The Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums held its 29th annual Housing Conference on Sunday, November 15, 2009, at Baruch College’s Newman Vertical Campus, with many interesting workshops and seminars presented by speakers who are knowledgeable professionals or experienced board members, all volunteering their time and the expertise for CNYC.

Every CNYC member cooperative and condominium is urged to send representatives to this premier educational event. It is a great opportunity for every board member and potential board member to learn, to share and to grow. In all, there are 76 workshops and seminars covering a wide range of topics from the general to the highly targeted and from basics to advanced topics. There is also an Exhibit Area where you can see products and services for your cooperative or condominium. Each Conference participant can attend three or four workshops in the course of the day. Advanced registration guarantees a place in the workshops of your choice and ensures lowest fees. To register, each participant must indicate the specific workshops they wish to attend; workshop tickets are mailed to early registrants, saving them time on the day of the Conference.

This Conference is not just for the board. Several of the classes will be of interest to your building staff. Management professionals will also find topics to explore at this Conference. Attorneys can earn continuing legal education credit in three of the classes, and five others carry continuing education credit for accountants. Experts from the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) also present a series of workshops that focus on special issues for H.D.F C. cooperatives.

A reception ends the day, where Conference participants come together for refreshments and greetings from CNYC leaders. Our honored guest will be Rohit Aggarwala, who heads the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. Mr. Aggarwala will tell us of the goals he is pursuing in furtherance of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC. Members of Mr. Aggarwala’s staff will also presenting one of several workshops at the Conference that address energy conservation, sustainability and ‘greening’.

Everyone is most welcome to attend this information packed Conference. Each CNYC member cooperative and condominiums can send one person at no cost; additional member registrants pay modest fees. CNYC invites sister organizations to participate in this Conference at member rates. This includes members of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives, the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, the HDFC Council, the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums, the Mitchell-Lama Council, and the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board.