Two past presidents instrumental in the development of the new governance structure implemented last year by Community Associations Institute (CAI) are joint recipients of the 2005 President's Award, an honor conferred annually to those who provide extraordinary service to CAI.

J. David Ramsey, Esq., and George Nowack, Esq., were honored by Immediate Past President Sandra K. Denton, CMCA, LSM, PCAM, during CAI's recent National Conference and Exposition in Palm Springs. The conference was attended by more than 800 members.

The new governance structure provides the framework to help CAI be more responsive to the needs of each member group. Three elected member representation groups (MRGs)—the Association of Professional Community Managers Board, the Business Partners Council and the Community Association Volunteers Committee—give members a vehicle for making recommendations on products, services and issues that are important to them. Each MRG is represented on the CAI Board of Trustees.

Ramsey, a partner in the New Jersey law firm of Ramsey Berman, P.C., was CAI president in 2003-04. Nowack, a partner with the firm of Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco, P.C., in Georgia, served as president in 1994-95.

Other 2005 individual award recipients include:

• Award of Excellence in Chapter Leadership: Edward M. Taylor, Esq., Law Office of Edward M. Taylor, Commack, NY.
• Award of Excellence in Designations: Edward D. Thomas, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Property Management People, AAMC, Frederick, MD.
• Award of Excellence in Government and Public Affairs: Henry W. Jones, Esq., Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones & Carlton, PLLC, Raleigh, NC.
• Award of Excellence in Membership: More than 150 management companies that have signed up their managers for CAI membership (see related news release www.caionline.org/PressReleases/Pages/PressReleaseArchive.aspx).
• CAI Rising Star: Dennis C. Abbott, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Abbott Enterprises, Inc., AAMC, Charlotte, NC.
• Chapter Executive Director of the Year Award: Crystal Danielson, IOM, CAE, Washington Metropolitan.
• Chapter Executive Director Rising Star Awards: Tiffany Dominguez (Utah) and Marti Wallace (California North).
• Distinguished Service Award: Marc D. Markel, Esq., Roberts Markel Guerry, P.C., Houston, TX.
• Educator of the Year: Robert A. Felix, CMCA, LSM, PCAM, RS, Association Reserves–Colorado, LLC, Denver, CO.
• Legislative Action Committee of the Year: Colorado.
• Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: Joe Bunting, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Kiawah Island Community Association, Kiawah Island, SC; and David S. Mercer, Esq., Troutman Sanders, LLP, McLean, VA.
• Recruiter of the Year Award: Mark Coolman, CIRMS, Western Risk Insurance, Las Vegas, NV.

"We're pleased to honor these dedicated members who play a key role in our organization's success through their exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment and selfless volunteerism," said CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, MBA. "Their support and dedication of time and energy may not be readily apparent to some members, but their contributions to our collective success are indispensable."

In addition to individual awards, 11 chapters earned Achievement and Excellence Awards:

• Chapter Management and Development: Southern Colorado, Greater Houston and Washington Metropolitan.
• Leadership: California North, Greater Houston and Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley.
• Membership: Southern Colorado, Rocky Mountain and Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley.
• Member Services: Southern Arizona, Dallas/Fort Worth, Southeastern Virginia and Washington Metropolitan.
• Public Affairs: Dallas/Fort Worth, Nevada and Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley.
• Excellence Award: Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley. This composite award is given to chapters that score an average of 80 percent or better in each of the five categories of achievement.

"Our chapters are our local lifeblood, crucial to the value of membership and the overall vitality of CAI," says Senior Vice President Dawn M. Bauman, who leads CAI's chapter relations and development program. "While we recognize a few chapters for especially outstanding efforts, we know and appreciate the sustained effort put forth by all of our chapter executive directors and the countless volunteers who support them."

CAI is a national membership association that provides information, tools and resources to homeowners and professionals who govern and manage community and condominium associations. CAI members include community managers, volunteer homeowner leaders and businesses and professionals who support common-interest communities. More information is available at www.caionline.org.