Community Associations Institute (CAI) has approved a proposal to establish a CAI chapter in New Mexico, bringing to 58 the number of chapters chartered by the national organization. The chapter will be headquartered in Albuquerque, the state's largest city.

Dozens of community association leaders in New Mexico held an organizational meeting in May to lay the groundwork for a CAI chapter. The group subsequently submitted a chapter development plan that was approved by the CAI Board of Trustees. The New Mexico group will be a "chapter in organization" until it meets CAI certification requirements, a process that generally takes about two years. Kentucky and Long Island also have chapters in organization.

CAI provides education, tools and resources to the homeowner volunteers who govern associations and the professionals who support them. CAI's 28,500-plus members include community association volunteer leaders (homeowners), professional community managers and management firms and other product and service providers.

"The community association industry in New Mexico has grown tremendously in recent years," said Kimberly Corcoran, CMCA, AMS, vice president of operations for Canyon Gate Real Estate Services in Albuquerque and one of the industry leaders responsible for creation of the new CAI chapter. "The formation of a local CAI chapter is evidence of that growth and demonstrates the commitment of local companies to provide professional and reputable services to homeowners.

"My colleagues and I are thrilled to be involved with the start of the local CAI chapter," Corcoran added. "CAI contributes so much to our industry with education and community association standards, and we are honored to be a part of it."

Corcoran says the chapter's long-term goals include:

• Becoming a credible and reliable source for information about common-interest communities in New Mexico.
• Providing superior educational programming for industry professionals.
• Sponsoring networking events for chapter members throughout the state.

The U.S. Census Bureau pegged New Mexico's population in 2006 at 1.96 million. That is expected to increase to 2.1 million by 2030. Albuquerque, the state's most populous city with 500,000 residents, is about 60 miles from the capital of Santa Fe.

CAI represents all forms of common-interest communities, including homeowners associations, condominium communities, cooperatives and other planned communities. Close to 60 million Americans--about one in five of all U.S. residents--make their homes in an estimated 300,000 common-interest communities.

"We're pleased these leaders took the initiative to establish a chapter in New Mexico," said Crystal Danielson, CAE, CAI's vice president of membership and chapter relations. "The formation of this chapter will bring the benefits of CAI education, networking and collective advocacy to the thousands of New Mexicans who live and work in common-interest communities. We look forward to helping industry leaders in New Mexico build a strong and vibrant chapter."

CAI provides a number of member benefits, including best practices, local and national educational resources, legislative and regulatory advocacy and designations for professionals who serve associations.  People who join CAI are automatically members of the national organization and the chapter of their choice.

For information about the New Mexico chapter, write kcorcoran(at)cgres.com. To learn more about CAI, call (888) 224-4321 or visit www.caionline.org.