Mission The Emerald Coast Apartment Association's mission is to serve the interests of the owners, management companies, managers, maintenance professionals, leasing specialists, developers and vendors. We will educate, motivate, achieve and maintain an extraordinary level of professionalism within the multifamily housing industry in order to provide superior service to the rental housing needs of the community. History In February 2003, a group of property managers and local vendors strove to bring the local apartment industry to a new level.  In order to attain the elevated goals this group decided to partner with the Florida Apartment Association and The National Apartment Association because of the wide array of information, networking opportunities, benefits and education that was available through those associations. That is when the Emerald Coast Apartment Association was formed!   The Emerald Coast Apartment Association is a non-profit professional organization whose membership represents a broad cross-section of the Emerald Coast Apartment Industry. Members include apartment owners, builders-developers, management companies, and product and service businesses that serve the industry.   Membership in ECAA can open doors of opportunity as you seek to broaden your knowledge of the industry and maximize your potential as an industry professional. Our service helps you protect the value of your investment, keeps you informed about your rights as owners, and affords you peace of mind! No matter how large or small your organization is… The ECAA offers something for everybody! JOIN TODAY! And start receiving the many benefits of membership! ECAA Committee Descriptions Education: This committee is responsible for planning and developing workshops, seminars, and programs that will benefit the general membership. This includes recruiting instructors and speakers and teaching classes. The education committee will work closely with the Programs Committee in their efforts so that programs and seminars have the greatest impact. Committee members will handle contracts with speakers, cost involvement, and prepare flyers to market the event, make reservations and other tasks pertaining to the event. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. It is the chairperson’s responsibility to forward changes and updates, which pertain to their committee, to the Communications committee for changes to the ECAA website. Legislative: The Legislative Committee is responsible for providing members with up-to-date information on local, state, and national legislative issues affecting the multifamily housing industry. Committee members are responsible also, for fundraising for NAA PAC and the Florida APAC, keeping members aware of recommended funding goals and where ECAA ranks on the list of contributions. It is highly recommended that the committee chairperson attend both the NAA Capitol Conference in Washington, DC and the FAA Legislative Days Conference in Tallahassee, FL. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. This committee will report to the General Membership on a quarterly basis, any items pertinent to legislation as well as work with FAA’s Director of Government Affairs to keep the local affiliate up to date. It is the Legislative committee chairperson’s responsibility to forward changes and updates, which pertain to their committee, to the Communications committee for changes to the ECAA website. Maintenance: The main responsibility of the Maintenance Committee is to plan the annual Maintenance Mania Competition. The committee will also work closely with the Education and Programs committees to develop and conduct workshops and seminars that will help maintenance technicians maintain up-to-date information on changes that may affect their on-the-job duties in the multi-family housing industry. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. It is the Maintenance Committee chairperson’s responsibility to forward changes and updates pertaining to Maintenance Mania and other maintenance issues to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. The committee will meet on an “as needed” basis, especially during the planning of our Maintenance Mania Event. Membership & Hospitality: This committee is responsible for recruiting new Community and Associate Members to our organization. Committee members will serve as mentors to new members, recommend procedures to retain existing members and identify membership benefits and services. Committee members will assist with membership applications and forward applications to the treasurer. They will also send a welcome letter to new members. The committee chairperson will provide the President with a list of new members for recognition at the general membership meetings on a monthly basis, as we will present the membership plaques to the new members at the meeting. The membership committee meets the last Wednesday of each month. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. It is the responsibility of the Membership & Hospitality Committee chairperson to report changes and updates, which pertain to their committee, to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. Fundraising: The Fund Raising Committee’s main responsibility is to select charitable organizations that the ECAA will contribute time and funding to as well as finding ways to raise money for ECAA to put into the General Fund. The committee will organize and oversee all details of the fundraising process for the ECAA. This includes recommending to the Board of Directors the charity they have selected, the type of fundraiser they plan to execute, venue selection and decoration, marketing of the event, ticket sales, as well as food, drink and entertainment for the event. The Fundraising Committee seeks non-profit establishments that need monetary support as well as ones that need other forms of contribution. As a member of this committee, volunteers will need to keep constantly aware of possible aid organizations that will allow ECAA to expand its outreach in the community. The Fundraising Committee will meet the 3rd Thursday of each month. