School is back in session so that can only mean (if you're Canadian) that hockey season is about to begin! The American Hockey League season begins in October and we're pleased to announce our 11th Annual Hockey Night with the Houston Aeros This year, on February 21st, we'll cheer on the Aeros as they face league newcomer, the Iowa Chops (we're not quite sure where that name comes from but we're looking forward to seeing their mascot).

Each year, we invite 500 of our community volunteers, employees and friends to join us to watch the Houston Aeros play a division rival. We have lots of door prizes, our collectible cowbells and programs for hockey newcomers. Everyone has a great time watching a fast-paced and really cool game. Click the photos below to see fun from the last few years.

2003	2004	2005
2006	2007	2008

And to commemorate the opening of our Bandera Office in the Texas hill country, we are particularly pleased to begin a new tradition: our 1st Annual Hockey Night with the San Antonio Rampage. On March 7th, we'll help the Rampage kick ice against a perennial powerhouse the Grand Rapids Griffins. We're hoping a few of our die-hard Houston Hockey Night fans will join us to show San Antonio how to have a good time at a hockey game.

As we get closer, we provide more details and a personal invitation to our community volunteers and board members. Until then, mark your calendars for February 21st in Houston and March 7th in San Antonio. However, if you can't wait, feel free to reserve your tickets now by sending an email to HockeyNight@ciaservices.com.

Upcoming Seminars

Our updated C.I.A. Services Seminar Series is now underway for our 6th year of presenting educational seminars for our board members and other community volunteers. Each seminar concentrates on the practical aspects of the topic and provides board members with background knowledge to help them in their decision making. We consistenlty receive positive feedback on the content and presentation. To view the seminar descriptions and full schedule, click here or visit the Library page of our website.

Each seminar begins at 6:00 p.m. and runs 2 hours. We provide deli sandwiches so you won't have to rush to eat dinner beforehand.  You'll leave with knowledge you can use immediately and a great notebook with the seminar slides, samples and reference materials.

The Super-Budgeting Process "Super-Budgeting" is our term for preparing a comprehensive long term budget and business plan. This isn't something you do on the back of an envelope an hour before the budget meeting. We'll break the process down into understandable components and show you how assets and reserves fit in the picture. We'll start with a simple question that very few people can answer correctly: "How much money should our Association have in the bank?" By the end of the seminar, you'll know the correct answer for your Association. This is a critical seminar to take before you start looking at budgets. September 10, 2008 (Wednesday), 6:00 p.m. — Southwest Office September 15, 2008 (Monday), 6:00 p.m. — North Office

Board Member Orientation This seminar is a must for all new Board members and a great refresher for seasoned veterans. It will help you get up to speed quickly by understanding your responsibilities and authorities. We’ll review each of the documents that govern the way you do business. We’ll give you an overview of the governing documents, basis of authority, conduct of meetings, elections, collections, deed restrictions, architectural control and many other important topics. October 8, 2008 (Wednesday), 6:00 p.m. — Southwest Office October 30, 2008 (Thursday), 6:00 p.m. — North Office

You can register at any time by calling 713-981-9000 or emailing seminars@ciaservices.com.

Outstanding Volunteer:
Parkway Forest's Daron Monteilh

Daron Monteilh moved into the Parkway Forest community with his wife Mary Ann and their three boys in 1972.

Daron started work in the chemical industry in September 1973 with Ethyl Inc. In 1994, Ethyl merged into the went into a spin off with Albemarle Corp. Ethyl went into the lube business and Daren went with Albemarle to stay in the chemical industry. The department where Daron worked at Albemarle was bought by Amoco in 1994 and BP bought Amoco in 1996. Daron retired September 1, 2003 after working in the chemical industry for 30 years.

Daron is civic minded and joined the Parkway Forest Property Owners Association board of directors in 1985. He has diligently served his community through the challenging times and the good times. C.I.A. Services has had the pleasure of working with this devoted volunteer for over 22 years.

In addition to serving on the Parkway Forest Board of Directors, Daron has been a dedicated third degree Knights of Columbus for ten years. He volunteers twenty hours a week to the Knights in their mission to provide a helping hand to needy families. Daron also serves on the maintenance committee at Saint Dominic Catholic Church.

Daron, we salute you for all the time you have served on the Parkway Forest Board and for all the time you have volunteered helping others. We look forward to many more years working with you.

New Federal Pool Safety Law

Effective 12/20/08, all public pools in the nation must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The purpose of this new law is prevent drownings and injuries by ensuring that all pools are equipted with anti-entrapment devices. Entrapment can occur, for example, if a person sits on a unprotected pool drain and the pump suction prevents the person from moving away. Anti-entrapment devices prevent the pump suction from sealing against a person.

The state of Texas has been ahead of federal government on this issue for many years by provisions of the Pool and Spa Code. All new pool constructed after 10/1/99 have been equipped with anti-entrapment devices. All older pools should have been retrofitted since then. A variety of devices are available to provide the protection including special drain covers or double main drains in the pool or suction relief valves or pump shut off circuits in the pump room.

Unfortunately, it not yet clear whether the state provisions are consistent with the federal requirements. Each of the local pool companies have been communicating with state regualtory officials to determine what, if any, changes are needed. Any pools open year-round (via resident keyed access) must be in compliance with the federal law by 12/10/08. Any pools available only when lifeguards are on duty must be in compliance before the pool opens for the 2009 season. Our initial feedback is that it is likely that most pools will require revisions. Hopefully, most will only need to have the main drain plastic covers switched out.

Once the requirements are clarified and your pool is inspected by your pool management company, we'll know what changes may be needed.

National Night Out

This year will be the 25th anniversary of National Night Out. NNO is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 34 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.

