Community Awards Gala Event - December 9, 2011 - 6 to 11pm
Follow this link for Jay Jayasuriya's photos of the gala.
(Registration is now closed)
This will be a most special occasion! We will be honoring the very best community associations, board members and managers in the greater Austin area for their dedication, their contributions and their service to their common-interest communities in 10 categories. Over 100 award entries have been received.
And, if you’d like reserved seating for you and your guests in the name of your company at a premium location table for 8 with two bottles of wine, register for the $500* Director’s Special. (This will be the only reserved seating available - all other seating is first come, first served).
(*Note: Does not include Gala tickets)
The award categories are:
Communication Innovations - Community Spirit - Financial Stewardship - Green Community Trendsetter - Neighborhood Beautification - Safety & Security Initiatives - Community of the Year - Managers of Excellence - CAI Chapter Volunteer of the Year - Lifetime Achievement
(see the Categories tab above for details)
The first 7 award entries listed above will be judged by a distinguished panel of Austin area dignitaries (see the Judges Panel tab above).
In each association award category, homeowner associations will be judged separately from condominium associations. And in each of these classes, entries will be judged separately by their association's size:
Small (HOA less than 500 single family homes; Condominiums less than 50 units) - Mid-sized (HOA between 501-1,500; Condominiums between 51-150) - Large (HOA more than 1,500; Condominiums more than 150).
Managers of Excellence* and CAI Chapter Volunteer of the Year will be judged by the CAI Austin Board of Directors.
(*Note: Directors employed by a management company will be excluded from judging this award)
Winner of the Lifetime Achievement award will be honored by the CAI Austin Board of Directors.
(Registration is now open - follow this link to the online form)
Awards Gala Program
(Suggested dress code: formal dress/black tie optional)
6:00-7:15pm
Our Gala Event will begin with a reception in the 7th Terrace area with appetizers and a cash bar. Be sure to stop by the Gala Event Registration Table to sign in and pick up your dinner and drink tickets first. Music provided by ...
7:30-7:45pm
Please be seated in the Capital Ballroom and Terrace. Dinner service begins.
7:45-8:00pm
Welcome. Annual sponsor's appreciation ceremony.
8:00-9:15pm
The Awards Program with master of ceremonies Larry J. Pothast, PCAM. Our program will include award presentations to associations and individuals in 10 areas of excellence.
9:15-11:30pm
Entertainment and dancing. Music provided by Reunion - The Party Band, celebrating its 40th year of powering parties in Texas. Follow this link to their website for music, videos and more >>
Pricing
Gala event tickets are $35 each (includes 2 drink tickets). Event parking is $12
However, if you are one of our generous Annual Sponsors, your company is entitled to 2 FREE Gala tickets. We will generally apply the credit on the initial invoice.
If you are a paid CAI Austin member Community Manager, you will be credited with 1 FREE Gala ticket upon your registration.
Because seating is limited, you must register by November 14th to guarantee your seat. After that date, you may be waitlisted.
Overnight Accommodations from $159/night. Overnight parking $26
A block of rooms has been reserved for this event should you wish to spend the night at a special rate. Call the hotel at 512-457-8800. Select "0" for Receptionist and ask for the Reservation Desk. Tell them you would like to reserve one of the hotel rooms reserved for Community Associations Institute's Gala event on 12/9. Rates begin at $159/night for a King. Parking is an additional $26 for overnight valet parking. You must reserve your room by November 18th.
Location
InterContinental Stephen F Austin Hotel
701 Congress Avenue • Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 457-8800 • Fax: (512) 457-8896
Directions (click here)
The choice for luxury in downtown Austin, the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin provides lodging just four blocks from the Austin State Capitol and puts you within walking distance of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the University of Texas and the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail. The hotel's conference and banqueting facilities offer space for functions, magnificently appointed with lavish, polished marble, precious hardwoods, intricate ironwork and fine art.
This Austin luxury hotel offers modernized, spacious, deluxe guest rooms and suites with marble baths and featuring king or queen accommodations. All rooms feature custom furniture in rich, dark woods, complemented by tooled leather inserts and decorative carved accents with traditional soft furnishings and drapes in earth tones.
Our Master of Ceremonies is Larry J. Pothast, PCAM
Larry J. Pothast is a nationally recognized expert in CID management, corporate operations, business development & customer service. He has been involved in the property management, banking, software and consulting industry for over 30 years, working with businesses, trade associations, governments and professional management firms across the country.
