We are happy to report that our email server has been restored and we can now receive and reply to email requests. Please feel free to email BOMA staff as usual. Thank you for your patience as our team worked quickly to resolve this matter. As always, you may call the BOMA office when needed as well. 

Due to the extreme weather last night, BOMA/Suburban Chicago's email servers are temporarily down. Please contact us by phone until further notice as we will not be able to receive or respond to any email requests at this time. Unfortunately, we do not know when the problem will be resolved, but our team is working on resolving the issue. Please call us at 847.995.0970 for any of your needs. We will notify you once the issue has been resolved. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Be sure to join us for our 2017 Day at the Races being held on Friday, August 11 at Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights. Attendees will enjoy networking, live horse racing, food, prizes, contests, and more. This is BOMA's hottest summer event - you don't want to miss it!

Admission to the Day at the Races includes seating in the International Room, a daily racing guide, Windy City Favorites Menu, classic beverage services, and entry for the Feature Prize worth $500. Attendees can also participate for a chance to win the Second Chance Sweepstakes, items in the Ticket Auction, the Annual Hat Contest, and the Centerpiece Raffle. 

Prizes include:

• Two Feature Prizes - $500 each ~ courtesy of Professional Paving & Concrete Co., Inc.
• Centerpieces  ~ courtesy of Mimosa Interior Landscape and Schaumburg Corporate Center managed by GlenStar Asset Management, LLC
• Second Chance Sweepstakes
• Ticket Auction benefiting CASA of DuPage
• Annual Hat Contest: Dapper Dan, Derby Diva, and Most Creative categories

View the Events Calendar for more information. 

REGISTER NOW! 

At our upcoming July Members Lunch, a representative from our 2017 Charity, CASA of DuPage, will be in attendance. We will also be collecting donations for CASA at the event. 

If you would like to make a donation, please note some items that could be of use: 

• Gift cards in increments of $10 or $20 to retailers that would be appropriate as gifts for teenage children on their birthdays or holidays (Target, Walgreens, Starbucks, movie gift cards, etc.)
• Gift cards for gas stations (these are helpful for the volunteers for driving to visit the children)
• Children's books (these are great for children to read when sitting in courtrooms)
• Monetary contributions (checks can be made out to CASA of DuPage County)
  

Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Arlington International Racecourse
Address: 2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, 60005

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Gain recognition with other BOMA members and contribute to our hottest networking event of the summer. Sponsorships to the Day at the Races include:

• Company name and logo displayed on TV screens during event
  
• Company name in Weekly Connections every week - the sooner you sign up, the more exposure you get!
  
• Company name on signage displayed at the event
  
• Company name listed in the program book
  
• Verbal recognition during the event
  
• Company name in FOCUS Newsletter
  
• Participation points counting toward your annual membership dues
  

Opportunities to become an event sponsor are still available.

Sign up to sponsor the Day at the Races today!

Contact Linda Hallberg with any questions about sponsorships.

A special thank you to the generous members who have already stepped up to sponsor the 2017 Day at the Races!

Event Sponsors:
PowerForward DuPage
Security Partners International, Inc.
Tovar Snow Professionals
Victor Construction Co., Inc.

Voucher Sponsor:
M&J Asphalt Paving Co., Inc.

Bar Glass Sponsors:
Everest Snow Management, Inc.
Mac's Property Management Services
RAPCO Asphalt Maintenance
Tovar Snow Professionals

Napkin Sponsor:
NIR Roof Care, Inc.

Feature Prize:
Professional Paving & Concrete Co., Inc.

BOMA/Suburban Chicago was recently named the 2016 All Star Award Winner by Constant Contact, our online tool for sending electronic communications to our members, including Weekly Connections, BAM, and event invitations. This annual designation is something that only 10% of Constant Contact customers receive for their excellence in building customer relationships - meaning we couldn't have done it without you; our awesome members!  Thanks for being so engaged and making BOMA a priority.  

Criteria used to select this year’s All Stars included the following during 2016:

• Level of engagement with email campaigns
  
• Open, bounce, and click-through rates
  
• Use of social sharing features
  
• Use of mailing list sign-up tools
  
• Use of reporting tools
  

The Awards Committee met earlier this week to review essay submissions for the 2017 BOMA International EXPO Full-Ride Giveaway. While each of the candidates were certainly deserving and would represent BOMA/Suburban Chicago well, the winning candidate displayed his zest and enthusiasm for learning while applying that excitement to the day-to-day management of his building. 

The winner of the Full-Ride Giveaway contest is Tom Noonan, Chief Engineer with Millbrook Properties. Tom will be going to Nashville in June! 

Start Planning for Your TOBY Application:  The TOBY Awards Program is cyclical and applications are not  currently being accepted yet for the 2018 TOBY Awards, but that doesn't mean you and your team can't get started today.  To get a head start on planning for your submission, take a look at the TOBY Awards At-a-Glance Planning Outline. This document lists the different categories in which you can best showcase your building, outlines the requirements needed for eligibility, and highlights the documents and materials you can start compiling today to get ready for your submission.  Ready to Make a Commitment: Once you've taken a look at the planning outline and have determined that you are on board to apply for the 2018 TOBY Awards, you can complete the Entry Intent Form and return it to Heather Woods to ensure we can prepare you for the upcoming submissions.  Got Questions? Learn from our Experts:  Whether you are undecided about entering for the 2018 TOBY Awards, or even if you know for sure that you'll be entering your property, you don't want to miss the 2018 TOBY Awards Q&A Workshop, which will take place on Tuesday, July 18 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. This workshop will be held at the BOMA Office in Schaumburg at 1515 E. Woodfield Rd., Suite 110, and will be facilitated by the Awards Committee members, past judges, and former entrants. You'll learn valuable information about what is required on the TOBY Application and how to stand out from the competition! All Regular member building representatives and management teams are welcome. Register today.   Contact Heather Woods with any questions about the TOBY Awards Program.

