Professional Community Association Management Since 1984
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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.

July 2017
eNews Monthly
Volunteer Spotlight
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Carolyn Hunt of Westover Forest
by Brandi Brack

Westover Forest HOA has it’s very own "Landscaping Lady" named Carolyn Hunt! Technically, she is the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Westover Forest, but she is more widely known throughout the community for her amazing landscaping improvements within the association.

Carolyn has been working for two years to maintain, improve and effect the water management of all landscaped areas of Westover Forest. She understands the importance of water conservation and the cost water has had on the association’s budget in the past. She has worked closely with the association’s landscapers to develop, design and install the beautifully manicured and environmentally-friendly common spaces within the association. On any given day of the week, Carolyn can be seen planting or hand-watering plants, paying special attention to the highly visible areas of the association, and digging holes for the new drought resistant plans to be installed. Carolyn has volunteered hundreds of man-hours and has paid out of her own pocket for the beautiful, high-impact landscaping designs and water reduction plan for Westover Forest.  The photo on the right is just one example of what she has completed.

When you meet Carolyn, she has a large personality with an even larger heart. During any spare time she has, she enjoys hanging out with her fellow Board members and her husband, James. Carolyn hosts many of the Board of Directors meetings in her home providing dinner to attendees. She frequently volunteers to meet with members anytime there is a concern.

We would like to thank Carolyn for her expertise, time and dedication to the community.  Our work is made possible by people like her who dedicate themselves to lending a helping hand in serving the community.

Seminar Series
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We always enjoy presenting the C.I.A. Services Seminar Series. Each seminar concentrates on the practical aspects of the topic and provides board members with background knowledge to help them in their decision making. We consistently receive positive feedback on the content and presentation.

This year, we introduced new and exciting features by offering our first seminar via webcast. The result was the same successful seminar with more advanced topics and audience participation.

We are continuing with our webcast format.  We will come to your computer screen rather than you needing to travel to us!  Each event will be broadcast live so anyone anywhere can join in.  We believe this is the most convenient way for community volunteers to be able to participate. 

Because the seminars are broadcast live, we have the added bonus of the presenter being Ralph Troiano, our company president.  If you have never had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Ralph, you are in for a treat!  Ralph is a dynamic speaker with a true passion for what we do.

We’ll still ask participants to register in advance so that we can get the sign in information to you in advance. To register, please send an email to seminars@ciaservices.com.

You can view the full schedule of all of this year’s webcast seminars here.

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Essentials of Architectural Control

Your governing documents provide authority to regulate design and appearance of any construction, improvements or alterations within the community. This is a powerful authority with an obligation that it be used sensibly. This seminar will explain the range and limits of this authority, demonstrate the role of architectural guidelines, describe the interplay between deed restrictions issues and architectural issues, and touch on handling the tough problems.

07/18/17 – Tuesday

6 – 8 pm

Webcast

 

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Advanced Topics for Board Members

After you’ve been on the Board a few months or a few years, you realize that some things are pretty complicated. This seminar has a heavy legal and legislative orientation. We’ll dissect the lawsuit process, review foreclosures and bankruptcies, and discuss significant portions of the Texas Property Code and federal law. After all the legal stuff, we’ll touch on aspects of “risk management” which includes insurance, reserves and budgeting concepts.

08/17/17 – Tuesday

6 – 8 pm

Webcast

 

In Memoriam
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Ralph Murray of Parkway Forest

It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to Ralph Leon Murray.

Ralph served as a member of the Parkway Forest Property Owner’s Association Board of Directors for over 14 years. He served not only as a director on the board; he was also honored to fulfill the roles of President, Vice President, and most recently as the Treasurer.  He was a valued member of the community’s Architectural Review Committee, which reviews all home improvement requests.  Ralph provided an honest and practical point of view and was an advocate for the Parkway Forest residents.  His quick wit and straight forward approach to matters will surely be missed.  Ralph was a reliable board member and a pleasure to work with.

We appreciate the many years that he and his wife Patricia gave to the Parkway Forest community.

Community Spotlight
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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:

  • July - White Oak Ranch Subdivision Homeowners Association - Humble Office - Valerie Lehr
  • June - Telfair Commercial Association - Southwest Houston office - Libby Hodges
  • May - The Woods at Fair Oaks - San Antonio office - Tina Jameson
  • April - Cross Creek Ranch Community Association - Humble Office - Renea Miksch and Kristen Craig
  • March - Aliana Homeowners Association - Southwest Houston Office - Deniece Reyes
  • February - Steeple Chase Terrace Townhouse Association - Humble Office - Valerie Lehr

To see the full story on these communities and to see all of the past winners, visit the Community of the Month page on our site.

New Communities
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We are pleased to announce several outstanding communities recently joining C.I.A. Services.

The Cambridge Manor Community Association is a new development located on the south side of Houston.  Cambridge Manor will have 70 homes once completed.  

Kendall Pointe Homeowners Association is a beautiful, gated, custom home community with 112 homes in Boerne, Texas.  The first homes were built more than 20 years ago among the heritage oak trees and deer.  

The Happy Hide-A-Way Civic Club started out as a fishing community near Lake Houston with about 650 lots.  With so many people drawn to the water, many older properties are being purchased and rebuilt along the amazing water ways. 

We are so excited to welcome these new communities into the family and look forward to our new partnerships.

Community Anniversaries
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Every month we appreciate the communities that are celebrating their anniversaries with us. Here are the clients that started with us in July.

  • East Point Community Association— 27 years
  • Inwood Northwest Neighborhood Association— 16 years
  • Royal Palms Homeowners Association— 13 years
  • Community Association of Crockett Park — 7 years
  • Steeple Chase Terrace Townhouse Association - 3 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.

Employee Corner
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Employee Anniversaries

We love to celebrate special milestones with our employees. In the Employee Corner of each eNews issue, we will list all employees that have reached their 1 year anniversary with our company.  Additionally, once employees reach five years, we recognize them each year on their anniversary month.

Congratulations to Linda Morris, on her 10 year anniversary. Linda is a Community Manager from our Humble Office. 

Jennifer Northington, Community Manager from our Humble Office is celebrating 5 years of service and is one of our newest stockholders!

Cindy Hathorn, Accounting Clerk in our Bandera Office is celebrating 5 years of service and is also one of our newest stockholders!

Kaitlin Sowemimo, Administrative Assistant and Sherridda Williams, Community Manager from our Southwest Houston Office are both celebrating 1 year.

Also celebrating her 1 year anniversary is Tiffany Sales, Assistant Community Manager in our San Antonio Office.  

Lindsay Scholfield, Activities Director in Cinco Ranch and Brandon Tate, HIR Coordinator and Summerwood Onsite Coordinator are celebrating 1 year as well.

Congratulations to all of these awesome employees.  We look forward to many more anniversary celebrations!

Read Past Issues of eNews Monthly

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.