Last Episode of 2024:
Sharing Good Tidings

Episode Blog

INTRO: this week’s episode of CACM chat HOA life. To hear exclusive insights and expert perspectives on community association management from leaders across California. This podcast is about the hard work that managers do to positively impact the lives of more than 15 million residents living in over 50,000 homeowner associations across California.

TOM: Hey, welcome back all of you out in podcast world to another episode of the CACM chat HOA life podcast where no HOA topics is off limits. Hey, I want to say thank you to all of our listeners here for your support throughout 2024. I think it’s actually only been about six months since we’ve been, we started this podcast and we’ve, we’ve hit record numbers in a very short period of time. So, I really just want to say thank you.

I hope you find some value, some humor, some checks in reality through this podcast. If you have a story you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to share it with me at podcast@cacm.org. Love to hear from you. Yeah, it’s the end of the year, end of 2024. This is going to be our last podcast for 2024. So, I’m going to try to keep it short.

 I’m not exactly sure where in the world 2024 went, but here we are at the end, about to kick off 2025. But let’s have a little cheer, a little joyousness, a little gratitude, a little reflection as we kick off this holiday season. I think it’s important. I think it’s important that individuals reflect on themselves, their worlds, what’s going on around them, and make adjustments for the next year. I’m just, for the record, not a fan of resolutions, New Year’s resolutions and so on.

My New Year’s resolution is not to make resolutions. I think a resolution only lasts for a couple of days, maybe 30 if you’re lucky. I think everybody should just, in your reflection and if you’re make some changes in your world, try to make them feel positive obviously, but try to do it on a year, you know, like an annual basis or a life change. I’ve had some loss in the last couple of months in my world, and another one today, I found out another one today. So, your health is important and through this holiday season, be cautious. You want to get, you know, drink a lot of eggnog and cheers to the holidays. Cool. Have a great time. But just be careful and try to be cognizant of your health through the new year and into the new year. This life is very, very short. Like I just said, I don’t even know where 2024 went. Life’s short. So, let’s try to live it to the best that we can, happily, joyfully but also healthily.

So, one of the last podcasts a couple of months ago, I had a podcast about the Corporate Transparency Act with Dawn Baumann at CAI National. I’m hoping prior to, or at the very least then, and since then you have heard about the Corporate Transparency Act. If you have, then hopefully you’ve also heard that HOAs and managers responsible for filing these documents on behalf of client boards has been relieved of this requirement as a federal judge in Texas has issued an injunction halting the enforcement and clearly, obviously, therefore the implementation of the CTA. So, to fall in line with our focus for today, which is holiday goodwill, goodwill throughout the year and a little bit of fun and joyousness. Yeah, I want to say congratulations. This is a result that is certainly making a lot of folks very happy at this wonderful time of the year. Also, I think, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to the judge in Texas for providing that goodwill. Community Associations should be about community. And the HOA management community, while large in many aspects, is a very small community, whether it be statewide or nationally. So, we should be working in unity with each other.

So, what do you do? What goodwill will you be doing this season? There’s a lot of people in need in our country and around the world. And I know there’s a lot of charitable organizations to help them. But, you know, the charitable organizations don’t run themselves. The charitable organizations also need help. So, in 2024, I’m thrilled that my amazing team and I have exercised corporate responsibility by supporting numerous charitable organizations, numerous times across California to include the Ronald McDonald House, Second Harvest Food Bank, Passion Planet, Bill Wilson Center for Unhoused Youth, Redwood Empire Food Bank, and One Warm Coat in San Francisco.

In 2025, we’ve already planned multiple donation drives, food bank assistance, and many other incredible organizations that help our community. So again, what’s your goodwill this holiday season? Send it to me. I’m truly interested. And I will share, obviously, and of course, with your permission, if I’ve received it, on a future podcast, what your goodwill is. Because I think that’s part of what makes our world go round. We’re a small community. We support communities. We should be able to share community incentives and goodwill between each other. So please join me in this effort to spread cheer, happiness, flexible rulemaking solutions to curbside garbage cans and paint colors. Personally, I never suggest anyone joining a color scheme committee, especially managers on behalf of your clients. It’s not worth it. But you do you, the work still needs to be done. So, we appreciate all that you do. Just walk that one cautiously.

But listen, again, todays about goodwill and joyousness. So, before I let you go, like I said, it’s going to be short today. You’re tired, I’m tired, been a long year. I want an eggnog. I know you want an eggnog. So, we’re going to move it forward a little quickly here. But before I let you go, please indulge me while I share a short holiday themed poem in relationship, of course, to an HOA.

In a neighborhood nestled wrapped in snow’s embrace, where twinkling lights decorate every space. The homeowners gather in festive delight, but a whisper of duty keeps hearts all in a light. The manager stands with clipboard and pen to ensure Christmas cheer follows from each home once again. The rules that are written and meetings galore, they navigate joy while keeping the score. Remember, they send out their warm holiday plea, keep your decorations tasteful. Let’s strive for harmony. Yet beneath the bright bows and garlands displayed, there’s laughter and whispers of plans to invade.

I’ll bring Coco, says Julie with a grin on her face, and we’ll carol together down our little lane’s place. While Tom offers up to hang beautiful wreaths, he’s such a good sport despite his pet peeves. As kids build their snowmen with scarves so bright, management smiles at the children’s joyful plight. No sledding too close to the mailbox resounds, but laughter erupts, and excitement abounds. Amidst all the glory of ribbons and flair, are budgets considered? With delicate care? Let’s fund next year’s parties, one member suggests while others debate parking requests. From complaints about loud music playing till late to hopes for more fruitcake upon every plate, managers manage tradition but juggle demands. Tis the season for giving and holding their hands, yet through it all shines a sense of community glow. For managing unity helps kindness flow. When bylaws are met, and compassion remains, holiday spirit dances devoid of refrains. So, here’s to those who oversee little things, ensuring sweet moments come like birds on soft wings. With joy interwoven and policies fair, managing HOA is love wrapped with care.

Thus, let us remember amidst schedules and mold that Christmas brings warmth which is pure hearted gold. Through laughter or chaos, whatever life sends, it binds us together as family, as friends. May your Christmas be jolly wherever you roam and know that good management leads everyone home.

Once again, I want to say thank you to all of you, to our new listeners, if you have some interest, some stories to share, some questions or solutions that you’re looking for, please email us at podcast@cacm.org. I wish you all an extremely joyous and happy holiday season, regardless of the holiday you may celebrate. And I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I can’t wait to talk to you in the new year. Happy holidays.

OUTRO: And that concludes this week’s episode of CACM Chat HOA Life. Have questions you want answered? Send them to podcast@cacm.org and we’ll address them in an upcoming episode. Make sure to regularly check out our website at cacm.org. And don’t forget to join our rapidly expanding social media community. Just follow @CACMchat on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Thanks for joining me.