Bandera Office 'Crusaders'
by Kimberlee Beaton

Each year the American Cancer Society hosts “Relay for Life” events across the nation.  A Relay for Life Event is an organized overnight community fundraising walk during which teams of people camp out around a track, each member taking turns walking the track.  Our Bandera Office has been a big part of the local Bandera County Relay events. 

In addition to walking the track, participants honor people who have been lost or have fought or are fighting cancer by lighting luminary bags.  Once the sun goes down, the luminary bags illuminate the track in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer.  This is a very touching and memorable part of the event. 

The Bandera office will be participating in this year’s Relay for Life at Bandera High School on Saturday, May 17, 2014 starting at 7:00 p.m.   Our team name is the Crusaders and everyone at the Bandera office is a member.  Sadly cancer has touched every one of us in some way or another.  Together we are inspired to take action against a disease that has taken too much, while walking to raise money for a cure “one step at a time”.  

To purchase a Luminary bag for $5 in honor of a loved one or to support our Crusaders team, please go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/ciaservices. 

C.I.A. Services Master Insurance Program

We are very pleased to announce a new master insurance program available to our communities. Over the last year we have been working with Brady, Chapman, Holland & Associates to develop a comprehensive insurance package to manage the real and evolving risks that face community associations. BCH is a well-respected agency in Texas that has specialized in insuring associations for over 30 years. We engaged the top Texas law firm of Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler & Hailey to evaluate policy options from a legal basis and work with the policy underwriters to get endorsements to fill the gaps we sometimes see when a claim needs to be filed.  By establishing a master insurance program, our clients can take advantage of the purchasing power of a large group.

Our clients will have the comfort of knowing the policies involved have been rigorously designed to address the real life perils community associations and their board members face. Here are some highlights of the program: 

• Your coverage will be in compliance with your governing documents and applicable laws
• The policies have been designed to eliminate the important gaps that exist in many policies
• Qualifies board members for protection under the Charitable Immunity & Liabilities Act
• Provides for competitive cost options for a robust insurance portfolio
• Provides for expanded coverage that Associations have been unable to take advantage of in the past
• Claims will be handled efficiently with BCH as our representative and advocate in the process

Unlike master insurance policies offered by some large, national management companies, our program does not share coverage limits among all clients to provide deceptively low premiums. The policy coverage is yours alone.  In a regional disaster, your coverage won’t be eroded by others who file first.  If you choose to change to another management company, your insurance is not immediately cancelled leaving you uninsured; our program provides a transition period for you to find new coverage.  C.I.A. Services is not associated with BCH or any insurance company.  We receive no financial benefit from your premium payments.  We have created this program as a benefit to you and not as a profit center for us.

The master insurance program will begin April 1, 2014. If your manager has not already presented an insurance proposal, you should expect one soon.  All of the proposals have been customized for your community needs. 

We are excited to be working with BCH to provide additional benefits to our communities.

Mark Wilkinson - Eastpoint Community Association
by Brenda Ellington

Mark Wilkinson is a long time board member of the Easpoint Community Association in Baytown.  For almost ten years, Mark has volunteered for his community and worked hard to make Eastpoint the great neighborhood that it is.  We appreciate all of his hard work for the community!

A big hockey fan, Mark has attended many of the C.I.A. Services Hockey Nights to help us cheer on our teams.   

C.I.A. Services would like to take the time to say congratulations to Mark and his wife Bonnie on their new baby.  Allison Catherine Wilkinson made her debut on January 24, 2014 @ 12:36 p.m.  She weighed in at 8lbs. 3oz. and was 19.5in long.  Allison was greeted by her older sister, Amelia, and her father whom had been waiting for this day to come.  Mommy and baby are doing fine and are busy meeting everyone. 

Congratulations Wilkinson family!                      

2014 Seminar Series

Our 2014 schedule for the C.I.A. Services Seminar Series is now available.

We are please to again present seven seminars throughout the year - each at three locations for a total of 21 training sessions. Click here to read the seminar descriptions and see the schedule.

Our core group of seminars are all back and updated with additional information. Even if you have attended any of these before, you will find the updated versions informative.

• Board Member Orientation
• Advanced Topics for Board Members
• Meeting & Records - The Legal Requirements
• Understanding Collections & Financial Reports
• The Super Budgeting Process
• Practical Deed Restriction Management
• Essentials of Architectural Control

Each two-hour seminar begins at 6:00 pm and we provide deli sandwiches in case you come straight from work.  You’ll leave with a wealth of practical information and a notebook for future reference.

Understanding Collections & Financial Reports

The first half of this seminar will cover all the steps involved in successful assessment collections.  Since not everyone pays on time, we’ll get into late fees, liens, payment plans, bankruptcy and all the legal remedies.  The second half of the seminar deals with reading and understanding your financial reports.  We’ll trace the flow of money throughout the reports so you’ll never be in the dark when staring at all those numbers.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.  To register, please call our office or send an email to seminars@ciaservices.com.

Board Member Orientation

This seminar is a must for all new Board members and a great refresher for seasoned veterans. It will help you get up to speed quickly by understanding your responsibilities and authorities. We’ll review each of the documents that govern the way you do business. We’ll give you an overview of the governing documents, basis of authority, conduct of meetings, elections, collections, deed restrictions, architectural control and many other important topics.

Bridlewood Estates Property Owners Association

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:

• March - Bridlewood Estates Property Owners Association - Southwest Office - Kim Moore
• February - Cross Creek Ranch Community Association - North Office - Renea Miksch
• January- Treasure Island Homes Association - Bandera Office - Megan Lamb
• December - Eldridge Park Village Community Association - Southwest Office - Gina Victor
• November - Royal Palms Homeowners Associon - Southwest Office - Susan Bratton

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 February.

• Park Place Townhomes Homeowners Association— 24 years
• Hunterwood Village I Homeowners Association— 17 years
• Colony Grant Homeowners Association— 14 years
• Fairfax Village Homeowners Association— 11 years
• Summerwood Commercial Property Association— 8 years
• Cross Creek Ranch Community Association— 6 years
• Brays Forest Patio Homes Maintenance Fund — 5 years

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

We would like to congratulate several employees on their anniversaries with C.I.A. Services. 

Dan Barr, a multi-faceted support staffer and stockholder at our Southwest Office, celebrates his 10 year anniversary with C.I.A. Services this month.  Dan has extensive experience in the commercial insurance industry and coordinates insurance matters for our clients.

Priscilla Aleman is celebrating her 6 year anniversary.  Priscilla is a stockholder and serves our Southwest Office as Support Staff wearing many hats.

Last but certainly not least, we have Candace Look celebrating her 5th anniversary and becoming a stockholder.  Candace is a Community Manager in our Southwest Office.

Congratulations to Tracey Lehr on her one year anniversary with the company.  We look forward to many more years!

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.