By Thomas M. Skiba, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Community Associations Institute
| We know that many of our members have voiced their concern about a recent commercial aired by GEICO Insurance. In response to GEICO Insurance’s “HOA Cynthia Advises New Neighbors” commercial, Community Associations Institute (CAI) is deeply disappointed by the company’s inaccurate portrayal of homeowners associations and the 2.5 million volunteer board members elected to serve their communities. GEICO’s attempt at comedy about a family moving into a community association is disrespectful and insulting to the millions of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of professionals who work tirelessly and proudly to build communities people are proud and privileged to call home. Community associations, also known as condominiums, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives, are home to 73.5 million Americans. Learning the facts about HOA living is so easy to do, a caveman could do it. According to the 2018 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey, independently conducted by Zogby Analytics for the Foundation for Community Association Research, residents in associations are overwhelmingly in support of their community association experience, manager and elected board members. These are the facts and not the easy, stereotypical and condescending messages designed to get a cheap chuckle. CAI invites GEICO to take 15 minutes to discuss the value of community associations and how they bring people together, strengthen neighborly bonds, and promote a sense of belonging—especially now. |