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. It is the responsibility of the Fundraising Committee chairperson to forward changes and updates, which pertain to their committee, to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. Programs & Awards: This committee is responsible for putting together the yearly calendar of events to include speakers, topics, vendor spotlights, holiday party, and awards. The committee will coordinate with the Education Committee, Maintenance Committee, and Fundraising Committee with regard to seminars, Maintenance Mania, charitable events, etc. The chairperson or a member of this committee will prepare and send out the flyers for the monthly meeting, take reservations, forward reservation list to the treasurer, as well as making correction/changes to the membership list to keep members informed of monthly activities. (Most information will come from the treasurer, but members of the Membership/Hospitality Committee should inform the treasurer and the Programs Committee chairperson of any changes or corrections). This committee will also provide a letter for the property selected as our Emerald Star Property of the Month to be featured on the ECAA website. The letter will explain what is required for the selected property to get their info to the website for promoting their property. Programs will correspond with the Communications committee to see that this is carried out each month. The programs committee will meet once a month (1 week prior to GM meeting). The committee will decide together on speakers, topics, spotlights, and venues for meetings and holiday party. The chairperson will report to the Board of Directors at the monthly BOD meeting. It is the responsibility of the Programs and Awards chairperson to forward changes and updates, which pertain to their committee, to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. Budget & Finance: The treasurer is the chairperson of the Budget & Finance Committee. This committee (through the treasurer) is responsible for handling all payables and receivables for ECAA, set up accounts for new members, update existing members, update membership rosters to NAA and FAA as required. The committee will put together the annual budget in October for the following year, soliciting proposed budget recommendations from each committee chairperson. This committee will also see to it that membership dues, unit fees, PAC and APAC contributions are forwarded to NAA and FAA as required in a timely fashion. The committee will communicate with the IRS and the association accountant when necessary and will handle the procurement and payment of the association General Liability Insurance. Committee members will check in members and guests during the monthly membership meetings, special events, etc. as well as collection of money and make deposits as needed. The chairperson will prepare and give a report to the board at the monthly BOD meeting. This committee will meet on an “as needed” and will advise the BOD of meeting times. It is the chairperson’s responsibility to forward changes and updates, which pertain to this committee, to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. Bylaws: This committee will review the ECAA bylaws when needed to define and direct the organization’s internal structure, policies, and procedures. They will make necessary changes when the board so approves and carry out the necessary voting procedures with the General Membership. The committee will provide updated and current copies to all members of the association when requested. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. The chairperson is responsible for forwarding any changes, which pertain to the Bylaws committee, to the Communications Committee for changes to the ECAA website. This committee will meet on an “as needed” basis and advise the BOD of meeting times. Communications: ECAA’s primary line of communication with its members is the ECAA website. Members of this committee will gather information and changes from the other committees to update on the website. The committee will indentify articles of interest to the members, contact newspapers and TV stations to promote monthly membership meetings, fundraising events and education events. The committee will ensure that the website content is current and contains useful industry links. The chairperson will report to the Board at the monthly BOD meeting. Changes and updates to the website must be sent to the Communications chairperson and/or the association email address no later than the 10th and the 25th of the month for updates to the website. The chairperson will advise the President of problems arising with website changes and advise of committees who have not updated that committee’s information on the site. This committee will meet on an “as needed” basis and advise the BOD of meeting times. ECAA needs volunteers who can: • Recruit new members • Teach classes and workshops • Solicit sponsors and advertisers • Assist with technology needs • Help with ECAA’s charitable fundraising events • Visit local and state lawmakers • Promote ECAA events and programs   SIGN UP! (click here to download form to sign up for the ECAA Committee)