Greetings – I trust all is well in your respective worlds. I had an opportunity in my travels recently to meet Vickie Gaskill, principal of Bell Anderson in Kent (near Seattle), WA. Come to find out that she is an avid reader of this fine publication. I also learned that she is the co-author of a book on the setup and operation of community associations published through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). After some discussion, she was kind enough to offer me a copy of the book for review. I have to tell you (and will tell you in more detail below) that this is far and away the most comprehensive coverage of the subject that I have read to date. Considering the first community association-specific book I ever read was Condominium and Homeowner Association Practice: Community Association Law, (© ALI-ABA, 1988 (2^nd Ed.)), that’s saying something. I have been recommending it to those in my circle of influence and hereby offer it to you for your consideration

Community Associations – A Guide to Successful Management by Stephen R. Barber, CPM and Vickie Gaskill, CPM, ARM, MPM (©2007 IREM Press). Having almost 20 years in the industry (I know – just a pup to some of you!), I am not over-exaggerating when I say that this book is succinct, yet incredibly comprehensive. The authors have a combined 50 years in Community Association management and bring all of their experience to the table in this book. Starting with an introduction to Community Association management, it then takes you step-by-step through initial setup and governance, the roles and responsibilities of the Board and how to procure good Board and Committee members. It then delves into the nuts and bolts of the practical day-to-day aspects of management with chapters on Successful Communications, Managing the Community Association, Keeping the Books, Maintenance Processes and Legal and Insurance Issues. It offers suggestions to weigh out the options of self management versus professional management. It offers marketing tips for the Management Company just starting out as well as checklists for self-managed associations. This book is generic enough to be relevant across the country, yet specific enough to offer great ideas to the novice as well as the seasoned professional. It contains dozens of checklists, including (but not limited to) calculating management fees, sample management contracts, sample violations and collections policies, inspection reports, and an outline of insurance responsibilities.

Now – not that any of our readers suffer from this, but there exists among some a bias toward information from a single source. At GE (and it may not be original to them), they called it the ‘Not-Invented-Here’ Syndrome. If you happen to suffer from this, I ask you to set that bias aside. From Neophyte to Know-it-all, this book will offer you something of value. Highly recommended! 5 Stars

You may purchase this book throught the IREM web site: http://www.irem.org/acb/stores/1/_font_color_FF0000_New_f_P15744C3.cfm

Rolf Crocker

Rolf Crocker is the VMS National Sales Manager for Community Association Banc. He can be reached at .