Professional Community Association Management Since 1984
Archived Newsletters
Every month, we issue an electronic newsletter, eNews Monthly, to keep clients informed about Association items, spotlight clients, answer frequently asked questions, and let you know what is happening with the company. Old issues of eNews Monthly are available on our Library page.
Shed a Tear for the Houston Aeros
After 19 years thrilling fans, the Houston Aeros are gone. The team has moved north and closer to their parent NHL club, the Minnesota Wild, for the 2013/2014 season. Our team is now, sadly, the Iowa Wild.
This was actually the second go-around for the Houston Aeros. From 1972 to 1978, an Aeros team was part of the World Hockey league. They played in the Sam Houston Coliseum and then moved to the Summit when it opened. Hockey fans remember the NHL great, Gordie Howe, coming out of retirement to play with his sons Mark and Marty on the Aeros. The team was pretty good; winning two Avco Cups in their seven seasons. Unfortunately, the WHL folded and Houston’s first dance with professional hockey ended.
Hockey returned in 1994 when the International Hockey League expanded. The new Aeros were always contenders, winning the Turner Cup in 1999. In 2001, the team moved up to the American Hockey League and in 2003, changed home ice from the Compaq Center (Summit) to the Toyota Center. They continued their successful ways by winning the Calder Cup in 2003.
Houston always had great fan support drawing more than 6,000 fans per game. They will be missed. Here’s hoping for Aeros 3.0 someday soon.
Hockey Night in Houston
C.I.A. Services began hosting our annual Houston Night with the Houston Aeros in 1999. Hockey night was a chance for our community volunteers, employees, vendors, families and friends to enjoy a fun night watching an exciting sport.
Our fans packed the bowl behind the opposing goalie and made our presence known. In 2012, we had 1024 guests! In our 15 seasons hosting Hockey Night in Houston, the Aeros were officially 13-2 with our fans cheering them on.
Click below to see photos of the fun from the last five years.
We would always have loads of door prizes and in 2005 we introduced our collectible and wildly popular cowbells shown in the picture below.
We Can Still Rampage
The tradition continues in San Antonio! We’ll be hosting our 6th annual Hockey Night with the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday, January 25th. In irony, we’ve chosen this face-off against the Iowa Wild - it will be an epic battle.
Click below to see photos of the fun from the last five years.
Deed Restriction Inspectors
by Jennifer Northington
Have you ever wondered how deed restriction violations are spotted? C.I.A. Services partners with highly trained independent contractors who perform regular inspections of their assigned communities. Deed Restriction Inspectors must know the guidelines for each community and be diligent in seeing changes to existing violations as well as sighting new ones. They work with the Community Manager to ensure any special instructions or specific areas of concerns are addressed. Prior to going to the community, inspectors download a report of complaints logged by our staff in response to calls and emails from residents. They look for the reported issues as well as update existing violations, open new violations and are often requested to take photos of violations.
Inspectors drive each and every street and look at every home in the community on each inspection. They look for violations that can be seen from the street or “public view” as it is commonly referred to. Some common violations include the public storage of trash cans/receptacles in public view and lawn care issues. Because our inspectors are in the communities on a regular basis, they are also able to spot changes in house colors, landscaping, fence and roofing changes as well as new structures such as storage buildings and pergolas.
After inspecting the communities, the inspectors enter the data into our system remotely and send it on to the managers to review the information and process enforcement letters. During the peak growing season (April-September), inspectors mail postcards directly to the properties needing lawn care in order to ensure that these matters are attended to promptly.
Regular deed restriction enforcement is vital to maintaing a good appearance in a community; which can directly affect the property values. Inspectors have an important role in that process and we are pleased to have them!
Another Successful National Night Out
by Barbara Probandt, Summerwood Secretary/Treasurer
On Tuesday, October 1st, neighborhoods across Texas participated in National Night Out with block parties and activities. The annual, non-profit event strengthens relationships and shows criminals that neighborhoods are united communities.
