From the President

You Must Get Involved

by Eric Andresen

How can you make a real difference in our industry? The answer is ever so obvious—get involved in our organization. You have a great opportunity right now not only to sharpen those leadership skills of yours but also to make a contribution that will feed your own business and, at the same time, nourish our industry. How, you might ask, can I do this? The answer lies in an upcoming meeting of the SFAA Board of Directors when our annual nominating committee will be established. This committee will evaluate potential new board members, and you could be one of them. Step up to this challenge and learn just how rewarding this work can be—let us know if you would like to be considered for a seat on the board.

Member involvement has always been the cornerstone of our organization. Take, for example, our impact on the recent reintroduction of the Gonzalez Amendments to the Rent Ordinance. Hundreds of our members showed up in opposition. Through both our numbers and our testimony, we undeniably affected the outcome of that hearing as well as the content of the bill. Today in Sacramento, our strong voices are also being heard through the significant commitment of so many of us who are writing letters, making phone calls, sending emails and contributing financial donations. Every one of these acts—whether frequent or occasional—make a difference in our efforts to improve housing policy for everyone.

However, those who make the extra effort to assume a leadership role will contribute at yet another level by making the heart of our organization work effectively and responsively so we can better meet our community's housing needs. Often we've observed that those of you who are newcomers provide the most beneficial response by offering fresh ideas and independent perspectives that breathe new life into the SFAA. Although you might be concerned that serving on the board will require a real commitment of your time, you will find this concern balanced by the tremendous reward of shaping a personal and gratifying impact on our industry.

How many times have you murmured, “Why didn’t they do that?” or “Why can’t we do this?” If you’ve made these statements even once, now is the time to step forward and learn more about our industry’s operations and the decisions that are made on your behalf. By getting involved, you will become an integral part of the leadership process. Your views, opinions and desires will be clearly heard, and, consequently, you will have a marked impact on our industry.

So make sure to volunteer today. Exert your vision on the well-being of our organization. You can download the Board of Directors application form here or stop by the SFAA’s offices and pick up a copy. Don’t miss this chance to be counted as a leader in our industry. Offer to make the commitment and send in your application today.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the SFAA or the San Francisco Apartment Magazine. Eric Andresen owns West Coast Property Management and West Coast Property maintenance Companies. He is also the treasurer of the California Apartment Association's Executive Board and serves on the boards of many other leading housing industry organizations.