Ross W. Feinberg, Esq., a senior partner in the California law firm of Feinberg, Grant, Mayfield, Kaneda & Litt, LLP, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by Community Associations Institute (CAI).

Feinberg was one of more than 20 CAI members recognized during the organization's 53rd National Conference and Exposition, May 20-22, in San Diego, CA. The Distinguished Service Award is the most prestigious accolade given by CAI.

Feinberg is a member of both the CAI Board of Trustees and CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers. He is a frequent speaker at local and national seminars on construction defect litigation, community association law and consumer class actions. He is a member of the California, Nevada and Colorado bars and teaches construction defect and homeowner association law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"Ross and our other award recipients are dedicated members who go above and beyond to support CAI and the community association field," said CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas M. Skiba. "We are fortunate to have so many energetic, dedicated and talented leaders. They epitomize the spirit of volunteerism, consistently raise the bar of professionalism for our industry, and sustain the vitality of CAI."

The President's Award, selected by Immediate Past President J. David Ramsey, Esq., was presented to CAI's Governance Task Force. Chaired by CAI President-elect Sandra K. Denton, CMCA, LSM, PCAM, the task force has developed a new, streamlined system of governance that will make CAI a more effective and efficient organization.

Sharing the award with Denton are task force members Claudette Carini, executive director of CAI's New England chapter; W. Stephen Castle, CMCA, AMS, PCAM; Feinberg; Robert A. Felix, CMCA, LSM, PCAM, RS; CAI Vice President Molly A. Foley-Healy, J.D.; T. Peter Kristian, CMCA, LSM, PCAM; Peter B. Miller, RS; P. Michael Nagle, Esq.; George E. Nowack, Esq.; Patricia A. Popovich; Beverly Scenna; and Debra Warren, CMCA, PCAM.

Other awards presented during the CAI conference included:

• Author of the Year: Howard A. Goldklang, CPA, Goldklang, Cavanaugh and Associates, PC. Treasurer of CAI and president-elect of CAI's Foundation for Community Association Research, Goldklang is a contributing editor for Common Ground™, CAI's award-winning, bi-monthly magazine.
• Award of Excellence in Designations: Peter B. Miller, RS, Miller-Dodson Associates, Annapolis, MD; Robert M. Nordlund, P.E., RS, Association Reserves, Inc., Calabasas, CA.
• Award of Excellence in Government and Public Affairs: Scott B. Carpenter, Esq., Carpenter Hazelwood, PLC, Tempe, AZ.
• Award of Excellence in Membership: Mark R. Benson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Benson's Inc., Ft. Myers, FL.
• Educator of the Year: Joseph D. Douglass, Esq., Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP, Washington, D.C.
• Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: Clifford J. Treese, CIC, CPCU, ARM, CIRMS, past president of CAI and president of Association Information Services, Inc., Honolulu, HI.
• President's Award, Foundation for Community Association Research: Samuel L. Dolnick, a homeowner from La Mesa, CA, and member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. The Foundation is the data-collection arm of CAI.
• Recruiter of the Year: Ellen Hirsch de Haan, Esq., a past president of CAI and attorney with the Florida law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.
• Rising Star Award: Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., Richardson & Harmon, LLP, Pasadena, CA.

The Washington Metro and Greater Houston chapters, two of CAI's 55 state, regional and local chapters, earned Chapter Excellence Awards for 2003-04. Other chapter awards included:

• Award of Excellence in Chapter Leadership: Dick Pruess, president of Castlegate Homeowners Association, Pasadena, CA, and immediate past president of the Greater Los Angeles chapter.
• Chapter Executive Director (CED) of the Year: Lou Ann Lee (Greater Houston).
• CED Rising Star Award: Crystal L. Danielson (Washington Metro) and Karen A. Pomicter (Western New York).

CAI's Legislative Action Committee (LAC) in Texas earned LAC of the year honors. The LAC is co-chaired by William F. Hession, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, a member of the CAI Board of Trustees, and Judd A. Austin, Esq. CAI has 27 LACs that monitor state legislative and judicial activities and work to protect the best interests of association-governed communities.

CAI is the only national membership organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive, competent community associations. The 16,000-plus member organization represents professional managers, community association volunteer leaders, management companies, and businesses and professionals who provide products and services to association-governed communities.

Member services include educational resources, advocacy, professional designations, books and periodicals, conferences and seminars.