Re-posted from Stoneview: May 15, 2014
CAAM stands for Certified Arizona Association Manager. It is a certification that is specific to the state of Arizona and is governed by the Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM). Their website states the following:
“The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting a positive understanding of community associations and the contribution of professional management services in the development, establishment and maintenance of high-quality, well-managed neighborhoods.”
This sounds very positive but the underlying issue is that this is a group for Community Managers and their respective companies only. What do they do for the Homeowner? Absolutely nothing as I have recently found out. You see, while this organization tries to bill itself as highly ethical, focused on quality, etc. the truth seems to be very different.
When I first found out about the issues regarding our Treasurer and her employment with the company we hired to manage our community, I started to go up the chain of command, asking questions as to how we as homeowners were not allowed to voice our opinion before this company was contracted. I journeyed all the way to the top and stopped at Amanda Shaw, the President of Associated Asset Manaerment (AAM). But then the answers and cooperation stopped flowing down from Ms Shaw. They were replaced with an arrogance that evoked terrible burden was being placed on them by being scrutinized.
After researching the AACM Code of Ethics, that specifically covers conflicts of interest, antitrust compliance and adherence to applicable laws, I saw a great deal of hypocrisy from the leadership in our management company. Contractual obligations, notwithstanding, seem to mean nothing to this company as they have shown from their refusal to adhere to the Ownership Rights clause in their contract. This led me to seek out a higher authority at AACM. The very “professional” organization that certifies their community managers with the coveted CAAM certification.
This certification, even to aspire to it, requires adherence to their Code of Ethics. I spoke to the CEO of AACM, Linda Lang, to report the issues I found regarding conflicts of interest, antitrust violations, and other statute violations. Ms. Lang has decided to ignore these issues and I think I now know why:
The President of AAM is a director on the AACM Board. I guess it wouldn’t look too good if one of their own directors was being scrutinized because one of her company employees was caught “red-handed”, and they chose to ignore it. So maybe they think by saying nothing, the problem will go away? The problem will only go away if we in the community decide to do nothing to hold these people accountable.
HOA Perspectives - the Fox & Hounds of HOA Business and Politics 
Hi,
I recently had an issue with the association and I believe they are abusing their legal power. I have a guest who comes to my house maybe once a week or sometimes once every two weeks. This guest has been coming to my house for years. (I lived in the same house for more than 5 years now) Never had an issues. Two weeks ago I received a letter noting that I am in violation to the CC&R of parking a vehicle in the street when there is room in driveway. When I looked up the CC&R it specifically and clearly states that guests and contractors are allowed to park in the street but not the homeowner. So based on that I mailed the HOA a response stating that this is a guest’s vehicle. The HOA members along with the manager held a meeting and discussed it without my knowledge and then sent me a written response stating that the board members can’t really know if the vehicle belongs to a guest or homeowner, and we are in violation of the CC&R. Even after sending and explaining in the letter that this is not my own personal vehicle but of a guest. I contacted Linda Lang at the AACM and spoke to the assistant. I called 3 times within two weeks and sent 3 emails to Linda Lang and did not get any response from her at all. Finally, I emailed the HOA manager and provided him with my personal vehicles information so there will be no confusion by the board members or himself so I will not be sent any more “courtesy letters” regarding this issue. Any comments or feedback would be helpful. Thank you.
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