Are wired communities the answer to suburban sprawl? How will the rise of telecommuting, home-based businesses and web-based management affect America's condominium associations and planned communities? These are among the issues that will be explored at the Community Associations Institute's 47th National Conference, Oct. 28-30, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel.

From the future of community development to the legal, legislative and regulatory issues that affect associations today, CAI's National Conference features nationally recognized experts analyzing trends and challenges to community association homeowners and professionals. Conference sessions include:

• Best practices from industry leaders, award-winning communities, progressive builder/developers, portfolio managers and business management experts;
• The role of community associations in urban/suburban growth, enhancing planned communities using technology and legal issues in New Urbanist communities;
• Homeowners' rights, accommodating the disabled under the Fair Housing Act and construction defect litigation;
• Security, safety, insurance and risk management; and
• ShopTalk sessions for attorneys, accountants, insurance and risk management professionals and managers of large-scale communities.

Dr. Vincent T. Covello of the Center for Risk Communication and motivational speaker Janet Sue Rush will be the General Session keynote speakers.

Leading companies will showcase the latest products and services for community associations, including Web site development, Internet balloting and voting, reserve study consulting, financial consulting, management and reserve study software, insurance, paint, plumbing, landscaping, pool management, roofing and security.

In conjunction with the conference, CAI will present Professional Management Development Program courses Oct. 25-27 and a four-hour tour of Cross Creek Condominium Association, Oct. 30.

For more information, call CAI Central at 703/548-8600 or visit the Institute's web site at for complete program information and on-line registration.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and related professionals and service providers.