Community Associations Institute of Illinois

Time is Running Out! 🚨

Are you registered for Service Day on June 26th? Registration closes on June 22nd.

🙌 Be the change: https://www.cai-illinois.org/events/service-day-2026/

FMSC video: https://youtu.be/gnIDBRqZAdA?si=ww-n_1Pnl4-1RExv

FMSC FAQs: https://www.fmsc.org/about-us/faqs

The CAI-IL Golf Committee has learned of the unfortunate passing of our Vice Chair, Dan Nocchi of Hometown Painters. Dan was an upbeat, hardworking friend who loved helping the Community Association industry. His dedication and passion for not only the golf outing, but all CAI-IL events, was electric. Whether it was stopping by his booth at Conference & Expo for a caricature drawing, being served popcorn at the 5K, or waving back to him as he whizzed by on a golf cart with a smile, to know Dan was to love him. Dan often visited the CAI-IL office to lend a hand or just chat with CAI-IL staff. Above all else, he is remembered as a family man whose pride and joy were his children, and his memory will serve as a reminder of the importance of connection and kindness. We will miss you, Dan. Thank you for all you’ve done for our committee and CAI Illinois. Rest easy, friend.

⛳️ the CAI IL Golf Committee

Get ready to be part of one of the most exciting events in CAI Illinois history!

Sponsorship registration for Festival on the Lake opens at 9:00 AM on Thursday, June 18, and you won't want to miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable celebration.

As part of our 50th Anniversary year, we're taking the party to an incredible new venue and hosting our first-ever event at Theater on the Lake, one of Chicago's most iconic waterfront destinations.

Festival on the Lake will be packed with entertainment, energy, and opportunities to connect with industry professionals, including:

🎸 A live band
🍹 An aerial bartender serving drinks from above
🎪 A hula hoop artist
✨ An aerial silks performer
🎯 Interactive lawn games
🚗 Valet parking
🍽️ Great food, refreshing drinks, and plenty of networking

This is more than just an event—it's a celebration of 50 years of building stronger communities and industry relationships.

As a sponsor, your company will gain valuable visibility among community association managers, homeowner leaders, board members, and fellow business partners. Sponsorship provides a unique opportunity to showcase your brand, strengthen existing relationships, make new connections, and demonstrate your support for the CAI Illinois community.

With a brand-new venue, unique entertainment, and the excitement surrounding our 50th Anniversary celebration, sponsorship opportunities are expected to sell quickly.

⏰ Sponsorship Registration opens tomorrow: Thursday, June 18
📅 Time: 9:00 AM

Join us as we make history with our first-ever Festival on the Lake and celebrate 50 years of CAI Illinois in spectacular fashion.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

⛳ Thank You to Our 2026 Golf Outing Sponsors! ⛳

What an incredible day at Cog Hill! On behalf of CAI Illinois, we extend our sincere gratitude to all of the sponsors who helped make our 2026 Golf Outing a tremendous success.

From our Tee Sponsors and Hole Sponsors to our Bloody Mary Sponsors, Happy Hour Sponsors, Lunch Sponsors, Beverage Sponsors, Contest Sponsors, and everyone in between—your support helped create a memorable experience for our members, business partners, and community association professionals.

Events like this would not be possible without your partnership, generosity, and commitment to the CAI Illinois community. Thank you for helping us bring together industry professionals for a day of networking, camaraderie, and fun on the course.

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at our 2027 Golf Outing and other future CAI Illinois events!

💥2nd Annual CAI-IL Family 5K T-shirt Contest

Don't miss your chance to leave your mark on one of our most anticipated events of the year!

We're excited to remind you about the 2nd Annual CAI-IL Family 5K T-Shirt Design Contest for our October 2026 event:

CAI-IL Family 5K
Community Advocacy on the Run

We're looking for a creative design that captures the spirit of community, advocacy, and fun. The winning design will be featured on the official event T-shirt and seen by participants throughout the event!

Contest Details
✅ T-shirt color will be YELLOW
✅ Use black and/or CAI Blue in your design
✅ Include the event name: CAI-IL Family 5K
✅ Include the subheading: Community Advocacy on the Run
✅ Include the year: 2026
✅ Design area should not exceed 10" x 10"
✅ Design will be printed on the front of the shirt (sponsors will appear on the back)
✅ Additional graphic elements are encouraged

Submission Requirements
📧 Submit your design in EPS and PNG format with a transparent background to [email protected]

Important: Please make sure you receive confirmation that your submission has been received.

Key Dates
🗓️ Submission Window: June 15 – July 15, 2026
🗓️ Public Voting: August 4 – August 18, 2026

Voting will be conducted through a SurveyMonkey survey, with one vote per person. All submitted designs will be showcased on CAI Illinois social media, giving you the opportunity to share your entry with friends, colleagues, and supporters.

