Civility Starts with You
Community associations comprise people with different ideals, preferences, and values. The Community Association Civility Pledge provides a framework for effective community conversations.
How we talk about things matters. While we may be able to share our views with people who already agree with us, sharing our opinions while leaving room for someone else’s viewpoint can be challenging. How can we seek to listen to those who hold different beliefs? How can we respectfully disagree?
Community association boards are regularly faced with challenging and complex issues that can spark strong emotions. By adopting the Community Association Civility Pledge, community association boards commit to embracing principles that establish a framework for effective conversations that harmonize feedback from residents and result in decisions that are informed and well balanced for the whole community.
CAI strives to promote harmony, community, responsible citizenship, and effective leadership with this initiative. In the process, we make life better for the millions of people living in community associations around the world.
How Can You Make Civility Happen?
- Distribute the Community Association Civility Pledge throughout your community, announcing and publicizing where and when the adoption will be considered.
- Explain why this is important to your community and the benefits it can create.
- Review and discuss the merits of the principles at an open meeting of your board of directors.
- Solicit input from homeowners.
- Hold a board vote to adopt a resolution endorsing the pledge.
- Share the news of adopting the pledge throughout your community, post on your website, social media, and on every community association meeting agenda.
- Tell CAI that you’ve adopted the pledge.
Community Association Law & Lawyers
The Community Association Civility Pledge was created by CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers in recognition of the critical responsibility boards have in facilitating conversations about important issues.