BLOG | Co-op and Condo Corner: Today is a Good Day to Join the CCAC!
By: Jane Curtis
Chair, The Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC)
(MOUNT VERNON) Serving on a co-op or condo board can be both a rewarding and a daunting experience.
Members of the Board of Directors of a co-op or condo are volunteers who typically do not earn our living in the realty, property management, or housing industry, so learning our responsibilities as board members and understanding the many faceted aspects of operating a co-op or condo can be challenging and leave us wondering where to turn for information and guidance.
Fortunately, The Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC) of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) has been doing just that since 1979, providing education, resources, advocacy, and a forum for the exchange of ideas for Westchester’s co-ops and condos. Many have benefited from our lively membership meetings, where we hear presentations on timely topics and meet other board members, suppliers and professional service providers in a relaxed, collegial setting.
As part of the Strategic Plan of the BRI to enhance educational offerings, the CCAC will launch a comprehensive board training program in early 2024 to orient new board members to their roles. Board members completing this boot camp course will receive a certificate.
The Benefits of Membership
The CCAC also offers services that benefit us in our relationship with our employees. Our Workers Compensation Insurance Safety Group (New York State Workers Compensation Group 530) offers cost-effective rates for this necessary coverage that assists injured employees.
Together with the BRI’s other realty councils representing apartment owners and managing agents, we enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 32-BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU), led by our outstanding labor counsel, Matthew Persanis, Esq. Our latest four-year agreement signed in 2022 was hailed as a “win-win” for co-ops and condos and their maintenance staffs. A Page One article in this issue of IMPACT by Persanis offers a summary of the agreement and its positives for members of the BRI’s Collective Bargaining Group.
Co-ops have come under intense legislative scrutiny in recent years, resulting in a Westchester County law regulating the co-op admissions process that requires, among other things, that each co-op board member complete an approved Fair Housing Training Course every two years. The CCAC offers this training free of charge to its members.
Advocacy is a big part of the CCAC’s mission. No fewer than 50 bills related to co-ops and condos, most of them detrimental to our operations, are currently proposed in the state legislature. Our staff, Lobbyist, Government Affairs Director, and Political Action Committee (PAC) work diligently to monitor and advocate for positive outcomes. And, we frequently collaborate with our New York City counterparts to amplify our message to state and federal officials.
Interested CCAC members are encouraged to actively participate in meetings with our legislators and testify at public hearings, with the effective and authentic voice that only a constituent can bring, to educate legislators on the unique aspects of co-ops and condos as valuable forms of homeownership.
In this important election year, this advocacy is another reason to join us as a member.
Our knowledgeable, professional staff is always available to assist members with information, perspective, and referrals on any issue your co-op or condo may be facing.
Our dues structure, based on size, is a value proposition for non-profit businesses such as co-ops and condos, as recognized by our membership of more than 260 buildings and complexes.
Why wait? This is a good day to join the CCAC! You can sign up online at:
President, Officer or other Board Member of a CO-OP/Condo/HOA
OR by calling the BRI/CCAC offices at (914) 273-0730.
The Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC) has been representing co-ops and condos since its formation in 1979. The organization is a component association of The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI).