Happy March, BOMA Greater Tucson!

The February luncheon had a great turnout, with nearly 80 registered attendees. For those who were unable to join, we welcomed Asst. Chief Duffy with the Tucson Police Department to provide updates on homelessness, crime, and drugs in Tucson. Asst. Chief Duffy also touched on a few new trends locally, such as a rise in street racing and the recent arrests related to downtown vandalism. The event was full of great information and lively discussions – if you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to speak with your fellow BOMA GT members for a full recap.

In addition to Asst. Chief Duffy, we were also joined by representatives from Southern Arizona Book Heros. Jennifer Turner-Jones, Founder, shared her story that led her to forming this organization that was a touching start to the February luncheon.

The mission of Southern Arizona Book Heroes is to bring awareness to mental health in children, share about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) to the community through literacy and volunteer opportunities, influencing the course of history for generations to come. – SABH Mission Statement

Southern Arizona Book Heros has been chosen by the Programs Committee to be incorporated into our upcoming Christmas in July Mixer, and throughout the year, by collecting donations to help stock books, journals, and other small comfort items with first responders to help comfort and sooth traumatized children during emergencies. Keep an eye out for more information on how you can help this amazing organization.

A big thank you to BOMA GT members Heather Baron (MAS Real Estate Services) and Eileen Lewis (RPA, FMA, BOMA Fellow, Torch Properties) for hosting a Common Area Maintenance education class on February 15. Also, a big thank you to Barbara Camacho with SERVPRO for sponsoring and providing us with a delicious breakfast.  Heather and Eileen did a wonderful job introducing the various types of leases and how they translate to the CAM charges and reconciliations. They also offered their tips and tricks when faced with unusual or confusing aspects of the reconciliation, which are helpful for any manager to know. Due to feedback and the complexity of the world of CAMs we are looking to hosting Part Two – completing an example reconciliation. As we work out the details, please let us know what you would like to see during the next session. 

In just a few short weeks we will welcome Ilan Wurman, an Associate Professor of Law at Arizona State University, to talk about his public nuisance litigation against the City of Phoenix and the similar efforts in Tucson. Professor Wurman will also touch on the public camping and homelessness crisis nationwide, and what business owners can do about it. Be sure to register before the deadline, March 21 at noon, and arrive early to network!

The Annual BOMA GT Trade Show is set for April 23 at 8 AM with a Wild West theme. This event is a great opportunity for our Associate Members to showcase their products and services while building relationships with our Principal Members and their guests. Principal Members can invite their assistants, engineers, or facility managers at no charge, and should all bring plenty of business cards to vendor drawings. BOMA GT will hold a raffle for attendees who visit each vendor booth and will present a prize for the best decorated booth. Get registered, grab your cowboy boots, and get ready to enjoy the breakfast buffet and the 2024 Trade Show!

As our Programs Committee finalizes the 2024 calendar and brainstorms for 2025, please let us know what events, education opportunities, or other ideas you would like to see brought to BOMA GT.