Condo Media - July 2021 - 22

Volunteer Spotlight
Weathering the Storm
Let's face it. This has been a tough year to be the president
of anything. That's certainly true for the New England chapter
of CAI, as Tom Moriarty can attest. After all, Moriarty became
the chapter president in 2020, after
serving on the board since 2017.
A founding principal of Moriarty
Troyer & Mallow LLC of Quincy,
Mass., Moriarty first became involved
with CAI in order to, in his words,
" participate in the developments
that will impact our client base. "
But he adds that there's an emotional
component, too. " For the most part,
in Massachusetts, condominiums
are the last bastion of affordable
housing, " he says. " So it's worthy of
fostering, and it's worth trying to
ensure that people who are taking
advantage of what community living
has to offer have the protections
that the law should afford them. "
Still, being chapter president
during the pandemic has had its
challenges. As Moriarty points out,
CAI is an organization that thrives on
networking, personal interactions, and personal relationships.
He credits CAI-NE Executive Director Claudette Carini and
her team with facilitating the organization's pivot from inperson
activities to online. " Claudette and her staff really rose
to the occasion. I've been able to take advantage of what they
put in place before I even held the office, so all I've had to
do is just be a good steward of it, " he says modestly. " But it is
very different than the experience I would have envisioned. "
Moriarty first became involved with
CAI in order to, in his own words,
" participate in the developments that
will impact our client base. "
" This past year, of course, has been particularly difficult
with the pandemic and everything, " says Debbie Davie,
associate director of BRIGS, a Boston-based property
22 CONDOMEDIA July 2021
Attorney Tom Moriarty Charts a Steady Course Through the Pandemic
[by Pamela Schweppe]
management company. Davie has had a professional association
with Moriarty for about 15 years and currently works with
Tom serving as co-chair of the chapter's Awards Banquet Committee.
" The Zoom board meetings
and committee reports and updates
have been very productive, and I
think Tom does a great job moving
them along. He keeps us on task. And
he's just very pleasant to work with. "
In addition to his stint on the
Tom Moriarty
board, Moriarty has worked with
CAI over the years to impact legislation.
For example, he has had a hand
in legislation dealing with the extension
and revival of expired phasing
rights - that is, extending the right
to add units to a condominium
association in phases. He was also
involved in the effort to pass legislation
to allow energy-saving devices
to be installed in units and in the
Mass. Department of Revenue's
interpretation of tax regulations
pertaining to condominiums.
Moriarty's volunteerism on behalf
of CAI isn't surprising, given his law firm's corporate culture
of philanthropy. The firm sponsors several charitable events,
as well as pro bono work, and staff are encouraged to participate
in CAI educational opportunities and events. And the
firm itself is a Diamond Chapter partner. " We sponsor every
event we possibly can to support the team, " Moriarty says.
Currently, Moriarty remains at the helm as CAI-NE navigates
its way out of COVID-19 restrictions. The organization is
following the guidelines of the CDC and other state and federal
agencies, and Moriarty is optimistic that the chapter will hold
indoor in-person events again by late summer or early fall.
" As soon as those in the know tell us it's safe and socially responsible
to do something, then we plan to do so, " he says.
Although Moriarty regrets that Zoom gatherings lack
the spontaneous, interpersonal touch, he's proud of the
way the chapter has been able to maintain its momentum.
" In the scheme of things, CAI has weathered the storm
amazingly well and has been able to deliver for its
membership significant value, " he says.
So has Tom Moriarty.
Condo Media - July 2021

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