Food Banks Honor Arizona Multihousing Association.

An affiliation of nine statewide food banks honored the Arizona Multihousing Association for creating and producing what is now the second largest food drive in the state.

The Association of Arizona Food Banks (AAFB) presented the apartment and rental-housing industry trade group its Copper Carrot Award for being "the outstanding statewide food drive partner." The ceremony occurred in Phoenix during the AAFB's Annual Conference aimed at developing strategies to end hunger in Arizona.

Making the presentation to Ken McElroy of Scottsdale-based McElroy Management, who conceived the drive, was AAFB Executive Director Ginny Hildebrand. She said the Arizona Multihousing Association "demonstrates extraordinary leadership and resourcefulness with concerned and effective action" through its annual food drive.

Since the rental association began its Freedom From Hunger campaign in 1998, it has raised nearly one million pounds of canned and other nonperishable food from member apartment communities, their residents and the general

public. The food helps feed the approximately 450,000 hungry Arizona children, senior citizens and adults assisted by the AAFB network during the year.

2001 CAA Trade Show

The Charlotte Apartment Association held their 2001 Trade show, Celebrating 50 Years of Television, on March 8, 2001. The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association's Gilligan's Island won Best of Show. Carolina Site Concept's Wheel of Fortune won Most Original and Home Sweet Home won Best Production Display. Keewe Turf Services won "Rookie of the Year."

Freedom From Hunger is unique. The drive occurs during June and July when donations to food banks drop as much as 50 percent compared with contributions received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

"During the middle of Arizona's long and hot summers, collecting food for the hungry is not a top priority for most people," said McElroy. "Unfortunately, hunger does not go on vacation."

This year's Freedom From Hunger campaign will be June 15 through July 13. Its goal is 325,000 pounds of food.

The Arizona Multihousing Association estimates more than 600 of its member apartment communities across the state will participate. Also supporting the effort are approximately 60 vendors to the apartment industry who belong to the association plus nonaffiliated businesses and organization, including most Valley fire departments.

InSites Receives Prestigious Gold Circle Award

The Apartment Association of Indiana received the American Society of Association Executive's (ASAE) 2000 Gold Circle Award in the Most Improved Newsletter/Newspaper/Tabloid category for the Indiana InSites newspaper. ASAE's Gold Circle Awards, given for the past 20 years, recognize excellence in nonprofit communications. More than 940 entries were submitted in 23 categories this year. The categories were divided by annual budgets to even out the competition. Indiana InSites had 17 other entries in their category. Some of the changes in Insites include an updated design to present the industry's professional image; the entire issue has color photos throughout; and each issue's center spread features an association-related article. Gold Circle entries were displayed at the ASAE Management Technology Conference in December 2000, and showcased in the April 2001 issue of Association Management magazine.

Maintenance Technician and Manager of the Year

The Lubbock Apartment Association named Jesse King, from Century Heights/Windmill in Slaton, Texas, Maintenance Technician of the Year. Donna Darden, from Lubbock Square Apartments, Lubbock Texas, was named Property Manager of the Year.

GCNKAA Trade Show

The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Apartment Association held their 2001 trade show, Rock the Night Away, on March 15, 2001. More than 1,700 people attended the show, which was held from 4 p.m.-8 p.m.--with an after-hours party from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Scott Anderson of the Home Depot brought the deejay talents of his company Dancin'Daze.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]