It's not uncommon for the 1.25 million Americans who serve on a condominium, cooperative or homeowner association board of directors to feel overwhelmed by responsibility, according to the Community Associations Institute. CAI's booklet, Community Association Leadership: A Guide for Volunteers, helps association leaders get a handle on their jobs with summaries of board duties and case studies of exemplary volunteer programs.

CAI's best-selling booklet covers:

• Board responsibilities, including finances, contracts, management and legal issues;
• Board officer duties, from president to treasurer;
• Goal setting - identifying the association's most urgent needs and meeting them;
• Agendas that guarantee effective board meetings;
• Ad hoc and standing committees - setting up effective teams with specific tasks; and
• Officers' and directors' responsibilities under the fiduciary standard and the business judgement rule, including liability and conflicts of interest.

Single copies of Community Association Leadership cost $3.95; for bulk discount prices or information on ordering, call CAI at 703/548-8600 or visit the Institute's web site.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and related professionals and service providers.