Community Associations Institute (CAI) set new membership records, elevated its professional development program, added new website enhancements and achieved key successes in critical regulatory and legislative venues in 2011, according to CAI’s 2011 Annual Report, Better by Design.

The report is published in the March/April issue of Common Ground, CAI’s flagship magazine.

Below are just a few accomplishments—even as CAI recorded a net operating surplus of almost $550,000 in fiscal year 2011:

• Membership reached a record 31,213, an increase of more than 1,200 during the year.
•  The member-retention rate hit a record 87 percent.
• Almost 5,300 students took classroom and online professional development courses.
•  More than 800 professionals earned CAI designations.
• CAI elevated its role as a major influence in mortgage and condominium certification issues.
•  More than 250,000 people visited CAI’s website for information and resources.

“We are making a difference,” said 2011 CAI President Stephen Y. Brumfield, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, who called 2011 a “fantastic year of growth and accomplishment for CAI and opportunity for CAI members.” Referring to the future, Brumfield said the most important objective “is to maintain our focus on providing outstanding service and value to our members.”

CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, said: “We accomplish all this—and more—because we never stop asking how we can make membership more valuable. ... While we reflect on our accomplishments, we remain focused on the future. We will continue to turn challenges into opportunities. And we will continue to ask—and answer—questions.”

Review the 2011 Annual Report.

See the FY 2012 Financial Statement.

With more than 31,000 members dedicated to building better communities, CAI works in partnership with 59 domestic chapters, a chapter in South Africa and housing leaders in a number of other countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. CAI provides information, education and resources to community associations and the professionals who support them. Visit www.caionline.org or call (888) 224-4321 for more information.