Winner Receives
🏆 Bragging rights
🏆 Recognition as the designer of the official 2026 CAI-IL Family 5K T-shirt
🏆 Two complimentary 5K attendee registrations

💥 Let's make this year's 5K unforgettable. Get creative, have fun, and submit your design today!

We can't wait to see what you create.

📊 Association Financials and Budgets – Helping Your Board Members Understand Them

CAMS...don't miss out on this Manager Education Event!

🗓️ Tuesday, June 30
🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
💻 Virtual

⚠️ This session is exclusively for Community Association Managers.

Whether you are an experienced manager or new to the industry, understanding what Boards need to know regarding financials and budgets is critical to the future success of every association.

Join us to learn:
✔️ What you should be communicating to your Boards
✔️ What Board members should understand about association finances
✔️ Key financial concepts that help associations remain financially successful

Don’t miss this informative virtual session designed specifically to help community association managers strengthen their financial knowledge and confidently guide their Boards.

Register now: https://www.cai-illinois.org/events/manager-webinar-budgeting-2026/

📊 Dive Deep into Budgets and Monthly & Year-End Financials

There is still time to register for this Homeowner Leader Education Event!

Are you a board member or homeowner leader looking to better understand your association's finances? Join us for this Homeowner Leader Education Class designed to help you confidently navigate budgets, reserves, and financial reports.

Gain practical insights that will help you make informed decisions and support your community's long-term success.

📅 Wednesday, June 17
⏰ 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 CAI Illinois Office
1821 Walden Office Square, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Strengthen your financial knowledge and become a more effective community leader. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register now: https://www.cai-illinois.org/events/year-end-financals-062026/

🎉 Happy International Community Association Managers Day! 🎉

Today, June 13, we celebrate the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to create, maintain, and enhance the communities we call home. Community Association Managers are leaders, problem-solvers, relationship builders, and trusted partners who make a lasting impact every day.

CAI Illinois is especially proud to recognize four outstanding managers who serve on our Board of Directors:

⭐ Randy Grimes, CMCA – President
⭐ Brittany Kojzarek, CMCA, AMS, PCAM – Vice President
⭐ Carrie Surratt, CMCA, AMS, PCAM – Immediate Past President
⭐ Candee Siaw, CMCA, AMS – Director

Thank you for your leadership, commitment, and service to the community association industry. Your dedication helps communities thrive and inspires others across our profession.

Please join us in celebrating these exceptional leaders and all Community Association Managers today!

This is for all our Community Association Managers!

Each month, a member of the Manager Education & Development Committee guides the conversation based on a completely anonymous topic submission process. The conversation goes wherever the attendees feel is beneficial.

Ready for the next CAM Chat? 👀

Join us on June 11th at 12:00PM (noon) for an important (and very real) conversation: "Keeping Calm Through Board Chaos: Managing Turnover, Conflict & Competing Agendas....When half the board says yes, half says no, and everyone emails you" led by Candee Siaw.

We are pretty sure this is a topic many CAM's can relate to and we would like to see how you navigated those choppy waters.... haven't experienced it yet?? That is okay... log in to the discussion and maybe you will be prepared if it happens to you!

Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 💬

Come ready to share and connect with fellow professionals who truly get it. Feel free to grab lunch and eat during the conversation, this is a safe space, no recordings, no transcripts, just a group of colleagues talking and helping each other!

https://caionline-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpceuhrjIjGNSSIM2cs2lAhiluQgujsFU9 #/registration

As always, if you have any questions regarding this program, CAI Illinois, CE credits, or any other needs, please contact Jamie at [email protected].

Food Drive Update

Celtic Restoration Group, Inc. is proud to sponsor the CAI Illinois Annual Food & Essentials Drive, and we have an exciting update to share!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members, partners, and supporters, we have officially surpassed our original goal of 25,000 meals!

Current Impact: 32,990 Meals Provided!

Because of your donations of food, essentials, and monetary contributions, local families in need will receive the support they deserve.

With this amazing achievement, we're raising the bar and setting a NEW goal:

🎯 New Goal: 50,000 Meals

Let's keep the momentum going and see how many more families we can help before the drive concludes.

Every Donation Makes an Impact!
$10 donation = 100 meals
1.2 lbs. of collected food = 1 meal

Visit the Food Drive page to track our progress and see which management company partner has collected the most donations:
https://www.cai-illinois.org/food-drive

Thank you for helping us make a meaningful difference in our communities. Together, let's reach 50,000 meals!

Now through June 18th