Mr. Pothast is a former Dean of the national Community Associations Institute’s Professional Management Development Program's Communications and Meetings module and served on the original faculty of the California Association of Community Managers' Certified Community Association Manager, (CCAM) education program. In 1996 he received CACM’s “Excellence In Education” award for authoring that organization’s advanced course on communications and meetings.
He holds the prestigious PCAM® (Professional Community Association Manager) and was one of the first California managers to be awarded the CCAM (Certified Community Association Manager) designation. He has served as author and chief instructor of business communication, marketing and management courses for colleges, businesses and trade associations nationwide.
Mr. Pothast has been a frequent keynote speaker, strategic planning facilitator and trainer for a diverse variety of businesses and trade associations including PG&E, the Institute of Real Estate Management, Building Owners and Managers Association, the community of Reston, Virginia, Seabreeze Management., Massingham & Associates, Pacific Bell, Ford Motor Company, The State of Alaska, The State of Hawaii, The Food & Beverage Workers Union of America, The International Alliance of Internal Auditors and many others.
He has served on the board of directors of the Executive Council of Homeowners (ECHO) where he was an author and chief instructor of the “Boot Camp for Board Members” training program. He also served as Vice Chair of the Community Associations Institute's national Educational Council and on the national CAI Research Foundation's Board of Trustees.
Mr. Pothast was also one of the founders of the homeowner association banking industry from which he retired in 2001. He is currently Director of Management Training for Associa®, the nation’s leading manager of community associations.
Awards Program At-A-Glance
These tabs appear on each page as a summary reference to the entire program.
- Overview
- Categories
- Timeline
- Gala Event
Our Community Awards Program reflects CAI Austin's commitment to responsible community governance. The program is designed to reward outstanding performance by common-interest community volunteer leaders, professional community management, and the professional service and equipment providers who deliver superior support. This program is an excellent opportunity to market your company to current and potential clients in this unique and often hard to reach market.
There are ten categories honoring the best of our communities, their boards, and their managers. The first nine are open to entries submitted by the public, and will be judged by our distinguished panel of judges. CAI membership is not required. These "open" award categories are:
- Communication Innovation
- Community Spirit
- Financial Stewardship
- Green Community Trendsetter
- Managers of Excellence
- Neighborhood Beautification
- Safety & Security Initiatives
- Community of the Year (1-HOA, 1-Condominium)
- CAI Chapter Volunteer of the Year
Single family Homeowners Associations will be judged separate from Condominum Associations.Competition will be further separated by the size of the association.
As for "Managers of Excellence", the entries will be judged by the CAI Board of Directors, but with management company employed directors excluded.
In addition, the CAI Austin board of directors will acknowledge an individual who has contributed substantially to the chapter during the past year.with the:
- CAI Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award
And finally, the CAI Austin board of directors will honor an individual who has selflessly contributed significantly to the chapter over many years of service with the:
- CAI Lifetime Achievement Award.
Review each of the Award Category descriptions and decide which one(s) you will apply for. Use this link >>
Complete an online award entry form for each category of interest by October 31, 2011. Use this link >>
Beginning November 1st, register yourself and your guests online for the Gala Celebration on December 9, 2011.
Friday, December 9, 2011, Stephen F. Austin Hotel, 701 Congress Ave, 78701, 888-424-6835. Use this link for map and directions >>
6:00-7:15pm - Our Gala Event will begin with a reception in the 7th Terrace area with appetizers and cash bar. Be sure to stop by the Gala Event Registration Table to sign in and pick up your dinner and drink tickets first. Music provided by ...
7:30-7:45pm - Please be seated in the Capital Ballroom and Terrace. Dinner service begins.
7:45-8:00pm - Welcome. Annual sponsor's appreciation ceremony.
8:00-9:15pm - The Awards Program with master of ceremonies Larry J. Pothast, PCAM. Our program will include award presentations to associations and individuals in 10 areas of excellence.
9:15-11:30pm - Entertainment and dancing. Music provided by Reunion - The Party Band. Here's a link to their music, videos and more >>
Registration is open until November 14. You may register yourself and your guests here >>
You may also elect to purchase the DIRECTOR'S SPECIAL - A premium table location reserved for 8 guests in your company's name at an additional cost of $500.
Also ...
A block of rooms has been reserved for this event should you wish to spend the night at the special rate. Call the hotel at 512-457-8800. Select "0" for Receptionist and ask for the Reservation Desk. Tell them you would like to reserve one of the hotel rooms reserved for Community Associations Instititue's Gala Event on 12/9. Rates begin at $159/night for a King. Parking is an additional $26 for overnight valet parking. You must reserve your room by November 18th.