On September 13, 2001, the United States Congress passed a resolution encouraging Americans to fly the American flag. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) strongly believes that all Americans should have the opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism and support at this time of national crisis by displaying their flags. As a result, CAI is asking all community associations throughout the United States to enable residents to respond to the Congressional resolution.

For community associations that have rules prohibiting the flying of flags, CAI is asking that they place a six-month minimum moratorium on enforcing those rules. To simplify the process, CAI has developed a sample resolution that community associations can adopt within their own communities. This resolution places a moratorium on the enforcement of prohibitions on flying American flags.

"For many people in the United States, the community is the starting place for the process of both coping and healing after the September 11th attacks," said Barbara Byrd Keenan, CAE, President of CAI. "With more than 40 million Americans living in association-managed planned communities, condominiums and cooperatives, it's only reasonable that everyone have an opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism by flying their flags."

A copy of CAI's sample resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 225, and the United States Flag Page's etiquette on flying Old Glory are located at CAI's website. The sample resolution for community association is also available from CAI's faxback service, by calling 703-836-6904 and requesting document numbers 525 (sample resolution for moratorium), 526 (House Resolution), and 527 (flag etiquette as found on www.usflag.org).

Adds Keenan, "In such a time of crisis, it's important that associations quickly recognize and take action to allow residents to fly their flags."

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to provide education and resources to America's 231,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and the professionals who provide products and services to them.