January 25th, 2012, CIC Midwest Lunch & Learn

Ask the Attorney
Presenters: David McGee, Thomsen & Nybeck; Justin Short, Best & Flanagan; Phaedra Howard, Hellmuth & Johnson.
Moderator: Mel Schultz, New Concepts Management

What are your association’s legal hot buttons? As a manager, what challenging situations are you helping guide your associations through? Reserves? Collections? Vendor Contracts?  Construction Defects? Updating Governing Documents? Rule Violations? Ethical Issues? You name it, and this panel of CIC attorneys can answer your questions. Start the year off right, bring your boards, hear the answers together, and make sure you are all on the same page going into 2012. It’s an economical way to get expensive advice. Please submit your questions in advance when you register.
Sponsored by: Asset Restoration; Columbus Exteriors; and TruSeal America

February 29th, 2012, CIC Midwest Lunch & Learn

Embezzlement, Fraud, & Cyber Theft
Presenters: Scott M. Callahan, CPA, Casey, Menden, Faust & Nelson, P.A.; Thomas Engblom, Vice President, Regional Account Executive, Community Association Banc; and Sarah Fjellanger, RJF Agencies

How could embezzlement or fraud happen at your association or management company? Something that egregious couldn’t get past you. Surely it would be detected. However, companies and homeowner associations like yours, who thought they were doing everything right, still ended up as victims. We’ll review real life CIC embezzlement and fraud stories from the news and court cases. We’ll find out how they happened, what could have been done to prevent the losses, and what role insurance plays in these cases.

Next, we’ll tackle cyber theft. It’s easy and efficient to go paperless. But sending information electronically and storing sensitive data can make you vulnerable. What if this information is about your homeowners, clients and employees? Are you liable for damages if cyber theft occurs? Is there insurance coverage that can insulate you if hackers come calling? Find out how it happens and what protections are available to you.
Sponsored by: Asset Restoration; CityScape Painting; ServiceMaster Professional Services; and TruSeal America

March 28th, 2012, CIC Midwest Lunch & Learn

RFPs, Negotiating Contracts, and Working Effectively with Contractors
Presenters:  David Stendal, Lance Stendal, Omega Management; and Brandon Stendal, Stone Valley Painting

Do you have a property improvement or repair project coming up? Are you hiring new contractors this spring for routine maintenance? Would you like the whole process to be organized and productive, giving you the results you’re after? In this entertaining session, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to make that happen.

We’ll learn how to develop specifications, and what resources can help you through the process. We’ll talk about what to include in a bid package and a bid response form. We’ll discuss prototyping, what it is, and whether you should consider taking this approach. We’ll review the request for proposal and how to identify qualified contractors. We will discuss contract terms, and then watch a lively negotiation by our presenters. We’ll find out what questions to ask, red flags to watch out for, and how to arrive at the best arrangement for both parties. Finally, we’ll review the management of the project from the beginning until completion. This is a timely session to attend before you start your spring and summer projects. Includes handouts with sample language, contract excerpts, and other helpful information.
Sponsored by: Asset Restoration; CityScape Painting, TruSeal America; Window World

April 25, 2012, CIC Midwest Lunch & Learn

Before Disaster Strikes: Prepare or Beware
Creating Your Emergency Action Plan
Presenters: Mel Schulz, New Concepts Management; and Melissa Shockey, Renovation Systems

Are you ready for tornados, floods, fires, violence, domestic terrorism, homeowner emergency or death, and more? This comprehensive seminar will show you what an Emergency Action Plan is, why you need it, and how to create one for your community. Being prepared with your own EAP will not only help you during a disaster, but it will help you prevent disasters by making your community a safer place to live. We’ll show you how to gather the information you need, and provide an EAP format you can customize. We’ll also show you how to create and maintain an Emergency Action Team.

After completing your EAP, you will understand how to identify possible disasters, prepare for them, create a response plan, and finally, how to return your community to normal.  Attendees will receive a link to a comprehensive EAP workbook.
Sponsored by: Asset Restoration; and Window World

May 23, 2012, CIC Midwest Lunch & Learn

How to Make Rules & Regulations Work In Your Community
Presenter: Daniel B. Greenstein, Esq., Bernick Lifson

When summer arrives, the doors swing open, and sometimes (just sometimes) chaos ensues. That’s what rules and regulations are for, right? You’ve heard about associa-tions that become news stories—all because their rules and regulations, and the way they are enforced, aren’t working.

In this session, you’ll learn how to sidestep the drama, and set the stage for a peace-ful, rule-abiding community this summer. We’ll review the process of creating rules that are in accordance with your governing documents and the law. You will find out which common rules associations have on the books that aren’t enforceable. You’ll learn how to create a penalty system that encourages residents to abide by rules, but doesn’t create resentment. We’ll also review the process of creating and enforcing rules for pets, park-ing, the use of common areas, rentals, and other hot issues. Find out what works. Dan Greenstein, one of our most popular instructors, is back for this engaging session. Don’t miss it.
Sponsored by: American Family Insurance Nick Atkinson; Great Garage Door; Minnesota Exteriors; Tenet Painting; and Window World

Mark Your Calendar for the Upcoming Lunch & Learn dates in 2012:  

• September 19, 2012
• October 24, 2012
• November 28, 2012

 

Lunch & Learn Meeting Information

Location: Holiday Inn, 1201 W. 94th St., Bloomington, MN 55431
Cost: $29 members; $39 non-members; $50 after 12 noon the day before the meeting
Credits: 1.5 continuing real estate credits requested; 1.5 CCAM credits for each meeting
Schedule:
10:30 a.m. Roundtable Discussion Groups
11:00 a.m. Vendor Exhibits
11:30 a.m. Program
1:30 p.m. Program concludes

Sponsorship: If you would like to be a sponsor of a Lunch & Learn meeting, click here for more information.

 

Registration Information 

There are two easy ways to register for one of our upcoming luncheons:

1) Paper Registration Forms: If you would like to print a hard copy of the registration form and mail in with a check, please click on the corresponding meeting link above to download the form.

OR

2) Register Online Today! To register online and pay by credit card, please click on the related class link on the events calendar and login to complete your registration.  Please note, if you are logging in for the first time you will need to activate your account with your membership ID # or search for an existing account using your email address. Non-members or those visiting this site for the first time will use the “Activate or Create a New Account” and then the “Search for an Account” buttons to begin the online registration process.  If you have any trouble using our online registration feature, please contact Allison Harkness at allison.harkness@mmha.com or (952) 548-2215.