They came to learn, to network, and to discover new solutions for managing their  community associations. And they went home with stacks of information and minds  brimming with ideas.  

 Over a thousand board members, homeowners and community association  professionals gathered at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston on May 12  for a full day of networking, seminars –and a chance to win a host of prizes, including a $2,500 contribution to an  association’s reserve fund. The exhibitors at the trade show’s 125 booths featured everything from replacement windows to online communication systems and laundry room services.  

 In between face-to-face discussions with vendors at the exhibit booths, the  visitors packed the Condo Expo’s seminar room to learn about dispute resolution, energy conservation, condo  financing and budgeting –and lingered to continue discussions with the knowledgeable speakers as the  seminars ended. Nearby “free advice” booths were busy throughout the day, as board members took advantage of the  opportunity to chat with industry leaders from around New England about  particular issues facing associations.  

 The staff of New England Condominium would like to extend a sincere “Thank you” to the community association professionals, service providers, board members and community association volunteers who helped to make the day an unqualified success.  

 Special thanks go out to the panelists for the day’s seminars: “Keeping the Peace: Conflict Resolution,” led by attorneys from the Law Offices of Goodman, Shapiro & Lombardi; “New Rules, New Headaches: Cutting Through Bureaucratic Red Tape,” sponsored by National Condo Advisors, LLC, and led by Orest Tomaselli; “Budgeting for Today – Making Smart Choices in Tough Times,” presented by accountant David A. Levy, CPA; and “Greening Your Condo,” and “Secrets to a Productive Board/Management Relationship,” sponsored by New England Condominium.  

 If you missed the 2010 Condo Expo, don’t despair! Plans are already underway for next year’s show, to be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. In the meantime, we’ve provided here a montage of scenes from this year’s Expo to offer a taste of the day.