National Night Out started 30 years ago with only a handful of communities asking neighbors to leave the front porch light on to send a message to criminals. Now, it’s evolved into block parties, festivals, safety fairs and meetings and is designed to:
The Summerwood community has held successful National Night Out events for several years. Their annual event is sponsored by the Crime Watch Committee. This year, over 850 Summerwood residents attended and enjoyed the many exhibits and activities for young and old alike. There were door prizes given out during the evening, free giveaways for all who registered food for purchase, and fun for all!
The Summerwood Crime Watch Committee wishes to express thanks to the Summer Creek High School student volunteers for their service to this Summerwood community event! Also they would like to thank the many area sponsors, the large variety of exhibitors, Sheriff Adrian Garcia and other Houston area dignitaries, the HCSO and HPD law enforcement officers that work to keep us safe, our committee workers, and the multitude of residents who turned out in support of the annual NNO event!
Veteran's Day
Veterans Day originally known as "Armistice Day" was enacted on Nov. 11, 1919, by President Wilson to commemorate the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. The name officially changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor Veterans of all wars. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day differs from Memorial Day (the forth Monday in May) in that “Memorial Day pays honor to those service members who have died in their service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle." Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all American veterans, living and deceased, but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
We would like to take an opportunity to thank the veterans that we work with daily.
Every community offers various celebrations to honor our service men and women. Be sure to check out what your community is doing and join in the celebration! Don’t forget to THANK a Veteran. Below are some links to happenings in Houston and San Antonio.
Houston:
http://www.houstontx.gov/nov11/
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7775248
San Antonio:
http://www.vetfriends.com/parades/directory.cfm?state=TX
http://www.veteransdayrun.com/run/san-antonio
https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/sponsors/veterans-day-parade-association
For more information on the history of Veterans Day visit http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
Avondale
We are pleased to have our newest community join us. Avondale Residential Property Owners Association is located just north of Beltway 8 and west of SH 288 off West Fuqua. This small 86 lot newly growing community has just 12 homeowners so far. Future plans of the development include a second phase.
We will be providing full management services to Avondale with Susan Bratton as their Community Manager.
Cypress Forest Lakes
We are also pleased to welcome Cypress Forest Lakes Community Association to our family. Cypress Forest Lakes is located West of I-45 North off of Cypresswood Drive.
This small gated community with 73 homes is adjacent to three lakes, surrounded by a park and picnic area. The nature trail meanders around the lakes and the Forest Oaks Swim and Racquet Club. The Club serves all of the communities in the Cypress Forest family.
Cypress Forest Lakes will be managed by our North office with the management team consisting of Laura Tate and Jennifer Northington.
The Lakes at Edgewater Estates
We are also pleased to announce the addition of another awesome communitiy to our family. The Lakes of Edgewater Estates is located in Pearland west of Cullen Parkway off Northfork Drive. The Lakes of Edgewater Estates has several lakes, a swimming pool and a toddler park.
We will be providing full management services for Lakes of Edgewater out of our Southwest Office. Amanda Jensen has been assigned as the Community Manager.
Glenmont Estates
Finally, we would like to welcome Glenmont Estates Property Owners Association. Glenmont Estates is located off of 2920 in Magnolia.
Glenmont Estates is a mature community consisting of 174 acreage properties. We will be providing full management services out of our North office.
We are proud of every one of our communities so it is always hard to find just one to highlight. We start by having each of our Community Managers write a nomination for one of their communities. We then read them and take a vote. Here are our most recent selections:
To see the full story on these communities and to see the past winners, visit the Community of the Month page on our web site.
Every month we appreciate the communities that are celebrating their anniversaries with us. Here are the clients that started with us in November.
Our goal has always been to create a positive, long term relationship with all of our client communities. We are very proud to be managing all of these communities.
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following employees for their years of dedicated service.
Welcome Baby Boy Look!
Candace Look, a manager out of our Southwest office, and her husband Johnny welcomed their new bundle of joy to the world on October 14th.
James Dwight Look arrived at 2:38 p.m. and was 6 pounds, 4 ounces and 19¼ inches long. Baby and Mom are doing well and the family is busy getting to know each other! Congratulations Candace and Johnny!
customercare@ciaservices.com
Toll Free: 866-219-0563
Houston 713-981-9000
San Antonio 210-490-0000
