CAI (Community Associations Institute) is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities. With over 40,000 members, CAI has 64 chapters worldwide, including Canada, the Middle East and South Africa, and relationships with housing leaders in a number of other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. CAI provides information, education and resources to the homeowner volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. CAI members include association board members and other homeowner leaders, community managers, association management firms and other professionals who provide products and services to associations. CAI serves community associations and homeowners by:
•Advancing excellence through seminars, workshops, conferences and education programs, most of which lead to professional designations for community managers and other industry professionals.
•Publishing the largest collection of resources available on community association management and governance, including website content, books, guides, Common Ground magazine and specialized newsletters.
•Advocating on behalf of common-interest communities and industry professionals before legislatures, regulatory bodies and the courts.
•Conducting research and serving as an international clearinghouse for information, innovations and best practices in community association development, governance and management.
The association's Gold Star application was reviewed by a panel of professionals that included an attorney, an accountant, a community manager, a contractor and an elected association officer. Based upon the answers provided in the Gold Star application, the review panel has determined that Birchwood Lakes Community Association conforms to industry standard in the following areas:
* Governance
* Insurance
* Finances
* Archtiectural Control
* Rules Enforcement