It's our chance to take a bite out of crime by getting to know your neighbors and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity around the neighborhood. Community associations can facilitate getting residents involved. You can coordinate a NNO event at a central location in your community with simple refreshments like hotdogs or pizza. Or you can have a grand party with moonwalks, games, food booths and guest speakers. Or you can encourage neighbors to put on their own block parties. Local law enforcement agencies can be very helpful in coordinating NNO events. Police officers and elected officials enjoy visiting NNO events throughout the community so let them know where you will be and they will come.

NNO is traditionally held on the 1st Tuesday of August. However, it is dang hot in August in these here parts. So Texas has set its own date for NNO on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. That gives us a couple extra months to plan - the kids will be back in school and the weather will be cooler. For more information and ideas, visit the National Night Out website at http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/.

The City of Sugar Land has taken this a step further. They have replaced National Night Out with Texans Against Crime and is asking City residents to participate on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. To see what Sugar Land has planned, visit their website.

Energy Market Update
Why Did Electricity Costs Skyrocket this Summer?

By Liz Reyna, Director, Business Development, Tara Energy

Everyone has noticed the price of common items increase this summer. Cost increases are affecting everything from food to gas. The energy sector as a whole has seen record cost hikes. While this sector has experienced challenges over the past several years, this summer has seen volatility not seen since the energy shake-ups of 1970s and 1980s. Energy industry professionals and consumers alike are asking what caused these most recent cost hikes, and more importantly, when will they subside?

End-user electricity costs are dependent upon multiple factors. This past summer saw high volatility within all price inputs: production, delivery, and consumption.

Rising cost of fuel sources increased the costs of electricity production dramatically this year. Natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy together generate nearly 97% of the power for Texas. Natural gas alone accounts for 69% of peak electricity production in Texas. In the first six months of 2008, natural gas prices increased 70%. Coal prices, which accounts for nearly 22% of Texas's generating capacity, increased over 115% since January 2008. Increasing global demand, falling inventory levels, and a weak U.S. Dollar are all responsible for the increasing costs of these two fuel sources.

An often over-looked variable affecting the total electricity cost is the delivery component. During peak power needs, electricity must be taken from other regions of Texas in order to fulfill demand. Sometimes connections and transmission between power zones become over-congested. Electricity generators must offer higher rates to relieve the congestion. During certain times this summer, increased congestion on the power transmission and distribution network increased wholesale power prices by a factor of 1,000.

Weather conditions impact electricity costs as well. Record temperatures and days of extreme heat throughout the state also contributed to the increase in electricity demand for cooling homes and businesses.

Texas companies, regulators, investors, and consumers are taking active roles to decrease future electricity costs associated with production, delivery, and consumption. Texas's deregulated market is attracting new power production investments and proposals, with $25 billion expected to be spent on new nuclear, wind, and coal fired power plants. The Texas Public Utility Commission approved $4.9 billion to fund new transmission and distribution lines that will connect these new power plants to the grid and ease energy congestion. Additionally, Texas is implementing smart meter programs that will allow consumers the ability to track and manage their personal power usage. These changes and new investments should help keep electric power in Texas flowing affordably.

Through the C.I.A. Services Electricity Savings Program, Tara Energy (PUCT #10051) provides preferred electricity rates to residents living in C.I.A. Services' communities. For more information, contact 1-866-GET-TARA or email at Tara Energy at CIAServices@taraenergy.com and be sure to mention the C.I.A. Services promotional code, CIASERVICES1106.

Community of the Month

We are proud of every one of our communities so it is always hard to find just one to highlight. We start by having each of our Community Managers write a nomination for one of their communities. We then read them and take a vote. Here are our most recent selections:

• September - River Mist Homeowners Association
  Southwest Office - Margaret Eckhardt, Community Manager
• August - Ideloch Maintenance Fund
  North Office - Shelly Brady, Community Manager
• July - Hunterwood Village II Association
  North Office - Olga Martinez, Community Manager

To see the full story on these communities and to see the past winners, visit the Community of the Month page on our web site.

New Communities

C.I.A Services continues to grow as more communities hear about our unique approach to community association management. We would like to welcome our newest clients that have come on board in the last three months.

• Kenswick Trace Homeowners Association - North Office - Shelly Brady, Community Manager
• New Forest West Townhomes Homeowners Association - North Office - Diane Santos, Community Manager

Anniversaries

Every month we appreciate the communities that are celebrating their anniversaries with us. Here are our clients that started with us in September.

• Valley Lodge Property Owners Association — 15 years
• Westfield Glen Property Owners Association — 8 years
• Eldridge Park Village Community Association — 6 years
• Woodforest North II Homeowners Association — 6 years
• Clear Lake City Boulevard Association — 3 years
• Fairway Place Homeowners Association — 1 year
• Morningside Place Homeowners Association — 1 year
• New Forest Homeowners Association — 1 year
• Westfield Forest Homeowners Association — 1 year

Our goal has always been to create a positive, long term relationship with all of our client communities. We are very proud to be managing all of these communities.

Employee Spotlight

• It's another milestone for President Ralph Troiano and Executive Vice President Tina Jameson who are celebrating 24 years since creating the C.I.A. Services on September 29, 1984.
• Congratulations to our newest stockholder: Sennait Tesfai. Sennait is an administrative assistant at our Southwest Office who quietly works with all of the homeowners in her communities with their questions and special circumstances.
• Welcome to Patrick Sheffield (administrative assistant) and Cindy Nghiem (staff support) at our Southwest Office.
• Welcome to Michelle Martin who joined us as a Maintenance Coordinator at our North Office.
• Also, welcome to Trene Williams who is helping homeowners onsite at Cinco Ranch Southwest.

Ralph Troiano 1984		Tina Jameson 1984

Patrick Sheffield		Cindy Nghiem

Michele Martin		Trene Williams