The Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) will hold its annual forum on Saturday, October 15 from 2 to 5:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Homeowners and residents of common ownership communities in the County are invited to attend, as well as professionals who work with those communities.

This year’s theme is “Money, Money, Money – Best Practices for Your HOA, Condo or Co-op in Today’s Economy.” The keynote speaker will be Ursula Burgess, attorney with Rees Broome, PC. Burgess will address the new FHA rules and the financial challenges these pose to our communities. Following her presentation, four breakout sessions will cover the following topics: best practices for managing short- and long-term budgets; grants, rebates and refunds; associations and mortgage foreclosures; and using solar energy.

Light refreshments will be served. The forum is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is requested. Further information, including a registration link, is available online at http://annualforum2011.eventbrite.com. The Office of Consumer Protection, which provides staffing to the CCOC, may be contacted at 240-777-3636.

The Commission on Common Ownership Communities is a County agency whose mission includes advising on public policy issues that impact these communities; educating owners, residents and professionals associated with these communities on community management and governance; and resolving disputes between owners or residents and their governing bodies.