOMEDIA January 2021

http://WWW.CAINE.ORG

Condo Media - January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2021