Blog

By Wendy Miller, President, CAI Bay Area & Central CA Chapter

This article first appeared in the Communicator Magazine, Summer 2026 Issue.

As we step into the summer season, I continue to be inspired by the strength, energy and connection within our chapter. The CAI Bay/Cen community continues to show up and support one another in ways that both impress and inspire. This year has already brought so many meaningful moments, and it is a true reflection of what happens when we come together, to collaborate, engage and celebrate one another.

Our spring RoyalTea was nothing short of extraordinary. Casa Real immediately felt like home, but with a freshly remodeled and elevated aesthetic and acoustics. From the energetic and insightful keynote by Dawn Bauman to the incredible creativity displayed through a wide array of royal-themed costumes, the event was a perfect blend of elegance, fun and connection. The afternoon was filled with memorable moments in a beautiful setting. These included...

Article By Samantha Romero

This article first appeared in the Communicator Magazine, Spring 2026 Issue.  

When people talk about community engagement, it usually turns into a conversation regarding hosting more events, creating additional committees or sending more follow-­up emails. There’s this assumption that if you just do more, people will feel more connected.

That hasn’t been my experience. What I’ve seen is that engagement lives in the day-to-day. It’s about how homeowners are spoken to, whether they feel comfortable reaching out, and whether they think management is made up of actual people or just an email address that responds with policy language.

When I first stepped into my role, there was a pretty obvious disconnect between management and homeowners. Most communication to management came in hot, and you could feel the tension even in short emails. It was never meant to be mean; it was more that homeowners didn’t expect to be heard, so they led with frustration.

My te...