BOMA/Chicago membership is an A+ investment for your building. The return on your investment includes substantial costs savings for your building as a result of BOMA-led advocacy, labor negotiations, and member programs.

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY:
BOMA/Chicago is at the forefront of improvements in fire and life safety measures for office buildings in Chicago. An extraordinarily well-qualified Life Safety Task Force was formed to assist in development of BOMA/Chicago’s policies on issues such as stairwell door locks, automatic fire sprinklers, and revision of the life safety portions of the Chicago building codes. BOMA/Chicago has been the voice of the office building industry in proceedings before the Chicago City Council, the Illinois General Assembly, and others on important changes designed to enhance the safety of Chicago’s office buildings. Efforts focused on ensuring that new safety measures not only reflect the best industry practices but that they are economically viable solutions.

ELECTRIC UTILITIES:
After months of extensive negotiation, BOMA/Chicago forged a landmark agreement with Commonwealth Edison Company to stabilize electric utility rates for commercial building customers, reducing them in many cases and easing the transition to a deregulated market in Illinois by 2007. Commercial customers now enjoy a greater range of supply choices, more competitive supply sources, and improved reliability. In addition, the utility established an $11 million fund to reimburse BOMA/Chicago and its member buildings for their expenses in complying with provisions of the Chicago electrical code that require the retrofit of emergency generators or other auxiliary power sources. Distributions to BOMA/Chicago members from that fund were made in 2004.

BUILDING CODE REWRITES:
At the City’s invitation, BOMA/Chicago is actively participating in the rewrite of all the Chicago building codes, including important provisions on life safety and accessibility. BOMA/Chicago’s participation in that process is focused on ensuring that the practical needs and operational concerns of BOMA/Chicago members are reflected in the new codes.

BUILDING PERMITS & INSPECTIONS:
BOMA/Chicago continues to press for improvement in Chicago’s building permit and inspection processes, with emphasis on cutting the lead times between application and permit issuance and on streamlining a variety of inspectional procedures. BOMA/Chicago representatives initiated proposals for several key programs currently under development by the City, which could dramatically reduce lead times for tenant improvement permits and cut unnecessary or duplicative inspections.

LABOR PRACTICES:
A coalition of business groups organized by BOMA/Chicago successfully lobbied for defeat of state legislation that would have required new building service contractors, owners, and managers to continue to employ their predecessors’ employees. BOMA/Chicago monitors all labor legislation to ensure that the interests of building owners and managers are addressed.

LABOR NEGOTIATION:
Imagine the time and dollars you’d spend negotiating your building’s contracts with engineers, security and janitorial employees. This year BOMA/Chicago negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with SEIU, Local 1 covering security officers that included 168 signatory buildings. In 2003, a new janitorial agreement was reached also with SEUI, Local 1 that included a record high, 200 signatory buildings. These BOMA/Chicago signatories enjoy numerous benefits, including a "Most Favored Employer" Clause, which guarantees that if any other office-building group negotiates a more favorable agreement than the BOMA contract; all BOMA/Chicago signatories reap the benefits. In addition, BOMA signatory buildings can save up to $5,000 per year on potential labor-related legal fees for negotiations and grievances, and, due to a lower starting wage rate for janitors, those signatory to the janitors agreement will save $22,048 over four years, per new employee

PROPERTY TAXES:
BOMA/Chicago joined forces with other business organizations to fight legislation that would shift significant property tax burdens to commercial buildings and perpetuate the unfairness inherent in Cook County’s classification system. Although the General Assembly passed that legislation, our advocacy efforts made it marginally better for building owners. BOMA/Chicago continues to work on further reforms of the property tax system.

EDUCATION AND INFORMATION:
Your dues return to you discounts on RPA designation training at convenient locations. Each year, BOMA/Chicago offers five designation courses as well as seminars on energy issues, labor contracts and technology. Members have the opportunity to purchase research and publications at the best prices. In 2004, BOMA/Chicago’s new website will offer immediate access to information and services and serve as a continual membership resource. Top-notch educational speakers at luncheons include renowned experts on world issues as well as important government offices and commercial real estate experts and strategists. The lists have included Dr. Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, David Broder, international political correspondent, Cortez Trotter, Chicago Fire Commissioner, and John Kelly, Chairman and Chief Elected Officer of BOMA International. The membership newsletter, BOMA/Chicago Report, updates members on BOMA events and initiatives and is distributed both electronically and in printed format. Members receive quarterly research reports analyzing the vacancy rates and activity in the Chicago market and submarkets. The report is prepared by Dr. Susanne Cannon, associate professor of finance and director of the Real Estate Center of DePaul University where she teaches undergraduate and MBA courses in real estate.

PARTICIPATION AND RECOGNITION:
Members may volunteer to serve on the Committees which make decisions regarding advocacy positions, membership programs and opportunities, and education. Building members have the opportunity to earn national recognition by entering their buildings in The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) awards competition. The winners of the BOMA/Chicago TOBY Awards are recognized at the Annual TOBY Luncheon and go on to compete in regional competition. Regional winners compete for International Awards and recognition.

NETWORKING:
BOMA membership offers information exchange with your peers at program luncheons and committee meetings as well as special events including the Annual BOMA/Chicago Golf Outing, the After-the-Budget Party, and the Holiday Party.