Kansas City AI Chapter Members, Associates, and Affiliates,
I would like to take a few minutes of your time to report to you from the 75th Anniversary Celebration and Joint Regional Meetings held in Las Vegas this past week. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our profession and to meet fellow appraisal professionals from around the country and world. (Yes, the Appraisal Institute has a growing international presence!) It was also a rare opportunity for all ten regions to meet together. And, the event even did a little better than breakeven thanks to education offerings and the celebration sponsors (exhibitors).
I felt the highlight of the joint regional meeting was a power point presentation on the future of the Appraisal Institute by Vice President Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, which I will try to obtain and show at a future chapter meeting, that demonstrates how the world and technology is changing and the need for the Appraisal Institute to keep in step with these changes. The presentation was a lead-in to a discussion concerning unification which included the presidents of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). It is possible that the members of the Appraisal Institute will be voting on unification by late 2008. (The Alliance Team will report to the Board who will bring the issue to membership for a vote. It would require 60% member approval for the motion to pass.) I would heartily suggest that you make plans to attend our joint meeting with the St. Louis and Greater Ozarks chapters in Columbia, Missouri on Friday, September 28, 2007 at which current Appraisal Institute President Terry Dunkin, MAI, SRA will be present to answer questions.
The celebration also afforded me the first opportunity to meet Frederick H. Grubbe, the new CEO of the Appraisal Institute. Mr. Grubbe is our first CEO from outside of the appraisal/valuation industry. I was particularly impressed by his more intimate discussion with our Region 2 members on Thursday. I believe that Fred will make changes that will enable our organization to function more efficiently and effectively.
I am pleased to announce that Anne Johnson, MAI, SRA from Region 2 was selected to be the vice president elect and thereafter president in 2010.
Other interesting facts I learned at the celebration:
- 13 states have enacted appraiser independence laws
- The Appraisal Institute will unveil a new website in the fall
- The Appraisal Institute now has 350 international members
- The number of SRA designations granted increased dramatically in 2006, and then increased again in the first half of 2007
- The IRS “qualified appraiser” definition now recognizes designations as professional credentials
- The Visibility Campaign generated 52 million impressions, over 400,000 visits to Find an Appraiser, and generated over $1 million in earned media
- The Appraisal Institute is planning a joint meeting with the IRWA in June 2008
- There are more losers in Las Vegas than winners
- Heat isn’t so bad when the humidity is very low
- And, the Appraisal Institute is a terrific organization made up of hardworking appraisers just like you and me
Moving on to the local scene, I want to remind you again that the Officers and Board of Directors of the Kansas City, St. Louis, and Greater Ozark Chapters of the Appraisal Institute are pleased to announce a joint meeting of the three chapters to be held on Friday, September 28, 2007 in Columbia, Missouri. We will be jointly celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Appraisal Institute. The day will include simultaneous commercial and residential continuing education (each providing 7 hours of CE credit), lunch with a Missouri legislator, dinner with current national AI president Terry R. Dunkin, MAI, SRA, bus transportation to the event, and plenty of time to converse and reacquaint yourself with your fellow appraisers, all for the incredibly low price of TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS! Look for more information in the near future.
I thought that you would also like to know that the chapter finished the first half of 2007 roundly $8,700 in the black due to strong education income. (Thank you Brad Eldridge and the Education Committee!) Vice President Marian Fields, SRA is attempting to schedule a chapter meeting in October in the Sprint Arena. As the Nominating Committee is now forming to prepare the slate of officers and directors for 2008 (see separate e-mail) don’t forget to vote for the two representatives from the chapter to sit on the committee. Mark your calendar for September 12, 2007 for a 5:00 pm Associate’s After Hours meeting at the Boulevard Brewery. (All are invited! – for touring and sampling)
Finally, if you get a chance to thank this year’s officers, directors, and committee members, please do so. We have tried to step up our service to the organization this year and these people are working very hard to make the Kansas City Chapter an efficient and great organization.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of the summer,
Scott J. Belke, MAI,
2007 Chapter President