By Jeffrey A. French, Esq.
This article first appeared in the CAI Coachella Valley HOA Living Magazine, October 2025 Issue.
Life in a community association can be rewarding, but it also brings its share of disagreements. Whether it’s a difference of opinion about landscaping, noise, or budgets, conflict is bound to arise. What makes the difference is how associations handle those moments. That’s why Community Associations Institute has introduced the CAI Civility Pledge—a tool to help communities keep conversations respectful, productive, and welcoming.
The pledge is simple: treat each other with courtesy, listen with an open mind, and keep discussions focused on issues rather than personal attacks. It applies to everyone connected to a community association—residents, board members, committees, managers, and business partners.
Adopting this pledge offers real benefits. It gives people a way to lower the temperature when conversations get tense, and it makes meetings a place where people feel comfortable speaking up. The more residents know their voices will be heard and respected, the more likely they are to get involved and help strengthen the community.
This isn’t a legal document or a set of penalties. It’s a shared promise. By committing to civility, people associated with the community remind themselves that a neighborhood works best when respect leads the way. If board members, managers, residents, and business partners model that behavior, others will follow.
Every board member and resident should be encouraged to read the CAI Civility Pledge and consider how it can guide community interactions. By making civility a habit, board members and residents alike can build a stronger, more connected community—one where every voice matters.
You can visit the following link to access and sign the CAI Civility Pledge to start making civility a habit: www.caionline.org/civility-pledge