…BEFORE The Next Big Mailing!

And that’s right around the corner for the initial PTCA 2024 Annual Meeting Notice.

We are excited to report that as of today 143 Unit Owners have signed up for electronic delivery. However, even with that number, we will still be mailing 521 notices. (You’ll note the total is less than the 740 units, and that is because there are owners with multiple units.)

That’s a lot of paper, time and postage. 521 envelopes, each with 64 cents postage, each with 3 pieces of paper folded and stuffed inside, representing 4 copies apiece, with 521 staples. Then, multiple employees taking several hours of stuffing, folding, organizing, posting and ultimately distributing.

This is a relatively small mailing, but you can see the resources it consumes. The second mailing for the Annual Meeting could contain as many as 15 to 20 copies and pieces of paper, sent in larger envelopes, and cost over a dollar per envelope. It typically takes a few days to assemble, organize and distribute.

On the other hand, the electronic version for both Annual Meeting mailings will be sent out to all 143 Owners who gave consent for e-delivery, in just seconds over the complimentary internet service provided to the Association’s office by ASTOUND. No paper, no assembling, no organizing, no postage! Sending notices electronically instead of mailing them could save several thousand dollars each mailing. Not only from the cost of paper, copying and postage, but the time and other resources involved with our staff compiling and coordinating such mailings.

Interested In Signing Up Now? It is not too late to start with these mailings!

Consistent with the Illinois Condo Act, the Association’s Rules & Regulations allow for electronic delivery of notices. For The Needed Consent Form, Click Here.

In the first section, you will find language designating that regular notices and documents may be sent to you electronically. That would be notices such as the one contained in this envelope related to the annual budget. Second, you will find language giving your specific consent to conduct business electronically. For example, allowing us to accept your annual meeting and election votes.

Please review and complete the form to participate. All Owners of record for your unit must print and sign their name, or it will not be valid.

IMPORTANT – WE NEED ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURES! Ironically, we cannot accept these forms electronically. We need to have your original signature on file, so please return the form to the office, either in person or by US Mail to: Park Tower Condo Association, Attn: Management Office, 5415 North Sheridan Rd., Suite 107, Chicago, IL 60640.

Share any questions or concerns with us by e-mail anytime at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.

With Green Week around the corner, we’ve also been considering other ways we can cut down on our paper use. Here in the PT Management Office we have been progressively reducing our reliance on paper, envelopes and copying. We try to do a little bit each year to bring down our consumption. Most recently, we eliminated paper tickets as our primary means of processing work orders. This has saved thousands of pieces of paper annually and eliminated most of the copy expense associated with producing the work tickets. They are now almost exclusively processed through the YARDI accounting system used by the Habitat Company. It also saves time administratively. The office team can access tickets right at their work station rather than digging through files, and maintenance uses I-Pads to view them, make notes, complete them and communicate.

There is always room to do more, and we will. We found the following post online about paper use and it’s impact on the environment. While it has become somewhat of a cliche to talk about “saving trees”, this really puts the issue into perspective:

How Many Trees Are Cut Down Each Year for Paper (See Graphic)

Visit: https://8billiontrees.com/trees/how-many-trees-are-cut-down-each-year-for-paper/

(Credit for the cover photo goes to www.8billiontrees.com. Visit their site to learn more about this, and ways that you can help reduce your carbon footprint.)