You are ready to apply for TOBY if you... have an Emergency Preparedness Manual have Energy Star® certification offer tenant events in your building hold blood drives or other charitable drives on your property have a building automation system in place Many people think applying for the TOBY is too tedious, but the reality is, you're already doing what is required to win. If you start compiling your documentation early, you will already be ahead of the competition. So, get started today!

BOMA/Suburban Chicago is seeking submissions from Regular members to participate in BOMA International's 2017 Conference and EXPO, which takes place from June 24-27 in Nashville, TN. The winning entry will receive travel accommodations, as well as a paid conference registration, including the TOBY Awards Banquet, to enjoy the vast array of educational and networking opportunities BOMA International has to offer. 

Why Attend the 2017 BOMA International Conference & EXPO? At the BOMA Conference you'll find inspiring keynote sessions, important networking events, along with a variety of targeted education sessions that offer fresh approaches, practical direction and tactical strategies for optimizing asset values, embedding sustainability initiatives into operational practices, honing leadership skills, cultivating next-generation talent, and much more!  EDUCATION All programs offered at the conference qualify for RPA, FMA, SMA, SMT, CPM, ARM, and CCM renewal and continuing professional development credits. Some sessions also qualify for the continuing education credits required for real estate license renewal in many U.S. states and Canada. Some sessions are approved for GBCI continuing education hours for LEED designations. Choose from over 40 expert-led sessions in the following educational tracks: Building Operations and Management Creating Asset Value High Performance Buildings Industrial Real Estate Leadership and Career Development Tenant Relations and Retention TOBY AWARDS BANQUET The TOBY Awards Reception and Banquet, which honors the industry's most deserving owners and property management teams, is an elegant evening in which Regional TOBY winners are recognized for their achievement in front of colleagues and friends. The International TOBY winners will be announced for the first time, live at the event. Two of our very own BOMA member buildings - Windy Point II and Arboretum Lakes - will be in attendance and receiving recognition for winning the 2017 Regional TOBY Awards this year!   FAMILIAR FACES While you may be miles away from Chicago, you'll see some friendly faces if you attend the conference. Several of our vendors and members will be in attendance, along with BOMA staff. You will be sure to see someone you already know. In addition, all BOMA/Suburban Chicago members in attendance are invited to join us for dinner at a local restaurant on Monday, June 26.  LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Beautiful Nashville is located on the Cumberland River, creating a lovely scenic view. The downtown area features an assortment of entertainment, dining, cultural, and architectural attractions. Known as the center of country music, there are many places to catch a live performance. After packing in a full day of valuable professional development, why not venture out to experience the exciting nightlife of Nashville?

International Conference Full-Ride Criteria: 

• Entrants must have never attended a BOMA International conference before
• Entrants must be Regular members in good standing
• Entrants must be actively engaged members in BOMA/Suburban Chicago as defined by at least one of the following:
• • Regularly attends Members Lunches or other BOMA events or program
  • Currently serves on a committee, task force, or shared interest group
  • Has earned or is currently seeking an RPA or FMA designation through BOMA/ BOMI educational offerings
• Entrants must submit a 500 word explanation answering, "Why attending the Conference will benefit me and BOMA/Suburban Chicago..." to be considered for the International Conference Full-Ride Giveaway.

The winner will receive:

• Full conference registration: $695
• TOBY Awards Program and Banquet: $155
• Hotel: approximate value $1500
• Travel: approximate value $500
• Total approximate value: $2,850

Submission deadline: May 12, 2017.

Send essays to Heather Woods.

The winning entry will be selected by the BOMA/Suburban Chicago Awards Committee.

NEW AND IMPROVED! 

Our website has received a complete makeover and you will benefit from the improvements we've made! Not only will users enjoy a new look and a more user-friendly experience, but members who log in will be able to access resources and content exclusively just for them. 

Among some of the new features you'll be able to utilize:

• A searchable membership directory
• A member communications library, including past issues of Weekly Connections, BAM, FOCUS Newsletter, and The Commercial Voice Magazine
• An events and education calendar
• Event photos
• Featured news items and announcements
• And more! 

MEMBERS-ONLY PASSWORDS

Member representatives will be receiving a personalized, automated email on Monday, May 1 with their passwords to access the members-only portion of the website. Once logged into the website, users can change their passwords to something they can easily remember. 

If at any time a user forgets their password, it can simply be reset through the website by selecting Forgot password on the login screen and following the instructions. BOMA staff can also reset user passwords, however, staff does not have access to passwords for security reasons. 

ADDED BENEFIT

This new website is sure to provide more value and enhance your overall membership experience. So, please take some time to get accustomed to the design. We think you're going to love the new look and features! If you have any questions or comments about the website, please contact Heather Woods.