Here at CCI, Manitoba Chapter, we have learned completely new ways to reach out to our members in order to continue to provide the valuable services and benefits of belonging to CCI.

Our fall season at CCI, Manitoba Chapter brings the return of regular monthly Board of Directors meetings, Committee meetings, Lunch and Learns and our Annual General Meeting. Although we as a Board do not meet over the summer, the work continues as we process membership renewals, prepare for the AGM, compile, edit, publish and distribute the newsletter and as always, respond to members questions and concerns.

We have also held webinars to respond to the increasing number of queries due to the pandemic, particularly from condominium corporation directors and owners.

The Board of Directors met by Zoom on September 10, 2020, and on October 15, 2020. The September meeting included catching up on issues arising over the summer months and preparing for the upcoming fiscal year.

The October meeting includes Board orientation for our newly elected Board members and the election of CCI officers, committees and chairpersons. Elsewhere in this issue, please see the list of our newly elected officers, committees and chairpersons.

We are so genuinely pleased to welcome to the CCI Board of Directors, Carl Dalton, Audrey Harder, Phil Jenkinson, Matt Jerome, Alan Reiss, Duane Rohne and Patricia Salam.

We thank them for letting their names stand and we congratulate them on their election. They are an incredible group and we are so excited to welcome them to our team. We know that they will bring some great new ideas and fresh perspectives as well as their skills, talents, knowledge, experience and expertise. Collectively they bring many, many years of experience from living and/or working in the condominium community.

Also re-elected to the CCI Board of Directors, Connie Dame and Delaney Vun. We thank them as well for continuing to share their skills and talents, and their commitment and passion for CCI.

The CCI, Manitoba Chapter bylaws allow for fifteen directors of which every year, five terms expire. A Board member term is three years. Occasionally a vacancy arises due to a resignation and that leaves vacant terms that may be less than a three year term.

Condominium owners are always encouraged to run for election as are those who work as business partners and professionals in the condominium industry.

At this time, I would like to thank two Board members who recently resigned. Susan Champagne Shapiro was a tireless Board director who many will remember as the chair of the Education Committee. She also was instrumental in developing the Condostrength program here in Manitoba. Krista Corley, our Vice President also submitted her resignation. She too was tireless as she chaired the Sponsorship & AGM Committee. Who can forget our amazing 2019 AGM held at the Assiniboine Park Zoo Arctic Exhibit? It was an incredible event put together by Krista and her team. Krista also recently chaired the Education Committee along with Connie Dame. Their legacy is of course, podcasts and webinars which is now a regular part of the services we bring to members. We can’t thank them enough for their commitment to CCI and hope that someday they will be back at CCI sharing their energy and ideas.

The Board of Directors has two more meetings scheduled for this year, November 12, 2020, and December 10, 2020. Although we would love to meet in person, Zoom meetings are working well for us. As the readers can certainly empathize and understand, meetings by Zoom are not the same, but for now, it’s all we have and we are embracing it. We are also considering having a team building and strategic planning session by Zoom. Team building enhances our social connections and helps us to understand and define our roles. Team building sessions have been invaluable to us as we build and strengthen our team.

Lunch and Learns began in September by Zoom and programs have been developed for October and November, also to be held by Zoom.

The newly elected Education Committee will be developing programming for the rest of the fiscal year and members will be advised prior to each session. Attendance has not been as significant electronically as in-person meetings were, however, the feedback has been great. If you are unsure how to connect, please ask for assistance from our Chapter Administrator. We do look forward to the days when we can all gather and connect with each other in person, but until then, we will continue to offer monthly educational sessions.

The President’s Forums were not held at all this year due to the restrictions in place, but we are considering ways in which we can connect with condo corporation Presidents electronically, so stay tuned.

The CCI, National Leaders Forum and Awards Ceremony will be held virtually this year from November 5-7, 2020. It would be easy during these incomprehensible times to cancel events and activities. Bravo to all those at National and from chapters across this great country who are putting so much time and energy into this event.

The CCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held electronically on October 8, 2020. As well as the election of directors, the agenda included Financial Statements, the President’s Report, CCI Committee Reports and the National Report. Many thanks to Condovoter who assisted us with the meeting as well as our Chapter Administrator, Millanne Baxter and her assistant, Aesia Desrosiers who put in countless hours to make the AGM a reality.